Gaming System Redeeming Non-Winning Tickets for Awards

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assigning symbols to non-winning tickets that can later be matched with other tickets. When players scratch off the removable material, they reveal not just whether they won immediately, but also a symbol that can be used in future games. This allows non-winning tickets to have preliminary value that can be activated later, extending entertainment without complicating the initial play.

The patent converts the harm of non-winning tickets (which traditionally have zero value) into a benefit by assigning them symbols that can be matched with other symbol-bearing tickets. What was previously a complete loss (a non-winning ticket) becomes a potential asset that can contribute to future winnings when combined with matching symbols from other tickets, thereby converting the harmful accumulation of useless tickets into a beneficial gameplay mechanism.

The patent applies discarding and recovering by allowing players to discard non-winning tickets into a communal pool rather than throwing them away completely. These discarded tickets are not lost but recovered as potential assets - their symbols can be matched with symbols from other tickets to create winning combinations. This transforms the traditional end-of-life for non-winning tickets (complete disposal) into a recovery mechanism where they continue to have value in the symbol-matching game.

The patent applies universality by making tickets serve multiple functions: first as instant-win lottery tickets for immediate prizes, and second as symbol-bearing tokens for the symbol-matching game. A single ticket can thus fulfill both roles - it can be played for an immediate prize and simultaneously serve as a resource in the secondary symbol-matching game. This multi-functionality eliminates waste by ensuring every ticket has at least one useful purpose.

The patent applies segmentation by separating the value determination into two distinct phases: first, the immediate prize determination when scratching the ticket (simple win/loss), and second, the symbol value determination that occurs when matching symbols from multiple tickets. This segmentation allows the game to maintain simple immediate play while adding a layered complexity for symbol matching, where non-winning tickets contribute value in the second phase without complicating the first phase.

The patent applies another dimension by adding a temporal and combinatorial dimension to ticket value. Instead of value being determined solely in the immediate moment of scratching, the patent introduces a second dimension where symbols from multiple tickets collected over time can be combined and matched. This transforms the value assessment from a single-dimension immediate evaluation to a multi-dimensional process that considers both immediate prizes and potential future symbol combinations.