INSTANT GAMES BASED ON DISTRIBUTED LEDGER

1 . A method performed by one or more computing systems for creating an instant game, the method comprising:

receiving from a game operator a request to create an instant game;

recording in a distributed ledger smart contract code of a smart contract; and

under control of the smart contract code:

receiving a prize table indicating prize amounts and prize frequency information for each prize amount;

validating the prize table to ensure that all of the prize amounts are positive and unique; and

when the prize table is valid, storing the prize table as a state of the smart contract, wherein the instant game is ready to be played.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the game creation request includes a game name and a denomination.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the prize frequency information for a prize amount is expressed as a percentage of winning that amount.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the prize frequency information for a prize amount is expressed as a number of prizes to be awarded at that amount.

5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising, under control of the smart contract code, receiving a set of game cards that have a value and validating the set of game cards to ensure that the value for every game card is in the prize table and that, for every entry in the prize table, the percentage of game cards with that entry's value matches that entry's frequency.

6 . The method of claim 5 further comprising, when the set of game cards is valid, storing the set of game cards as a state of the smart contract.

7 . A method performed by one or more computing systems for playing an instant game, the method comprising:

under control of smart contract code of a smart contract having a state that includes a prize table and a count for each prize amount in the prize table, wherein the prize table includes prize amounts and prize frequency information for each prize amount and the count for a prize amount indicates the number of times the prize amount has been awarded:

receiving from a purchase account a place order message with a winnings account;

transferring a game ticket price from the purchase account to an account of the instant game;

selecting a prize amount that is available as indicated by the count for the prize amount and the prize frequency information for the prize amount;

modifying the state of the smart contract to increment the count for the selected prize amount; and

transferring the selected prize amount from the account of the instant game to the winnings account.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the purchase account and the winnings account are the same account.

9 . The method of claim 7 wherein the account of the instant game is a contract account that includes the smart contract code.

10 . The method of claim 7 further comprising, under control of the smart contract code, dynamically generating a game card with the selected prize amount and returning the game card to the player.

11 . The method of claim 7 wherein the state of the smart contract includes a set of game cards.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the selecting of a prize amount includes obtaining from an oracle service a random index ranging from one to the total number of game cards and selecting the game card at that index.

13 . The method of claim 12 further comprising marking the selected game card with an address of the winnings account.

14 . The method of claim 7 wherein the state of the smart contract includes a total count indicating the total number of times the instant game can be played.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the selecting of a prize amount includes obtaining from an oracle service a random number ranging from one to the total count and mapping the random number to a prize amount based on the prize frequency information.

16 . One or more computing systems for managing creation of an instant game, the one or more computing systems comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage mediums storing computer-executable instructions that receive from a game operator a request to create the instant game;

one or more computer-readable storage mediums storing computer-executable instructions that record in a distributed ledger smart contract code of a smart contract; and

one or more computer-readable storage mediums storing computer-executable instructions that under control of the smart contract code:

receive a prize table indicating prize amounts and prize frequency information;

validate the prize table to ensure that all of the prize amounts are positive and unique; and

when the prize table is valid, store the prize table as a state of the smart contract, wherein the instant game is ready to be played; and

one or more processors for executing the computer-executable instructions stored in the one or more computer-readable storage mediums.

17 . The one or more computing systems of claim 16 wherein there is a smart contract for each different type of instant game.

18 . One or more computing systems for managing playing of an instant game, the one or more computing systems comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage mediums storing computer-executable instructions that under control of smart contract code of a smart contract having a state that includes a prize table and a count for each prize amount in the prize table, wherein the prize table includes prize amounts and prize frequency information for each prize amount and the count for a prize amount indicates the number of times the prize amount has been awarded:

receive from a purchase account a place order message with a winnings account;

transfer a game ticket price from the purchase account to an account of the instant game;

select a prize amount that is available as indicated by the count for the prize amount and the prize frequency information for the prize amount;

modify the state of the smart contract to increment the count for the selected prize amount; and

transfer the selected prize amount from the account of the instant game to the winnings account; and

one or more processors for executing the computer-executable instructions stored in the one or more computer-readable storage mediums.

19 . The one or more computing systems of claim 18 wherein the computer-executable instructions further include instructions that use a commit-reveal scheme to generate a random number to select the prize amount.

20 . The one or more computing systems of claim 18 wherein the computer-executable instructions further include instructions that use a distributed autonomous organization to generate a random number to select the prize amount.