U.S. patent application number 10/731203 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-16 for diminishing returns bingo games and methods thereof.
Invention is credited to Kilby, Jimmie R..
Application Number | 20040251628 10/731203 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34710410 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040251628 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kilby, Jimmie R. |
December 16, 2004 |
Diminishing returns bingo games and methods thereof
Abstract
In a variation of a bingo game, for-profit operators designate a
plurality of bingo number patterns which may result in an award to
a player. The bingo game does not require multiple player
participation. Play proceeds after the player pays for and selects
any quantity of cards per bingo game and further pre-selects a
plurality of patterns for each card. Bingo numbers are drawn by a
random number generator of a gaming machine until each one of the
player plurality of pre-selected bingo patterns is matched. The
player eventually achieves a bingo. For-profit operators can
control the player disadvantage using a plurality of payout tables
based on the types of patterns comprising bingo numbers achieved by
the player and by selecting payout tables based on the quantity of
bingo numbers drawn to achieve an award resulting in a diminishing
return for the player as the bingo game proceeds to completion.
Inventors: |
Kilby, Jimmie R.;
(Henderson, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dr. David Landman
1617 CARDINAL BLUFF DR.
#202
Las Vegas
NV
89128
US
|
Family ID: |
34710410 |
Appl. No.: |
10/731203 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60477996 |
Jun 11, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/269 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/062 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/269 |
International
Class: |
A63F 003/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A diminishing returns bingo game resulting in a controllable
disadvantage by an operator of the bingo game to a plurality of
players, comprising in combination: a random number generator for
randomly generating a plurality of bingo cards to permit each one
of the plurality of players to pre-select a plurality of player
bingo cards and to permit each one of the plurality of players to
pre-select a plurality of player patterns for each one of said
plurality of pre-selected player bingo cards; and said random
number generator for randomly generating every bingo number of the
bingo game to match to said plurality of pre-selected player
patterns so that the plurality of players realize a plurality of
diminishing awards as the quantity of randomly generated bingo
numbers drawn by the random number generator increases.
2. The diminishing returns bingo game resulting in a controllable
disadvantage by an operator of the bingo game to a plurality of
players according to claim 1 wherein said controllable disadvantage
comprises a plurality of payout tables predetermined by the
operator of the bingo game so that the plurality of awards to the
plurality of players diminishes as the quantity of randomly
generated bingo numbers increases during the bingo game.
3. The diminishing returns bingo game resulting in a controllable
disadvantage by an operator of the bingo game to a plurality of
players according to claim 2 wherein the operator of the bingo game
selectively assigns a different payout table for each one of the
plurality of payout tables.
4. A diminishing returns bingo game, comprising in combination:
means for randomly generating a plurality of bingo cards to permit
each one of a plurality of players to pre-select a plurality of
player bingo cards and to permit each one of the plurality of
players to pre-select a plurality of player patterns for each one
of said plurality of pre-selected player bingo cards; and means for
randomly generating every bingo number of the bingo game to match
to said plurality of pre-selected player patterns so that the
plurality of players realize a plurality of diminishing awards as
the quantity of randomly generated bingo numbers increases
resulting in a controllable disadvantage predetermined by an
operator of the bingo game.
5. The diminishing returns bingo game according to claim 4 wherein
said means for randomly generating a plurality of bingo cards and
said means for randomly generating every bingo number of the bingo
game comprises a random number generator of a gaming machine.
6. The diminishing returns bingo game according to claim 5 wherein
said controllable disadvantage comprises a plurality of payout
tables predetermined by the operator of the bingo game so that the
plurality of awards to the plurality of players diminishes as the
quantity of randomly generated bingo numbers drawn by the random
number generator increases during the bingo game.
7. The diminishing returns bingo game according to claim 6 wherein
the operator of the bingo game selectively assigns a different
payout table for each one of the plurality of payout tables.
8. The diminishing returns bingo game according to claim 4 wherein
prior to play of the bingo game each one of the plurality of
players makes a first plurality of wagers to obtain a plurality of
randomly generated bingo cards, each one of a first plurality of
randomly generated bingo cards comprising said plurality of
pre-selected player bingo cards of the bingo game and each one of
the plurality of players selectively electing an alternative
plurality of pre-selected player bingo cards from an alternative
plurality of randomly generated bingo cards if the player is
dissatisfied with any of said first plurality of randomly generated
bingo cards.
9. The diminishing returns bingo game according to claim 8 wherein
said first plurality of wagers permit the player to select a first
player pattern for each one of said plurality of pre-selected
player bingo cards of the bingo game and an alternative first
player pattern for each one of said alternative plurality of player
pre-selected bingo cards if the player is dissatisfied with any of
said first plurality of randomly generated bingo cards.
10. The diminishing returns bingo game according to claim 9 wherein
prior to play of the bingo game and after making said first
plurality of wagers, each one of the plurality of players makes a
plurality of additional wagers for selecting a plurality of
additional player patterns of each one of said player pre-selected
bingo cards, each one of said additional wagers independent of any
other plurality of wagers made for said plurality of pre-selected
player patterns permitting the plurality of players to achieve more
than one award in the bingo game.
11. The diminishing returns bingo game according to claim 4 wherein
each one of said plurality of randomly generated bingo cards and
each one of said plurality of pre-selected player bingo cards
comprises a plurality of numbers and an array having a plurality of
spaces, each one of the plurality of spaces selectively filled with
each one of the plurality of numbers, the operator of the bingo
game selecting a predetermined plurality of winning patterns for
said plurality of randomly generated bingo cards and every one of
the randomly generated bingo numbers compared to each one of the
plurality of numbers of said plurality of pre-selected player bingo
cards so that said plurality of predetermined winning patterns of
said plurality of randomly generated bingo cards eventually match
to said plurality of pre-selected player patterns.
12. The diminishing returns bingo game according to claim 11
wherein the plurality of awards to the plurality of players of the
bingo game is determined by the quantity of randomly generated
bingo numbers required to match each one of said plurality of
pre-selected player patterns to said plurality of predetermined
winning patterns for said plurality of randomly generated bingo
cards.
13. The diminishing returns bingo game according to claim 11
wherein random bingo numbers of the bingo game continue to be
generated until said plurality of pre-selected player patterns
correspond to the plurality of numbers selected by said random
number generator for each one of the plurality of pre-selected
player bingo cards so that each one of the plurality of players
eventually achieves a match to said plurality of predetermined
winning patterns of said plurality of randomly generated bingo
cards achieving a diminishing award for each one of said plurality
of pre-selected player patterns as the quantity of randomly
generated bingo numbers drawn by the random number generator
increases during the bingo game.
14. The diminishing returns bingo game according to claim 6 wherein
the quantity of randomly generated bingo numbers drawn by the
random number generator needed to result in an award to the
plurality of players is increased in the plurality of pay out
tables predetermined by the operator of the bingo game so that the
plurality of players achieve a higher hit frequency while
maintaining the controllable disadvantage predetermined by the
operator of the bingo game.
15. The diminishing returns bingo game according to claim 4 wherein
the plurality of players achieve a higher hit frequency for the
plurality of awards when the plurality of players increase the
quantity of said plurality of pre-selected player patterns for the
plurality of player pre-selected bingo cards of the bingo game.
16. The diminishing returns bingo game according to claim 4 wherein
the rate of randomly generating bingo numbers decreases as the
quantity of randomly generated bingo numbers increases so as to
cause greater suspense to the plurality of players during the play
of the bingo game.
17. The diminishing returns bingo game according to claim 4 wherein
the rate of randomly generating bingo numbers is manually
controlled by the plurality of players during the play of the bingo
game.
18. A method for offering a diminished returns bingo game
comprising the steps of: randomly generating a plurality of bingo
cards to permit each one of a plurality of players to pre-select a
plurality of player bingo cards and to permit each one of the
players to pre-select a plurality of player patterns for each one
of said plurality of pre-selected player bingo cards; and randomly
generating every bingo number of the bingo game to match to said
plurality of pre-selected player patterns resulting in a
controllable disadvantage predetermined by the operator of the
bingo game so that the plurality of players realize a plurality of
diminishing awards as the quantity of randomly generated bingo
numbers increases.
19. The method for offering a diminished returns bingo game
according to claim 18 further comprising the step of: providing a
random number generator of a gaming machine for randomly generating
a plurality of bingo cards and for randomly generating every bingo
number of the bingo game.
20. The method for offering a diminished returns bingo game
according to claim 18 further comprising the steps of: providing a
controllable disadvantage comprising a plurality of payout tables
predetermined by the operator of the bingo game so that the award
to the plurality of players diminishes as the quantity of randomly
generated bingo numbers increases during the bingo game; and the
operator of the bingo game selectively assigning a different payout
table for each one of the plurality of payout tables.
21. The method for offering a diminished returns bingo game
according to claim 18 further comprising the steps of: prior to
playing the bingo game each one of the plurality of players making
a first plurality of wagers to obtain a plurality of randomly
generated bingo cards, each one of a first plurality of randomly
generated bingo cards comprising said plurality of pre-selected
player bingo cards of the bingo game; each one of the plurality of
players selectively electing an alternative plurality of
pre-selected player bingo cards from an alternative plurality of
randomly generated bingo cards if the player is dissatisfied with
any of said first plurality of randomly generated bingo cards; and
said first plurality of wagers permitting the player to select a
first player pattern for each one of said plurality of pre-selected
player bingo cards of the bingo game and an alternative first
player pattern for each one of said alternative plurality of player
pre-selected bingo cards if the player is dissatisfied with any of
said first plurality of randomly generated bingo cards.
22. The method for offering a diminished returns bingo game
according to claim 21 further comprising the step of: prior to play
of the bingo game and after making said first plurality of wagers
each one of the plurality of players making a plurality of
additional wagers for selecting a plurality of additional player
patterns of each one of said player pre-selected bingo cards, each
one of said additional wagers independent of any other plurality of
wagers made for said plurality of pre-selected player patterns
permitting the plurality of players to achieve more than one award
in the bingo game.
23. The method for offering a diminished returns bingo game
according to claim 18 further comprising the steps of: providing
each one of said plurality of randomly generated bingo cards and
each one of said plurality of pre-selected player bingo cards
comprises a plurality of numbers and an array having a plurality of
spaces, each one of the plurality of spaces selectively filled with
each one of the plurality of numbers; the operator of the bingo
game selecting a predetermined plurality of winning patterns for
said plurality of randomly generated bingo cards; comparing every
one of the randomly generated bingo numbers to each one of the
plurality of numbers of said plurality of pre-selected player bingo
cards so that said plurality of predetermined winning patterns of
said plurality of randomly generated bingo cards eventually match
to said plurality of pre-selected player patterns; providing the
plurality of awards to the plurality of players of the bingo game
is determined by the quantity of randomly generated bingo numbers
required to match each one of said plurality of pre-selected player
patterns to said plurality of predetermined winning patterns for
said plurality of randomly generated bingo cards; and generating
random bingo numbers of the bingo game until said plurality of
pre-selected player patterns correspond to the plurality of numbers
selected by said random number generator for each one of the
plurality of pre-selected player bingo cards so that each one of
the plurality of players eventually achieves a match to said
plurality of predetermined winning patterns of said plurality of
randomly generated bingo cards achieving a diminishing award for
each one of said plurality of pre-selected player patterns as the
quantity of randomly generated bingo numbers drawn by the random
number generator increases during the bingo game.
24. The method for offering a diminished returns bingo game
according to claim 20 further comprising the step of: providing the
quantity of randomly generated bingo numbers drawn by the random
number generator needed to result in an award to the plurality of
players is increased in the plurality of pay out tables
predetermined by the operator of the bingo game so that the
plurality of players achieve a higher hit frequency while
maintaining the controllable disadvantage predetermined by the
operator of the bingo game.
25. The method for offering a diminished returns bingo game
according to claim 18 further comprising the steps of: providing
the plurality of players achieve a higher hit frequency for the
plurality of awards when the plurality of players increase the
quantity of said plurality of pre-selected player patterns for the
plurality of player pre-selected bingo cards of the bingo game; and
decreasing the rate of randomly generating bingo numbers as the
quantity of randomly generated bingo numbers increases so as to
cause greater suspense to the plurality of players during the play
of the bingo game.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/477,996, filed Jun. 6, 2003, entitled: A
Variation of Bingo for Casinos that Allows Management to Control
the Player Disadvantage and Permits Solitary Play by Jimmie R.
Kilby.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to bingo games and
methods, and more particularly to diminishing returns bingo games
and methods thereof, where for-profit operators of bingo games can
control the player disadvantage so that when a sole player pays for
and selects any quantity of cards per bingo game and pays for and
pre-selects a plurality of bingo number patterns for each card, as
the bingo game proceeds to completion, the player realizes a
diminishing return on any one of the player's bingo cards depending
on the quantity of bingo numbers drawn to match the player's
plurality of pre-selected bingo number patterns.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Traditionally a game of bingo permits a group of players to
purchase 5.times.5 bingo cards containing 24 bingo numbers and a
"free space" in the center of the card. Bingo numbers between 1 and
75 are drawn at random either mechanically or electronically until
players of the group simultaneously achieve a "bingo" defined by a
set of rules. Generally a "bingo" occurs when a player lines up
contiguous bingo numbers diagonally, vertically or horizontally on
the purchased card. Other versions of a "bingo" require the four
corners of a card, the entire frame of a card or every bingo number
of a bingo card to match the bingo numbers that are randomly drawn
during the bingo game. In most traditional bingo games, a minimum
of four bingo numbers that are either contiguously lined up with
the "free space" (i.e. a diagonal) or alternatively a minimum of
five bingo numbers that are contiguously lined up vertically or
horizontally on the bingo card and match the drawn bingo numbers
provide a declared "bingo". In other versions of bingo, such as
English bingo, bingo numbers between 1 and 90 are randomly drawn
until a "bingo" is achieved. In English bingo, there is a pool of
90 numbers to be drawn. The 90 numbers have no letter designations.
The numbers are drawn sequentially from the pool of 90 numbers and
a player wins when all 5 numbers on a single row of the player's
card match up to the numbers that are drawn.
[0004] Only the first players to call out "bingo" with
appropriately matching bingo number patterns receive obligated
winnings. The operator has no mathematical advantage on any bingo
game so that if insufficient cards are sold by an operator of the
bingo game, and the obligated payout for all player declared
"bingos" exceeds the value of the cards sold, the operator will
realize a loss.
[0005] For traditional bingo, the requirement of having numerous
players limits configuration of bingo games where only a single
player plays against an operator. In addition, bingo winnings are
fixed regardless of the amount of players to protect the operator
from excessive losses that would result from large or progressive
jackpots.
[0006] Odom, U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,935 disclosed an electronic device
and method for playing a bingo game where a player inputs a wager
and a randomly generated bingo card is displayed. Odom's '935
electronic device randomly selects a set of (operator's) 25 bingo
numbers and compares them to those on the card of the player to see
whether a winning pattern is obtained, which results in a reward
for every matching pattern on the player's card according to a
predetermined payout table. A second set of 10 bingo numbers is
randomly selected and compared to all bingo numbers on the player's
card and if all bingo numbers match the player's card, the player
receives a second award. The game ceases as soon as all 35 balls
are drawn leaving 40 balls not drawn in a 1 to 75 ball version of
bingo. The player can select the bingo numbers for the bingo card
to be played and can make a desired wager up to a pre-selected
maximum wager. Payouts are based on a predetermined payout table
award for obtaining particular patterns chosen by the player or the
randomly distributed player's card that conform with the
requirements of bingo as discussed supra.
[0007] Current for-profit games come in a myriad of configurations.
Successful games have a number of common elements, which include: a
player deciding a bet, i.e. a condition under which the player
wins; the player making a wager; the game process beginning; a
suspense or anticipation period, i.e. between the game process
beginning and a final ending; and a settlement at the end where
winning bets are paid and losing bets are collected. Suspense is
one of the most important of the elements. For example in reel slot
machines, a player waits in suspense for each reel to lock. In
blackjack a player is in suspense while waiting to see if a
dealer's hand betters the player's hand. For an electronic bingo
game to be a successful stand-alone solitary play for-profit game,
the same elements must be present.
[0008] According to Odom's '935 patent one wager is permitted per
game and there are as many wins as bingo number patterns that are
matched. In Odom's '935 patent a fixed quantity of numbers are
drawn and winnings depend on the total quantity of bingo number
patterns matched on a bingo card, so that it is possible that no
win is awarded for the player, contrary to the traditional bingo
game. In Odom's '935 patent play ceases after the thirty-fifth
number is drawn, so that irrespective of the player's selection of
numbers on the player's card, there may be no match, contrary to
the traditional bingo game where play continues until at least one
player achieves a bingo match. In the Odom '935 patent the award
for wins increases with the quantity of total bingo pattern matches
rather than on the quantity of numbers drawn to achieve a bingo.
Finally, in the Odom '935 patent an attempt is made to allow the
player to increase the hit frequency for wins. The hit frequency is
the percentage of times there is a win for the player. In Odom's
'935 patent this is accomplished by the player having the option of
changing the clock speed of the random number generator, providing
the illusion of control over the results of the bingo game.
However, because only a single bingo is wagered per game and the
total number of numbers that are drawn is fixed, in fact the hit
frequency remains the same.
[0009] In contrast, a diminishing returns bingo game combines
features of bingo and the game of keno. According to the
diminishing returns bingo game, the bingo game continues until all
bingo number patterns that are pre-selected by the player are
drawn. Winnings are based on the quantity of numbers drawn to
achieve a bingo number pattern, and a player can make multiple
independent wagers in any bingo game, so that more than one bingo
number pattern will be awarded a win depending on the player's
wagers and the operator's payout table. The win awarded diminishes
as more numbers are drawn. The player is in suspense during the
entire drawing process of the bingo game to see what bingo number
pattern matches lead to which payouts. The operator of the bingo
game may change the quantity of awards in each payout table thereby
altering the hit frequency for each bingo number pattern
pre-selected by the player of the bingo game. For example, in a
payout table where 20 draws or less of on an operator's pre-decided
bingo winning patterns produce diminishing awards to the player
depending on how few draws are necessary to match the player's
pre-selected bingo number patterns on the bingo card, the operator
may change the pay-out table to reward 30 draws or less matching
the player's pre-selected bingo number patterns on the bingo card
on a diminishing award basis for the same operator pre-decided
bingo winning patterns. The result of broadening the quantity of
awards in the payout table is to increase the hit frequency,
because in the example described supra there are now 10 more draws
added to the bingo game which provide diminishing rewards to the
player, thereby providing the player with a greater chance of
achieving a win. The operator may also choose to decrease the
amount of each award to insure the operator's for-profit return
even though the number of awards is increased. Since the player may
pre-select multiple types of bingo number patterns and each one of
the operator selected winning bingo number patterns may have a
different diminishing award based on a multiplicity of payout
tables with the possibility of different levels of hit frequencies
for each one of the player's different types of pre-selected bingo
number patterns, the award achieved by the player for each one of
the types of pre-selected bingo number patterns is independently
based on the operator's selected hit frequency payout tables. In a
diminishing returns bingo game it is easier for the for-profit
operators to control the player disadvantage while producing the
required anticipation of a win for the player.
[0010] For the foregoing reasons, there is a need to provide
diminishing returns bingo games and methods thereof, where
for-profit operators of bingo games can control the player
disadvantage so that when a sole player pays for and selects any
quantity of cards per bingo game and pays for and pre-selects a
plurality of bingo number patterns for each card, as the bingo game
proceeds to completion, the player realizes a diminishing return on
any one of the player's bingo cards depending on the quantity of
bingo numbers drawn to match the player's plurality of pre-selected
bingo number patterns. In this inventor's application a player
decides a wager in a bingo game. The wager is at least a bingo
number pattern as selected by the player (see discussion supra).
The player makes a wager and then the bingo game begins with bingo
numbers chosen randomly. The player waits in suspense while bingo
numbers are drawn until the player's chosen bingo number patterns
are matched. The settlement is determined by how many numbers were
necessary to be drawn to match to the player's selected bingo
number patterns. Therefore, all elements necessary for a successful
for-profit game are incorporated in this inventor's
application.
SUMMARY
[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of this disclosure to provide
diminishing returns bingo games where for-profit operators of bingo
games can control the player disadvantage.
[0012] It is a further object of this disclosure to provide
diminishing returns bingo games that do not require group play.
[0013] It is yet a still further object of this disclosure to
provide diminishing returns bingo games for a single player.
[0014] It is a further object of this disclosure to provide
diminishing returns bingo games where the award depends on the
quantity of numbers required to be drawn to match to a player's
pre-selected bingo number pattern.
[0015] It is yet a further object of this disclosure to provide
diminishing returns bingo games methods where for-profit operators
of bingo games can control the player disadvantage.
[0016] It is a further object of this disclosure to provide
diminishing returns bingo games methods that do not require group
play.
[0017] It is yet a still further object of this disclosure to
provide diminishing returns bingo games methods for a single
player.
[0018] It is a further object of this disclosure to provide
diminishing returns bingo games methods where the award depends on
the quantity of numbers required to be drawn to match to a player's
pre-selected bingo number pattern.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] In accordance with one embodiment of this disclosure, a
diminishing returns bingo game comprises in combination, means for
randomly generating a plurality of bingo cards to permit each one
of a plurality of players to pre-select a plurality of player bingo
cards and to permit each one of the plurality of players to
pre-select a plurality of player patterns for each one of said
plurality of pre-selected player bingo cards; and means for
randomly generating every bingo number of the bingo game to match
to said plurality of pre-selected player patterns so that the
plurality of players realize a plurality of diminishing awards as
the quantity of randomly generated bingo numbers increases
resulting in a controllable disadvantage predetermined by an
operator of the bingo game.
[0020] In accordance with a second embodiment of this disclosure, a
diminishing returns bingo game resulting in a controllable
disadvantage by an operator of the bingo game to a plurality of
players comprises in combination, a random number generator for
randomly generating a plurality of bingo cards to permit each one
of the plurality of players to pre-select a plurality of player
bingo cards and to permit each one of the plurality of players to
pre-select a plurality of player patterns for each one of the
plurality of pre-selected player bingo cards; and the random number
generator for randomly generating every bingo number of the bingo
game to match to the plurality of pre-selected player patterns so
that the plurality of players realize a plurality of diminishing
awards as the quantity of randomly generated bingo numbers
increases.
[0021] In accordance with a third embodiment of this disclosure, a
method for offering a diminished returns bingo game comprises the
steps of randomly generating a plurality of bingo cards to permit
each one of a plurality of players to pre-select a plurality of
player bingo cards and to permit each one of the players to
pre-select a plurality of player patterns for each one of the
plurality of pre-selected player bingo cards; and randomly
generating every bingo number of the bingo game to match to the
plurality of pre-selected player patterns resulting in a
controllable disadvantage predetermined by the operator of the
bingo game so that the plurality of players realize a plurality of
diminishing awards as the quantity of randomly generated bingo
numbers increases.
[0022] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of
the disclosure will be apparent from the following, more detailed
description of the preferred embodiments of the disclosure, as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a portion of an electronic screen of a gaming
machine showing an unmarked bingo card display, in accordance with
this disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 1A is the portion of the electronic screen of the
gaming machine showing the bingo card of FIG. 1 marked up with
potential patterns comprising four bingo numbers;
[0025] FIG. 1B is the portion of the electronic screen of the
gaming machine showing the bingo card of FIG. 1 marked up with
potential patterns comprising five bingo numbers;
[0026] FIG. 1C is the portion of the electronic screen of the
gaming machine showing the bingo card of FIG. 1 marked up with
another set of potential patterns comprising four bingo
numbers;
[0027] FIG. 1D is the portion of the electronic screen of the
gaming machine showing the bingo card of FIG. 1 marked up with a
frame pattern comprising bingo numbers;
[0028] FIG. 1E is the portion of the electronic screen of the
gaming machine showing the bingo card of FIG. 1 marked up with a
cover-all pattern comprising bingo numbers;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a portion of the electronic screen of the gaming
machine showing a bingo payout table, for the potential patterns
comprising four bingo numbers of FIG. 1A; and
[0030] FIG. 2A is a portion of the electronic screen showing a
bingo payout table for the potential patterns comprising five bingo
numbers of FIG. 1B.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0031] According to FIG. 1 a portion of an electronic screen of a
gaming machine comprises an unmarked bingo card 10. The bingo card
10 is a standard 5.times.5 array of rows and columns headed by the
column letters "B", "I", "N", "G", "0". The numbers available for
the letter headed "B" are 1-15, for "I" the bingo numbers are
16-30, for "N" the bingo numbers are 31-45, for "G" the bingo
numbers are 46-60 and for "O" the bingo numbers are 61-75. In
traditional bingo it is common practice to call out each bingo
number using the column letter and bingo number as described supra.
Referring to FIG. 1, a designation for a bingo number of the bingo
card called out during a drawing of the bingo game might be I30,
which represents the column "I" having the bingo number 30.
However, this does not identify the row placement for I30.
Therefore, circled co-ordinate letters A to J are displayed at the
side of the bingo card 10 for convenience of further description in
this application. Co-ordinates of the bingo card 10 are described
as the array (row, column). For example, a space designated "FREE"
is at the center of the bingo card 10 at the co-ordinates (H, C)
and is treated as though that particular bingo numbered square has
been drawn and filled.
[0032] The electronic screen of the gaming machine displays at
least an unmarked bingo card 10 before a bingo game is initiated
informing the player that the gaming machine plays bingo. The bingo
game based on diminishing returns requires that a player
pre-selects a bingo number pattern conforming to pre-determined
bingo game rules on the unmarked bingo card 10. The player may
request that the bingo number pattern be selected by the gaming
machine by activating a button located on a portion of the gaming
machine or by touching a portion of the electronic screen of the
gaming machine. After the player inserts a wager into a slot of the
gaming machine a new or different unmarked bingo card 10 may be
displayed on the electronic screen. The wager comprises a plurality
of coins or tokens, a plurality of bills, cash equivalents from a
credit card or a cash card or a complementary card provided by a
for-profit operator. In a for-amusement bingo game, point credits
may substitute for cash equivalents.
[0033] The bingo card 10 is randomly generated by a random number
generator of the gaming machine and may be changed without
requiring a further wager by the player by activating another
button located on a portion of the gaming machine or by touching a
portion of the electronic screen of the gaming machine. It is
understood that the player may decide to wager on more than a
single unmarked bingo card 10 by inserting a further wager and by
activating another button located on a portion of the gaming
machine or by touching another portion of the electronic screen of
the gaming machine designated for pre-selecting further unmarked
bingo cards 10. More than one bingo card 10 may be displayed on the
electronic screen of the gaming machine.
[0034] The player may wager a plurality of "quick-pick" bingo cards
and "quick-pick" bingo number patterns by touching a portion of the
electronic screen or activating yet another button on a portion of
the gaming machine. A "quick-pick" is a bingo card comprising a
bingo number pattern that is generated by the random number
generator of the gaming machine.
[0035] The player wishing to play more than one bingo card 10 makes
an additional wager for each additional bingo card 10 generated.
The player pre-selects a bingo number pattern that follows the
posted rules of the bingo game by touching a portion of the
electronic screen of the gaming machine where each one of the bingo
numbers of the bingo card 10 are displayed. Alternatively the
player may use a touch pad located on a portion of the gaming
machine to enter the desired bingo number pattern. A number of
possible bingo number patterns are shown in FIGS. 1A-1E. The player
may choose additional allowed bingo number patterns by making
additional wagers for each additional bingo number pattern selected
for the bingo card 10.
[0036] FIG. 1A is the portion of the electronic screen of the
gaming machine showing the bingo card 10 of FIG. 1 marked up with
potential patterns comprising four bingo numbers. According to FIG.
1A, a four number marked bingo card 12 comprises a four number
diagonal bingo pattern running from (F, A) to (J, E) and includes
the bingo numbers B14, I23, FREE, G57 and O72. A second four number
diagonal bingo pattern runs from (F, E) to (J, A) and includes the
bingo numbers 071, G59, FREE, I25 and B1. Furthermore, a four
number horizontal bingo pattern runs from (H, A) to (H, E) and
includes the bingo numbers B7, I30, FREE, G55 and O65. Finally, a
four number vertical bingo pattern runs from (J, C) to (F, C) and
includes the bingo numbers N43, N36, FREE, N39 and N44.
[0037] FIG. 1B is the portion of the electronic screen of the
gaming machine showing the bingo card 10 of FIG. 1 marked up with
potential patterns comprising five bingo numbers. According to FIG.
1B, a five number marked bingo card 14 comprises each one of a five
number vertical bingo pattern selected from the group consisting of
a run from (F, A) to (J, A), a run from (F, B) to (J, B), a run
from (F, D) to (J, D) and a run from (F, E) to (J, E). Furthermore,
each one of a five number horizontal bingo pattern is selected from
the group consisting of a run from (J, A) to (J, E), a run from (I,
A) to (I, E), a run from (G, A) to (G, E) and a run from (F, A) to
(F, E).
[0038] FIG. 1C is the portion of the electronic screen of the
gaming machine showing the bingo card 10 of FIG. 1 marked up with
another set of potential patterns comprising four bingo numbers. A
first four number bingo pattern of a four bingo number marked bingo
card 16 comprises the corners of the bingo card 16 located at the
co-ordinates (J, A), (J, E), (F, A) and (F, E). A second four
number bingo pattern of the four bingo number marked bingo card 16
comprises the four number bingo pattern surrounding the "FREE"
space located at the co-ordinates (I, C), (H, B), (H, D) and (G,
C). It is understood that alternative four number bingo patterns
may also be selected by the operator for achieving a "bingo", such
as, (J, B), (J, D), (G, B) and (G, D).
[0039] FIG. 1D is the portion of the electronic screen of the
gaming machine showing the bingo card 10 of FIG. 1 marked up with a
frame pattern comprising bingo numbers. The required winning bingo
number pattern of a frame bingo number marked bingo card 18
comprises matching co-ordinates running from (F, A) to (F, E) plus
(G, E) to (J, E) plus (J, D) to (J, A) plus (I, A) to (G, A). In
the specific example shown in FIG. 1D the winning bingo number
pattern consists of the bingo numbers B14, I16, N44, G47, O71, O67,
O65, O69, O72, G49, N43, I26, B1, B13, B7 and B5.
[0040] FIG. 1E is the portion of the electronic screen of the
gaming machine showing the bingo card 10 of FIG. 1 marked up with a
cover-all pattern comprising bingo numbers. The objective in the
specific case of the cover-all bingo win is to match every
co-ordinate of a cover-all marked bingo card 20 with the randomly
drawn gaming machine bingo numbers. Since all bingo numbers are
drawn in the variation of bingo according to this disclosure, a
cover-all only pays out if less than a pre-selected quantity of
random bingo numbers is drawn. Typically in traditional bingo the
pre-selected quantity of bingo numbers is fifty for a major payout
and sixty for a lesser payout. It is understood that the operator
may decide an appropriate payout table for a cover-all bingo game.
The cover-all bingo game allows an operator to increase suspense on
the part of the player by offering a major jackpot, which is based
on a minimal quantity of randomly generated bingo numbers needed to
be drawn to match the player's marked bingo card 20 with decreasing
winnings for the player as the quantity of randomly generated bingo
numbers T drawn increases. Further suspense may be generated by
slowing the drawing rate for the randomly generated bingo numbers
as the quantity of bingo numbers drawn is increased.
[0041] FIG. 2 is a portion of the electronic screen showing a bingo
payout table 22 for the potential patterns comprising four bingo
numbers of FIG. 1A. The bingo payout table 22 for the potential
patterns comprising four bingo numbers is adjustable by the
operator both in terms of the amount of the payout and the quantity
of draws that it takes for there to be any payout to the player.
Each bingo number drawn by the random number generator of the
gaming machine is displayed on a portion of the electronic screen
of the gaming machine. The player is made aware of all bingo
numbers as they are drawn, resulting in suspense on the part of the
player. Play does not cease until all bingo number patterns
pre-selected by the player have been drawn by the random number
generator of the gaming machine. Therefore, the player eventually
achieves a bingo. If a match is made to a bingo number in the
player's plurality of pre-selected bingo number patterns, a portion
of the electronic screen corresponding to the bingo number match is
marked with a contrasting color or symbol. The updating bingo
number markings of the electronic screen increase player suspense.
It is understood that there may be aural, as well as visual
indications of a match between the player's bingo numbers and the
gaming machine's randomly generated bingo numbers.
[0042] When the drawing of all of the bingo numbers of the bingo
game is complete a settlement is made with the player based on the
player's wager. For example, in the payout table 22 of FIG. 2, the
player receives no payout after a thirty-fifth bingo number is
randomly drawn if the player achieves no matching bingo number
pattern in less than thirty-five bingo numbers drawn by the random
number generator of the gaming machine. However, a payout is
awarded if the player's pre-selected bingo number pattern matches
the gaming machine's randomly generated bingo number pattern by
less than the thirty-fifth bingo number. Since bingo numbers
continue to be randomly drawn until all of the player's
pre-selected bingo patterns are matched, the player eventually
achieves a bingo although there may be no monetary award to the
player. The player has a diminishing payout as more random bingo
numbers generated by the gaming machine do not match the player's
pre-selected bingo number pattern. Suspense increases for the
player as the quantity of bingo numbers drawn increases,
particularly when the player's pre-selected bingo number patterns
more closely match the bingo numbers which are drawn by the random
number generator of the gaming machine. Each bingo number pattern
that is pre-selected by the player is treated separately from any
other pre-selected bingo number pattern during the bingo game,
allowing the player to be awarded a win for more than one
pre-selected bingo number pattern. Jackpot features may be
introduced into the award system based on the quantity of randomly
drawn bingo numbers needed to match a variety of the player's
pre-selected bingo number patterns.
[0043] FIG. 2A is a portion of the electronic screen of the gaming
machine showing a bingo payout table 24 for the potential pattern
comprising five bingo numbers of FIG. 1B. Since a potential pattern
comprising five bingo numbers matching is more difficult to achieve
than a potential pattern comprising four bingo numbers matching,
the payout table 24 reflects a greater payout. The bingo payout
table 24 for the potential pattern comprising five bingo numbers is
adjustable by the operator both in terms of the amount of the
payout and the quantity of draws that it takes for there to be any
payout to the player. Other features of the payout table 24 are
similar to the description for the payout table 22 supra. The
operator may offer different levels of diminishing returns to the
player based on the quantity of randomly generated bingo numbers it
takes to match any combination of the player's pre-selected marked
bingo cards 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20. For example, the operator may
choose to award a payout for up to thirty-five randomly drawn bingo
numbers in a player's pre-selected pattern match of four bingo
numbers and an award for up to fifty randomly drawn bingo numbers
for a player's pattern match of five bingo numbers.
[0044] After play of the bingo game has ceased and a settlement is
made with the player, the player may cash out the award or continue
to play another bingo game. A portion of the electronic screen of
the gaming machine or a button on a portion of the gaming machine
permits the player to selectively cash out the award.
Alternatively, the player may use a portion of the award as a
credit to play another bingo game. The play of a new bingo game
follows the method described supra.
[0045] While the disclosure has been particularly shown and
described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and
other changes in form and details may be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example,
gaming machines may be interlinked with a network where a central
processor keeps track of payouts on gaming machines and
automatically adjusts payout tables based on the operator's desired
level of profitability. The same network may be used to accumulate
data on the level of profitability of the gaming machines on the
network. The same network may assign a random instant jackpot win
to any gaming machine on the network providing increased player
interest and suspense by notifying all players on the network of
gaming machines that a major jackpot has been awarded or will be
awarded within a pre-selected time period. Rather than using bingo
numbers for each bingo card, bingo indicia represented by icons
could be substituted providing a more colorful experience for the
player. Each one of the bingo cards may comprise an array having a
plurality of spaces selectively filled with different numbers, the
operator of the bingo game selecting a predetermined plurality of
winning patterns of the bingo cards. The size of the array of a
bingo card may be determined by the operator of the bingo game, and
is not limited to a 5.times.5 conventional bingo card. The rate of
randomly generating bingo numbers may be manually controlled by
players during the play of the bingo game instead of being
automatically controlled by the gaming machine.
* * * * *