EP0665036A1 - Gaming system - Google Patents

Abstract

The game system has a first game (1) which is an instantaneous one based on purchase of a winning or losing ticket (T1) with a bar code (D1) and concealed symbol (S1 or S2). Tickets are printed centrally (8) and retailed through authorised outlets. A winning ticket (T1g) gives access to the second game (2) played at a video terminal (10) which is linked (11) to a central computer (SC) and issues prizes (T2) requiring validation at a console (12) incorporating a bar code reader (13). The video game may involve numbered balls (b1, b2 etc.) within the range of a camera (15) connected to the display screen (E1).

Description

The invention relates to a game system intended to be installed in a public place and placed under the control of a duly authorized company.

In the field of games, it is possible to make a distinction between so-called "on-line" games and so-called "off-line" games.

The operation of a game of the "on line" type is based on a computer processing of data collected from the players by means of game taking terminals which issue game receipts.

These terminals are connected by a transmission network to a computer located in a central site where a draw is carried out using an independent device, such as a draw sphere containing numbered balls, and the result of which is then transmitted by the computer to the various terminals to check the winning game receipts before proceeding with the delivery of the prize won according to a predetermined table of prizes which is published in advance.

The operation of a game of the "off line" type is based on the marketing of lottery tickets for which the allocation by lot lot is done either a posteriori in the case of a traditional national lottery by means of a device such as the aforementioned draw sphere, a priori in the case of an instant lottery by means of a computer. In this type of game, there are no terminals for taking a game and a network for transmission to a central computer.

The main object of the invention is to design a game system which is inspired by the aforementioned games and which is more attractive by giving players the means to be able to directly access a game and participate in it according to predetermined rules.

To this end, the invention provides a game system which is characterized in that it comprises a first instant game based on the purchase of a game support which carries a result which proves to be a winner or a loser, and at least one game terminal initialized by a winning game medium of the first game to participate in at least a second game of the video type, for example, presented on the game terminal.

According to another characteristic of the game system according to the invention, the game terminal is connected by a transmission network to a computer located in a central site, this site being equipped with an apparatus for performing live at least one second game. and means for transmitting to the video terminal information on the progress and the result of the second game, and the game terminal is itself equipped with a display unit to allow the players to see the progress and the result of the second game executed at the central site, game taking means for transmitting to the central site computer game data before and / or during the course of the second game, and a printing unit for editing a gain receipt under computer control at the end of the second game.

For example, the second game is the result of a draw using a sphere-type device containing numbered balls, and the means for transmitting to the video terminal the progress and the result of the second game include a camera pointed at the draw sphere and connected to the computer.

As a variant, the second game may result from a computer processing operation corresponding to the execution of game software prerecorded in a memory of the computer of the central site, the computer generating computer generated images transmitted to the gaming terminal. to allow players to follow the progress and see the result of the second game.

The second games that we can offer to players can be games of chance, skill and / or strategy such as numbers and letters, chess, ..., for example.

According to another characteristic of the game system according to the invention, the winning receipt edited by the printing device of the game terminal includes printed information concerning the amount of winning won, and identification information prerecorded in a memory. from the central site computer to check the validity of the winning receipt.

The identification information of a winning receipt can be coded in the form of a bar code readable by optical or magnetic means.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the gaming system also comprises at least one gaming terminal connected to the central site computer, this terminal comprising at least one reading device for reading the identification information of a gain receipt and transmit them to the central site computer to verify the agreement of the identification information received with those prerecorded in its memory, before transmitting to the terminal a signal authorizing the payment of the gain recorded on the gain receipt.

In general, the game terminals and game taking terminals are installed at authorized retailers who also sell the game supports relating to the first instant game. These game supports can be either tickets or cards, tokens or electronic chip keys, for example.

According to a first envisaged game system, the support for the first instant game is a ticket or ticket purchased from a retailer and which includes game data in the form of at least one printed sign indicating, after scratching, the winning or losing character. the ticket, and pre-recorded identification information in the memory of the central site computer to check the validity of a winning ticket.

The identification information of a ticket for the first instant game is coded by a bar code readable by optical or magnetic means.

In general, a gaming terminal also includes a reading device for reading the identification information of a ticket for the first instant game, in order to transmit it to the computer of the central site which checks the agreement of this information. with those pre-stored in its memory when the ticket is printed before confirming access to the gaming terminal.

According to a second envisaged game system, the support for the first game is a card, a token or an electronic chip key for example, which is also purchased from a retailer and in which several instant games are pre-recorded materialized by data having a character winner or loser and which are readable by the gaming terminal which automatically performs an operation similar to a scratching operation to determine whether the aforementioned data have a winning or losing character.

In this case, the reader of the game terminal reads the identification information and the game data of at least one first game recorded in a medium such as a card, this information and data being transmitted to the computer of the central site for controlling the card and determining whether the game data is of a winning or losing nature, the result being displayed on the display unit of the terminal to inform the player and indicate to him whether or not he can participate in the second game .

In general, the gaming terminal can be integrated into the gaming terminal.

According to an important advantage of the invention, the game terminal does not work from a coin or a token, on the one hand, and does not issue a sum of money in cash or in the form of tokens at the end of the second game, d 'on the other hand, so that it is safe from acts of vandalism aimed at recovering by offense sums of money or winning tokens stored inside the terminal.

According to another advantage of the invention, the game system can take place safely, because the winning result of the first game is controlled by the central site computer to be able to access the second game, and the winning receipt edited at the end of the second game is also controlled by the central site computer to obtain authorization to collect the amount of money, the amount of which is printed on the winning receipt.

In general, it should be noted that the operation of the game terminal is not based on chance, since the winning result at the end of the execution of the second game is determined at the central site.

It follows, according to another advantage of the invention, that the game system is not such as to be able to disturb public order.

Indeed, according to the two game systems considered above, it is important to note that the game terminal is only a non-intelligent terminal for taking data, for viewing the progress of a second game which is executed at the level from the central site, communicating the result of the second game and printing a winning receipt edited from the computer at the central site.

According to yet another advantage of the invention, the game terminal can also be used as an information distributor and thus create a certain animation at the place of its installation.

Generally speaking, the second games offered by the central site and presented by the game terminal can be designed in such a way that they are considered as multipliers of a gain which can already be acquired following the first game, with preferably the possibility given to players of choose for themselves their hope of gain and therefore their risk.

• la figure 1 illustre de façon schématique la structure et le principe de fonctionnement d'un système de jeu selon l'invention ; et
• la figure 2 représente sous la forme d'un schéma-bloc les éléments et circuits constitutifs de la borne du système de jeu selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention.

Other advantages, characteristics and details of the invention will emerge from the explanatory description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings, given solely by way of example and in which:

• FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the structure and the operating principle of a game system according to the invention; and
• FIG. 2 represents in the form of a block diagram the elements and circuits constituting the terminal of the game system according to an embodiment of the invention.

The structure of a game system according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1. This game system comprises a first game 1 of the instant type which is combined with a second game 2, of the video type by example, access to which is conditioned by the result of the first game 1.

The first game 1 is based, for example, on the purchase of a game medium such as a printed ticket T₁ which will prove to be a winner or a loser. Each printed ticket T₁ includes identification information D₁ and pre-defined game data to determine whether the ticket T₁ is a winner or a loser.

The identification information D₁ is for example materialized in the form of a bar code consisting of a bundle of alternating parallel black and white bands with variable widths and spacings to encode data making it possible to control the uniqueness of the ticket , its provenance and its character winner or loser. All this information is prerecorded in a memory M of a computer C located in a central site SC, protected and placed under the control of the Company which manages the game system.

The game data of the ticket T₁ are for example materialized by signs or symbols which include at least one winning sign S₁ or a losing sign S₂ which, once printed in the central part of the ticket T₁, is masked by a thin removable film 7 , in a manner known per se.

All of the T₁ tickets are printed in a printing center 8 approved by the Company which manages the game system and then sold over the counter in distribution centers or retailers also approved by said Company and open to the public.

The second game 2 is a video game for example, accessible from a game terminal 10 which is connected to the computer C of the central site SC by a transmission network materialized by an electrical connection l₁ with interposition, at each end , an I / O input-output interface.

The game system also comprises at least one game terminal 12 installed at each retailer and connected to the computer C of the central site SC by an electrical connection l₂ with the interposition, at each end, of an input interface. I / O output. Each distribution center is for example equipped with a gaming terminal 12 and several gaming terminals 10.

• une unité d'affichage E₁ équipée d'un écran vidéo,
• un dispositif de lecture L₁, du type optique par exemple, pour lire les informations d'identification D₁ inscrites sur un ticket T₁ résultant du premier jeu 1,
• un dispositif d'impression I₁ pour éditer un reçu de gain T₂ à l'issue du second jeu 2 et sous la commande et le contrôle de l'ordinateur C du site central SC, et
• une unité de traitement UT₁ associée à une mémoire de travail M₁ pour gérer la transmission des informations entre l'ordinateur C et la borne de jeu 10.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the game terminal 10 comprises:

• an E₁ display unit equipped with a video screen,
• a reading device L₁, of the optical type for example, for reading the identification information D₁ written on a ticket T₁ resulting from the first game 1,
• a printing device I₁ for editing a gain receipt T₂ at the end of the second game 2 and under the command and control of the computer C of the central site SC, and
• a processing unit UT₁ associated with a working memory M₁ for managing the transmission of information between the computer C and the game terminal 10.

All these circuits of the game terminal 10 are interconnected by a control, data and address bus b .

Referring again to FIG. 1, the game terminal 10 also includes a first slot f₁ for the introduction of a ticket T₁ resulting from the first instant game 1, and a second slot f₂ for recovering a winning receipt T₂ at the outcome of the second game 2. The winning receipt T reçu edited by the printing device I₁ of the terminal 10 under conditions which will be explained below, includes identification information D₂ and the recording of a gain or sum of money, for example FF 10,000.00. As for the ticket T₁ resulting from the first game 1, the identification information D₂ is coded in the form of a bar code with optical reading, for example.

The terminal 12 for taking a game includes in particular a reader 13, of the optical type for example, for reading the identification information D₂ of a gain receipt T₂ introduced into a slot f₃ of the terminal 12. This information D₂ is then transmitted by the link l₂ to the computer C for validation of the gain receipt T₂ before authorization of the payment of the amount entered on this receipt.

The second game is performed at the central site SC.

According to a first exemplary embodiment, this second game can consist of a lottery, the drawing of which is carried out using an apparatus A, such as a sphere. of draw containing balls numbered b ...., b₂, .... b _n , this apparatus A not being physically connected to the computer C. However, to allow the players to follow the progress and know the result of the draw, it there is provided a camera 15 for taking pictures connected to the computer C for transmitting live to the game terminal 10 the images of the apparatus A which performs the second game.

The operating principle of the previously described game system is as follows.

A player buys a ticket T₁ from the first instant game 1 from a retailer. The player scrapes off the film 7 to reveal either a winning sign S₁ or a losing sign S₂. The player is thus in possession of either a winning ticket T _1g , or a losing ticket T _1p .

The player in possession of a winning ticket T _1g following the first game 1, is granted the possibility of accessing by his winning ticket a second game 2 offered by the gaming terminal 10. For this, the player introduces his winning ticket T _1g in the slot f₁ of the terminal 10. The optical reader L₁ reads the identification information D₁ written on the ticket T _1g and then transmits them the computer C of the central site SC to verify the uniqueness of this ticket, its provenance and its winning character. Following this interrogation, access to terminal 10 is authorized or not by computer C.

Once the access to terminal 10 has been validated, the computer C offers at least one second game, the presentation of which is carried out on the display unit E₁ of the game terminal 10, with materialization of tactile keys t to allow the player to transmit game data to computer C.

In the case where the second game is a draw made by device A, the player communicates to the computer C its game data which are recorded in the memory M, and an authorized person of the central site SC launches the second game whose progress is followed live by the player on the video screen of the display unit E1 of the game terminal 10. Once the draw has been made by the device A, an authorized person enters the result of the draw into computer C which will compare it with the player's play data. In the event of a match, the computer C determines the gain and orders the edition of a gain receipt T₂ which is printed by the printing unit I₁ of terminal 10.

The player takes possession of the winning receipt T₂ which is issued by the slot f₂ of the terminal 10, knowing that he must present himself at a terminal 12 for taking the game before he can touch the amount of the gain recorded on his winning receipt T₂. The payment of this gain is subject to the control of the identification data D₂ which is recorded on the receipt of gain T₂. For this, the authorized person who manages the terminal 12, introduces the gain receipt T₂ into the slot f₃ of the terminal 12 and the optical reader 13 reads the identification information D₂ from the receipt T₂ and transmits them to the computer C which, in return, validates or not the payment.

According to a second exemplary embodiment, the second game is a computerized game in the form of software recorded in the memory M and which is executed by the computer C of the central site SC. In this case, it is possible to record in the memory M of the computer several second games of a different type, one of these games being selected by the player.

Depending on the type of game 2 selected by the player, computer C can invite the player, before and / or during the course of the game, to enter game data materializing a choice, the nature of this choice obviously being depending on the type of game. This game data is transmitted to computer C by via the touch keys t made available to the player on the display unit E₁ of the gaming terminal 10.

In parallel, the computer C of the central site SC selects or calculates a result and an amount of gain. This result and the associated gain are in particular a function of the choice made by the player when he has transmitted his game data to computer C. At the end of the game, computer C compares the result corresponding to the choice of the player and the calculated result, and controls the edition of a gain receipt T₂ by the printing unit I₁ of the game terminal 10 in the event of agreement between the two results. Of course, several successive choices can be made by the player during the course of the second game, before arriving at the end of the game.

By way of example, the second game 2 offered to the player can be a skill game which consists of visualizing on the video screen of the display unit E₁ of the game terminal 10, the movement of a basketball player between two basketball hoops. As the basketball player approaches one of the baskets, the chances of scoring a basket increase, but the winning potential decreases. Under these conditions, the player has the possibility of choosing his risk and his expectation of gain, according to his choice of the moment when he decides to have the basket pulled by the basketball player.

In this example, the computer C of the central site SC calculates for example a time sequence of several windows linked to the movement of the basketball player. For each window, the computer C determines whether the result of the shooting of a basket will be successful or not, and allocates to the window a gain in the case of a successful basket. Thus, the result of the second game is conditioned by the window into which the choice of the player will fall.

According to another example, the second game 2 proposed to the player can be a game of chance which consists in viewing on the display unit E₁, a series of eight cards: four cards visible in each suit and four cards hidden and associated with the visible cards. For each color, the player will have to determine if the hidden card is, according to the case, of a value greater, equal or less than the discovered card. The player decides for himself which cards he wishes to turn over by increasing his winnings by a "QUIT OR DOUBLE" mechanism for example.

At the end of the game, the player takes possession of a winning receipt T₂ which is issued by the slot f₂ of the terminal 10, knowing that he must appear at a terminal 12 for taking the game in order to be able to receive the amount of the gain entered on his T₂ gain receipt. The payment of this gain is subject to control by the computer C of the identification data D₂ which is recorded on the receipt of gain T₂.

As a variant, the game support materialized in the form of printed T₁ tickets or tickets can be replaced by cards, tokens or electronic chip keys with a memory in which several first instant games are pre-recorded. As before, each first game includes identification information D₁ and game data S₁ or S₂ of a winning or losing nature.

In this case, the players buy a game medium such as a card 20 from a retailer and then introduce their card into the slot f₁ of the game terminal 10 which is read by the reading device L₁, and the winning character or Loser of at least one first recorded game is displayed on the video screen of the display unit E₁ of the game terminal 10 before being able to participate in the second game which takes place as previously described.

In the two examples described above, the gaming terminal 10 and the gaming terminal 12 have been considered as two separate units located at retailers, but it is possible to combine them into one and the same unit without modifying the principle of the gaming system.

• que le reçu de gain T₂ portera toujours la mention d'un gain quel que soit le résultat du second jeu, l'accès à la borne de jeu lui permettant par exemple de multiplier ce gain,
• que le joueur pourra jouer plusieurs fois à un second jeu avant l'édition du reçu de gain,
• que le ticket T₁ du premier jeu pourra permettre également de gagner un gain qui sera inscrit sur le ticket T₁ à la place d'un signe gagnant ou perdant, mais sans pouvoir accéder à la borne de jeu avec un tel ticket.

Generally, the game system operates according to predetermined rules which may provide for example:

• that the receipt of gain T₂ will always bear the mention of a gain whatever the result of the second game, access to the game terminal allowing it for example to multiply this gain,
• that the player may play a second game several times before the winning receipt is issued,
• that the ticket T₁ of the first game may also allow to win a gain which will be entered on the ticket T₁ in place of a winning or losing sign, but without being able to access the gaming terminal with such a ticket.

Each game terminal 10 can also be used as a means of distributing information of any type, so as to create an animation at the retailer where it is installed, this information being disseminated from the computer of the central site.

Claims (12)

Game system, characterized in that it comprises a first instant game based on the purchase of a game medium which carries a result which turns out to be a winner or a loser, and at least one game terminal initialized by a medium winning game from the first game to participate in at least a second game of the video type, for example, presented on the game terminal. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the game terminal (10) is connected to a computer (C) located in a central site (SC) by a transmission network (11), in that the central site (SC ) is equipped with an apparatus (A) for performing at least one second game live and with means for transmitting to the video game terminal (10) the progress and result of the second game, and in that said terminal (10 ) is equipped with a display unit (E) to allow the players to attend the progress and to take cognizance of the result of the second game executed at the central site (SC), means (t) of taking the game to transmit to the computer (C) of the central site (SC) of the game data before and / or during the course of the second game, and of a printing unit (I₁) to edit a winning receipt (T₂) under computer control (C) at the end of the second game. Game system according to claim 2, characterized in that the second game is the result of a draw carried out by an apparatus (A), of the sphere type containing numbered balls, and in that the means for transmitting to the video terminal the progress and the result of the second game include a camera (15) pointed at the device (A) and connected to the computer (C) of the central site (SC). Game system according to claim 2, characterized in that the second game results from a computer processing corresponding to the execution of game software prerecorded in a memory of the computer (C) of the central site, and in that the computer generates computer generated images transmitted to the game terminal (10) for allow players to follow the progress live and learn the result of the second game. Game system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the winning receipt (T₂) issued by the printing device (I₁) of the gaming terminal (10) includes printed information concerning the amount of the winning won, and identification information (D₂) prerecorded in the memory (M) of the computer (C). Game system according to claim 5, characterized in that the identification information (D₂) of the winning receipt (T₂) is coded in the form of a bar code readable by optical or magnetic means. Game system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises at least one terminal (12) connected to the computer (C) of the central site (SC) and comprising at least one reading device ( 13) to read the identification information (D₂) from a gain receipt (T₂) and transmit it to the computer (C) of the central site (SC) to check the validity of this information before transmitting to the terminal ( 12) a signal authorizing the payment of the gain entered on the gain receipt (T₂). Game system according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the game medium is a ticket (T₁) which includes game data in the form of at least one printed sign (S₁ or S₂) indicating , after scratching, the winning or losing character of the ticket (T₁), and of the identification information (D₁) prerecorded in the memory (M) computer (C) of the central site (SC) to check the validity of a winning ticket (T₁). Game system according to claim 8, characterized in that the identification information (D₁) of a ticket (T₁) is coded by a bar code readable by optical or magnetic means. Game system according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the game medium is a card (20), a token or an electronic chip key in which game data is stored (S1, S₂) winners or losers, and identification information (D₁) necessary to check the validity of the card. Game system according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that the game terminal (10) also comprises a reading device (L₁) for reading the identification information (D₁) of a ticket (T₁) or of a card (20) and transmit them to the computer (C) of the central site (SC), said computer (C) verifying the agreement of these identification information (D avec) with those prerecorded in its memory (M) when editing a game medium (T₁; 20) to validate or not access to the game point (10). Game system according to any one of Claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the game terminal (10) and the terminal (12) are integrated in a single unit.

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