Method and system to conduct a bonus game that links separate primary lottery games
View Patent ↗A system and related methods for conducting a bonus game to a first primary game that enhances sales of tickets in an unrelated second primary game includes establishing the first primary game wherein players are issued first game tickets for play of the first primary game. A bonus game is established that is played separate from the first primary game. To qualify for entry into the bonus game, players enter at least one first game ticket from the first primary game. A second primary game is established wherein players are issued second game tickets that are linked to the bonus game for the first primary game such that players enhance the prize awarded in the bonus game by entering the second game tickets into the bonus game. Play of the first primary game does not require play of the bonus game or the second primary game. Play of the second primary game does not require play of the first primary game or the bonus game. Play of the bonus game requires play of the first primary game but not the second primary game.
1. A method for conducting a bonus game to a first primary lottery game that enhances sales of tickets in a second primary lottery game, wherein the first primary lottery game is conducted using first game tickets and an associated first prize structure and the second primary lottery game is conducted using second game tickets and an associated second prize structure, wherein the first game tickets and the second game tickets are purchasable physical lottery game tickets, the method comprising:
establishing, by one or more processors, the first primary lottery game wherein players of the first primary lottery game are issued the first game tickets for play of the first primary lottery game;
establishing, by the one or more processors, a bonus game for the first primary lottery game that is played separate from the first primary lottery game, wherein, the players of the first primary lottery game enter at least one first game ticket of the first game tickets from the first primary lottery game to qualify for an entry in the bonus game by providing a first unique identification code printed on the at least one first game ticket;
establishing, by the one or more processors, the second primary lottery game wherein players in the second primary lottery game are issued the second game tickets for play of the second primary lottery game;
configuring the second game tickets to be used in the bonus game such that a prize awarded in the bonus game to the players of the first primary lottery game that have entered the least at one first game ticket is enhanced by the players of the first primary lottery game also becoming players in the second primary lottery game and entering at least one second game ticket of the second game tickets into the bonus game by providing a second unique identification code printed on the at least one second game ticket;
wherein play of the first primary lottery game does not require play of the bonus game or the second primary lottery game, play of the second primary lottery game does not require play of the first primary lottery game or the bonus game, and play of the bonus game requires play of the first primary lottery game but not the second primary lottery game;
wherein the first game tickets and the second game tickets are further configured to be used in the bonus game by:
printing one of a plurality of different first bonus game symbols on each of the first game tickets, wherein the players of the first primary lottery game are required to collect one of a plurality of predefined sets of one or more of the first bonus game symbols to qualify for the entry in the bonus game;
printing a second bonus game symbol on each of the second game tickets that visually associates the second game ticket to one of the predefined sets of first bonus game symbols;
wherein the prize awarded in the bonus game is enhanced only if the player of the first primary lottery game also enters in the bonus game one of the second game tickets having the second bonus game symbol associated with the predefined set of first bonus game symbols entered in the bonus game; and
wherein the first unique identification code and the second unique identification code are provided electronically through a communications network to a remote computing device hosting the bonus game.
2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the bonus game is a draw game and the player of the first primary lottery game is awarded a defined number of entries in the draw game upon entry into the bonus game, the number of entries being multiplied as a function of the second bonus game symbol on the second game ticket entered by the player in the bonus game.
3. The method as in claim 2 , wherein the bonus game is conducted on a scheduled periodic basis such that the players of the first primary lottery game become eligible for a next scheduled bonus game upon acquiring the predefined set of first bonus game symbols.
4. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising providing the players of the first primary lottery game with a bonus game board configured to aid in tracking the first bonus game symbols and second bonus game symbols collected by the players, including visually associating on the game board the second bonus game symbols with their respective predefined set of first bonus game symbols.
5. The method as in claim 4 , wherein the bonus game board has a MONOPOLY game theme, the first bonus game symbols identifying sets of property locations on the MONOPOLY game board and the second bonus game symbols equating to house or hotel structures built on the property locations, wherein a greater number of house or hotel structures associated with the property locations increases enhancement of the prize awarded in the bonus game.
6. The method as in claim 5 , wherein the bonus game board is an individual virtual game board provided to each of the players of the first primary lottery game via a website.
7. The method as in claim 6 , further comprising establishing individual player accounts that are accessible by the players of the first primary lottery game via the website, the accounts including the player's individual virtual game board updated with a status of the first bonus game symbols and the second bonus game symbols collected by the player.
8. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the first primary lottery game is a lottery draw game and the first game tickets provide at least one entry into the lottery draw game.
9. The method as in claim 8 , wherein the second primary lottery game is an instant ticket lottery game and the second game tickets having the second bonus game symbol provided thereon.
10. The method as in claim 9 , wherein the bonus game is a draw game and the player of the first primary lottery game is awarded a defined number of entries in the draw game upon entry of the first game ticket into the bonus game, the number of entries being multiplied as a function of the second bonus game symbol on the second game ticket entered by the player in the bonus game.