GB2380590A

GB2380590A - An entertainment machine which delays disclosure of a prize value

Info

Publication number: GB2380590A
Application number: GB0215550A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Laurence Wain
Original assignee: Mazooma Games Ltd
Current assignee: Mazooma Games Ltd
Priority date: 2002-02-23
Filing date: 2002-07-05
Publication date: 2003-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2022-07-05
Also published as: GB0204307D0; GB0215550D0; GB2380590B

Abstract

An entertainment machine 100 is arranged to award a player an award which can be converted to a prize at a later time. The machine 100 does not disclose the value associated with the prize at the time at which the award is awarded. The awards may be won as part of a game or may be purchased. The associated value may be decided at the time the award is issued or at the time the prize is collected. The machine 100 may be linked to other machines in a network and have common display 122.

Description

AN ENTERTAINMENT MACHINE This invention relates to an entertainment machine and to a method of increasing the player appeal of such a machine and especially, but not exclusively, to machines that are freed for play by the introduction of coins, tokens, credit cards, or the like.

Entertainment machines that are played in order to win prizes, which may be monetary, are well known. Such machines may allow a portion of the winnings to be held over to a subsequent game, but the holding over of such winnings is often controlled by legislation. The present laws in the United Kingdom allow a machine hold up to 50% of a player's winnings until a subsequent game, but this occurs on a random basis (i. e. between some games, the player will have 50% held over, but between other games the player will not have any winnings held over).

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an entertainment machine arranged to award a player thereof an award, which can be converted to a prize at a later time and the machine is further arranged not to disclose the value of the prize associated with the award at the time the award is made.

An advantage of such a machine is that it may increase the player appeal of the machine. If a player wins an award he/she knows that they have won a prize, but they do not know the value of the prize, and there may therefore an incentive to continue play of the machine in order to win further awards.

Preferably, the machine comprises processing circuitry that is arranged to provide the game played by the player. Further, the processing circuitry

may be arranged to determine whether an award should be awarded to a player.

The processing circuitry may be arranged to award a player with an award according to the player's progress in a game, for example if the player has won a predetermined number of points, or the like.

Furthermore, the processing circuitry may be arranged to issue awards in exchange for coins, tokens, credit from credit cards, winnings in a game provided by the machine, or the like, allowing tickets to be obtained as of right rather than by playing the machine.

However, in the preferred embodiment the processing circuitry is arranged to award awards according to a random generation means, which is arranged to generate random, or pseudo random outcomes. In one embodiment the random generation means comprises a set of reels, which may be virtual reels, or physical reels. Such reels are well known in the field of entertainment machines, and usually comprise a set of three reels axially aligned with a set of symbols around an outer perimeter, the reels being arranged to spin relative to one another such that they can stop in a plurality of indexed positions, and when stopped the reels provide a random, or pseudo, random selection of the symbols.

In one embodiment an award is awarded if a predetermined combination of symbols are displayed by a reel, or combination of reels.

In alternative embodiments, the random generation means comprises any other mechanism for producing a random, or pseudo random outcome. For example, the random generation means may comprise any one or more of the following: a dice mechanism, a simulation of a least one dice, a wheel arranged to spin and stop in a random, or pseudo random

position, a random sequence that a user must stop in a desired location, a game of roulette, betting on the outcome of a race.

In the most preferred embodiment the machine is arranged to disclose the value of the prize associated with the award when the prize is collected.

Such an arrangement is convenient because it allows players to collect awards with out knowing the value before collection.

The processing circuitry may be arranged to determine the value of the award at, or roughly at, the time the award is awarded. Such an arrangement is convenient because it allows a player to collect the prize associated with his/her ticket at any time.

Conveniently, the machine comprises a selection means arranged to allow a player to select an award from a predetermined number of awards. Such an arrangement is convenient because it may increase the player appeal of the machine in that it gives the player the belief that the choice that he/she is about to make could potentially win the award with the highest prize associated therewith. The player may not known the value associated with the awards from which they are making the selection and may simply be provided with an identifier. For example the player may be presented with the choice: award one, award two, award three, etc. or the like.

In some embodiments the machine is arranged to determine the value of a prize that will be associated with any award that the player selects. In other embodiments the machine may be arranged to assign the value of a prize to the award so that it is the player's selection that determines the value of the prize that he/she wins.

In yet a further embodiment the value of the prize associated with an award may not be determined until the value of the prize associated with the award is disclosed to a player.

The machine may be arranged to draw awards from awards that have been awarded.

In the preferred embodiment the player is shown a simulation of a draw as the value of prizes associated with one or more awards are disclosed to the player.

Conveniently, the award comprises any one or more of the following: a virtual representation of a ticket, a token, a ticket, or any other suitable mechanism. An area of memory and/or disk storage within the processing circuitry of the machine may be arranged to hold data representing one or more awards/virtual tickets. In some embodiments the machine is arranged to print tickets which may constitute an award.

Awards awarded to a player may be selected from a predetermined number of awards. In one embodiment, the machine is arranged to provide sixteen awards from which awards are selected. However, any other number of awards may be suitable. For example any of the following may be suitable: 1,2, 3,4, 6,8, 10,12, 14,20, 25,30, 50, or more (or any number in between).

The machine may be arranged to disclose the value of prizes associated with the award once all of the awards from the predetermined number have been awarded. Such an arrangement may be thought of providing a pool of awards which are gradually awarded to one or more players, and once the pool of awards have been awarded a draw of the awards takes place.

Alternatively, or additionally, the machine may be arranged to disclose the value of prizes associated with theawards, once a predetermined time has elapsed. The predetermined time may be on the order of minutes, and may be roughly five minutes. However, the skilled person will appreciate that any other time may be appropriate. For example, the predetermined time may roughly any of the following times: Imin, 2min, 3min, 4min, 6min, 7min, 8min, 9min, lOmin, 15min, 20min, 30min, or more, or any time between any one of these times.

The machine may comprise an input means, which when activated by a player causes the value associated with awards that he/she has won to be disclosed, and may subsequently award the prize associated with the or each award to the player.

The machine may award a lower prize if the player activates the input means when compared to the prize that would have been awarded if the player had waited until the machine had determined that prizes should be awarded. In this case, the prize may be a fixed low, amount (for example roughly 50p, El, etc. or any other amount) or a fraction of the prize that would otherwise be awarded (for example roughly 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, or any % between these). An advantage of such an arrangement is that it provides a disincentive for players to collect his/her prizes early.' Conveniently, the machine is provided with a networking means arranged to connect the machine to an external processing means. The external processing means may comprise a further entertainment machine.

The processing means may be arranged to receive data from the networking means in relation to awards. Such an arrangement may allow the game to be played across a plurality of machines.

In particular the machine may be of the type referred to as an AWP, or an all cash machine, or other forms of entertainment machine.

The machine may be arranged to associate a monetary value with a award. Alternatively, or additionally, other prizes may be associated with an award ticket.

According to a second aspect of the machine there is provided a network of two or more games machines according to the first aspect of the invention.

Such an arrangement is convenient because it allows the game provided by a single machine to be played across a number of machines.

Each machine of the network may be arranged to communicate, data relating to awards, across the network. For example, the machines may be arranged to communicate any one or more of the following pieces on data: an identifier identifying an award that has been awarded by a machine; the value that has been assigned to an award awarded by a machine; whether a player has collected, or has requested to collect, any of the prizes associated with awards that have been awarded.

The network may be arranged such that a predetermined number of awards are available from the machines connected to the network. As such, players of the machines may compete against one another to gain tickets from the predetermined number. The machines may be arranged to communicate across the network when a player has an award awarded to them on any one machine.

In one, perhaps the preferred, embodiment the machines are arranged to determine the value of a prize associated with an award at roughly the time that the award is awarded to the player. It is convenient if the value of the prize associated with the award is determined so that a player can collect his/her prize at a time that he/she chooses.

There may be a plurality of prizes, and there may be a predetermined number of awards associated with a particular value of prize. For example there may be a single award having associated with it a jackpot prize; there may be a single award associated with a prize of lesser value than the jackpot prize; there may be three awards associated with a prize of even lesser value, etc. The value of the awards may be determined as the award is awarded, or when it is converted to a prize. The value of a ticket may be determined by any one of the machines on the network, or may be by a central unit of the network.

The network may comprise a display which may be arranged to display which machines have won an award. Such an arrangement is convenient because it allows a player at anyone of the machines to see how they are faring compared to a player at any of the other machines, which may increase the player appeal of the network.

The display may be arranged to display representations of awards. It may display representations of awards that have been won and/or that have yet to be won or both. The display may also display the value of prizes that have been won.

Conveniently, the value of prizes associated with the awards may not be disclosed until any one or more of the following scenarios: the elapse of a predetermined time (may be from the start of a game), until all, or a predetermined proportion, of the awards have been awarded.

The network may be arranged such that players having more than a single award can accumulate prizes according to the value of the prizes that have been associated with the awards that he/she has been awarded. Indeed, the network may be arranged such that a player can accumulate more than the maximum value of prize that it is possible to win from a single game.

Such an arrangement may meet legislatory requirements if it is only possible to win, in a single game, the maximum prize. Over a number of games, it may be possible to accumulate awards taking the accumulated win above the maximum for a single machine. This feature (and any others discussed in relation to the network and vice versa) of allowing awards to be accumulate over a number of games may also be applicable to single machines according to a first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of increasing the player appeal of an entertainment machine comprising awarding players thereof with awards the value of which is not disclosed to a player at the time the award is made.

The method may comprise allowing players on a plurality of machines to compete against one another.

Conveniently, the method may provide a predetermined number of awards.

In some embodiments the value of an award is assigned roughly at the time that it is awarded to the player. Alternatively, or additionally, the value is assigned roughly at the time the value of the award is disclosed to the player.

The method may allow a player to collect a prize associated with a award that he/she has won at any time, or predetermined times during a game. Such a method is convenient because it will allow a player to leave a machine before other criteria for disclosing the value of awards to the player have been met (for example, the predetermined time has elapsed, not all of the awards have been awarded, etc.).

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a computer readable medium holding instructions which when read by an entertainment machine cause the machine to function according to a first aspect of the invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a computer readable medium holding instructions which when read by an entertainment machine cause the machine to perform the method of the second aspect of the invention.

The term computer readable medium is intended to cover any medium capable of being read by an entertainment machine, but for the avoidance of doubt may cover any one of more of the following: a floppy disk, a CDROM, a DVD ROM/RAM (including +RW,-RW), a magneto optical disk, a hard drive, a memory, a transmitted signal (which may include an Internet download, or the like).

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which :- Figure 1 shows an individual entertainment machine according to a first embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 shows a network of machines according to the first embodiment of the invention.

The entertainment machine 100 of Figure 1 comprises a housing 101. In the housing there are mounted three reels 160,162, 164 by means of which a random, or pseudo-random, selection of symbols is displayable. Also mounted in the housing 101 are a display screen 106 for providing information to a player, a coin slot 102 (which has a coin validator associated therewith) for providing payment prior to playing the game, a plurality of buttons 150,152, 154,156, 158 for use in playing the game, a collect button 103 for use in collecting winnings, a win bank display 107 for displaying the contents of a win bank and a pay cup 104 into which the players winnings, if any, are delivered. The machine 100 is controlled by a control unit 110, which drives the display 106 and the reels 108, receives inputs from the buttons 105, 103 and the coin validator, causes coins to be paid to the pay cup 104, and also maintains the win bank within a memory therein the contents of which are displayed on the win bank display 107. A network connection 112 enables the connection of the machine 100 to a network (118 in Figure 2), and is also driven by the control unit 110.

The reels 160, 162,164 are arranged such that three symbols from each reel 160,162, 164 can be viewed at any one time from twenty symbols evenly distributed around the periphery thereof. This arrangement allows nine symbols, in a three by three matrix, to be viewed at any one time. A win line 105 exits along the middle row of the matrix and affects the play of the game as will be described hereinafter.

The network of Figure 2 comprises a first, second, third and fourth (in this case there are four machines, but it is envisaged that there may be a greater or lesser number) machines 200,202, 204,206 as previously

described. The network connection 112 of each machine 100 is connected to a central unit 120, which is provided with a display 122. The central unit comprises a control unit 124, which connects to a storage means, in this case a hard drive 126, and a memory means 128 in which programs are executed and also drives the display 122.

The control unit 120 keeps a record of a number, possibly sixteen but again it is envisaged that this could be a greater or lesser number, of numbered awards which may be thought of as tickets that are winnable by the users of the machines 100 under the conditions described below.

Each award is an electronic representation of a prize, and is assigned a value such that during any one game there are a predetermined number of prizes of a predetermined value. The values are distributed according to the following table:

Prize Number of Awards H5 1 HO 1 S5 1 f4 1 zu 1 f2 1 n 10 Of course, this distribution is only an example and many other distributions of prizes can be envisaged.

The central unit 120 keeps a record, on the storage means 126, of which prizes have been allocated and if so to which award number and machine.

For example if a player wins an award from the first machine 200, the central unit records that a player from that machine has won an award.

In use, a player introduces coins or tokens into coin slot 102 of a machine 100 and, if the coinage is of sufficient value, gains access to the game. The value of the coins is converted at a predetermined rate to credits and the credit total is decreased as each game is played, each game decrementing the credit total by a predetermined number of credits.

The initial stage of the game takes the form of a traditional fruit machine game, in which the reels 160,162, 164 are spun. In this case, the reels 160,162, 164 are spun and then appear to stop in a random fashion, which may in fact be random, or pseudo random. When the reels 160,162, 164 stop spinning predetermined combinations of symbols displayed thereby cause a predetermined number of credits to be added to the win bank. The win bank display 107 is then updated to show any changes in the contents of the win bank. In the game described herein the predetermined combination includes three symbols of the same kind being displayed on the win line 105 (for example three cherries, three oranges, etc.).

The symbols are representations of fruits and bells and some may have

"Bonus"superimposed thereon. When three of the symbols displayed by the reels have"Bonus"superimposed thereon, at least one, in any position, on each reel (commonly referred to as a tic-tac-toe arrangement), the player wins an award. The machine 100 requests list of prizes that have yet to be allocated, from the central unit 120, and selects one at random. The display 106 is caused to display a list of awards that as yet are unallocated and the player selects one of these awards by making an appropriate input using the buttons 150-158. The machine 100 then requests the central unit 120 that the prize (selected by the machine) and award number (selected by the player) are to be

allocated to that machine. The machine 100 displays the number of the allocated award on its display screen 106 such that the player knows which award has been won. The player is free to carry on playing the game and should any further awards be won, they are requested and also displayed on the screen as previously described. It will be appreciated that as the game progresses, the player will be presented with fewer awards number from which to make his/her selection, and also the machine 100 will be presented with fewer prizes from which to make its selection.

As requests for awards come into the central unit 120 a record is made of the number and prize which has been allocated. The display 122 of the central unit is then updated to show which awards have been allocated.

The display 122 is positioned in a central location so that the players of each of the first to fourth machines 200-206 can see which awards have been won, and by which machine. At this stage, there is no indication of the value associated with each award, and simply shows which awards have been won. Thus, a degree of anticipation may be built up with players seeing that awards are being won.

In an alternative embodiment, the central display 122 shows which prizes have been won and which are yet to be allocated.

In the embodiments so far described the value of an award is determined at the time the award is awarded by the machine. Such an arrangement allows the machine to meet legislation is some jurisdictions. However, in other embodiments the machine, or network of machines, are arranged such that the value of the awards is not determined until the awards are drawn/awarded. An arrangement in which the value of the awards is not predetermined before a draw is made may help to increase player appeal.

In order to distribute the prizes allocated to the awards, a draw must take place. This occurs when: five minutes has elapsed since the last draw and at least one award has been allocated in the intervening time; or all sixteen awards have been allocated. whichever happens first.

Of course a single player can collect his/her prize before a draw takes place as discussed above and if he/she does so his/her awards do not form part of a subsequent draw.

When a draw occurs the central unit 120 instructs all machines allocated at least one award to halt and to attract the players'attention using the display 106 of the respective machines. The central unit 120 then displays on its display screen 122 an animation of a draw of awards from, say, a hat. The display 106 of each of the respective machines also shows the draw. The awards are drawn in order of decreasing value such that the top prize award is drawn first. The prize and award combinations that have been allocated are, of course, already known by the central unit 120 since the machine 100 from which the award was won has allocated a prize to associate with that award. By these means, despite the player's prize being pre-allocated, a sense of anticipation can be built up for the player.

As the prizes are revealed, the win bank on the appropriate machine is increased by the amount of the prize and the win bank display 107 updated accordingly. If the player initiated the draw by pressing the collect button 103, or if the player at any time, does press the collect

button, an amount of money equivalent to the value of the win bank is paid out into the pay out tray 104.

In a second, but similar embodiment, a game providing awards may be played on a network of machines 100 but lacking the central unit 120. In this case, the displays 106 of each machine would display the data displayed by the central display 122 and the functions of the central until 120 with respect to allocating awards and so on would be assigned to one of the machines 100.

In a third, but similar embodiment to the first two embodiments, a game providing awards may be played on a machine that is not networked i. e. a standalone machine. Otherwise, the machine 200 has all the features of the machine 100 of the first embodiment.

In use, the game proceeds as described in the first embodiment. If a player achieved the"tic-tac-toe"arrangement, instead of requesting an award from the central unit 120 (which is absent in this embodiment), the machine 200 itself keeps a record of which awards and prizes have been allocated. The game then proceeds as described in the first embodiment, with the functions of the central unit 120 being provided by the machine 200.

In other embodiments, it may be possible for the machine to print awards, which may be entered in to a container and physically drawn by a machine, or attendant in order to display prizes that have been won.

In the preceding embodiments, the random factor is supplied by spinning reels. However, it is equally applicable to any other game involving an element of chance such as roulette or racing simulations (e. g. horse, car racing).

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An entertainment machine comprising processing circuitry arranged to award a player thereof an award, which can be converted to a prize at a later time and the machine is further arranged not to disclose the value of the prize associated with the award at the time the award is made.
2. An entertainment machine according to claim 1, wherein the award comprises any one or more of the following: a virtual representation of a ticket; a token; a ticket.
3. An entertainment machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an area of memory and/or disk storage within the processing circuitry of the machine is arranged to hold data representing one or more awards/virtual tickets.
4. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine comprises means for printing awards.
5. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine comprises processing circuitry that is arranged to provide the game played by the player.
6. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to determine whether an award should be awarded to a player.
7. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to award a player with an award according to the player's progress in a game, for example if the player has won a predetermined number of points, or the like.

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8. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to issue awards in exchange for coins, tokens, credit from credit cards, winnings in a game provided by the machine, or the like, allowing awards to be obtained as of right rather than by playing the machine.
9. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to award awards according to a random generation means, which is arranged to generate random, or pseudo random outcomes.
10. An entertainment machine according to claim 9, wherein the random generation means comprises a set of reels, which may be virtual reels, or physical reels.
11. An entertainment machine according to claim 10, wherein the arrangement is such that an award is awarded if a predetermined combination of symbols are displayed by a reel, or combination of reels.
12. An entertainment machine according to claim 10, wherein the random generation means comprises any other mechanism for producing a random, or pseudo random outcome.
13. An entertainment machine according to claim 12, wherein the random generation means comprises any one or more of the following : a dice mechanism, a simulation of a least one dice, a wheel arranged to spin and stop in a random, or pseudo random position, a random sequence that a user must stop in a desired location, a game of roulette, betting on the outcome of a race.

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14. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is arranged to disclose the value of the prize associated with the award when the prize is collected.
15. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to determine the value of the award at, or roughly at, the time the award is awarded.
16. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine comprises a selection means arranged to allow a player to select an award from a predetermined number of awards.
17. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is arranged to determine the value of a prize that will be associated with any award that the player selects.
18. An entertainment machine according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the machine is arranged to assign the value of a prize to the award so that it is the player's selection that determines the value of the prize that he/she wins.
19. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is arranged to assign the value of the prize associated with an award simultaneously with disclosure of the value of the prize associated with the award to a player.
20. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is arranged to draw awards from awards that have been awarded.

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21. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein display means is provided for showing a player a simulation of a draw as the value of prizes associated with one or more awards is disclosed to the player.
22. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is arranged to select awards to be awarded to a player from a set of a predetermined number of awards.
23. An entertainment machine according to claim 22, wherein the machine is arranged to disclose the value of prizes associated with the awards once all of the awards of that set have been awarded.
24. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is arranged to disclose the value of prizes associated with the awards, only after a predetermined time has elapsed.
25. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine comprises an input means, for activation by a player to cause the value associated with awards that the player has won to be disclosed.
26. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine comprises payout means for awarding a prize associated with the or each award to a player.
27. An entertainment machine according to at least claim 25, wherein the machine comprises means for determining a first prize award, and means for delivering a lower prize in response to player-actuation of said input means.

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28. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is provided with a networking means arranged to connect the machine to an external processing means.
29. An entertainment machine according to claim 28, wherein the external processing means comprises a further entertainment machine.
30. An entertainment machine according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the processing means is arranged to receive data from the networking means in relation to awards.
31. An entertainment machine according to claim 30, wherein the processing means is arranged to allow a game to be played across a plurality of machines.
32. A entertainment machine according to preceding claim, arranged such that players having more than a single award can accumulate and claim prizes according to the total value of the prizes that have been associated with the awards that he/she has been awarded.
33. A entertainment machine according to claim 32, wherein the machine is arranged such that a player can accumulate and claim more than the maximum value of prize that it is possible to win from a single game.
34. An entertainment machine substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
35. A network of two or more entertainment machines according any preceding claim.

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36. A network according to claim 35, wherein each machine of the network is arranged to communicate data relating to awards across the network.
37. A network according to claim 36, wherein each machine of the network is arranged to communicate any one or more of the following pieces of data: an identifier identifying an award that has been awarded by a machine; the value that has been assigned to an award awarded by a machine; whether a player has collected, or has requested to collect, any of the prizes associated with awards that have been awarded.
38. A network according to any of claims 35 to 37 which is arranged such that a limited total predetermined number of awards is available from the machines connected to the network.
39. A network according to claim 38, wherein the machines are arranged to communicate across the network when a player has an award awarded to them on any one machine.
40. A network according to any of claims 35 to 39 which is arranged to deliver a plurality of prizes of different values.
41. A network according to claim 40 which is arranged to deliver a predetermined number of awards associated with a particular value of prize, the number of awards decreasing with increasing prize value.
42. A network according to any of claims 35 to41, wherein an award value is determined by a central unit of the network.
43. A network according to any of claims 35 to 42, which comprises a display for displaying which machines have generated a winning award.

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44. A network according to any of claims 35 to 43 wherein the display is arranged to display representations of award that have been won and/or that have yet to be won and/or the value of prizes that have been won.
45. A network according to any of claims 35 to 44, wherein the value of prizes associated with the awards is not disclosed until any one or more of the following scenarios: the elapse of a predetermined time (maybe from the start of a game); until all, or a predetermined proportion, of the awards have been awarded.
46. A method of increasing the player appeal of an entertainment machine comprising awarding players thereof with awards the value of which is not disclosed to the player at the time the award is awarded.
47. A method according to claim 46 which comprises allowing players on a plurality of machines to compete against one another.
48. A method according to claim 46 or 47, wherein method is arranged to allow a player to collect a prize associated with an award that he/she has won at any time, or at one or more predetermined times during a game.
49. A computer readable medium holding instructions which when read by an entertainment machine cause the machine to perform the method of any of claims 45 to 47.

49. A computer readable medium holding instructions which when read by an entertainment machine cause the machine to function as a machine according to any of claims 1 to 34.

50. A computer readable medium holding instructions which when read by an entertainment machine cause the machine to perform the method of any of claims 46 to 48.

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1. An entertainment machine comprising processing circuitry arranged to award a player thereof an award, which is converted to a prize at a later time and the machine is further arranged not to disclose the value of the prize associated with the award at the time the award is made.

2. An entertainment machine according to claim 1, wherein the award comprises any one or more of the following: a virtual representation of a ticket; a token; a ticket.

3. An entertainment machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an area of memory and/or disk storage within the processing circuitry of the machine is arranged to hold data representing one or more awards/virtual tickets.

4. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine comprises means for printing awards.

5. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine comprises processing circuitry that is arranged to provide the game played by the player.

6. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to determine whether an award should be awarded to a player.

7. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to award a player with an award according to the player's progress in a game, for example if the player has won a predetermined number of points, or the like.

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8. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to issue awards in exchange for coins, tokens, credit from credit cards, winnings in a game provided by the machine, or the like, allowing awards to be obtained as of right rather than by playing the machine.

9. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to award awards according to a random generation means, which is arranged to generate random, or pseudo random outcomes.

10. An entertainment machine according to claim 9, wherein the random generation means comprises a set of reels, which may be virtual reels, or physical reels.

11. An entertainment machine according to claim 10, wherein the arrangement is such that an award is awarded if a predetermined combination of symbols are displayed by a reel, or combination of reels.

12. An entertainment machine according to claim 9, wherein the random generation means comprises any one or more of the following: a dice mechanism, a simulation of a least one dice, a wheel arranged to spin and stop in a random, or pseudo random position, a random sequence that a user must stop in a desired location, a game of roulette, betting on the outcome of a race.

13. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is arranged to disclose the value of the prize associated with the award when the prize is collected.

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14. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to determine the value of the award at, or roughly at, the time the award is awarded.

15. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine comprises a selection means arranged to allow a player to select an award from a predetermined number of awards.

16. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is arranged to determine the value of a prize that will be associated with any award that the player selects.

17. An entertainment machine according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the machine is arranged to assign the value of a prize to the award so that it is the player's selection that determines the value of the prize that he/she wins.

18. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is arranged to assign the value of the prize associated with an award simultaneously with disclosure of the value of the prize associated with the award to a player.

19. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is arranged to draw awards from awards that have been awarded.

20. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein display means is provided for showing a player a simulation of a draw as the value of prizes associated with one or more awards is disclosed to the player.

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21. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is arranged to select awards to be awarded to a player from a set of a predetermined number of awards.

22. An entertainment machine according to claim 21, wherein the machine is arranged to disclose the value of prizes associated with the awards once all of the awards of that set have been awarded.

23. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is arranged to disclose the value of prizes associated with the awards, only after a predetermined time has elapsed.

24. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine comprises an input means, for activation by a player to cause the value associated with awards that the player has won to be disclosed.

25. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine comprises payout means for awarding a prize associated with the or each award to a player.

26. An entertainment machine according to at least claim 24, wherein the machine comprises means for determining a first prize award, and means for delivering a lower prize in response to player-actuation of said input means.

27. An entertainment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine is provided with a networking means arranged to connect the machine to an external processing means.

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28. An entertainment machine according to claim 27, wherein the external processing means comprises a further entertainment machine.

29. An entertainment machine according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the processing means is arranged to receive data from the networking means in relation to awards.

30. An entertainment machine according to claim 29, wherein the processing means is arranged to allow a game to be played across a plurality of machines.

31. A entertainment machine according to preceding claim, arranged such that players having more than a single award can accumulate and claim prizes according to the total value of the prizes that have been associated with the awards that he/she has been awarded.

32. A entertainment machine according to claim 31, wherein the machine is arranged such that a player can accumulate and claim more than the maximum value of prize that it is possible to win from a single game.

33. An entertainment machine substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

34. A network of two or more entertainment machines according to any preceding claim.

35. A network according to claim 34, wherein each machine of the network is arranged to communicate data relating to awards across the network.

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36. A network according to claim 35, wherein each machine of the network is arranged to communicate any one or more of the following pieces of data: an identifier identifying an award that has been awarded by a machine; the value that has been assigned to an award awarded by a machine; whether a player has collected, or has requested to collect, any of the prizes associated with awards that have been awarded.

37. A network according to any of claims 34 to 36 which is arranged such that a limited total predetermined number of awards is available from the machines connected to the network.

38. A network according to claim 37, wherein the machines are arranged to communicate across the network when a player has an award awarded to them on any one machine.

39. A network according to any of claims 34 to 38 which is arranged to deliver a plurality of prizes of different values.

40. A network according to claim 39 which is arranged to deliver a predetermined number of awards associated with a particular value of prize, the number of awards decreasing with increasing prize value.

41. A network according to any of claims 34 to 40, wherein an award value is determined by a central unit of the network.

42. A network according to any of claims 34 to 41, which comprises a display for displaying which machines have generated a winning award.

43. A network according to any of claims 34 to 42 wherein the display is arranged to display representations of award that have been won and/or that have yet to be won and/or the value of prizes that have been won.

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44. A network according to any of claims 34 to 43, wherein the value of prizes associated with the awards is not disclosed until any one or more of the following scenarios: the elapse of a predetermined time (maybe from the start of a game); until all, or a predetermined proportion, of the awards have been awarded.

45. A method of increasing the player appeal of an entertainment machine comprising awarding players thereof with awards the value of which is not disclosed to the player at the time the award is awarded.

46. A method according to claim 45 which comprises allowing players on a plurality of machines to compete against one another.

47. A method according to claim 45 or 46, wherein method is arranged to allow a player to collect a prize associated with an award that he/she has won at any time, or at one or more predetermined times during a game.

48. A computer readable medium holding instructions which when read by an entertainment machine cause the machine to function as a machine according to any of claims 1 to 33.