Multi-player bingo game with real-time game-winning pattern determination

• US 20050059470A1
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• 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 7,946,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3279 wherein the competition is one-to-one, e.g. match
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

The invention is directed to methods and gaming units for conducting a multi-player wagering game, such as a Bingo 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 game-winning pattern or patterns for an occurrence of the wagering game may be determined for each occurrence based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the wagering game. The game-winning patterns may be determined so that a desired statistical distribution of the number of randomly selected game indicia required for a player to match a game-winning pattern may be achieved regardless of the total number of game arrays enrolled by the players.

Claims

1. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game wherein each player has at least one 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 desired statistical distribution of the number of randomly selected game indicia needed for at least one player to match a game-winning pattern for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

determining criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the total number of game arrays used by the players in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game such that the statistical distribution of the number of randomly selected game indicia needed for at least one player to match a game-winning pattern for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game using the at least one game-winning pattern is approximately the same as the desired statistical distribution;

allowing a plurality of players to enroll in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

calculating the total number of game arrays for the players enrolled in the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

determining at least one game-winning pattern for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern corresponding to the total number of game arrays for the players enrolled in the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

2. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

comparing game indicia on a player'"'"'s game array matching the randomly selected game indicia to at least one predetermined interim pattern, wherein only game indicia on the game array matching the randomly selected game indicia selected up to the lesser of a game-winning pattern being matched on one of the game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game and a predetermined maximum number of the randomly selected game indicia are compared to the at least one interim pattern; and

awarding the player an interim pattern award corresponding to an interim pattern if the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matches the interim pattern,

wherein the desired statistical distribution is a uniform probability distribution for each occurrence of the multi-player wagering game for a game-winning pattern to be matched on at least one game array enrolled for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game in less than the predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia.

3. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, wherein the desired statistical distribution is a uniform probability distribution for each occurrence of the multi-player wagering game for a game-winning pattern to be matched on at least one game array enrolled for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game in less than a predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia.

4. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, wherein the desired statistical distribution is an approximately equal average number of randomly selected game indicia for a game-winning pattern to be matched on at least one game array enrolled for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game for each total number of game arrays that may be enrolled in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

5. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, wherein the criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game comprises at least one of the number of game-winning patterns, the number of game indicia in the game-winning patterns, and the number of game indicia shared by the game-winning patterns.

6. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

storing a plurality of game-winning patterns meeting the criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern for each total number of game arrays that may be enrolled in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

selecting at least one game-winning pattern from the plurality of stored game-winning patterns based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the wagering game.

7. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, generating at least one game-winning pattern for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the beginning of the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, the at least one game-winning pattern being generated based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the wagering game and the criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern.

8. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game wherein each player has at least one 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:

allowing a plurality of players to enroll in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

calculating the total number of game arrays for the players enrolled in the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

determining at least one game-winning pattern for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the total number of game arrays for the players enrolled in the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

9. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 8, comprising:

configuring the multi-player wagering game with criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the total number of game arrays enrolled by the players in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game such that the statistical distribution of the number of randomly selected game indicia needed for at least one player to match a game-winning pattern for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game using the at least one game-winning pattern is approximately the same as a desired statistical distribution;

determining at least one game-winning pattern for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern corresponding to the total number of game arrays for the players enrolled for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

10. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 9, comprising:

comparing game indicia on a player'"'"'s game array matching the randomly selected game indicia to at least one predetermined interim pattern, wherein only game indicia on the game array matching the randomly selected game indicia selected up to the lesser of a game-winning pattern being matched on one of the game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game and a predetermined maximum number of the randomly selected game indicia are compared to the at least one interim pattern; and

awarding the player an interim pattern award corresponding to an interim pattern if the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matches the interim pattern,

wherein the desired statistical distribution is a uniform probability distribution for each occurrence of the multi-player wagering game for a game-winning pattern to be matched on at least one game array enrolled for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game in less than the predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia.

11. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 9, wherein the desired statistical distribution is a uniform probability distribution for each occurrence of the multi-player wagering game for a game-winning pattern to be matched on at least one game array enrolled for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game in less than a predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia.

12. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 9, wherein the desired statistical distribution is an approximately equal average number of randomly selected game indicia for a game-winning pattern to be matched on at least one game array enrolled for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game for each total number of game arrays that may be enrolled in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

13. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 9, wherein the criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game comprises at least one of the number of game-winning patterns, the number of game indicia in the game-winning patterns, and the number of game indicia shared by the game-winning patterns.

14. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 9, comprising:

storing a plurality of game-winning patterns meeting the criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern for each total number of game arrays that may be enrolled in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

selecting at least one game-winning pattern from the plurality of stored game-winning patterns based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the wagering game.

15. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 9, generating at least one game-winning pattern for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the beginning of the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, the at least one game-winning pattern being generated based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the wagering game and the criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern.

16. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 8, comprising:

storing a plurality of game-winning patterns for each total number of game arrays that may be enrolled in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

selecting at least one game-winning pattern from the plurality of stored game-winning patterns based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the wagering game.

17. A method for determining game-winning patterns for a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 8, comprising generating at least one game-winning pattern for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the beginning of the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, the at least one game-winning pattern being generated based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the wagering game.

18. A gaming system for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network wherein each player has at least one 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 gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming units, each gaming unit comprising;

an input device for inputting a plurality of input selections,

a display device, and

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to the input device and the display device; and

a network computer comprising;

a network computer memory device storing criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the total number of game arrays enrolled by the players in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game such that the statistical distribution of the number of randomly selected game indicia needed for at least one player to match a game-winning pattern for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game using the at least one game-winning pattern is approximately the same as a desired statistical distribution, and

a network computer controller operatively coupled to the network computer memory device and to each of the gaming unit controllers,

each gaming unit controller being programmed to allow the input device to receive input for a player'"'"'s enrollment of at least one game array for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

each gaming unit controller being programmed to cause the display device to display the at least one game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

the network computer controller being programmed to calculate the total number of game arrays for the players enrolled in the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

the network computer controller being programmed to determine at least one game-winning pattern for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the criteria stored at the network computer memory device for selecting at least one game-winning pattern corresponding to the total number of game arrays for the players enrolled in the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

19. A gaming network for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 18, wherein the desired statistical distribution is a uniform probability distribution for each occurrence of the multi-player wagering game for a game-winning pattern to be matched on at least one game array enrolled for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game in less than a predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia,

the network computer controller being programmed to transmit the randomly selected game indicia to the gaming units,

each gaming unit controller being programmed to receive the randomly selected game indicia transmitted by the network computer controller,

each gaming unit controller being programmed to compare the game indicia on a player'"'"'s game array matching the randomly selected game indicia to at least one predetermined interim pattern, wherein only game indicia on the game array matching the randomly selected game indicia selected up to the lesser of a game-winning pattern being matched on one of the game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game and the predetermined maximum number of the randomly selected game indicia are compared to the at least one interim pattern, and

each gaming unit controller being programmed to award to the player an interim pattern award in response to determining that game indicia matching the randomly selected game indicia selected up to the lesser of a game-winning pattern being matched on one of the game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game and the predetermined maximum number of the randomly selected game indicia matches the interim pattern.

20. A gaming network for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 18, wherein the desired statistical distribution is a uniform probability distribution for each occurrence of the multi-player wagering game for a game-winning pattern to be matched on at least one game array enrolled for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game in less than a predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia.

21. A gaming network for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 18, wherein the desired statistical distribution is an approximately equal average number of randomly selected game indicia for a game-winning pattern to be matched on at least one game array enrolled for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game for each total number of game arrays that may be enrolled in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

22. A gaming network for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 18, wherein the criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game comprises at least one of the number of game-winning patterns, the number of game indicia in the game-winning patterns, and the number of game indicia shared by the game-winning patterns.

23. A gaming network for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 18, wherein the network computer memory device stores a plurality of game-winning patterns meeting the criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern for each total number of game arrays that may be enrolled in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein the network computer controller is programmed to select at least one game-winning pattern from the plurality of stored game-winning patterns stored at the network computer memory device based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the wagering game.

24. A gaming network for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 18, wherein the network computer controller is programmed to generated at least one game-winning pattern for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the beginning of the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, the at least one game-winning pattern being generated based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the wagering game and the criteria for selecting at least one game-winning pattern.

25. A gaming system for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network wherein each player has at least one 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 gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming units, each gaming unit comprising;

an input device for inputting a plurality of input selections,

a display device, and

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to the input device and the display device; and

a network computer comprising a network computer controller operatively coupled to each of the gaming unit controllers,

each gaming unit controller being programmed to allow the input device to receive input for a player'"'"'s enrollment of at least one game array for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

each gaming unit controller being programmed to cause the display device to display the at least one game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

the network computer controller being programmed to calculate the total number of game arrays for the players enrolled in the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

the network computer controller being programmed to determine at least one game-winning pattern for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the total number of game arrays for the players enrolled in the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

26. A gaming network for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 25, wherein the network computer comprises a network computer memory device operatively coupled to the network computer controller, the network computer memory device storing a plurality of game-winning patterns for each total number of game arrays that may be enrolled in an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

the network computer controller being programmed select at least one game-winning pattern from the plurality of stored game-winning patterns based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the wagering game.

27. A gaming network for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 25, wherein the network computer is programmed to generate at least one game-winning pattern for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the beginning of the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, the at least one game-winning pattern being generated based on the total number of game arrays enrolled in the occurrence of the wagering game.