Gaming device having free game keno

• US 20040053668A1
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,306,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/18
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved Keno game, which provides an opportunity for the player to win free games. In Keno, the player chooses an amount of numbers to play, usually one to fifteen, and plays against the house. The game or house randomly generates numbers, usually twenty numbers from the numbers one to eighty. The number of matches generated and the amount of numbers the player plays determines whether and how much the player wins. One or more of the random generations is also a free game generation in the present invention, which provides one or more free Keno games to the player if the free game generation results in a match.

Claims

1. A gaming device for playing a game, the gaming device comprising:

a plurality of numbers displayed by a display device;

a first amount of the numbers selected by a player;

a processor that randomly generates a second amount of the numbers, at least one random generation additionally being a free game generation;

an award provided to the player based on how many of the player selected numbers match the generated numbers; and

a free game provided to the player if the free game generation generates one of the numbers selected by the player.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the display device displays the numbers one to eighty, and wherein the second amount of numbers is twenty.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first amount of numbers is from one to ten.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the free game uses the first amount of numbers selected by the player.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the free game uses a randomly generated set of the numbers.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the free game generation occurs upon a last one of the random number generations.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the free game generation randomly occurs during the second amount of random number generations.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of free games are provided to the player if the free game generation generates one of the numbers selected by the player.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the generations are additionally free game generations, and which includes a free game provided to the player if at least a portion of the plurality of the free game generations generate numbers selected by the player.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the generations are additionally free game generations, and which includes a free game provided to the player if the free game generations generate a portion of the numbers selected by the player, the portion based on the first amount of the numbers selected by a player.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the game is part of a multi-game wager.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, which is part of a combination game wager.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the random generation is performed via a server computer.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a frequency of occurrence of a free game generation is based on a player'"'"'s wager.

15. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a frequency of occurrence of a free game is based on a player'"'"'s wager.

16. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the free game generation is a first free game generation and which includes a second free game generation provided as an outcome of play of the free game.

17. A Keno gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a video monitor supported by the cabinet;

a processor operable with the video monitor to;

(i) provide a plurality of numbers, (ii) enable a player to select a first amount of the numbers, and (iii) randomly generate a second amount of the numbers, at least one random generation additionally being a free outcome generation;

an award provided to the player based on how many of the player selected numbers match the generated numbers; and

a free outcome provided to the player if the free outcome generation generates one of the numbers selected by the player.

18. The Keno gaming device of claim 17, which includes a different type of wagering game additionally provided by the processor, wherein the free outcome includes a free play of the different wagering game.

19. The Keno gaming device of claim 18, wherein the video monitor is a first video monitor and which includes a second video monitor, the different wagering game displayed on the second video monitor.

20. The Keno gaming device of claim 18, wherein the different wagering game is selected from the group consisting of:

slot, poker, blackjack and craps.

21. The Keno gaming device of claim 17, wherein the free outcome includes a game played at odds that are more likely to produce a winning outcome than the odds of a game that generated the free outcome.

22. The Keno gaming device of claim 17, wherein the free outcome includes a game that has a higher percentage payout than the percentage payout of a game that generates the free outcome.

23. The Keno gaming device of claim 17, wherein the free outcome generation is a first free outcome generation and which includes a second free outcome generation provided as an outcome of play of the free outcome.

24. The Keno gaming device of claim 17, wherein the free outcome includes a set of games, at least one of the games being a Keno game and at least one other game selected from the group consisting of:

slot, poker, blackjack, craps and bingo.

25. A Keno game comprising:

a plurality of numbers;

a first amount of the numbers selected by a player;

a random generation device that randomly generates a second amount of the numbers, at least one random generation additionally being a free game generation;

an award provided to the player based on how many of the player selected numbers match the generated numbers; and

a free game provided to the player if the free game generation generates one of the numbers selected by the player.

26. The Keno game of claim 25, which includes the numbers one to eighty, wherein the second amount of numbers is twenty.

27. The Keno game of claim 25, wherein the first amount of numbers is from one to fifteen.

28. The Keno game of claim 25, wherein the free game uses the first amount of numbers selected by the player.

29. The Keno game of claim 25, wherein the free game uses a randomly generated set of the numbers.

30. The Keno game of claim 25, wherein the free game generation occurs upon a last one of the random number generations.

31. The Keno game of claim 25, wherein the free game generation randomly occurs during the second amount of random number generations.

32. The Keno game of claim 25, wherein a plurality of free games are provided to the player if the free game generation generates one of the numbers selected by the player.

33. The Keno game of claim 25, wherein a plurality of the generations are additionally free game generations, and which includes a free game provided to the player if at least a portion of the plurality of the free game generations generate numbers selected by the player.

34. The Keno game of claim 25, wherein a plurality of the generations are additionally free game generations, and which includes a free game provided to the player if the free game generations generate a portion of the numbers selected by the player, the portion based on the first amount of the numbers selected by a player.

35. The Keno game of claim 25, which is part of a multi-game ticket.

36. The Keno game of claim 25, which is part of a combination game ticket.

37. The Keno game of claim 25, wherein the random generation is performed via a server computer.

38. The Keno game of claim 25, which is provided on a platform selected from the group consisting of:

a gaming establishment, a video gaming device, a data network, and any combination thereof.

39. The Keno game of claim 25, wherein a frequency of occurrence of a free game is based on a player'"'"'s wager.

40. The Keno game of claim 25, wherein a frequency of occurrence of a free game generation is based on a player'"'"'s wager.

41. The Keno game of claim 25, wherein the free game generation is a first free game generation and which includes a second free game generation provided as an outcome of play of the free game.

42. The Keno game of claim 25, wherein the free game includes a set of games, at least one of the games being a Keno game and at least one other game selected from the group consisting of:

slot, poker, blackjack, craps and bingo.

43. A method of operating a gaming device comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling a player to select an amount of a set of numbers;

(b) randomly generating a subset of the set of numbers;

(c) designating one of the random generations as a free outcome generation;

(d) awarding the player based on how many of the player selected numbers match the generated numbers; and

(e) awarding a free outcome to the player if the free outcome generation generates one of the numbers selected by the player.

44. The method of claim 43, which includes providing a ticket to the player, the ticket enabling the player to select the amount of the set of numbers.

45. The method of claim 43, which includes the step of displaying the random generation of the subset of numbers.

46. The method of claim 43, which includes at least one of:

(i) designating a plurality of the generations as free outcome generations;

(ii) requiring a plurality of the free outcome generations to result in numbers selected by a player before awarding a free outcome; and

(iii) award a plurality of free outcomes to the player if the free outcome generation generates one of the numbers selected by the player.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the free outcome includes a free game, and which includes the step of playing the free game after a series of games of a multi-game ticket.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the free outcome includes a free game, and which includes the step of using the same numbers previously selected by the player in the free game.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein awarding a free outcome includes awarding an outcome selected from the group consisting of:

a free Keno game, a free blackjack game, a free slot game, a free poker game, a free craps game, a free beverage and free food item and a free token.

50. The method of claim 43, which includes providing odds of achieving a winning outcome for play in a free outcome game that are higher than the odds of achieving a winning outcome in a game that generates the free outcome.

51. The method of claim 43, which includes providing a higher percentage payout for play in a free outcome game than the percentage payout in a game that generates the free outcome.

52. The method of claim 43, wherein steps (a) to (e) are provided via a data network.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the data network is an internet.