The present invention relates generally to a system and method for tracking game of chance play and proceeds. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for allocating a portion of a player""s purchase and/or potential winnings to a player""s account.
Games of chance (e.g., lotteries) have been offered by various sponsors (e.g., government agencies and private industry) depending upon the laws of each State. With the proliferation of States allowing casinos, river boat gambling and lotteries, increasingly, sponsors have engaged in competition for the gaming public""s money. For example, State-operated games of chance (e.g., lotteries) are engaged in competition with other forms of legal gaming (e.g., church-sponsored bingo, casinos, online gaming and/or racing) and illegal gaming. At present, there are approximately thirty-seven States that operate lotteries and games of chance to benefit the State.
Public perception of State-sanctioned gaming has also influenced sponsors. Further, a disproportionate amount of the gaming public playing state lotteries is comprised of economically, educationally and/or socially disadvantaged citizens. For example, States that are now dependent upon lottery-generated funds, find themselves in the uncomfortable position of promoting gaming in order to generate revenue with a disproportionate amount of the revenue being raised from the economically, educationally and/or socially disadvantaged. Further, the gaming industry is in a state of flux, with a variety of factors influencing both the financial viability and public perception of State-sanctioned gaming. Significant competitive variables include the proliferation of states in which casinos and/or lotteries are now legal, the increasing reliance of government bodies on the funds generated by state-regulated gaming, the rapid acceptance and use of online and electronic gaming, and the introduction of multi-government-body lotteries with ever-larger jackpots. Thus, State-operated lotteries and games of chance are engaged in a fierce competition for customers with other forms of gaming opportunities.
Generally, state lotteries are totally anonymous, with the exception of the recipients of large prizes, who are paid by the State directly. Thus, there is an unfilled need for a system and method for tracking lottery play and proceeds.
The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The present invention relates to a system and method for tracking lottery play and proceeds. More particularly, the present invention enables sponsors (e.g., state agencies) of gaming opportunities (e.g., lotteries) to track, understand and strategically reward the play of individual players thereby increasing the sponsor""s competitiveness in the market place for gaming funds. Further, the system and method of the present invention increase the social acceptance of the sponsor""s gaming opportunities by allowing a predetermined amount of a registered player""s purchases (e.g., set aside amount) to be deposited in a registered player account for the benefit of the registered player or his/her designate (e.g., personal retirement account, medical savings account, real estate investment account, small business investment account and/or educational savings account).
According to one aspect, of the present invention, a registered player is able to purchase game of chance items (e.g., lottery tickets) from the sponsor through a point of sale computer (e.g., lottery ticket vendor). The registered player identifies himself at the point of sale computer (e.g., using an identification card or driver""s license). The registered player then purchases and receives his game of chance items (e.g., lottery tickets). Information regarding the registered player""s purchases is electronically communicated to the sponsor""s computer system where the registered player""s information is updated to reflect the registered player""s purchases. The registered player""s set aside amount is increased by a predetermined portion of the registered player""s purchase (e.g., ten percent). Once the registered player""s set aside amount reaches a predetermined threshold level (e.g. fifty dollars) in a predetermined period of time (e.g. one year), the registered player""s set aside amount is transferred to an account manager which maintains a registered player account for the benefit of the registered player or his/her designate (e.g., personal retirement account, medical savings account, real estate investment account, small business investment account and/or educational savings account).
According to another aspect of the present invention, a registered player is able to purchase game of chance items (e.g., lottery tickets) directly from the sponsor utilizing a player communication device (e.g., personal computer, telephone or terminal). The registered player identifies himself to the sponsor computer by electronically communicating via the player communication device. The registered player then purchases and receives his game of chance items (e.g., lottery tickets). Information regarding the registered player""s purchases is electronically communicated to the sponsor""s computer system where the registered player""s information can be updated to reflect the registered player""s purchases. The registered player""s set aside amount is increased by a predetermined portion of the registered player""s purchases (e.g., ten percent). Once the registered player""s set aside amount reaches a predetermined threshold level (e.g. fifty dollars) in a predetermined period of time (e.g. one year), the registered player""s set aside amount is transferred to an account manager which maintains a registered player account for the benefit of the registered player or his/her designate (e.g., personal retirement account, medical savings account, real estate investment account, small business investment account and/or educational savings account).
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a registered player can make direct contributions to his registered player account through a point of sale computer, a player communication device and/or mail. Further, the sponsor is able to utilize information contained in the registered player""s information stored in the sponsor""s computer for targeted marketing campaigns, product development, and/or facilitating registered player income tax reporting (e.g., information regarding registered player""s yearly purchases sent to registered player to provide evidence of a gambling loss deduction and/or enable a potential set off against winnings for a tax year).
The present invention also provides methods for tracking game of chance play and proceeds; transferring registered player""s set aside amounts to a registered player account; establishing registered player set asides and registered player accounts.