Video bingo game and method

• US 20020113369A1
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mpbingo, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gamin Weingardt
• Inventors: Weingardt, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,201,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/269
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0645 Electric lottos or bingo games

Abstract

A bingo game and method in which bingo rules are used to simulate video poker and slot machine games. Players using linked terminals are assigned flashboards having multiple squares thereon, which squares have indicia thereon. If video poker is to be simulated, the indicia will be suit and value indicia of the type associated with playing cards. If slot machine play is to be simulated, the indicia will be of the like associated with slot machines, such as cherries, bars and bells. The calling of numbered bingo balls leads to the display to the player of corresponding indicia from numbered squares on the flashboard. A multiple overlapping ball draw may be utilized to accommodate slower and faster players, to allow overlapping games so that a slower player can have more time to play while a faster player can finish one game and commence another before the first game has closed. Where no player achieves a winning combination, an award can be provided based on a pre-determined value of indicia received by the player, including a near miss or a lowest hand. In one embodiment, the near-miss award may be paid from a progressive jackpot, to increase player excitement and to incentivize players to try for a near-miss hand.

Claims

1. A bingo game comprising, in combination:

a plurality of player terminals;

wherein each said player terminal has a display screen thereon;

a plurality of flashboards each having a plurality of numbered spaces;

wherein said plurality of numbered spaces has indicia associated therewith;

wherein said indicia comprises each of suit and value indicia; and

a plurality of bingo balls each having individual numbers corresponding to said numbered spaces on said flashboard.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said first game of bingo comprises the game of bingo of claim 1.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of displaying to each said at least one player a representation of said indicia associated with each said numbered space corresponding to each of said second group of five bingo balls wherein said representation conceals from view said indicia associated with each said numbered space corresponding to each of said second group of five bingo balls.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said representation comprises an image of a back of a playing card.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of providing the option to discard at least one said indicia associated with said numbered space corresponding to at least one of said first group of five bingo balls and thereafter displaying said indicia associated with said numbered space corresponding to at least one of said second group of five bingo balls.

28. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of providing the option to discard at least one said indicia associated with said numbered space corresponding to at least one of said first group of five bingo balls and thereafter displaying said indicia associated with said numbered space corresponding to at least one of said second group of five bingo balls.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said at least one player is provided with the option to select at least one specified representation of said indicia for at least one of said second group of five bingo balls.

2. A bingo game comprising, in combination:

a plurality of player terminals;

wherein each said player terminal has a display screen thereon;

a plurality of flashboards each having a plurality of numbered spaces;

wherein said plurality of numbered spaces has indicia associated therewith;

wherein said indicia comprises indicia of the type commonly displayed on slot-type machines; and

a plurality of bingo balls each having individual numbers corresponding to said numbered spaces on said flashboard.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein said first game of bingo comprises the game of bingo of claim 2.

3. A method of playing a game of bingo comprising the steps of:

providing at least one player with a flashboard having a plurality of numbered spaces;

wherein said plurality of numbered spaces has indicia associated therewith;

providing a plurality of bingo balls each having individual numbers corresponding to numbered spaces on said flashboard;

initiating the bingo game;

randomly selecting bingo balls;

displaying to said at least one player said indicia associated with each said numbered space corresponding to each said selected bingo ball; and

if said at least one player achieves a predetermined winning combination of said displayed indicia, providing an award to said at least one player.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said indicia comprises each of suit and value indicia.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said indicia comprises indicia of the type commonly displayed on slot-type machines.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of randomly selecting a second group of five bingo balls.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of displaying to each said at least one player a representation of said indicia associated with each said numbered space corresponding to each of said second group of five bingo balls wherein said representation conceals from view said indicia associated with each said numbered space corresponding to each of said second group of five bingo balls.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said representation comprises an image of a back of a playing card.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of providing the option to discard at least one said indicia associated with said numbered space corresponding to at least one of said first group of five bingo balls and thereafter displaying said indicia associated with said numbered space corresponding to at least one of said second group of five bingo balls.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of providing the option to discard at least one said indicia associated with said numbered space corresponding to at least one of said first group of five bingo balls and thereafter displaying said indicia associated with said numbered space corresponding to at least one of said second group of five bingo balls.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said at least one player is presented with the option to select at least one specified representation of said indicia for at least one of said second group of five bingo balls.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said indicia comprises each of suit and value indicia.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said indicia comprises indicia of the type commonly displayed on slot-type machines.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of randomly selecting a second group of five bingo balls.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of displaying to each said at least one player a representation of said indicia associated with each said numbered space corresponding to each of said second group of five bingo balls wherein said representation conceals from view said indicia associated with each said numbered space corresponding to each of said second group of five bingo balls.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said representation comprises an image of a back of a playing card.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of providing the option to discard at least one said indicia associated with said numbered space corresponding to at least one of said first group of five bingo balls and thereafter displaying said indicia associated with said numbered space corresponding to at least one of said second group of five bingo balls.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of providing the option to discard at least one said indicia associated with said numbered space corresponding to at least one of said first group of five bingo balls and thereafter displaying said indicia associated with said numbered space corresponding to at least one of said second group of five bingo balls.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said at least one player selects at least one specified representation of said indicia for at least one of said second group of five bingo balls.

12. A method of playing a game of bingo comprising the steps of:

providing each player with a flashboard having a plurality of numbered spaces;

wherein said plurality of numbered spaces has indicia associated therewith;

providing a plurality of bingo balls each having individual numbers corresponding to numbered spaces on said flashboard;

initiating the bingo game;

randomly selecting consecutive bingo balls;

displaying to each player said indicia associated with each said numbered space corresponding to each said selected bingo ball; and

providing an award to at least one player qualifying for a case bingo award.

21. A method of playing overlapping games of bingo comprising the steps of:

providing at least one player with a player terminal;

providing two or more ball draws;

commencing a game of bingo with a ball draw;

said at least one player participating in said game of bingo;

allowing said game of bingo to proceed for a specified period of time prior to closing; and

commencing another game of bingo with another ball draw prior to said closing of said prior game.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said indicia comprises each of suit and value indicia.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of randomly selecting a second group of five bingo balls.

31. A method of playing a game of bingo comprising the steps of:

providing each player with a flashboard having a plurality of numbered spaces;

wherein said plurality of numbered spaces has indicia associated therewith;

providing a plurality of bingo balls each having individual numbers corresponding to numbered spaces on said flashboard;

initiating the bingo game;

establishing a case bingo progressive jackpot pool;

randomly selecting consecutive bingo balls;

displaying to each player said indicia associated with each said numbered space corresponding to each said selected bingo ball;

providing an award to at least one player qualifying for a case bingo progressive jackpot; and

wherein said award includes at least a portion n of said progressive jackpot pool.

32. A method of playing a game of bingo comprising the steps of:

providing at least one player with a display screen illustrating a plurality of reels for a slot-type machine;

providing said at least one player with a different flashboard for each said reel, each flashboard having a plurality of numbered spaces;

wherein said plurality of numbered spaces has indicia associated therewith;

providing for each said flashboard a plurality of bingo balls each having individual numbers corresponding to numbered spaces on said flashboard;

initiating the bingo game;

randomly selecting bingo balls for each said flashboard;

displaying to said at least one player said indicia associated with each said numbered space corresponding to each said selected bingo ball; and

if said at least one player achieves a predetermined winning combination of said displayed indicia, providing an award to said at least one player.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising the steps of:

establishing a progressive jackpot;

providing an award to at least one player having a case bingo; and

awarding a portion of said progressive jackpot to said player having a case bingo.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising the steps of:

providing two or more ball draws;

commencing a game of bingo with a ball draw;

said at least one player participating in said game of bingo;

allowing said game of bingo to proceed for a specified period of time prior to closing; and

commencing another game of bingo with another ball draw prior to said closing of said prior game.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising the steps of:

providing two or more ball draws;

commencing a game of bingo with a ball draw;

said at least one player participating in said game of bingo;

allowing said game of bingo to proceed for a specified period of time prior to closing; and

commencing another game of bingo with another ball draw prior to said closing of said prior first game.