WO2003035194A1

WO2003035194A1 - A telephonic scratch-off lottery gaming method

Info

Publication number: WO2003035194A1
Application number: PCT/SE2002/001920
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wouter Wijngaart Van Der
Original assignee: Mint Ab
Priority date: 2001-10-22
Filing date: 2002-10-22
Publication date: 2003-05-01
Also published as: SE0103512D0

Abstract

A telephonic gaming method for playing a token game wherein a player by means of a telephone terminal unit and via a telephone network interfaces a central gaming system having a game processor and pre-stored logical rules devised for directing the game processor to perform a predetermined token game, wherein - communications between the telephone terminal unit and the central gaming system is performed by means of sound signals;- a token game is initiated in the central gaming system in conjunction with establishing a telephone contact between a player telephone terminal unit and said central gaming system;- values of selectable predetermined tokens are revealed by sending a signal representing a selected token to said central gaming system, whereupon said central gaming system to the telephone terminal unit returns a message representing a value associated with said selected token in said token game.

Description

A telephonic scratch-off lottery gaming method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system for performing a game via a telephone terminal device.

Background

Today, there are several games on the gaming market that requires the player to collect one or more figures, letters, tokens or symbols in order to win a game. Hereinafter, the terms: figures, letter, tokens or symbols will be referred to by the single expression "tokens". These tokens are hidden for the player when he or she obtains an object that contains the tokens. This object is from here on referred to as "carrier" or "token carrier". These games have in common that only after the player has come in possession of the token carrier, e.g. by buying it, he or she can determine, or "reveal", which tokens the carrier contains.

Examples of such games on the Swedish market are "Triss" and "Tia". In these games, the carrier consists of a once usable or single use scratch ticket, a ticket where certain places are hidden by a layer that needs to be removed in order to reveal what is printed underneath that layer. The tickets in Triss and Tia contain nine fields, each one of them containing one token. The token in Triss and Tia is a monetary amount. The fields are hidden for the player at the moment of purchase of the scratch ticket. After purchase, the player needs to remove by scratching off the layer to reveal the amounts in the fields. The player wins if three tokens, here amounts, are identical, and he gets paid the amount that was three times imprinted on the ticket. An important part of the gaming pleasure is that the player has to perform a certain action, scratching, in order to find out whether he or she has won.

The organisations that organise token games, e.g. Svenska Spel on the Swedish market, often face a considerable production, distribution and validity control cost for the token carriers in their games. This is a major drawback with the usually paper or plastic based token carriers of such games as they are commonly realised today. Often, the tickets contain a hidden control field that needs to be checked by the game organiser before a prize is reimbursed to the player.

Furthermore, a new market emerging in recent times is mobile gaming. In this market, mobile communication devices such as mobile telephones or Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are used to play games on. Such games could include betting games or lottery games. Today's mobile phones, however, are in their interface possibilities often limited to a numeric key board for phone number dialling, and maybe a limited number of functional buttons e.g. for scrolling, selecting, de- selecting and on-off switching functionality. Not only mobile phones, but also stationary phones have such limitations for interfacing in gaming situations. Many telephone terminal devices on the market are "slim", however, they are not user programmable, they do not comprise a method for adapting the device to perform a novel task, and their input and output possibilities are limited. Many telephone terminal devices, e.g., do not contain a display. Many telephone terminals can only communicate over a telephone communication channel by means of sound. DTMF is often only standardised means of data transfer with such telephone terminals.

Prior art In the publication WOO 148712, Tanskanen describes a mobile lottery game in which an opaque block on the display of a wireless station is linked to a key of the wireless station. Touching the button on the wireless device, the display "underneath" the opaque block corresponding to the button is revealed. The wireless station in this prior art technology needs here to be provided by data from a betting server provider prior to the playing of the game. Moreover, when a button is touched on the wireless station, the value must be displayed to the player. Generally, this piece of prior art requires a method of transmission of game parameters to the game terminal, and a wireless station configured to receive game identification number and game parameters. In the publication WO0030729, Wiltshire et al describe a computer gaming system and method of operation comprising a client/terminal computer having a client/terminal program that allows input and output streams of the gaming program executed on the server/host computer to be separated and redirected to the client/terminal computers. Since the gaming programs are executed entirely on the server/host computer, with only wagering input and display output operations being executed on the client/terminal computers, the cost of the hardware and software required for each client/terminal computer is greatly reduced. The Object of the Invention

The general object of the invention is to provide a gaming system for realising a telephone based hidden token game, such as a scratch ticket game, that overcomes the problems of on one hand the usually paper or plastic based single use token carrier and on the other hand the prior art wireless gaming devices.

Different aspects of the problem are:

- to handle production, distribution and validation of such a game product;

- to utilise the interface possibilities of telephone terminals.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention offers a solution that allows playing token games on a stationary or mobile communications device, thus removing the need for any physical tokens or token carriers. The inventive solution still requires from the player to perform certain gaming acts in order to reveal the tokens and to find out whether he or she wins the game, and thus preserves the game fun for the player.

The invention includes a manner whereby the player has to push a telephone button, instead of prior art scratching a carrier, in order to reveal a token.

The present invention thus comprises a method and a system for the playing of token games, such as a scratch ticket game, on a telephone terminal device. In different embodiments the only requirements on the terminal device is that it comprises a key pad as input means, and that the terminal device is adapted to send signals, such as DTMF tone signalling or standard signals in a 3G telephone technology, over a telephone network. In another embodiment, only voice commands are used as information transfer means from the telephone terminal to the central gaming system.

The invention comprises a central gaming system, switched to the telephone network, which is adapted for either interpreting tone signalling (e.g. DTMF) or voice commands. The system is also adapted to respond over the telephone connection with (automatic) voice prompts. Such systems are generally called "IVR" systems or "voice portals".

Specific for this invention is the manner in which this central system has been adapted for the game functionality as described below. A telephone contact is established between the player and the central system. This contact can be initiated either by the player, e.g. by calling a specific game telephone number, or by the central system, e.g. upon a game request from the player over the Internet. For the purpose of the invention the operation of the telephone terminal unit is independent of logic processing rules devised for performing a predetermined token game or any steps of the game by means of the processing power of the telephone terminal. The central gaming system is adapted to perform the token game with the telephone terminal unit as a mere input and output interface of messages between the player and the central gaming system. The game organiser optionally identifies the player through the standard identification signalling of the telephone terminal unit, for example the A-number, CLI-number IMSI number, TIMSI number or IMEI number of the player. A-nr and CLI are network related, whereas IMSI, TIMSI and IMEI are telephone device related. The identification can also be carried out by requesting an identification code from the player, entered e.g. via voice or communicated with DTMF in the telephone device during the communication session. The game organiser optionally has the possibility to charge the player that has been identified for the game.

Either the player communicates, e.g. via voice or with DTMF, to the game organiser that he or she wants to play a specific token game, or a token game is automatically initiated during the telephone communication between the player and the game organiser. The tokens in the token game are stored in the central system in a manner that the tokens are linked to a specific tone signal, e.g. DTMF, or voice command. When the player sends the specific tone signal or voice command from his or her communication device, the central system will recognise the tone signal or voice command and answer with a message representing a value associated with a token, e.g. in the shape of an automatic voice prompt to the player, revealing the respective token linked to that tone signal. When the player makes the central system to reveal the last token of a winning token combination, the player wins the game and the central system communicates to the player, e.g. through an automatic voice prompt, e-mail or SMS message, of the fact that he or she wins. This message can additionally include information about the prize won. In case there exist no winning amount or token combination in the game, the player loses and the game is terminated after the consumer has revealed all hidden tokens. The invention could additionally be adapted in the way that for every game and for every player, the initial chances of winning are equal. This ensures that the central system gives a "fair chance of winning" to the player.

The invention could additionally be adapted to ensure that after a certain predefined amount of time, e.g. during which delay the central system does not receive any signal tones or voice commands, called a "time-out", the telephone communication is terminated by the central system. The time out can also be triggered by other predetermined events or non events, i.e. not occurred events. In short, the currently preferred embodiment of this mechanism is that the central gaming system terminates the telephone contact if there occurs a delay that exceeds a predetermined amount of time in receiving a game relevant signal from the player telephone terminal unit. Thereafter, usually upon termination of the game, the player is informed via SMS or email or any other communication means whether the game he or she started contained a winning token combination or not. This ensures that technical or other communication failures do not change the chances of winning for the player. This also ensures that telephony communication costs do not rise too high for the central system or for the player. Preferably, the central gaming system sends a message to the player upon termination of the game in any case, that is no matter what the result of the game is or why the game is terminated. The invention could additionally be adapted to ensure that the player is debited the price of the game that he or she is playing.

The invention could additionally be adapted to ensure that when the player wins the game, the player is reimbursed the prize.

In different cases and varieties of the invention, the player is reimbursed an amount in case the game is terminated by the central gaming system upon the occurrence of a delay. This in particular if the delay exceeds a predetermined amount of time in receiving a game relevant signal from the player telephone terminal unit. The amount depends on for example the price of a game, the prize of the terminated game in case the terminated game was a winning game and the player was or was not aware of the fact that the game was a winning game. Another possibility is to reimburse a combination of the price of a game and the prize of the terminated game in case the terminated game was a winning game and the player was or was not aware of the fact that the game was a winning game. In a preferred embodiment, a player should be reimbursed if e.g. the telephone connection breaks during the playing of the game. It can happen that the lot of the token game the player bought was a winning lot, but it never got revealed for some reason. The player should then be paid out anyway, and in some jurisdictions this may even be mandatory for the game operator in order to guarantee the "fairness" of the game and the gaming method. In a general wording the invention is embodied as a telephonic gaming method for playing a token game wherein a player by means of a telephone terminal unit and via a telephone network interfaces a central gaming system, said central gaming system having a game processor and pre-stored logical rules devised for directing the game processor to perform a predetermined token game, wherein - communications between the telephone terminal unit and the central gaming system is performed by means of telephone standard signals;

- a token game is initiated in the central gaming system in conjunction with establishing a telephone contact between a player telephone terminal unit and said central gaming system; - values of selectable predetermined tokens are revealed by receiving in said central gaming system a signal from said telephone terminal unit of the player, the signal representing a selected token, whereupon said central gaming system to the telephone terminal unit returns a message representing a value associated with said selected token in said token game. A game are in different embodiments initiated in conjunction with the telephone contact in different ways, for example in response to a call, after a telephone contact has been established or in response to a request from the player. In one variety the game is initiated before telephone contact and waiting for someone to call in and play or request the initiated game. In one variety the invention is embodied as a telephonic gaming method for playing a token game wherein a player by means of a telephone terminal unit and via a telephone network interfaces a central gaming system, said central gaming system having a game processor and pre-stored logical rules devised for directing the game processor to perform a predetermined token game, wherein - communications between the telephone terminal unit and the central gaming system is performed by means of sound signals;

- a token game is initiated in the central gaming system in conjunction with establishing a telephone contact between a player telephone terminal unit and said central gaming system; - values of selectable predetermined tokens are revealed by receiving in said central gaming system a sound signal from said telephone terminal unit of the player, the signal representing a selected token, whereupon said central gaming system to the telephone terminal unit returns a voice message representing a value associated with said selected token in said token game.

In another embodiment specifically made for sound signalling the invention is embodied as a telephonic gaming method for playing a token game, wherein a player by means of a telephone terminal unit and via a telephone network interfaces a central gaming system, said central gaming system having a game processor and pre-stored logical rules devised for directing the game processor to perform a predetermined token game, the token game including a set of tokens having associated values, the logical rules defining a winning and a losing game dependent on the combination of the values of the token set, and wherein communications between the telephone terminal unit and the central gaming system is performed by means of sound signals; comprising the steps of:

-receiving in the central gaming system a telephone call from a telephone terminal unit of a player and in response thereto establishing a mutual telephone contact; -initiating a token game in the central gaming system, including retrieving a set of tokens;

-receiving in the central gaming system sound signals from said telephone terminal unit of the player, the sound signal representing a selected token to be revealed; -retrieving from a data file a value associated with said selected token in the current token game; -sending from the central gaming system a voice message to said telephone terminal unit of the player, the voice message representing and thus revealing to the player said value associated with said selected token;

-if a token is the last token of a winning set of tokens, then sending from the central gaming system a voice message of a winning game to said terminal unit of the player; -if a token is the last token of a loosing game, then terminating game and telephone contact.

In another embodiment that is more general for different standard telephone systems the invention is embodied as a telephonic gaming method for playing a token game, wherein a player by means of a telephone terminal unit and via a telephone network interfaces a central gaming system, said central gaming system having a game processor and pre-stored logical rules devised for directing the game processor to perform a predetermined token game, the token game including a set of tokens having associated values, the logical rules defining a winning and a losing game dependent on the combination of the values of the token set, and wherein communications between the telephone terminal unit and the central gaming system is performed by means of standard telephone signals; comprising the steps of:

-receiving in the central gaming system a telephone call from a telephone terminal unit of a player and in response thereto establishing a mutual telephone contact;

-initiating a token game in the central gaming system, including retrieving a set of tokens;

-receiving in the central gaming system a signal from said telephone terminal unit of the player, the signal representing a selected token to be revealed; -retrieving from a data file a value associated with said selected token in the current token game;

-sending from the central gaming system a message to said telephone terminal unit of the player, the message representing and thus revealing to the player said value associated with said selected token; -if a token is the last token of a winning set of tokens, then sending from the central gaming system a message of a winning game to said terminal unit of the player;

-if a token is the last token of a loosing game, then terminating game and telephone contact.

Definitions

The following definitions are used in this description.

Definition of a token:

A token is a game object containing data that is initially unknown to at least one player in the game and that is revealed upon a specific action.

Definition of a sound token:

A sound token is a token which data consists of sound data, e.g. a voice prompt, piece of music or a sound signal. Definition of tone signals:

DTMF (dual tone multi frequency) signals or other signals that are standardised in telephony and that are transmitted by a telephony device over a telephony network upon the selection of a button on the key pad of a telephony device. For each selected button, a specific tone signal is generated and transmitted. The term tone signals in this document refers to standardised signals that are used for such purpose, and include also signals in future telephony standards that are transmitted over the telephone network by other means than sound.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be further explained below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig 1 schematically shows a gaming system with a telephonic interface in accordance with the invention; Fig 2 shows a schematic block diagram of steps and functions in the gaming system in accordance with the invention.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

Fig 1 shows schematically the overall structure of a telephonic gaming system in accordance with the invention. Thus, a central gaming system 1 is connected or connectable to a telephone network 2 that is capable of establishing a telephone contact between a telephone terminal unit 4 and the central gaming system 1. Communication between the telephone terminal unit 4 and the central gaming system is performed by standard telephone communication means, for example by means of audio or sound signals such as DTMF or voice signals. In other embodiments the signals are based on or carried by the standard signalling of a 3G telephone technology.

The central gaming system 1 comprises the per se known communications means for communicating with a telephone terminal unit via the telephone network 2. The central gaming system 1 further comprises data processing means such as a central processing unit, data storage and specifically designed computer program product portions devised to perform the steps and functions of the invention. The central gaming system 1 comprises functionality for receiving and interpreting messages or signals, from the player and input via the telephone terminal 4, in the shape of for example DTMF signals or voice signals, thus for example a DTMF signal interpreter or a voice signal interpreter. There is further comprised or realised by means of said central processing unit a game processor devised for realising a game dependent on an also comprised set of logic rules. These logic rules are defined such as to realise a predetermined game when processed by the game processor. There are also a number of predetermined voice prompts or sound tokens that are activated and transmitted dependent on the input and reception of a tone signal or voice command from a specific player or a specific telephone terminal unit, and dependent on the predetermined logical rules. The telephone network 2 can be a wire based network or a wireless cellular phone network or a combination thereof. The telephone terminal unit 4 comprises the usual microphone and loudspeaker set or corresponding means, a key pad 6 with the usual number key set 0-9 and possibly also additional function keys. The telephone terminal unit 4 is in a preferred embodiment capable of transmitting key signals in the shape of DTMF signals.

Fig 2 shows a schematic matrix block diagram describing steps, functions and signal transmission comprised in embodiments of the invention for playing a scratch ticket game by means of a telephonic interface. In the diagram the first (.1) column represents steps at the player's side, the second (.2) column represents the telephone network and the third (.3) column represents the central gaming system. The rows represent in general the flow of steps in time from top (1) and downward. However, it should be noted that the order of the steps may be performed in another order than that depicted in the diagram. In step: 1.1 The player calls a predetermined telephone number linked to a central gaming system, which to the player is known as the game organiser.

1.2 A telephone contact is established between the player and the central gaming system.

1.3 The central gaming system receives the call on the predetermined telephone number and initiates a game session.

2.1 The player sends an identification number or an identification code. This identification number or code may be automatically sent as a part of the signal communication when establishing the telephone contact or may be sent upon request from the central gaming system. 2.2 The telephone network transmits the identification number or code in the shape of tone signals or a voice signal from the player, and transmits a confirmation message in the shape of a voice prompt from the central gaming system.

2.3 The central gaming system identifies the player on the basis of and dependent on the received identification number or code and sends the confirmation message mentioned in step 2.2.

3.1 The player requests a game. This may be performed as a separate step or made inherent in or dependent on the first calling of step 1.1.

3.2 The telephone network transmits the request in the shape of a DTMF signal or voice signal.

3.3 In response to the request for a game the central gaming system optionally charges the player the price for the game, for example via the phone bill, a gaming account or any other debit or credit account, and a game is initiated.

4.1 The player requests a selected token as represented by a number to be revealed e.g. by pushing a number button on the key pad of the telephone terminal unit or by voice inputting a selected number, typically between 1 and 9.

4.2 The selected token number is transmitted by means of a DTMF or a voice signal.

4.3 The central gaming system receives the thus requested and transmitted token number and interprets the signal by means of tone or voice interpretation. The hidden value of the selected token is looked up in a data file that is associated with the current game, wherein hidden values are stored dependent on the selectable numbers. 5.3 The central gaming system then sends the thus revealed value to the player by means of a voice prompt.

5.2 The voice prompt is transmitted by means of the telephone network. 5.1 The player receives by means of his telephone terminal unit a voice message of the revealed value.

6. The steps 4.1 to 5.3 are repeated until all selectable tokens have been requested at least once.

7.3 If the received token number is a winning token set, then the central gaming system sends the message that it is a winning game. In the case there is a prize associated with a winning, the central gaming system enables a delivery or payment of the prize. Then the game is terminated.

7.2 The voice prompt containing the winning game message is transmitted by means of the telephone network. 7.1 The player receives the winning game message, possibly comprising a statement of the prize won.

8.3 If the received token number is the last of the selectable tokens in the current game and it is a loosing game, then the game and the telephone contact is terminated. 8.2 The telephone network terminates the telephone contact.

8.1 The player receives in the telephone terminal unit a terminated call signal.

A player who wants to play a game, e.g. the Triss game, with his or her mobile or stationary telephone device, thus calls the central gaming system of the game organiser with a telephone device. The game organiser has the possibility to identify the player either through the standard identification signalling, e.g. the A-nr (CLI-nr), of the telephone of the player or requests an identification code from the player, entered via voice or DTMF in the telephone device during the communication session. One embodiment realises identification by means of a combination of the mentioned methods. The game organiser optionally has the possibility to charge the player the price of one game that has been identified in the above-described manner. The player can now communicate, e.g. via voice or DTMF, to the game organiser that he or she wants play a game, for example wants to obtain a Triss lot in the inventive shape, with his or her phone. In another embodiment, the Triss ticket is automatically obtained when the player dials a specific game telephone number. In one embodiment, this might be implemented as follows:

A preferably automatic voice prompt says: "In order to load a Triss ticket into your mobile telephone, please press telephone button 'one'.". After the player presses the button 1 on his telephone, the voice prompt says: "You have now loaded a Triss ticket into your telephone. Under every telephone number button lays one amount hidden. To be able to reveal the amount, press the respective number button on the telephone.".

According to the invention, the game of the Triss ticket is obtained telephonically and the player can reveal the hidden tokens in the game by pushing the respective telephone buttons, as is described in the following. In the central data system, every Triss ticket is technically implemented as a data file, containing information that links a specific DTMF sound or voice command to a specific amount. For example, the data file could contain the following data:

In the above table, the numbers 1 to 9 refer to the respective telephone device buttons, and the numbers 25, 50, 100 and 10000 refer to the "hidden" amounts that are linked to that button in that specific game of Triss ticket as represented in the data file.

When the player presses a button on his or her communication device, the central system will recognise, through the DTMF tone coupled to that button, the button pushed. A voice prompt will be play backed to the player, pronouncing the respective token coupled to the button for that specific game of Triss ticket as specified in the data file of the current game.

For the above Triss ticket example, this means that: when the player presses button 1 , he/she hears "50 dollars". when the player presses button 2, he/she hears "100 dollars". when the player presses button 3, he/she hears "25 dollars". when the player presses button 4, he/she hears "10000 dollars". when the player presses button 5, he/she hears "10000 dollars". when the player presses button 6, he/she hears "25 dollars". when the player presses button 7, he/she hears "100 dollars". when the player presses button 8, he/she hears "50 dollars". when the player presses button 9, he/she hears "100 dollars".

This is so, except when the player by pushing a button reveals the last token of a winning amount combination. For the above example this is the moment when the player has at least once pushed the buttons 2, 7 and 9. In this case, the player wins the game and the central system communicates to the player, e.g. through a

(automatic) voice prompt, of the fact that he or she wins. In this example the values of the tokens are monetary values, but in other embodiments the values can be of a different nature such a symbol of a certain type, a kind of item, fruit or the like.

In case there is no winning amount combination in the game, the game is terminated after the player has at least pushed every telephone button that is linked to a hidden amount once.

Obviously, the word "dollar" in the Triss example voice prompt should be replaced by the currency used at the region where the game is deployed or some other kind of value or item of a prize. The token games that are stored, comprised or predefined in the central gaming system comprise a limited amount of tokens. The token game rules define one or more specific winning sets of tokens or token values, and each winning set comprises one or more tokens. The token game rules define that a player wins the game if such a winning set of tokens is revealed during the game. The tokens or token values are sound tokens or sound represented tokens that are made audible to the player when the player requests a hidden token to be revealed.

The invention has been explained with the aid of exemplifying embodiments and can be varied within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A telephonic gaming method for playing a token game wherein a player by means of a telephone terminal unit and via a telephone network interfaces a central gaming system, said central gaming system having a game processor and pre- stored logical rules devised for directing the game processor to perform a predetermined token game, wherein

- communications between the telephone terminal unit and the central gaming system is performed by means of telephone standard signals;

- a token game is initiated in the central gaming system in conjunction with establishing a telephone contact between a player telephone terminal unit and said central gaming system;

- values of selectable predetermined tokens are revealed by receiving in said central gaming system a signal from said telephone terminal unit of the player, the signal representing a selected token, whereupon said central gaming system to the telephone terminal unit returns a message representing a value associated with said selected token in said token game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signals from the telephone terminal unit are tone signals generated by means of the key buttons and interpreted by the central gaming system according to said prestored logical rules.

3. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the signals from the telephone terminal unit are voice signals generated by speech input into said telephone terminal and interpreted by the central gaming system according to said prestored logical rules.

4. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the signals from the central gaming system to the telephone terminal unit are voice signals generated by a voice generator comprised in said central gaming system.

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the signals are based on or carried by the standard signalling in a 3G telephone network.

6. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the operation of the telephone terminal unit is independent of logic processing rules devised for a predetermined token game.

7. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the central gaming system is adapted to perform said token game with the telephone terminal unit as an input and output interface of messages between the player and the central gaming system.

8. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein said token game rules define at least one specific winning set of tokens or token values, each winning set comprising one or more tokens and wherein a game is won if such a said winning set of tokens is revealed during the game.

9. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the player is identified by the standard identification signalling of the telephone terminal unit or the telephone network, for example A-number, CLI-number, IMSI number, TIMSI number or IMEI number.

10. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the player is identified by an identification code entered via voice or tone signals, said tone signals being generated by means of the key pad.

11. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the player is identified by a combination of standard identification signalling or the telephone network, for example A-number, CLI-number, IMSI number, TIMSI number or IMEI number, and an identification code entered via voice or tone signals generated by means of the key pad.

12. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the central gaming system is adapted to charge a player for the price of the game in conjunction with the player playing the token game.

13. The method of the preceding claim, wherein the player is automatically debited the price of the game via a phone bill or any other debit or credit account.

14. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein said token game is initiated upon a request of the player by means of transmitting a request signal.

15. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein said token game is initiated automatically by calling a predetermined number linked to said central gaming system.

16. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein said token game is terminated after the central gaming system has revealed all selectable tokens or after a winning set of tokens has been revealed.

17. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein a winning game is announced by means of a message, for example by means of SMS, e-mail or other communications means, after having revealed a message representing a value associated with the last token of a winning token combination.

18. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein said predetermined rules for performing the game are adapted such that the chances of winning are equal for each initiated game.

19. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the keypad of the telephone terminal unit is a virtual key pad on a touch screen.

20. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein said game and said telephone contact are terminated by the central gaming system if there occurs a delay that exceeds a predetermined amount of time in receiving a game relevant signal from the player telephone terminal unit.

21. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein said game and said telephone contact are terminated by the central gaming system dependent on a predetermined event or not occurred event.

22. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein a game result message, for example by means of SMS, e-mail or other communications means, is sent from the central gaming system to the player upon termination of the game.

23. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the prize in a winning game is dependent on the revealed tokens.

24. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the player in case of having a winning game is automatically reimbursed the prize.

25. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the player is reimbursed an amount in case the game is terminated by the central gaming system upon the occurrence of a delay, said delay exceeding a predetermined amount of time in receiving a game relevant signal from the player telephone terminal unit.

26. The method of the preceding claim, wherein said amount is dependent on the price of a game.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said amount is dependent on the prize of the terminated game in case the terminated game was a winning game.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said amount is dependent on the combination of the price of a game and the prize of the terminated game in case the terminated game was a winning game.

29. A telephonic gaming method for playing a token game wherein a player by means of a telephone terminal unit and via a telephone network interfaces a central gaming system, said central gaming system having a game processor and prestored logical rules devised for directing the game processor to perform a predetermined token game, wherein

- communications between the telephone terminal unit and the central gaming system is performed by means of sound signals; - a token game is initiated in the central gaming system in conjunction with establishing a telephone contact between a player telephone terminal unit and said central gaming system;

- values of selectable predetermined tokens are revealed by receiving in said central gaming system a sound signal from said telephone terminal unit of the player, the signal representing a selected token, whereupon said central gaming system to the telephone terminal unit returns a voice message representing a value associated with said selected token in said token game.

30. The method of the preceding claim, further comprising the steps and functions of any of the claims 1-28.

31. A telephonic gaming method for playing a token game, wherein a player by means of a telephone terminal unit and via a telephone network interfaces a central gaming system, said central gaming system having a game processor and prestored logical rules devised for directing the game processor to perform a predetermined token game, the token game including a set of tokens having associated values, the logical rules defining a winning and a losing game dependent on the combination of the values of the token set, and wherein communications between the telephone terminal unit and the central gaming system is performed by means of sound signals; comprising the steps of:

-receiving in the central gaming system a sound signal from said telephone terminal unit of the player, the sound signal representing a selected token to be revealed; -retrieving from a data file a value associated with said selected token in the current token game;

-sending from the central gaming system a voice message to said telephone terminal unit of the player, the voice message representing and thus revealing to the player said value associated with said selected token; -if a token is the last token of a winning set of tokens, then sending from the central gaming system a voice message of a winning game to said terminal unit of the player;

32. The method of the preceding claim, further comprising the steps and functions of any of the claims 1-28.

33. A telephonic gaming method for playing a token game, wherein a player by means of a telephone terminal unit and via a telephone network interfaces a central gaming system, said central gaming system having a game processor and prestored logical rules devised for directing the game processor to perform a predetermined token game, the token game including a set of tokens having associated values, the logical rules defining a winning and a losing game dependent on the combination of the values of the token set, and wherein communications between the telephone terminal unit and the central gaming system is performed by means of standard telephone signals; comprising the steps of: -receiving in the central gaming system a telephone call from a telephone terminal unit of a player and in response thereto establishing a mutual telephone contact; -initiating a token game in the central gaming system, including retrieving a set of tokens; -receiving in the central gaming system a signal from said telephone terminal unit of the player, the signal representing a selected token to be revealed;

-retrieving from a data file a value associated with said selected token in the current token game;

-sending from the central gaming system a message to said telephone terminal unit of the player, the message representing and thus revealing to the player said value associated with said selected token;

-if a token is the last token of a winning set of tokens, then sending from the central gaming system a message of a winning game to said terminal unit of the player;

34. The method of the preceding claim, further comprising the steps and functions of any of the claims 1-28.

35. A computer program product for performing a telephonic token game, comprising computer program code portions adapted for directing a data processing unit to perform the steps and functionality of any of the preceding method claims.

36. A telephonic gaming system for performing a token game, having a central gaming system being connectable with a telephone terminal unit via a telephone network and comprising means for performing the steps and functionality of any of the preceding method claims.