EP-4738224-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CASHLESS REDEMPTION OF LOTTERY TICKETS AND INCENTIVES FOR PLAYERS TO SPEND LOTTERY WINNINGS AT SPECIFIED THIRD-PARTY RETAIL VENDORS

EP4738224A1EP 4738224 A1EP4738224 A1EP 4738224A1EP-4738224-A1

Abstract

A system and method for cashless redemption of winning lottery tickets in a lottery game provide lottery tickets for play of the lottery game, the lottery tickets having indicia thereon that instructs the player regarding an option for cashless redemption of winning lottery tickets. The player presents a winning lottery ticket in the lottery game for redemption of a cash prize associated with the ticket. A virtual debit card is issued to the player, the virtual debit card loaded with a value equal to the cash prize. The player purchases goods or services charged against the virtual debit card up to the value of the virtual debit card. The virtual debit card is linked to a digital lottery account established for player that provides an accounting in the digital lottery account of all charges, including non-lottery product charges, posted against the virtual debit card.

Inventors

Fulton, Joseph Corry
Waldron, Aaron Kelly
Anderson, O Ryan

Assignees

Scientific Games, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20251027

Claims (15)

A method for cashless redemption of winning lottery tickets in a lottery game, comprising: providing lottery tickets for play of the lottery game, the lottery tickets having indicia thereon that instructs the player regarding an option for cashless redemption of winning lottery tickets; enabling for a player to present a winning lottery ticket in the lottery game for redemption of a cash prize associated with the winning lottery ticket; issuing a virtual debit card to the player, the virtual debit card loaded with a value equal to the cash prize, wherein the player purchases goods or services charged against the virtual debit card up to the value of the virtual debit card; and linking the virtual debit card to a digital lottery account established for player and providing an accounting in the digital lottery account of all charges, including non-lottery product charges, posted against the virtual debit card.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the lottery tickets are scratch-off lottery tickets.
The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein multiple winning lottery tickets are presented by the player for redemption at the same time, the virtual debit card loaded with a value equal to the cash prizes for all of the winning lottery tickets.
The method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the virtual debit card is sponsored by a third-party financial services provider and the digital lottery account is enabled by an application program provided by a lottery provider, the application program linked to the third-party financial services provider.
The method according to claim 4, wherein the application program is a mobile application program.
The method according to claim 5, wherein the mobile application program is configured to generate a code that is linked to the virtual debit card, the code enabling the player to purchase additional lottery products that are charged directly against the virtual debit card by presenting the code at time of purchase of the additional lottery products, wherein the player preferably is provided with an award for using the mobile application program and the code to purchase the additional lottery products.
The method according to any of claims 1 to 6, comprising transferring an incentive to the player to use the virtual debit card, the incentive having a cash value proportional to an amount charged against the virtual debit card, the incentive posted to the digital lottery account.
The method according to claim 7, comprising providing instructions on the lottery tickets for the player to visit and make purchases with the virtual debit card at one or more third-party vendor establishments identified on the lottery tickets, the incentive having a value tied to the purchases at the third-party vendor establishments made with the virtual debit card.
The method according to claim 8, wherein upon the player purchasing goods or services at the third-party vendor establishment with the virtual debit card, the financial services provider reports an amount of the purchases and identity of the third-party vendor establishment to the lottery provider to update the digital lottery account with the purchase amount and identity of the third-party vendor establishment, wherein the cash value of the incentive preferably is credited to a wallet in the digital lottery account.
A system for cashless redemption of winning lottery tickets in a lottery game, the system comprising: a plurality of lottery tickets for play of the lottery game, the lottery tickets comprising indicia thereon that instructs the player regarding an option for cashless redemption of winning lottery tickets for a cash prize associated with the winning lottery tickets; a virtual debit card loaded with a value equal to the cash prize of one or more of the winning lottery tickets redeemed by the player; wherein the player can purchase goods or services charged against the virtual debit card up to the value of the virtual debit card; and a digital lottery account established for the player, the digital lottery account configured to provide an accounting to the player of all charges, including non-lottery product charges, posted against the virtual debit card, wherein the lottery tickets preferably comprise scratch-off lottery tickets.
The system according to claim 10, wherein the virtual debit card is sponsored by a third-party financial services provider and the digital lottery account is enabled by an application program provided by a lottery provider, the application program linked to the third-party financial services provider.
The system according to claim 11, wherein the application program comprises a mobile application program.
The system according to claim 12, wherein the mobile application program is configured to generate a code that is linked to the virtual debit card, the code enabling the player to purchase additional lottery products that are charged directly against the virtual debit card by presenting the code at time of purchase of the additional lottery products, the system preferably further comprising an award transferable to the player for using the mobile application program and the code to purchase the additional lottery products
The system according to any of claims 10 to 13, comprising an incentive transferable to the player for using the virtual debit card, the incentive having a cash value proportional to an amount charged against the virtual debit card, the incentive posted to the digital lottery account.
The system according to claim 14, wherein the lottery tickets comprise instructions thereon prompting the player to visit and make purchases with the virtual debit card at one or more third-party vendor establishments identified on the lottery tickets, the incentive tied to the purchases at the third-party vendor establishments made with the virtual debit card, wherein the digital lottery account preferably comprises a wallet, the cash value of the incentive credited to a wallet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a ticket-based lottery game with cashless redemption and payout for winning lottery tickets that incentivizes players to visit and spend lottery winnings at third-party retail vendors identified on the lottery tickets. BACKGROUND Lottery games have become a time honored method of raising revenue for state and federal governments the world over. The success of these games, however, depends on continuous innovations that capture the interests of current players, draw new players to the games, and motivate third-party vendors and retail establishments to sell lottery tickets. As with other consumers, lottery players are becoming more tech savvy and are interested in conducting various gaming aspects via electronic devices, such as smart phones or other smart electronic devices. The gaming industry is appreciative of this fact and is seeking ways to integrate games and gaming-related functions into the rapidly developing mobile electronic communication age. With conventional systems and methods, authorized retail vendors within a lottery jurisdiction have been the primary means of lottery ticket sales and distribution. This relationship has been beneficial to the vendors in that lottery players also tend to purchase additional goods in the retail establishment. The gaming authority (e.g., a state or other governmental lottery authority) also benefits in that a wide and varied sales and distribution network is provided by the authorized retail establishments. It is important that new innovations in the gaming industry, particularly with respect to electronic gaming via smart phones or other portable mobile devices, preserve or enhance this mutually beneficial relationship. This is of particular concern to the retail vendors as electronic and on-line lottery ticket sales are growing in acceptance and popularity and could potentially decrease lottery player traffic to the retail establishments. It would also be beneficial to the lottery industry if non-traditional third-party vendors would actively participate as partners or sponsors with the lottery providers even if lottery tickets were not sold in the third-party retail establishments. The lottery industry is thus continuously seeking new and creative gaming scenarios that provide increased entertainment value to players, entice new players, and expand play of lottery games into the smart electronic communication age while at the same time maintaining or increasing lottery player foot traffic to the conventional ticket sales retail establishments and enticing non-traditional third-party vendors to sponsor or otherwise partner with lottery providers. In addition, with conventional systems and methods, authorized retail vendors within a lottery jurisdiction have been the primary means of lottery ticket sales and redemption of cash prizes for winning lottery tickets up to a certain amount. Prizes in excess of this amount typically must be redeemed at a lottery redemption center. An ongoing issue with the conventional payout systems and methods is that lottery retailers commonly struggle to maintain on-hand cash sufficient to pay winners. When this occurs, the retailer has no other option than to turn the player away, resulting in the player visiting a different retailer for their payout. This situation results in the loss of potentially valuable foot traffic and additional purchases to the original retailer. Also, with the conventional in-store cash redemption systems/methods, the lottery jurisdictions and lottery providers have little or no opportunity to influence downstream spending of the lottery proceeds by the player. It would thus be beneficial to the lottery industry to develop a redemption system and method that alleviates the burden for retailers to maintain sufficient cash on hand for lottery ticket payouts, would encourage foot traffic and additional spending by players at the retailers, and would enable the lottery jurisdiction and/or lottery provider to influence or encourage spending of lottery proceeds at the retailers or other third parties partnered with the lottery jurisdiction. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. In particular embodiments, a system and method are provided for cashless redemption of winning lottery tickets in a lottery game. Lottery tickets are provided to players for of the lottery game, wherein the lottery tickets have indicia thereon that instructs the player regarding an option for cashless redemption of winning lottery tickets. The system and method enable a player to present one or more winning lottery tickets in the lottery game for redemption of a cash prize associated with the winning lottery tickets. A virtual debit card is issued to the player and is loaded with a value equal to the cash