Multi-player bingo game with multi-level award amount pattern mapping

• US 20050059468A1
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cannon, Lee E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,753,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0645 Electric lottos or bingo games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

The invention is directed to methods and gaming units for conducting a multi-player wagering game in which at least one of the players may win the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on a game array having a unique combination of game indicia based on matching the game indicia on the game array to game indicia randomly selected for the occurrence of the wagering game. The wagering game may include a plurality of game awards that may be awarded to the players. The game awards may be divided into pay groups, with each pay group being associated with a primary pattern on the game array, and with each game award within a pay group being associated with a secondary pattern on the game array. A gaming award may be awarded to a player in response to determining that the primary pattern and the secondary pattern associated with the gaming award are matched by patterns formed by the game indicia of the game array matching the randomly selected game indicia.

Claims

1. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein individual game indicia are randomly selected from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the wagering game, and wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of game awards that may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

dividing the game awards into at least two pay groups, wherein each pay group includes at least one game award;

associating each pay group with a primary pattern on the game array used by the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

associating game awards within each pay group with a secondary pattern on the game array used by the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

2. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

assigning each game award a probability of being awarded to a player of the multi-player wagering game; and

determining for each pay group a pay group probability of awarding one of the game awards from the pay group to a player of the multi-player wagering game,

wherein associating each pay group with a primary pattern comprises associating a primary pattern having a probability of being matched during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game that is approximately equal to the pay group probability for the associated pay group.

3. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 2, wherein associating each game award within each pay group with a secondary pattern comprises associating a secondary pattern having a probability of being matched during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game such that the probability that both the primary pattern for the pay group and the secondary pattern for the game award will be matched during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game is approximately equal to the probability of awarding the game award.

4. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, wherein each game award has a unique game award value.

5. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 4, wherein dividing the game awards into at least two pay groups comprises dividing the game awards into pay groups such that for any two pay groups the game award value of each game award in one pay group is either greater than the game award value of each game award in the other pay group or less than the game award value of each game award in the other pay group.

6. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 5, comprising:

assigning each game award a probability of being awarded to a player of the multi-player wagering game; and

determining for each pay group a pay group probability of awarding one of the game awards from the pay group to a player of the multi-player wagering game,

wherein associating each pay group with a primary pattern comprises associating a primary pattern having a probability of being matched during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game that is approximately equal to the pay group probability for the associated pay group.

7. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 6, wherein the multi-player wagering game is configured so that only the game award having the greatest game award value is awarded to a player when multiple combinations of primary and secondary patterns resulting in game awards are matched by a player during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, the method comprising reducing the probably of a primary pattern being matched by the probability that a primary pattern associated with a pay group having game awards with greater game award values will be matched during the same occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

8. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 6, wherein associating each game award within each pay group with a secondary pattern comprises associating a secondary pattern having a probability of being matched during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game such that the probability that both the primary pattern for the pay group and the secondary pattern for the game award will be matched during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game is approximately equal to the probability of awarding the game award.

9. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 8, wherein the multi-player wagering game is configured so that only the game award having the greatest game award value is awarded to a player when multiple combinations of primary and secondary patterns resulting in game awards are matched by a player during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, the method comprising reducing the probably of a secondary pattern being matched by the probability that a secondary pattern associated with a game award within the same pay group having a greater game award value will be matched during the same occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

10. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, wherein the game array for each player comprises a first portion having a first subset of the unique game indicia and a second portion having a second subset of the unique game indicia, wherein the primary patterns are patterns on the first portion of the game array and the secondary patterns are patterns on the second portion of the game array.

11. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10, wherein the game array comprises an array having seven rows and five columns of game indicia, wherein the first portion of the game array comprises the top five rows of the game array and the second portion of the game array comprises the bottom two rows of the game array.

12. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, wherein the game array for each player comprises a first game card having a first subset of the unique game indicia and a second game card having a second subset of the unique game indicia, wherein the primary patterns are patterns on the first game card of the game array and the secondary patterns are patterns on the second game card of the game array.

13. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 12, wherein the first game card comprises an array having five rows and five columns of game indicia, and the second game card comprises an array having two rows and five columns of game indicia.

14. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, wherein each game award has an associated game award value, and wherein the game award in a pay group having the lowest game award value is not assigned a secondary pattern such that the game award having the lowest game award value is awarded to a player when the primary pattern for the pay group is matched and none of the secondary patterns for the game awards in the pay group are matched during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

15. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a plurality of gaming units operatively coupled together, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein individual game indicia are randomly selected from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the wagering game and transmitted to the gaming units over the gaming network, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, comprising:

an input device for inputting a plurality of input selections;

a gaming unit memory device storing a plurality of game awards that may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and associated primary and secondary patterns of the game array, wherein the game awards are divided into at least two pay groups each including at least one game award, each pay group is associated with a primary pattern on the game array, and game awards within each pay group is associated with a secondary pattern on the game array;

a currency-accepting mechanism that is capable of allowing a player to deposit a medium of currency;

a display device;

a value-dispensing mechanism that is capable of dispensing value to the player;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to the input device, the gaming unit memory device, the currency-accepting mechanism, the output device, and the value-dispensing mechanism,

the gaming unit controller being programmed to allow the currency-accepting mechanism to accept a deposit of an amount of a medium of currency by a player at the gaming unit and to store the amount of the medium of currency in the gaming unit memory device as a corresponding amount of game credits,

the gaming unit controller being programmed to allow the input device to receive input for a player'"'"'s wager on an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the input device,

the gaming unit controller being programmed to compare the randomly selected game indicia to the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array and to determine whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array in response to receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming unit,

the gaming unit controller being programmed to compare the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the primary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory,

the gaming unit controller being programmed to compare the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the secondary patterns associated with the game awards within a pay group in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with the pay group is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, and

the gaming unit controller being programmed to increase the amount of game credits stored in the gaming unit memory device by a game award in response to determining that the primary pattern and secondary pattern associated with the game award are matched by matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

16. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 15, wherein each game award stored in the gaming unit memory device has a unique game award value.

17. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 16, wherein the game awards stored in the gaming unit memory device are divided into pay groups such that for any two pay groups the game award value of each game award in one pay group is either greater than the game award value of each game award in the other pay group or less than the game award value of each game award in the other pay group.

18. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 15, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to increase the amount of game credits stored in the gaming unit memory device by the game award having the greatest gaming award value in response to determining that the primary pattern and secondary pattern associated with more than one game award are matched by game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

19. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 15, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to increase the amount of game credits stored in the gaming unit memory device by the sum of the game award values in response to determining that the primary pattern and secondary pattern associated with more than one game award are matched by game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

20. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 15, wherein the game array for each player comprises a first portion having a first subset of the unique game indicia and a second portion having a second subset of the unique game indicia, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to compare the matched game indicia on the first portion of the player'"'"'s game array to the primary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory, and to compare the matched game indicia on the second portion of the player'"'"'s game array to the secondary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with the pay group is matched by the matched game indicia on the first portion of the player'"'"'s game array.

21. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 20, wherein the game array comprises an array having seven rows and five columns of game indicia, wherein the first portion of the game array comprises the top five rows of the game array and the second portion of the game array comprises the bottom two rows of the game array.

22. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 21, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to cause the display device to display the first portion of the player'"'"'s game array during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and to cause the display device to display the second portion of the player'"'"'s game array in response to determining that at least one primary pattern is matched by the matched game indicia on the first portion of the player'"'"'s game array.

23. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 15, wherein the game array for each player comprises a first game card having a first subset of the unique game indicia and a second game card having a second subset of the unique game indicia, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to compare the matched game indicia on the first game card of the player'"'"'s game array to the primary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory, and to compare the matched game indicia on the second game card of the player'"'"'s game array to the secondary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with the pay group is matched by the matched game indicia on the first game card of the player'"'"'s game array.

24. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 23, wherein the first game card comprises an array having five rows and five columns of game indicia, and the second game card comprises an array having two rows and five columns of game indicia.

25. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 24, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to cause the display device to display the first game card of the player'"'"'s game array during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and to cause the display device to display the second game card of the player'"'"'s game array in response to determining that at least one primary pattern is matched by the matched game indicia on the first game card of the player'"'"'s game array.

26. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 15, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to allow the input device to receive input for player selection of the unique combination of game indicia for the player'"'"'s game array.

27. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 15, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to select the unique combination of game indicia for the player'"'"'s game array.

28. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 15, wherein each game award has an associated game award value, and wherein the game award in a pay group having the lowest game award value is not assigned a secondary pattern, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to increase the amount of game credits stored in the gaming unit memory device by the game award in a pay group having the lowest game award value in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with the game award is matched by matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, and that none of the secondary patterns associated with the game awards of the pay group associated with the matched primary pattern are matched by matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

29. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 15, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to compare the primary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory to all the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matched during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

30. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 15, wherein at least a predetermined number of game indicia are randomly selected and transmitted to the gaming units over the gaming network regardless of the number of randomly selected game indicia required for a player to match the predetermined game winning pattern during an occurrence of the game, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to compare the primary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory to the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matched by the predetermined number of the randomly selected game indicia.

31. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 15, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to compare the primary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory to the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matched by the lesser of the number of randomly selected game indicia transmitted to the gaming units and a predetermined maximum number of the randomly selected game indicia.

32. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer;

transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;

comparing the randomly selected game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a plurality of primary patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards;

comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to at least one secondary pattern in response to determining that a primary pattern associated with the at least one secondary pattern is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein each of the at least one secondary pattern corresponds to one of the game awards associated with the primary pattern; and

awarding a game award to the player in response to determining that the primary pattern and secondary pattern associated with the game award are matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

33. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 32, wherein each game award has a unique game award value.

34. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 33, wherein the game awards associated with the primary patterns are divided into pay groups such that for any two pay groups the game award value of each game award in one of the pay group is either greater than the game award value of each game award in the other pay group or less than the game award value of each game award in the other pay group.

35. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 32, comprising awarding the player the game award having the greatest gaming award value in response to determining that the primary pattern and secondary pattern associated with more than one game award are matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

36. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 32, comprising awarding the player the sum of the game award values in response to determining that the primary pattern and secondary pattern associated with more than one game award are matched by game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

37. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 32, wherein the game array for each player comprises a first portion having a first subset of the unique game indicia and a second portion having a second subset of the unique game indicia, the method comprising:

comparing the matched game indicia on the first portion of the player'"'"'s game array to the primary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory; and

comparing the matched game indicia on the second portion of the player'"'"'s game array to the secondary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with the pay group is matched by the matched game indicia on the first portion of the player'"'"'s game array.

38. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 36, wherein the game array comprises an array having seven rows and five columns of game indicia, wherein the first portion of the game array comprises the top five rows of the game array and the second portion of the game array comprises the bottom two rows of the game array.

39. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 38, comprising:

displaying the first portion of the player'"'"'s game array at the gaming unit during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

displaying the second portion of the player'"'"'s game array at the gaming unit in response to determining that at least one primary pattern is matched by the matched game indicia on the first portion of the player'"'"'s game array.

40. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 32, wherein the game array for each player comprises a first game card having a first subset of the unique game indicia and a second game card having a second subset of the unique game indicia, the method comprising:

comparing the matched game indicia on the first game card of the player'"'"'s game array to the primary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory; and

comparing the matched game indicia on the second game card of the player'"'"'s game array to the secondary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with the pay group is matched by the matched game indicia on the first game card of the player'"'"'s game array.

41. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 40, wherein the first game card comprises an array having five rows and five columns of game indicia, and the second game card comprises an array having two rows and five columns of game indicia.

42. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 41, comprising:

displaying the first game card of the player'"'"'s game array at the gaming unit during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

displaying the second game card of the player'"'"'s game array at the gaming unit in response to determining that at least one primary pattern is matched by the matched game indicia on the first game card of the player'"'"'s game array.

43. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 32, comprising receiving input for player selection of the unique combination of game indicia for the player'"'"'s game array at the gaming unit.

44. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 32, comprising selecting the unique combination of game indicia for the player'"'"'s game array at the gaming unit.

45. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 32, wherein each game award has an associated game award value, and wherein the game award in a pay group having the lowest game award value is not assigned a secondary pattern, the method comprising awarding to the player the game award in a pay group having the lowest game award value in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with the game award is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, and determining that none of the secondary patterns associated with the game awards of the pay group associated with the matched primary pattern are matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

46. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 32, comprising comparing the primary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory to all the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matched during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

47. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 32, comprising:

transmitting at least a predetermined number of randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units regardless of the number of randomly selected game indicia required for a player to match the predetermined game winning pattern during an occurrence of the game; and

comparing the primary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory to the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matched by the predetermined number of the randomly selected game indicia.

48. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 32, comprising comparing the primary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory to the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matched by the lesser of the number of randomly selected game indicia transmitted to the gaming units and a predetermined maximum number of the randomly selected game indicia.

49. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer;

transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;

comparing the randomly selected game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a plurality of primary patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards; and

awarding a game award from the at least one of the plurality of game awards corresponding to a primary pattern to the player in response to determining that the primary pattern was matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the awarded game award corresponds to the number of randomly selected game indicia require to match the primary pattern.

50. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer;

transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;

comparing the randomly selected game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a primary pattern;

comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to at least one secondary pattern in response to determining that the primary pattern is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein each of the at least one secondary pattern corresponds to one of the game awards associated with the primary pattern, and wherein the at least one secondary pattern to which the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array are compared is determined based on the number of randomly selected game indicia required to match the primary pattern; and

awarding a game award to the player in response to determining that the primary pattern and the secondary pattern associated with the game award are matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

51. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer;

transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;

comparing the randomly selected;

game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a plurality of primary patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the player during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards; and

awarding a game award from the at least one of the plurality of game awards corresponding to a primary pattern to the player in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with a plurality of game awards is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards corresponds to the number of matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array in addition to the matched game indicia corresponding to the primary pattern.

52. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer;

transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;

comparing the randomly selected game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a plurality of primary patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards; and

selecting a game award from the at least one of the plurality of game awards corresponding to a primary pattern to the player using a random selection mechanism at the gaming unit in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with a plurality of game awards is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

53. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 52, wherein the random selection mechanism is a wheel having wheel stop positions corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of game awards corresponding to the primary pattern.

54. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer;

transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;

comparing the randomly selected game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a plurality of primary patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards; and

awarding a game award from the at least one of the plurality of game awards corresponding to a primary pattern to the player in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with a plurality of game awards is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards is determined based on the indicia on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

55. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 54, wherein the indicia on the player'"'"'s game array includes the color of the player'"'"'s game array, and wherein the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards is determined based on the color of the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

56. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 54, wherein the indicia on the player'"'"'s game array includes numbers arranged in the game array, and wherein the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards corresponds to a predetermined combination of numbers on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

57. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 54, wherein the indicia on the player'"'"'s game array includes colors corresponding to positions of the game array, and wherein the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards corresponds to a predetermined combination of the colors of the positions of the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

58. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer, wherein each randomly selected game indicia further includes a secondary indicia selected from a range of secondary indicia;

transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;

comparing the randomly selected game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a plurality of primary patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards; and

awarding a game award from the at least one of the plurality of game awards corresponding to a primary pattern to the player in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with a plurality of game awards is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards corresponds to a predetermined combination of the secondary indicia of the randomly selected game indicia matched by the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

59. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 58, wherein the secondary indicia of the randomly selected indicia are colors, and wherein the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards corresponds to a predetermined combination of the colors of the randomly selected game indicia matched by the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.