Multi-player bingo game with game-winning award selection

• US 20050075161A1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: McGlone, James T., Gail, Ted
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

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 one or more game arrays having unique combinations of game indicia based on matching the game indicia on the game arrays to game indicia randomly selected for the occurrence of the wagering game. Once a player matches a game-winning pattern to win the occurrence of the wagering game, the gaming unit may display a plurality of selection symbols, at least one of which may correspond to a game-winning award or a further game array. In the embodiment with the further game array, the indicia on the game array may be compared to the randomly selected game indicia to determine the amount of game-winning award for the player.

Claims

1. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of 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 that a player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game has matched the predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia;

displaying to the player a plurality of selection symbols in response to determining that the player has matched the predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, at least one selection symbol corresponding to an available game-winning award;

allowing the player to select at least one of the plurality of selection symbols; and

determining the game-winning award for the player based on the at least one of the plurality of selection symbols selected by the player.

2. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, wherein each selection symbol corresponds to an available game-winning award.

3. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the selection symbols corresponds to a termination selection, the method comprising ceasing allowing the player to select the selection symbols in response to the player selecting a selection symbol corresponding to a termination selection.

4. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 3, wherein the game-winning award for the player is equal to the sum of the available game-winning awards corresponding to the selection symbols selected by the player prior to the player selecting the selection symbol corresponding to the termination selection.

5. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the selection symbols corresponds to an award multiplier, the method comprising multiplying the selected available game-winning awards by the award multiplier in response to the player selected the selection symbol corresponding to the award multiplier.

6. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, comprising allowing the player to select a predetermined number of the selection symbols less than the total number of displayed selection symbols.

7. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 6, comprising allowing the player to select one of the selection symbols.

8. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 1, comprising selecting at least one available game-winning award from a pool of available game-winning awards.

9. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 8, comprising preventing an available game-winning award selected from the pool of available game-winning awards from being selected from the pool in response to the player selecting the selection symbol corresponding to the available game-winning award.

10. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of 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 that a player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game has matched the predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia;

displaying to the player a plurality of selection symbols in response to determining that the player has matched the predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, at least one selection symbol corresponding to an award game array having a combination of indicia from the range of game indicia;

allowing the player to select at least one of the plurality of selection symbols;

comparing the indicia of the at least one award game array corresponding to the at least one selection symbol selected by the player to the randomly selected game indicia; and

awarding the player a game-winning award if the player has matched at least one predetermined award-winning pattern of game indicia on the at least one award game array with the randomly selected game indicia.

11. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10, wherein each selection symbol corresponds to an award game array.

12. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10, wherein at least one of the selection symbols corresponds to a termination selection, the method comprising ceasing allowing the player to select the selection symbols in response to the player selecting a selection symbol corresponding to a termination selection.

13. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 12, wherein each award-winning pattern has a corresponding award amount, and wherein the game-winning award for the player is equal to the sum of the award amounts corresponding to the award-winning patterns matched on the at least one award game array prior to the player selecting the selection symbol corresponding to the termination selection.

14. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10, comprising allowing the player to select a predetermined number of the selection symbols less than the total number of displayed selection symbols.

15. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 14, comprising allowing the player to select one of the selection symbols.

16. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10, comprising selecting an award game array corresponding to a selection symbol such that none of the indicia from the range of game indicia on the award game array is the same as any of the indicia from the range of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

17. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10, comprising selecting an award game array corresponding to a selection symbol independent of selecting the player'"'"'s game array.

18. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10, comprising providing a plurality of predetermined award-winning patterns that may be matched on the at least one award game array by the randomly selected game indicia, wherein each award winning pattern has a corresponding award amount.

19. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 18, awarding the player a game-winning award equal to the sum of the award amounts corresponding to each of the predetermined award-winning patterns matched by the randomly selected game indicia on the at least one award game array.

20. A method for determining a game-winning award for a player of a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 18, awarding the player a game-winning award equal to the highest award amount corresponding to a predetermined award-winning pattern matched by the randomly selected game indicia on the at least one award game array.

21. A gaming unit for conducting 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, the gaming unit comprising:

an input device for inputting a plurality of input selections;

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

a display device; and

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to the input device, the currency-accepting mechanism, the display device, and to the gaming network,

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,

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 receive the randomly selected game indicia transmitted over the gaming network and to compare the received randomly selected game indicia to the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

the gaming unit controller being programmed to determine whether the player has matched the predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s array with the randomly selected game indicia,

the gaming unit controller being programmed to cause the display device to display a plurality of selection symbols in response to determining that the player has matched the predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, wherein at least one selection symbol corresponds to an available game-winning award,

the gaming unit controller being programmed to cause at least one of the input device and the display device to receive input for a player'"'"'s selection of at least one of the plurality of selection symbols, and

the gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a gaming-winning award for the player based on the at least one of the plurality of selection symbols selected by the player.

22. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 21, wherein each selection symbol corresponds to an available game-winning award.

23. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 21, wherein at least one of the selection symbols corresponds to a termination selection, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to cause the at least one of the input device and the display device to cease receiving input for the player'"'"'s selection of selection symbols in response to the player selecting a selection symbol corresponding to a termination selection.

24. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 23, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to calculate the game-winning award for the player by adding the amounts of the available game-winning awards corresponding to the selection symbols selected by the player in response to the player selecting a selection symbol corresponding to a termination selection.

25. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 21, wherein at least one of the selection symbols corresponds to an award multiplier, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to calculate the game-winning award for the player by multiplying that amounts of the selected available game-winning awards by the award multiplier in response to the player selected the selection symbol corresponding to the award multiplier.

26. 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 at least one of the input device and the display device to receive input for the player'"'"'s selection of a predetermined number of the selection symbols less than the total number of displayed selection symbols.

27. 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 at least one of the input device and the display device to receive input for the player'"'"'s selection of one of the selection symbols.

28. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 21, wherein the at least one available game-winning award is selected from a pool of available game-winning awards and transmitted to the gaming unit over the gaming network, and wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to receive the at least one available game-winning award transmitted over the gaming network.

29. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 21, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to select the at least one available game-winning award from a pool of available game-winning awards.

30. A gaming unit for conducting 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, the gaming unit comprising:

an input device for inputting a plurality of input selections;

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

a display device; and

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to the input device, the currency-accepting mechanism, the display device, and to the gaming network,

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,

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 receive the randomly selected game indicia transmitted over the gaming network and to compare the received randomly selected game indicia to the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

the gaming unit controller being programmed to determine whether the player has matched the predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s array with the randomly selected game indicia,

the gaming unit controller being programmed to cause the display device to display a plurality of selection symbols in response to determining that the player has matched the predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, wherein at least one selection symbol corresponds to an award game array having a combination of indicia from the range of game indicia,

the gaming unit controller being programmed to cause at least one of the input device and the display device to receive input for a player'"'"'s selection of at least one of the plurality of selection symbols,

the gaming unit controller being programmed to compare the indicia of the at least one award game array corresponding to the at least one selection symbol to the randomly selected game indicia in response to the player selecting the at least one selection symbol, and

the gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a gaming-winning award for the player in response to determining that a pattern of indicia on the at least one award array matched by the randomly selected game indicia matches a predetermined award-winning pattern of game indicia.

31. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 30, wherein each selection symbol corresponds to an award game array.

32. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 30, wherein at least one of the selection symbols corresponds to a termination selection, and wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to cause the at least one of the input device and the display device to cease receiving input for the player'"'"'s selection of selection symbols in response to the player selecting a selection symbol corresponding to a termination selection.

33. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 32, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to calculate the game-winning award for the player by adding the amounts of the award amounts corresponding to the award-winning patterns matched on the at least one award game array prior to the player selecting the selection symbol corresponding to the termination selection in response to the player selecting a selection symbol corresponding to a termination selection.

34. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 30, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to cause the at least one of the input device and the display device to receive input for the player'"'"'s selection of a predetermined number of the selection symbols less than the total number of displayed selection symbols.

35. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 34, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to cause the at least one of the input device and the display device to receive input for the player'"'"'s selection of one of the selection symbols.

36. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 30, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to select an award game array corresponding to a selection symbol such that none of the indicia from the range of game indicia on the award game array is the same as any of the indicia from the range of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

37. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 30, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to select an award game array corresponding to a selection symbol independent of selecting the player'"'"'s game array.

38. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 30, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to compare the indicia of the at least one award game array to a plurality of predetermined award-winning patterns that may be matched on the at least one award game array by the randomly selected game indicia, wherein each award winning pattern has a corresponding award amount.

39. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 38, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to calculate the game-winning award for the player by adding the award amounts corresponding to each of the predetermined award-winning patterns matched by the randomly selected game indicia on the at least one award game array.

40. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 38, wherein the gaming unit controller is programmed to set the game-winning award equal to the highest award amount corresponding to a predetermined award-winning pattern matched by the randomly selected game indicia on the at least one award game array.