FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a lottery token, a kit comprising a plurality of the lottery tokens and a method of drawing a lottery.

BACKGROUND

A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots or tokens for prizes. Lotteries come in many formats. For example, the prize can be a fixed amount of cash or goods or a fixed percentage of the receipts.

A common example of a lottery is one that consists of numbered balls (e.g. 1 to 49) that are drawn at random. In a 6-from-49 lottery, a player chooses six numbers from 1 to 49 and six balls are drawn at random. If numbers on the player's ticket match those produced in the draw, then the player is a winner. The chances of winning can vary widely depending on the lottery design, and are determined by several factors, including the total number of tokens used in the lottery, the number of tokens selected that provide a winning combination, whether or not the order of the winning combination is significant, and whether drawn tokens are returned to the draw for the possibility of further drawing.

Although the draw of a lottery should be random, lotteries are susceptible to fraud. The odds of a particular selection of tokens being drawn can be changed. For example, in the case of a lottery involving the selection of balls as tokens, the weight, size or shape of the balls can be altered to favour the selection of some balls over others. Such alterations may be undetectable to a human but can result in favourable selection by mechanical means. Manual selection, for example by drawing tokens from a hat or by someone who is blindfolded, can also be biased by heating some tokens or manipulating the surface texture or size of tokens.

Examples of fraud in lotteries include the case of the Milanese Lottery in the late 1990s that involved manual selection of tokens and more recently the Serbian State Lottery that involved mechanical selection of tokens, both of which have been the subject of investigations into alleged fraud. Fraudulent activity, such as the examples of alterations of tokens described above, is more likely to occur after tokens have been manufactured. This is because the manufacture of tokens in a manufacturing facility can be controlled and monitored closely, resulting in very few or even no opportunities for fraud. Further, quality control steps can be introduced to detect any alterations. It is much harder to control and monitor lottery tokens after they have been manufactured because they are likely to come into contact with more people in different locations, which increases the opportunity for alterations to be made. Alterations such as those described above can be made ahead of a lottery draw without necessarily being detected.

There remains a need in the art to reduce the risk or opportunity for fraud in lotteries, especially to reduce the risk of alterations being made to lottery tokens after they have been manufactured and before they have been used in a lottery.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lottery token comprising an inner core which has at least one visually identifiable characteristic that is concealed by an opaque covering, wherein the covering is irreversibly removable such that any attempt to reveal the visually identifiable characteristic of the inner core is evident.

The invention reduces the risk of fraud because it makes it virtually impossible for the token to be altered or tampered with after its manufacture without detection. It would be necessary to remove the covering in order to identify a visually identifiable characteristic, make any alterations to the token bearing the characteristic and then conceal any alterations with a replacement covering of the same kind. This would require significant technical capability and access to the tokens for a considerable length of time. The opportunities for fraud are therefore significantly reduced.

The shape of the lottery token is not particularly important. Typically, the token will be spherical. The inner core of the token can be made from a variety of materials, for example rubber or a plastic material such as polythene. Preferably, the token is suitable for use in a method of drawing a lottery described herein, for example a shape and/or material suitable for such use.

In a preferred embodiment, the opaque covering is removable by dissolution in an organic or inorganic solvent.

In a first variant of this embodiment, the opaque covering is a layer of a film-forming polymer, paint or lacquer.

There are a variety of materials that could be used for the film-forming polymer, paint or lacquer, many of which (especially paints) are readily commercially available.

One particularly suitable material is a nail varnish-like lacquer composition of a film-forming polymer such as nitrocellulose dissolved in a solvent such as butyl acetate or ethyl acetate. A plasticiser such as dibutylphthalate may be included in the composition to ensure that the resultant coating is not brittle. Dyes or pigments can be added to provide the required opacity.

This coating can be applied to the inner core by hand using a brush. However, in a

manufacturing environment, it would usually be applied by spraying, by dipping the inner cores into the lacquer composition or by vapour deposition.

The coating is easily removed in a solvent such as acetone or ethyl acetate. Other coatings such as paints can be removed by methylene chloride.

In a second variant, the opaque covering is a layer of polyvinyl alcohol.

An advantage of polyvinyl alcohol as a coating is that it is easily removed by dissolving it in water, typically hot water. It may also be peeled or scraped off the inner core. The polyvinyl alcohol coating can be applied using vapour deposition of a solution of polyvinyl alcohol. The solution may alternatively be sprayed, brushed on by hand or applied by dipping the inner cores into the solution. Again, the coating can be rendered opaque by including a dye or pigment in the solution. In another embodiment, the opaque covering may be removable by melting.

Beeswax is a suitable material for making a covering that could be removed by melting. This can be applied by dipping the inner cores in a molten bath of beeswax. It can be rendered opaque by mixing a dye or pigment in the molten wax. Beeswax can also be removed by peeling or scraping it off the inner core or by dissolving it in a suitable solvent.

Removal of the coverings mentioned above is irreversible because any attempt to remove the covering will inevitably damage the covering and leave a trace because any discrepancy in colour, texture, thickness or uniformity of covering will be immediately visible. Thus, any attempt to remove the covering or to adjust the weight of the tokens by tampering with the covering itself will leave a trace. Replacement of the covering with a new one requires a significant technical capability and time, neither of which is generally likely to be available to someone attempting to tamper with lottery tokens.

In yet another embodiment, the opaque covering may be removable by peeling.

As an example, a tamper-evident sticker may be used to conceal the visually identifiable characteristic. Tamper-evident stickers are readily commercially available. Typically, these stickers work by leaving a trace on the substrate to which they are applied when they are removed from the substrate. Any attempt to remove such a sticker would leave evidence on the inner core.

Other means of removing the covering from the inner core include cutting and breaking the covering.

The opaque covering is disposed over only a portion of the inner core. This is possible where the visually identifiable characteristic is only present on the portion of the inner core that is covered.

Typically, however the opaque covering is disposed over the entirety of the inner core. The at least one visually identifiable characteristic may be represented by at least one indicium applied to the inner core. The at least one indicium could be one or more of a number, a colour or a shape.

Where the at least one indicium is a colour, this could be applied to just a part of the inner core or it could be applied to the whole of the inner core.

The inner core may bear an indicium that represents two visually identifiable characteristics. For example, the indicium could be a coloured number or a number of coloured spots.

The inner core may also be formed of a coloured material.

The opaque covering may be an outer shell surrounding the inner core.

The outer shell may be unitary, formed by two or more parts joined together. For example, the outer shell may be formed of two plastic hemispherical plastic parts that are friction welded or glued together. More complicated arrangements include the welding together of metal parts to form the unitary outer shell.

Where the outer shell is unitary, the outer shell may be frangible. This enables it to be removed from the inner core by breaking it open. For example, the outer shell may be made of a brittle plastic, such as polystyrene, that can be broken apart by striking it with a hammer.

In one embodiment where the outer shell is unitary, the inner core is a liquid, the colour of which represents the at least one visually identifiable characteristic. The outer shell can be made of gelatine.

The outer shell may be formed of two parts, each provided with co-operating screw threads by which the two parts may be fastened together and unscrewed to reveal the inner core. The token further comprises at least one tamper-evident seal bridging the two parts.

The tamper-evident seal may be a tamper-evident sticker of the same type already discussed above. Alternatively, a wax seal may be used. By placing the seal such that it bridges the two parts, it is impossible to unscrew the two parts of the outer shell without removing the seal or breaking it. Either removing the seal or breaking it will leave evidence of the attempt to tamper with the lottery token.

Where the opaque covering is an outer shell, the at least one visually identifiable characteristic may be the shape of the inner core. The outer shell makes the token overall conform to a predefined exterior shape so that the shape of the inner core is concealed. The shape of the inner core is only revealed by removal of the outer shell. The inner core may have other visually identifiable characteristics, such as a colour.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit comprising a plurality of lottery tokens according to the first aspect of the invention.

Each token in the plurality of tokens can comprise an inner core that has a different visually identifiable characteristic and/or a first set of tokens in the plurality of tokens can comprise an inner core that has one visually identifiable characteristic and a second set of tokens in the plurality of tokens comprise an inner core that has a different visually identifiable characteristic. Optionally, one or more further sets of tokens in the plurality of tokens can comprise an inner core that has a different visually identifiable characteristic.

For example, the plurality of tokens can consist of 70 tokens, each token comprising an inner core that bears a different number from 1-70. In addition, or alternatively, the tokens can be divided into 7 sets of 10 tokens, each token in a set comprising an inner core that bears the same colour, the tokens in different sets of tokens comprising inner cores that bear different colours (e.g. 10 tokens comprising inner cores that are white, 10 that are black, 10 that are red, 10 that are yellow, 10 that are blue, 10 that are green and 10 that are brown). These colours are particularly visually identifiable and distinctive from one another, for example so that each colour can be clearly distinguished on television.

In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of drawing a lottery comprising the following steps carried out in order: a) arranging for a random selection to be made of a pre-determined number of lottery tokens from a total number of lottery tokens, each token comprising an inner core which has at least one visually identifiable characteristic that is concealed by an opaque covering, wherein the covering is irreversibly removable such that any attempt to reveal the visually identifiable characteristic of the inner core is evident, whereby the total number of lottery tokens between them comprise an available set of visually identifiable characteristics and the selected tokens comprise a winning combination of visually identifiable characteristics from the available set; b) receiving bets from lottery players, each bet indicating a desired combination of visually identifiable characteristics from the available set; then

c) removing the covering to reveal the winning combination of visually identifiable characteristics.

This method of drawing a lottery uses the tokens of the first aspect of the invention in a game in which the tokens are drawn before bets have been placed but the identity of the drawn tokens is only revealed after the bets have been placed.

The covering may comprise film-forming polymer, paint or lacquer or a layer of polyvinyl alcohol, and step (c) may comprise dissolving the covering.

The covering may comprise a layer of wax, and step (c) may comprise melting the covering.

The covering may comprise a tamper-evident sticker, and step (c) may comprise peeling the sticker off the inner core.

The covering may be an outer shell surrounding the inner core, and step (c) may comprise breaking the outer shell or unscrewing the halves of the shell and breaking or peeling off the seal.

The method may further comprise the following step carried out after step (c):

d) comparing the desired combinations indicated by the bets of each lottery player with the winning combination and awarding prizes to each player whose bet indicates a desired combination that matches the winning combination. In this case, prizes may be awarded to each player whose bet indicates a desired combination that matches a subset of the winning combination.

The method preferably further comprises monitoring the selected tokens continuously until the completion of step (b). This may be done, for example, by arranging for a closed circuit television camera to continuously record the selected tokens or for a web camera to

continuously stream images of the selected tokens for viewing at a predetermined web address.

The method preferably further comprises removing the covering to reveal the available set of visually identifiable characteristics (i.e. removing the covering of the remaining tokens that were not selected). This provides added security against potential fraud to show that the available set of visually identifiable characteristics has not been manipulated.

Random selection of a pre-determined number of lottery tokens from a total number of lottery tokens can be by any means known in the art, for example by mechanical means or manually (by a human). Mechanical means of random selection include ball machines (e.g. gravity pick or air mix machines known to those in the art) and static or rotating drums. Manual selection can involve the drawing of tokens by a person selected at random (e.g. from an audience).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a lottery token; Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a lottery token; Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of a lottery token; Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of a lottery token; Figure 5 shows a fourth embodiment of a lottery token; Figure 6 shows a flow chart of a method of drawing a lottery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

By "lottery" is meant a game in which players purchase one or more tickets (bets), one or more corresponding lots or tokens are drawn at random and tickets that match the lot(s) or token(s) drawn are awarded prizes. Preferably, a lottery involves the random selection of a predetermined number of lottery tokens from a total number of lottery tokens, whereby the total number of lottery tokens between them comprise an available set of visually identifiable characteristics and the selected tokens comprise a winning combination of visually identifiable characteristics from the available set; and bets from lottery players indicate a desired combination of visually identifiable characteristics from the available set. Players can select the desired combination of visually identifiable characteristics.

By "lottery token" is meant a token suitable for use in a lottery, preferably a lottery as described herein. Preferably, the lottery token(s) according to the first and second aspects of the invention are suitable for random selection according to the methods of the third aspect of the invention. Preferably, the lottery token(s) are for random selection from a total number of lottery tokens, preferably whereby the total number of lottery tokens between them comprise an available set of visually identifiable characteristics and the selected tokens comprise a winning combination of visually identifiable characteristics from the available set. Preferably, the lottery token(s) are suitable for mechanical selection, preferably by a ball machine, preferably a gravity pick machine. Preferably, the lottery token(s) are rubber or plastic spheres.

A lottery token 10 according to the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the lottery token 10 is a sphere and comprises an inner core 12 in the form of a solid rubber ball. The rubber ball is prepared by conventional means, for example by compression molding. It will be appreciated that the token can be any shape suitable for use in a lottery, for example a ball, coin or chip. It will also be appreciated that the inner core 12 can be formed of any material suitable for use in a lottery, for example metal, rubber and/or thermoplastic. The inner core can be solid as in this example or hollow (for example, in the form of a squash ball or table tennis ball). As shown in Figure 1, the visually identifiable characteristic 14 is the colour of the inner core (represented by darker shading in Fig. IB). The rubber ball is coloured by conventional means, for example adding a coloured dye to the rubber composition. Alternatively, colour 14 can be applied to the inner core 12, for example by painting. In the example of Fig. 1, the entire surface of the inner core 12 bears the colour 14.

As shown in Fig. 1, the inner core 12 is concealed by an opaque covering 16. The opaque covering 16 is partially cut away in Fig. IB to reveal a portion of the inner core 12 for illustrative purposes. Although shown in dark shading in Figure IB, the surface of the inner core 12 would be coloured in the actual embodiment. The colour of the inner core 12 allows one lottery token 10 to be distinguished from others with different colours after removal of the opaque covering 16. The opaque covering 16 ensures that tokens 10 cannot be distinguished from each other by visual inspection before the covering 16 is removed. In this example, the opaque covering 16 is disposed over the entirety of the inner core 12. However, it will be appreciated that in other examples in which only a portion of the inner core is visually distinguishable from others the opaque covering 16 needs to be disposed over only that portion of the inner core 12.

In one example embodiment as shown in Fig. 1, the opaque covering 16 is a layer of polyvinyl alcohol. In this example, the polyvinyl alcohol covering is applied by vapour deposition. The polyvinyl alcohol covering is applied as a liquid (solid polyvinyl alcohol dissolved in water as solvent) that leaves a solid layer by evaporation of the solvent. It will be appreciated that other means of application could be adopted such as pan coating or dipping, for example. The layer of polyvinyl alcohol includes an opaque pigment, in this example aluminium powder. The polyvinyl alcohol covering is removed by dissolving it in warm water (for example, by pouring or spraying warm water over the token, dipping the token in warm water and optionally wiping the covering off). In this manner, the opaque covering 16 is irreversibly removable since the same opaque covering cannot be replaced. Any attempt to reveal the colour 14 of the inner core is therefore self-evident.

In an alternative arrangement of the example shown in Fig. 1, the opaque covering 16 is a film- forming lacquer of nitrocellulose, which is applied by spray coating. In this example, the lacquer is applied as a liquid (solid nitrocellulose dissolved in butyl acetate solvent) that leaves a solid layer by evaporation of the solvent. It will be appreciated that other means of application could be adopted such as pan coating or dipping, for example. The nitrocellulose lacquer includes an opaque pigment, in this example aluminium powder. The nitrocellulose lacquer covering is removed by dissolving it in acetone, butyl acetate or ethyl acetate (for example, by spraying the token with solvent or dipping the token in solvent and optionally wiping the covering off). In this manner, the opaque covering is irreversibly removable since the same opaque covering cannot be replaced. Any attempt to reveal the colour 14 of the inner core is therefore self-evident.

Another lottery token 20 according to the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 2. In this example, the lottery token 20 comprises an inner core 22 in the form of a hollow plastic ball. The plastic ball is prepared by conventional means, for example by injection molding in the same manner of preparing table tennis balls which are typically approximately 40mm in diameter. The visually identifiable characteristic 24 is the colour of the plastic ball, in this example prepared by adding a coloured dye to the plastic composition. Alternatively, a colour can be applied to the ball, for example by painting.

As shown in Fig. 2, the inner core 22 is surrounded by an opaque covering 26 in the form of a plastic shell. As shown in Fig. 2, the plastic shell 26 is a hollow sphere formed of two halves that are joined together around the inner core and sealed by ultrasonic welding. It will be appreciated that other methods can be used for joining the halves of the shell together, for example by gluing. In this example, the plastic shell is larger in diameter than the inner core, for example from approximately 45mm up to approximately 70mm in diameter. Only one half of the opaque covering 26 is shown in Figure 2B to reveal a portion of the inner core 22 for illustrative purposes. In the example of Fig. 2, the plastic shell can be split, cut and/or broken apart to reveal the colour of the inner core. In this example, the covering is irreversibly removable since the plastic shell is broken or otherwise destroyed to reveal the inner core 22. Any attempt to remove the shell is thus self-evident. Another lottery token 30 according to the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 3. In this example, the lottery token 30 is the same as that described in Fig. 2, except that the plastic shell is formed from two halves, each provided with co-operating screw threads 39 by which the two halves are fastened together. Only one half of the opaque covering 36 is shown in Fig. 3B to show the screw thread 39 and the inner core 22 for illustrative purposes. The halves are unscrewed to reveal the visually identifiable characteristic. In this example, the lottery token 30 further comprises a tamper-evident seal 37 in the form of a layer applied to the opaque covering. The seal is constructed such that it breaks apart into many pieces when manipulated leaving evidence on the covering and the seal material itself that the seal has been

manipulated. Many forms of tamper-evident seal 37 are commercially available in the form of tape, stickers and labels, for example a laminate of one or more vinyl or polyester layers and an adhesive. Alternatively, the seal could be in the form of a wax seal. The tamper-evident seal is applied along the join or seam of the two halves so that any attempt to separate the halves breaks the seal leaving evidence on the covering and providing an indication that the seal has been manipulated.

As shown in Fig. 4, the lottery token of Fig. 3 above can include one or more additional layers 38. As shown in Fig. 4, a layer of poly foam 38 is provided between the inner core 32 and the opaque covering 36. The layer 38 is adhered to the opaque covering 36 such that it is also removed when the two halves of the opaque covering 36 are unscrewed. The lottery token of Fig. 2 above can also include one or more additional layers between the inner core 22 and the opaque covering 26 (not shown).

In the examples of Figs. 2-4, it will be apparent that the inner core can be formed into different shapes, the shape of the inner core representing the visually identifiable characteristic (not shown).

Another lottery token 40 according to the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 5. In this example, the lottery token 40 comprises an inner core 42 in the form of a coloured liquid and an opaque covering 46 in the form of a gelatine capsule. In this example, the coloured liquid comprises polyethylene glycol (PEG) and a dye. In this example, the gelatine capsule can be prepared by known methods of preparing liquid-filled gelatine capsules (for example, in the manufacture of paint balls or pharmaceuticals). One example of a suitable apparatus for preparing liquid-filled gelatine capsules is described in Stroud et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,105, the entire text of which is incorporated herein by reference. This document describes an apparatus and method for preparing liquid-filled capsules using a die roll apparatus through which a covering material in the form of a ribbon or sheet is fed. Lottery tokens according to this example are impact-rupturable capsules such that upon impact with a surface with sufficient force, the opaque covering ruptures thereby releasing the liquid contents onto the surface. The colour of the liquid contents on the surface material is readily apparent to the observer. In this example, the opaque covering 46 is irreversibly removable since the gelatine capsule is destroyed to release the coloured liquid.

A lottery can involve any number of lottery tokens. In one example, the lottery comprises a set of 70 lottery tokens as described herein, ten of which having a white inner core, ten having a black inner core, ten having a red inner core, ten having a yellow inner core, ten having a blue inner core, ten having a green inner core and ten having a brown inner core.

A method of drawing a lottery according to the invention is illustrated in Fig. 6. The method will be further described using the set of 70 lottery tokens described above. As depicted in Fig. 6, the method involves arranging for a random selection to be made of a pre-determined number of lottery tokens from a total number of lottery tokens as described herein (also called the "draw"). In this example, the pre-determined number of lottery tokens to be selected at random is seven from the total number of 70 lottery tokens. The 70 lottery tokens between them comprise the available set of colours and the selected tokens comprise the winning combination of colours from the available set. As depicted in Fig. 6, random selection of the seven tokens is carried out first. The draw can be performed during a live TV show. The set of 70 tokens can be stored in a transparent safety box before use so they cannot be manipulated and can be visually inspected. The draw can also be performed by an audience member who is randomly selected. In this example, the seven lottery tokens drawn can be all the same colour or each one can be a different colour, in any order and with all possible variations. As also depicted in Fig. 6, once the draw has taken place, bets from lottery players are received. Bets can be made via internet portals, mobile applications or by ticketing offices. In this example, players indicate a desired combination of colours that they think corresponds to the colours of the seven lottery tokens selected randomly during the draw. Optionally, the specific order of the colours can be indicated.

At this stage, all lottery tokens are visually identical due to the opaque covering that conceals the colour of the inner core.

The lottery tokens are displayed in a public space in a locked safety box until the time of removing the covering and revealing the winning combination (and the order where relevant) of colours. The lottery tokens will be continuously monitored so that they cannot be manipulated (for example, by guards, online using a PC, mobile phones, monitors and/or webcams).

As depicted in Fig. 6, once the betting has concluded, the opaque covering of the lottery tokens is removed to reveal the inner core of each lottery token and hence the winning combination of colours. This can be during a live TV show or in a live internet setting. Progressive revealing of the colours is also part of the show. For added security against potential fraud, the opaque covering of all lottery tokens (including non-selected tokens) is removed. In one example according to Fig.l, the polyvinyl alcohol covering is removed by pouring hot water over the lottery tokens. In another example according to Fig.l, the nitrocellulose covering is removed by spraying the balls with acetone. In the example of Fig. 2, the plastic outer shell is broken apart. In the example of Fig. 3, the plastic outer shell is unscrewed, thereby breaking the seal.

Alternatively, the seal can be removed first and then the outer shell can be unscrewed. In the example of Fig. 5, the gelatine capsule is broken against a surface.

As depicted in Fig. 6, the desired combinations of colours indicated by the bets of each lottery player are compared with the winning combination of colours and prizes are awarded to each player whose bet indicates a desired combination that matches the winning combination. As depicted in Fig. 6, prizes may also be awarded to each player whose bet indicates a desired combination that matches a subset of the winning combination, for example four, five or six of the winning combination of colours of the seven lottery tokens drawn. A player whose bet indicates a desired combination that matches the winning combination and the precise order of the winning combination of colours drawn can win a premium.