Two level scratch game

Abstract

A two-level scratch game is disclosed which comprises a substrate on which is printed a first grid of randomly selected numbers, each number being printed in a separate box which forms part of the grid. At least one instant price in the form of a price amount or of a game symbol is printed in at least one of the boxes of the first grid. A scratchable rub-off coating is applied onto the first grid to hide the numbers and instant prices printed in the boxes of this first grid. A second grid identical in size to the first grid and containing the same randomly selected numbers is printed on the rub-off coating exactly over the first grid. In use, a player owning the game will benefit from two levels of playing activity upon a drawing of numbers at random by an authorized authority, namely (1) to try to get a complete horizontal, vertical or diagonal row of numbers as in a bingo game in order to win a given price, and simultaneously (2) to scratch the boxes containing the drawn numbers in order to find and win an instant price. A method of manufacturing this two-level scratch game is also disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a two-level scratch game to be used and sold in a lottery. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing this two-level scratch game.

b) Brief Description of the Prior Art

Scratch games comprising a substrate on which a scratchable rub-off coating is applied in order to hide instant prices in the form of a price amount, or a game symbol which is printed directly onto the substrate, are well known and commonly used by lotteries and advertising companies for promotional purposes. With such scratch games, the play essentially consists of scratching the rub-off coating or a part thereof in order to hopefully find that one of the instant prices has been printed on the substrate. If an instant price is found, the possessor of the scratch piece wins that amount.

A game called Bingo is also well known. This game makes use of cards on which two dimensional grids reasonablyand is. This feature facilitates the data entries in the computer by the paying agents who want to verify the authority of the card. Of course, this bar-code is a coded version of the validation number printed on the front of the card. An algorithm may be used to code this number in order to prevent the fraudulent verification of the card's status by a paying agent.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a two-level scratch game, comprising the steps of:

printing a first grid of randomly selected numbers onto a substrate, each number being printed in a separate box forming part of the first grid;

printing onto the substrate at least one instant price in the form of a price amount or of a game symbol in at least one of the boxes of the first grid;

applying a scratchable rub-off coating onto the first grid printed on the substrate to hide the numbers and said at least one instant price printed in the boxes of the first grid; and

printing onto said rub-off coating a second grid identical in size to the first grid and containing the same randomly selected numbers,

wherein said printings of said first and second grids are synchronized so that the second grid is printed exactly over the first grid and contains the very same numbers in the very same boxes as said first grid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein use is made of a card as said substrate, and wherein said first and second grids are two-dimensional and comprise a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising the additional step of providing onto said card at least one of the following security and control features:

printing and hiding a validation number which is specific to said card in order to permit authenification of said card and thus permit the detection of any counterfeiting or partial alteration of the numbers, amounts or symbols printed on the card;

printing of an uncovered control number for production control;

dual numbering of the card with the same number during the printings of the first and second grids to make sure that the synchronization of said grids was perfect when such printings were carried out and that the second grid is identical to the first one; and

printing of a coded version of a validation number which is specific to the card and in the form of bars of different thicknesses.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the additional steps of using first and second grids having five columns and printing over said first and second grids the word bingo in such a manner that each letter of the word bingo is positioned above one of said five columns.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the additional steps of using first and second grids having five columns and printing over said first and second grids the word bingo in such a manner that each letter of bingo is positioned above one of said five columns.

6. A two level scratch game comprising:

a substrate;

a first grid of randomly selected numbers printed onto the substrate, each number being printed in a separate box which forms part of the first grid;

at least one instant price in the form of a price amount or of a game symbol which is printed in at least one of the boxes of the first grid;

a scratchable rub-off coating applied onto the first grid which hides the numbers, and at least one instant price printed in the boxes of the first grid; and

a second grid which is identical in size to the first grid and which contains the same randomly selected numbers as the first grid, said second grid being printed onto said rub-off coating exactly over the first grid and containing the very same numbers in its boxes as said first grid,

whereby, in use, a player owning the game will benefit from two levels of playing activity upon a random drawing of numbers by an authorized authority, namely (1) to try to get a complete horizontal, vertical or diagonal row of numbers as in a bingo game in order to win a given prize, and simultaneously (2) to scratch the boxes containing the drawn numbers in order to find and win an instant price.

7. The scratch game of claim 6, wherein said substrate is a card and wherein the first and second grids are two-dimensional and comprise a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.

8. The scratch game of claim 7, further comprising at least one of the following security or control features:

a hidden validation number which is printed on the card and which is specific to said card in order to permit authentification of said card and thus permit the detection of any counterfeiting or partial alteration of the numbers, amounts or symbols printed on the card;

an uncovered control number printed on the card for production control;

dual numbers printed on the card for ascertaining that the first and second grids printed onto the card are identical;

a coded version of a validation number which is specific to the card, said coded version being in the form of bars of different thicknesses.

9. The scratch game of claim 8, wherein the first and second grids have five columns and wherein the word bingo is printed above said first and second grids in such a manner that each letter of the word bingo is positioned above one of said five columns.

10. The scratch game of claim 6, wherein the first and second grids have five columns and wherein the word bingo is printed above said first and second grids in such a manner that each letter of bingo is positioned above one of said five columns.

11. The scratch game of claim 7, wherein the prizes to be won upon completion of a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row of numbers are printed onto the card.

12. The scratch game of claim 6, wherein the prizes to be won upon completion of a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row of numbers are printed onto the card.

13. The scratch game of claim 10, wherein the prizes to be won upon completion of a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row of numbers are printed onto the card.

14. A method of manufacturing a scratch game, comprising the steps of:

printing a first grid of randomly selected numbers onto a substrate, each number being printed in a separate box forming part of the first grid;

applying a scratchable rub-off coating onto the first grid printed on the substrate to hide the numbers printed in the boxes of the first grid; and

printing onto said rub-off coating a second grid identical in size to the first grid and containing the same randomly selected numbers, wherein said printings of said first and second grids are synchronized so that the second grid is printed exactly over the first grid and contains the very same numbers in the very same boxes as said first grid. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said substrate is a card, and wherein said first and second grids are two-dimensional and comprise a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. 16. The method of claim 15, comprising the additional step of providing into said card at least one of the following security and control features:

printing and hiding a validation number which is specific to said card in order to permit authentification of said card and thus permit the detection of any counterfeiting or partial alteration of the number printed on the card;

printing of an uncovered control number for production control;

dual numbering of the card with the same number during the printings of the first and second grids to make sure that the synchronization of said grids was perfect when such printings were carried out and that the second grid is identical to the first one; and

printing of a coded version of a validation number specific to the card, in the form of bars of different thicknesses. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising additional steps of using first and second grids having five columns and printing over said first and second grids the word bingo in such a manner that each letter of this word is positioned above one of said five columns. 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising additional steps of using first and second grids having five columns and printing over said first and second grids the word bingo in such a manner that each letter of this word is positioned above one of said five columns. 19. The method of claim 14, further comprising additional steps of using first and second grids having five columns and printing over said first and second grids the word bingo in such a manner that each letter of this word is positioned above one of said five columns. 20. In a scratch game comprising a substrate, the combination of:

a first grid of randomly selected numbers printed onto the substrate, each number being printed in a separate box which forms part of the first grid;

a scratchable rub-off coating applied onto the first grid which hides the numbers printed in the boxes of the first grid; and

a second grid which is identical in size to the first grid and containing the same randomly selected numbers as the first grid, said second grid being printed onto said rub-off coating exactly over the first grid and containing the very same numbers in its boxes as said first grid. 21. The scratch game of claim 20, wherein said substrate is a card and wherein the first and second grids are two-dimensional and comprise a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.

. The scratch game of claim 21, further comprising at least one of the following security or control features:

a hidden validation number which is printed on the card and which is specific to said card in order to permit authentification of said card and thus permit the detection of any counterfeiting or partial alteration of the numbers, amounts or symbols printed on the card;

an uncovered control number printed on the card for production control;

dual numbers printed on the card for ascertaining that the first and second grids printed onto the card are identical;

a coded version of a validation number which is specific to the card, said coded version being in the form of bars of different thicknesses. 23. The scratch game of claim 21, wherein the first and second grids have five columns and wherein the word bingo is printed above said first and second grids in such a manner that each letter of the word bingo is positioned above one of said five columns. 24. The scratch game of claim 20, wherein the first and second grids have five columns and wherein the word bingo is printed above said first and second grids in such a manner that each letter of the word bingo is positioned above one of said five columns. 25. The scratch game of claim 22, wherein the first and second grids have five columns and wherein the word bingo is printed above said first and second grids in such a manner that each letter of the word bingo is positioned above one of said five columns.