System and method for implementing internet-based games wherein a plurality of different games share a common prize structure
View Patent ↗A system and computer implemented method for conducting play of Internet-based lottery games includes providing players with a plurality of different Internet-based lottery games playable on an Internet enabled device in communication with an Internet game site, wherein the games have different game themes and mechanics of play by the player. A selection is accepted from a player for play of a particular one of the Internet-based lottery games. The plurality of different Internet-based games are linked to a common predetermined prize structure associated with a defined set of data files loaded in a secure game outcome generator such that the data files determine the outcome and prize structure of a defined number of game plays regardless of the particular game selected for play by the player from the plurality of different games.
1. A gaming system for play of Internet-based lottery games, comprising:
a core platform having a hardware and software configuration to provide common functionalities to a plurality of Internet-based games made available for play on an Internet game site;
a vertical extension functionality configured with said core platform, wherein core platform input/output data is transmitted through said vertical extension, said vertical extension comprising a first application programming interface;
a plurality of game specific modules interfaced with said core platform and having a hardware and software configuration to conduct a plurality of different games with players via the Internet game site, wherein the games have different themes and mechanics of play by the player, each said game specific module including a dedicated second application programming interface, wherein input/output data between said core platform and said game specific modules occurs only through said first and second application programming interfaces in said vertical extension, and wherein said game specific modules operate on a physically separate server from said core platform;
a secure game outcome generator interfaced with said core platform and having a hardware and software configuration to assign a predetermined game outcome for each game played via said system, said secure game outcome generator linked to said core platform via a secure interface with said vertical extension that is separate from said first and second application programming interfaces, wherein said secure game outcome generator is not accessible by said game specific module through said vertical extension;
wherein said plurality of different games are linked to a common predetermined prize structure associated with a defined set of data files loaded in said secure game outcome generator such that said data files determine the outcome and prize structure of a defined number of game plays regardless of the particular game selected for play by a player from said plurality of different games;
wherein said plurality of different games are linked to the common prize structure by a common identifier entered by the player on the Internet game site; and
wherein each said game specific module is configured to implement a respective said plurality of different games linked to the single common prize structure, and wherein said plurality of different games varies between different said game specific modules.
2. The system as in claim 1 , wherein said common identifier is a component of a code entered by the player on the Internet game site.
3. The system as in claim 1 , further comprising tickets or coupons supplied to players having a code thereon that is entered by the player on the Internet game site to initiate play on one of said plurality of different games.
4. The system as in claim 3 , wherein said tickets or coupons are paper tickets or coupons supplied to the players via a retailer, said code provided on said tickets or coupons under a scratch-off coating.
5. The system as in claim 3 , wherein said tickets or coupons are associated with particular ones of said plurality of different games such that the player selects a game of their choice at the time of purchase of said ticket or coupon.
6. The system as in claim 3 , wherein said tickets or coupons are generic to all of said plurality of different games such that the player selects a game of their choice at the time of entering said code on the Internet game site.
7. The system as in claim 3 , wherein said code is pre-linked to a particular data file in said secure game outcome generator such that the outcome and prize for the game played by the player is predetermined at the time of purchase of said ticket or coupon by said pre-linked data file.
8. The system as in claim 3 , wherein said code is not linked to a particular data file in said secure game outcome generator until said code is entered by the player, wherein one of said data files is then randomly linked to said code.
9. The system as in claim 3 , further comprising a game central site server comprising a set of validation data files linked to said set of data files in said secure game outcome generator, wherein winning game plays are validated and redeemed by presentation of a validation request associated with a particular said ticket or coupon to said central site server.
10. The system as in claim 9 , wherein said tickets or coupons contain a validation code that is presented to said central site server in said validation request.
11. The system as in claim 10 , wherein said validation code corresponds to said code entered by the player on the Internet game site.
12. The system as in claim 9 , wherein said validation files are cryptographically linked to said data files in said secure game outcome generator.