U.S. patent application number 12/315012 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-27 for game of chance.
Invention is credited to Christopher Russell.
Application Number | 20100127455 12/315012 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42139239 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100127455 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Russell; Christopher |
May 27, 2010 |
GAME OF CHANCE
Abstract
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a
game of chance is provided. Cards for use in the game of chance
have rows and columns that define "boxes having numbers contained
in the boxes. A random number generator generates an initial number
of numbers, preferably two. The initial numbers correspond to the
numbers contained in the boxes, thus representing a numerical
spread based on the position the numbers correspond to on the card.
Depending on the numerical spread based on the position the numbers
correspond to on the card, either a payoff is determined, a push is
called or at least an addition number is generated. If the
additional number is generated, either a payoff is determined or a
push is called.
Inventors: |
Russell; Christopher;
(Gaithersburg, MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul E. Schaafsma, NovuslP, LLC
521 West Superior Street, Suite 221
Chicago
IL
60654
US
|
Family ID: |
42139239 |
Appl. No.: |
12/315012 |
Filed: |
November 26, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/269 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/065 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/269 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/06 20060101
A63F003/06 |
Claims
1-12. (canceled)
13. A method of playing a game of chance comprising: defining a
number of "boxes" having numbers on a card having rows and columns;
generating an initial number of numbers; corresponding the initial
numbers to the numbers contained in the boxes; determining a
numerical spread based on the position the numbers correspond to on
the card; depending on the numerical spread based on the position
the numbers correspond to on the card, either determining a payoff,
calling a push or generating at least an addition number; and if
the additional number is generated, either determining a payoff or
calling a push.
14. The method of playing a game of chance of claim 13 further
including basing the numerical spread on the horizontal position
the numbers correspond to on the card columns.
15. The method of playing a game of chance of claim 13 further
including generating two initial numbers.
16. The method of playing a game of chance of claim 13 further
wherein if the numerical spread based on the position the initial
numbers correspond to on the card are consecutive, calling a
push.
17. The method of playing a game of chance of claim 13 further
wherein if the initial numbers are equal, generating at least an
addition number.
18. The method of playing a game of chance of claim 17 further
wherein if the addition number is equal to the initial numbers,
determining a payoff.
19. The method of playing a game of chance of claim 13 further
wherein if the initial numbers are equal, generating at least an
addition number.
20. The method of playing a game of chance of claim 13 further
wherein if the numerical spread based on the position the initial
numbers correspond to on the card is zero, generating at least an
addition number.
21. The method of playing a game of chance of claim 20 further
wherein if the numerical spread based on the position of the
additional number with respect to the initial numbers is zero,
determining a payoff.
22. The method of playing a game of chance of claim 13 further
wherein if the numerical spread based on the position the initial
numbers correspond to on the card is greater than one, then a
spread is determined which determines the payoff pending at least
an addition generated number.
23. The method of playing a game of chance of claim 22 further
wherein if the numerical spread based on the position of the
additional number falls between the initial numbers, determining a
payoff based on the announced spread.
24. The method of playing a game of chance of claim 22 further
wherein determining a spread in accordance with the following:
TABLE-US-00002 Column Differential Spread 1 Column 5X Buy-In 2
Columns 4X Buy-In 3 Columns 3X Buy-In 4+ Columns 1X Buy-In
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to games of chance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Games of chance provide entertainment to many. A game of
chance is a game whose outcome is strongly influenced by some
randomizing device, and upon which contestants frequently wager
money. Common devices used include dice, spinning tops, playing
cards, roulette wheels or numbered balls drawn from a container.
Gambling is known in nearly all human societies. Early people used
the knucklebones of sheep as dice. Some games of chance may also
involve a certain degree of skill. This is especially true where
the player or players have decisions to make based upon previous or
incomplete knowledge, such as poker and blackjack.
[0003] Bingo is a game of chance in which randomly selected numbers
are drawn and players match those numbers to those appearing on
5.times.5 matrices which are printed or electronically represented
and are known as "cards." The first person to have a card where the
drawn numbers form a specified pattern (usually in a straight line)
is the winner and calls out the word "bingo" to alert others and
inform the caller of the win.
[0004] Bingo has been traced back to a lottery game called "Lo
Giuoco Code Loto" played in Italy in the 1500's. By the eighteenth
century, the game had matured, and in France, playing cards,
tokens, and the calling out of numbers had been added to the game.
In the nineteenth century, Bingo was widely used in Germany for
educational purposes, to teach children spelling, animal names, and
multiplication tables.
[0005] At a travelling carnival near Atlanta in 1929, Beano was
being played with dried beans, a rubber stamp, and cardboard
sheets. Edwin Lowe was watching this game and noticed how engaged
the players were. Lowe took the idea with him to New York, where he
introduced the game to his friends. He conducted bingo games
similar to the ones he had witnessed, using dried beans, a rubber
numbering stamp and card board. His friends loved the game.
Folklore has it that one of his players made bingo history when he
was so excited to have won that he yelled out "Bingo" instead of
"Beano", and the name stuck. The Lowe Bingo Game had two versions:
the first a 12-card set for $1.00; the second a $2.00 set with 24
cards. Bingo was a wildly successful. By the 1940's, Bingo games
were common all over the country.
[0006] In the U.S., the game is primarily staged by churches or
charity organizations. Their legality and stakes vary by state
regulation. In some states, bingo halls are rented out to
sponsoring organizations, and such halls often run games almost
every day. Church-run games, however, are normally weekly affairs
held on the church premises. These games are usually played for
modest stakes, although the final game of a session is frequently a
coverall game that offers a larger jackpot prize for winning within
a certain quantity of numbers called; a progressive jackpot may
increase per session until it is won.
[0007] Commercial bingo games in the U.S. are primarily offered by
casinos (for example in the state of Nevada), and by Native
American bingo halls, which are often housed in the same location
as Native American casinos. In Nevada, bingo is usually offered
only by casinos that cater to local gamblers, and not tourist
resorts. Nevada bingo halls usually offer several two-hour sessions
daily, with relatively modest stakes except for coverall jackpots.
Native American games are typically offered for only one or two
sessions a day, and are often played for higher stakes than charity
games in order to draw players from distant places. Some also offer
a special progressive jackpot game that may tie together players
from multiple bingo halls.
[0008] While such bingo games continue to offer entertainment to
many, player who have now for decades been playing the game often
tire of it. Thus, what would be advantageous would be a new game
that takes advantage of the familiarity of bingo to players, but
yet provides a new, exciting gaming experience.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A game of chance in accordance with the principles of the
present invention takes advantage of the familiarity of bingo to
players, but yet provides a new, exciting gaming experience. In
accordance with the principles of the present invention, a game of
chance is provided. Cards for use in the game of chance have rows
and columns that define "boxes having numbers contained in the
boxes. A random number generator generates an initial number of
numbers, preferably two. The initial numbers correspond to the
numbers contained in the boxes, thus representing a numerical
spread based on the position the numbers correspond to on the card.
Depending on the numerical spread based on the position the numbers
correspond to on the card, either a payoff is determined, a push is
called or at least an addition number is generated. If the
additional number is generated, either a payoff is determined or a
push is called.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0010] The foregoing aspects and many of the advantages of the
present invention will be more readily appreciated as the same
becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed
description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 shows an example of a card for use in a game of
chance in accordance with the principals of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a second example of a card for use in a game of
chance in accordance with the principals of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
game of chance is provided. A game of chance in accordance with the
principles of the present invention takes advantage of the
familiarity of bingo to players, but yet provides a new, more
exciting gaming experience. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, examples of
cards for use in a game of chance in accordance with the principals
of the present invention is seen. Up to a given number, such as for
example eight, players can buy in. Buy-in will typically have a
minimum buy-in such as for example $1.00 and a maximum buy-in such
as for example $20.00. Each player can mark and monitor up to a
given number of cards, such as for example three, at their player
position. The caller draws and calls a given number of numbers,
such as for example two. All numbers drawn are valued in a given
numerical spread based on the first number in each column the
number falls under on the card, such as for example in FIGS. 1 and
2 one to 15.
[0014] If the first numbers called, in this example two, are in
consecutive columns, then the game is voided; if the first numbers
called, in this example two, are equal, then an additional number
is drawn and called. A matching additional number is a jackpot, and
all the players win a given payout such as for example eleven times
their buy-in; otherwise, the game is a push and player's buy-in is
returned.
[0015] If the first numbers called, in this example two, are
consecutive in columns (for example a thirty-four and fifty), the
game is a push and the player's buy-in is returned. If the first
numbers called, in this example two, are in the same column, then
an additional number is drawn and called. If the additional number
is in the same column, then all the players win a jackpot, and all
the players win a given payout such as for example eleven times
their buy-in; otherwise, the game is a push and the player's buy-in
is returned.
[0016] If the first numbers called, in this example two, are in
columns with a difference greater than one (for example, a three
and an eight), then a spread is announced which determines the
payoff, pending the outcome of an additional number which will be
dealt. If this additional card's value falls between the first two
numbers, the player receives a payoff according to the spread;
otherwise, the bet is lost. In one aspect, players have an option
to increase their buy-in after the first numbers are chosen, for
example, doubling their buy-in. In one embodiment, the spread can
be as set forth in the table, below:
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE Column Differential Spread 1 Column 5X Buy-In
2 Columns 4X Buy-In 3 Columns 3X Buy-In 4+ Columns 1X Buy-In
[0017] The following are non-limiting examples of the present
invention:
EXAMPLE 1
[0018] In this example, the caller draws and calls two numbers, say
7 and 8. Because as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 these two numbers are in
consecutive columns, the game is a push and player's buy-in
returned.
EXAMPLE 2
[0019] In this example, the caller draws and calls two numbers, say
16 and 16. Because these two numbers are equal, an additional
number is drawn and called, say 16. Because this additional number
matches the first two, a jackpot is declared and all the players
win a given payout such as for example eleven times their buy-in;
had the number been other than 16, the game would have been a push
and player's buy-in returned.
EXAMPLE 3
[0020] In this example, the caller draws and calls two numbers, say
22 and 68. Because the two numbers are consecutive in columns, the
game is a push and the player's buy-in is returned.
EXAMPLE 4
[0021] In this example, the caller draws and calls two numbers, say
22 and 37. Because the two numbers are in the same column, an
additional number is drawn and called, say 67. Because the
additional number is in the same column, then all the players win a
jackpot, and all the players win a given payout such as for example
eleven times their buy-in; had the additional number not been in
the same column, the game would have been a push and player's
buy-in returned.
EXAMPLE 5
[0022] In this example, the caller draws and calls two numbers, say
22 and 55. Because the two numbers are in columns with a difference
greater than one, then a spread is announced which determines the
payoff, pending the outcome of an additional number which will be
dealt. In this example, based on the Table above, the spread would
be two-times the buy-in. In addition, in one aspect, players would
have an option to increase their buy-in after the first numbers are
chosen, for example, doubling their buy-in. If the additional
card's value falls in a column between 22 and 55, say 9, the player
receives a payoff according to the spread; otherwise, the bet is
lost.
[0023] While the invention has been described with specific
embodiments, other alternatives, modifications, and variations will
be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it will be
intended to include all such alternatives, modifications and
variations set forth within the spirit and scope of the appended
claims.
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