System and method for play of a scratch-off lottery ticket game across multiple jurisdictions
A method for implementing an instant lottery ticket game system played by a plurality of jurisdictions includes designating a first set of instant lottery tickets in a primary game that includes a fixed prize structure within each jurisdiction having a top prize and lesser prizes. A total number of supplemental prizes are defined and a set of supplemental lottery tickets is designated for printing with the instant lottery tickets. A subset of the supplemental lottery tickets is assigned to each of the first sets. Each supplemental prize is randomly assigned to one of the supplemental lottery tickets such that the supplemental prizes are randomly distributed throughout the first sets to be distributed to the jurisdictions. The first sets of instant lottery tickets with the supplemental lottery tickets contained therein are printed and distributed to the jurisdictions.
1 . An instant lottery ticket game system for play in a plurality of jurisdictions, comprising:
a first set of instant lottery tickets in a primary game for each of the jurisdictions, wherein each of the first sets of instant lottery tickets comprises a predetermined fixed prize structure having a defined number of top prizes and a defined number of lesser prizes;
a defined total number of supplemental prizes;
a set of supplemental lottery tickets, wherein a total number of the supplemental lottery tickets is at least equal to the total number of the supplemental prizes;
a subset of the supplemental lottery tickets seeded into each of the first sets of instant lottery tickets in the primary game provided to the respective jurisdictions; and
each of the supplemental prizes randomly assigned to one of the supplemental lottery tickets such that the supplemental prizes are randomly assigned to supplemental lottery tickets seeded throughout the plurality of jurisdictions in the primary game.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the supplemental prizes include a total number of supplemental top prizes at least equal in number to a total number of the top prizes in the primary game.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the supplemental prizes include a plurality of prizes of a lesser value than the supplemental top prizes.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a total number of the supplemental lottery tickets within each of the subsets is randomly determined or based on a pro rata number of the instant lottery tickets in the primary game provided to each of the jurisdictions.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the supplemental lottery tickets and the instant lottery tickets comprise a same outward appearance to a player, and wherein indicia identifying the supplemental lottery tickets is under a scratch-off coating in a play area of the supplemental lottery ticket.
6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a validation file for each of the first sets of instant lottery tickets in the primary game, the validation file containing a record for each winning instant lottery ticket in the first set of instant lottery tickets but void of a record of the supplemental lottery tickets seeded into the first set of instant lottery tickets, the validation files provided to each respective jurisdiction.
7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a universal validation file for the supplemental lottery tickets, the universal validation file containing a record for each winning supplemental lottery ticket, wherein each winning supplemental lottery ticket comprises a code thereon linked to its record in the universal validation file, wherein the universal validation file is maintained by a lottery game provider or other third party.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein one or more of the supplemental lottery tickets are non-winning and do not have a supplemental prize assigned thereto.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instant lottery tickets and the supplemental lottery tickets comprise paper or electronic scratch-off lottery tickets having game play indicia under a removable scratch-off coating.