Advantage bingo bonus

• US 20070117608A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Paulsen, Craig, Roper, Jay, Iddings, Cara
• Granted Patent: US 8,540,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• 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
• 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

Abstract

One or more instances of a bonus game (e.g., Class II games such as Bingo games) may be provided to players of another wagering game (e.g., a Class III game such as a slot game, a poker game, etc.). Some implementations of the invention allow players to exchange indicia of credit (e.g., money, game credits, or player loyalty points) for bonus opportunities. For example, players may be able to purchase one or more Bingo cards for Bingo bonus games. Some implementations award bonus opportunities to players based on wager levels, game results, a player'"'"'s level in a player loyalty program and/or other criteria.

Claims

1. A gaming method, comprising:

providing a first type of wagering game;

determining when a bonus criterion is satisfied; and

providing an opportunity to participate in at least one instance of a second type of wagering game when the bonus criterion is satisfied.

2. The gaming method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the second type of wagering game.

3. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the second type of wagering game comprises a Bingo game.

4. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the first type of wagering game comprises a Class III game.

5. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein providing a first type of wagering game comprises displaying the first type of wagering game in a first display device and wherein providing the second type of wagering game comprises displaying the second type of wagering game in a second display device.

6. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the first type of wagering game and the second type of wagering game are provided on a single display device.

7. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing an opportunity comprises offering a Bingo card.

8. The gaming method of claim 2, wherein the first type of wagering game and the second type of wagering game are provided concurrently.

9. The gaming method of claim 2, wherein the step of providing the second type of wagering game comprises providing one instance among multiple instances of the second type of wagering game, the multiple instances being related according to a hierarchy.

10. The gaming method of claim 2, wherein the second type of wagering game is provided during a session of the first type of wagering games.

11. The gaming method of claim 2, wherein the second type of wagering game is provided after a session of the first type of wagering games.

12. The gaming method of claim 4, wherein the Class III game comprises a slot game, a poker game, a blackjack game, a keno game or a baccarat game.

13. The gaming method of claim 5, wherein the first display device and the second display device are part of a single electronic gaming machine.

14. The gaming method of claim 5, wherein the first display device is part of an electronic gaming machine (“

EGM”

) and the second display device is part of a second device.

15. The gaming method of claim 7, wherein a color of the Bingo card corresponds with a player ranking.

16. The gaming method of claim 7, wherein the offering step comprises offering the Bingo card in exchange for money, game credits or player loyalty points.

17. The gaming method of claim 9, wherein the hierarchy corresponds with levels of a player loyalty program.

18. The gaming method of claim 9, wherein the hierarchy corresponds with recent gaming activity.

19. The gaming method of claim 9, wherein the multiple instances of the second type of wagering game involve higher prize amounts at higher levels of the hierarchy and lower prize amounts at lower levels of the hierarchy.

20. The gaming method of claim 9, further comprising providing colored cards, wherein a card color corresponds with a hierarchy level.

21. The gaming method of claim 14, wherein the second device comprises a personal digital assistant, a mobile gaming device, a cellular telephone, a laptop computer or a desktop computer.

22. The gaming method of claim 14, wherein the EGM and the second device are located in a single gaming establishment.

23. The gaming method of claim 14, wherein the EGM is located in a gaming establishment and the second device is located outside the gaming establishment.

24. The gaming method of claim 18, wherein the recent gaming activity comprises recent wagering activity.

25. A gaming method, comprising:

providing a Class III wagering game;

establishing player rankings for players of the Class III wagering game;

making a correspondence between player rankings and levels of bonus Bingo games;

determining a set of players who will receive an offer to play the bonus Bingo games; and

offering the set of players an opportunity to play the bonus Bingo games.

26. The gaming method of claim 25, wherein the establishing step comprises referencing data pertaining to a player loyalty program.

27. The gaming method of claim 25, wherein the establishing step comprises referencing recent player activity.

28. The gaming method of claim 25, wherein the offering step comprises offering Bingo cards for the bonus Bingo games in response to events pertaining to the Class III wagering game.

29. The gaming method of claim 25, wherein the offering step comprises offering Bingo cards for the bonus Bingo games in exchange for money, player loyalty points or game credits.

30. The gaming method of claim 25, wherein the offering step comprises:

offering, to a first rank of players, an opportunity to play a first level of bonus Bingo games; and

offering, to a second rank of players, an opportunity to play a second level of bonus Bingo games.

31. The gaming method of claim 25, wherein the offering step comprises:

offering, to a first rank of players, an opportunity to play a first level of bonus Bingo games at no extra charge; and

offering, to a second rank of players, an opportunity to play a second level of bonus Bingo games in exchange for money, player loyalty points or game credits.

32. The gaming method of claim 25, wherein the Class III wagering game comprises a slot game, a poker game, a blackjack game, a keno game or a baccarat game.

33. A gaming system, comprising:

means for providing a first type of wagering game;

means for determining when a bonus criterion is satisfied; and

means for providing an opportunity to participate in at least one instance of a second type of wagering game when the bonus criterion is satisfied.

34. The gaming system of claim 33, further comprising means for providing the second type of wagering game.

35. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein the second type of wagering game comprises a Bingo game.

36. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein the first type of wagering game comprises a Class III game.

37. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein the means for providing a first type of wagering game comprises means for displaying the first type of wagering game in a first display device and wherein the means for providing the second type of wagering game comprises means for displaying the second type of wagering game in a second display device.

38. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein a single display device is used by the means for providing the first type of wagering game and the means for providing the second type of wagering game.

39. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein the means for providing an opportunity comprises means for offering a Bingo card.

40. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein providing means provide the first type of wagering game and the second type of wagering game concurrently.

41. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the means for providing the second type of wagering game comprises means for providing one instance among multiple instances of the second type of wagering game, the multiple instances being related according to a hierarchy.

42. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the second type of wagering game is provided during a session of the first type of wagering games.

43. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the second type of wagering game is provided after a session of the first type of wagering games.

44. The gaming system of claim 36, wherein the Class III game comprises a slot game, a poker game, a blackjack game, a keno game or a baccarat game.

45. The gaming system of claim 37, wherein the first display device and the second display device are part of a single electronic gaming machine.

46. The gaming system of claim 37, wherein the first display device is part of an electronic gaming machine (“

EGM”

) and the second display device is part of a second device.

47. The gaming system of claim 39, wherein a color of the Bingo card corresponds with a player ranking or recent gaming activity.

48. The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the offering means is configured to offer the Bingo card in exchange for money, game credits or player loyalty points.

49. The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the offering means comprises an electronic gaming machine.

50. The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the offering means comprises a kiosk.

51. The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the offering means comprises a server.

52. The gaming system of claim 41, further comprising means for providing colored cards, wherein a card color corresponds with a hierarchy level.

53. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the second device comprises a personal digital assistant, a mobile gaming device, a cellular telephone, a laptop computer or a desktop computer.

54. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the EGM and the second device are located in a single gaming establishment.

55. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the EGM is located in a gaming establishment and the second device is located outside the gaming establishment.

56. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the recent gaming activity comprises recent wagering activity.

57. A gaming system, comprising:

means for providing a Class III wagering game;

means for establishing player rankings for players of the Class III wagering game;

means for making a correspondence between player rankings and levels of bonus Bingo games;

means for determining a set of players who will receive an offer to play the bonus Bingo games; and

means for offering the set of players an opportunity to play the bonus Bingo games.

58. The gaming system of claim 57, wherein the establishing means comprises means for referencing data pertaining to a player loyalty program.

59. The gaming system of claim 57, wherein the establishing means comprises means for referencing recent player activity.

60. The gaming system of claim 57, wherein the offering means comprises means for offering Bingo cards for the bonus Bingo games in response to events pertaining to the Class III wagering game.

61. The gaming system of claim 57, wherein the offering means comprises means for offering Bingo cards for the bonus Bingo games in exchange for money, player loyalty points or game credits.

62. The gaming system of claim 57, wherein the offering means comprises:

means for offering, to a first rank of players, an opportunity to play a first level of bonus Bingo games; and

means for offering, to a second rank of players, an opportunity to play a second level of bonus Bingo games.

63. The gaming system of claim 57, wherein the offering means comprises:

means for offering, to a first rank of players, an opportunity to play a first level of bonus Bingo games at no extra charge; and

means for offering, to a second rank of players, an opportunity to play a second level of bonus Bingo games in exchange for money, player loyalty points or game credits.

64. The gaming system of claim 57, wherein the Class III wagering game comprises a slot game, a poker game, a blackjack game, a keno game or a baccarat game.

65. The gaming system of claim 57, wherein the offering means comprises an electronic gaming machine.

66. The gaming system of claim 57, wherein the offering means comprises a kiosk.

67. The gaming system of claim 57, wherein the offering means comprises a server.

68. A gaming machine for playing a primary game and a bonus game, the gaming machine comprising:

a dispenser for issuing cashless indicia of game awards;

primary game logic for determining an outcome of the primary game and for presenting a presentation of the primary game; and

bonus game logic for instructing the dispenser to issue cashless indicia of bonus awards in response to a determination that a bonus event has occurred in response to an event in the primary game.