1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a lottery games and, in particular, to a method of playing a lottery game without using or marking lottery tickets or game cards or betting slips or selecting a set or series of numbers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various methods of playing lottery games are known in the prior art. A typical example is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,129, issued to M. G. Alvarez on May 5, 1992. This patent discloses an apparatus and a method of playing a lottery game which utilizes a lottery ticket that a ticketholder must purchase and use to select a set of lottery numbers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,397, issued to S. W. Valenza discloses an apparatus for use in playing a lottery game in which the apparatus is used for automated marking of a betting slip. A customer must purchase the betting slip and select a set of lottery numbers. Another example of the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,119, issued to S. Goldfarb, which discloses a method for playing games of chance from a remote location by sending by facsimile transmission the set of lottery numbers chosen to a central location. Again, the player must select a set of numbers and send by facsimile transmission a game card or lottery ticket in to a central location. The cost of playing the set of lottery numbers is charged to the player' s facsimile number. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,232,221 and 5,116,049, issued to Sludikoff et. al., disclose a method for playing a lottery game in which the player must purchase a special lottery ticket and select the set of lottery numbers desired. U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,089, issued to M. W. Wood, discloses a method for playing a lottery game in which the player must purchase a special lottery ticket and select the set of lottery numbers desired.
All of the prior art patents require the use a lottery ticket or game card or betting slip. Printing up and selling lottery tickets adds to the cost of running a lottery game, thereby decreasing the profitability of the lottery game. Thus, a need exists for a method of playing a lottery game that does not require the use of a lottery ticket or game card or betting slip.
Furthermore, all of the prior art patents mentioned above require the player to select, with or without the aid of a machine, a set of lottery numbers desired. Requiring the player to select his or her own set of lottery numbers can result in player errors. Thus, a need exists for a method of playing a lottery game which reduces or eliminates player error resulting from the player choosing his or her own set of lottery numbers.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a method of playing a lottery game which does not require the use of a lottery ticket or game card or betting slip or selecting a set or series of numbers, the lottery ticket and selection process tending to decrease the profitability of the lottery game and increase player error in obtaining a set of lottery numbers. The present invention substantially overcomes these and other prior art problems.