GAMING DEVICE HAVING FREE GAME KENO

• US 20080090634A1
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,682,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/18
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

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

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming device, the method comprising:

(a) upon an input of a wager by a player, enabling the player to select a first amount of a plurality of different numbers;

(b) randomly generating a second amount of the plurality of different numbers in at least one random generation;

(c) designating at least one of the generated numbers as a free game number;

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

(e) displaying a free game if the designated free game number matches one of the numbers selected by the player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different numbers includes numbers one to eighty and the second amount of the plurality of different numbers is twenty.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes enabling the player to select from one to ten of the plurality of different numbers for the first amount.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes using the first amount of the plurality of different numbers selected by the player in the free game.

5. The method of claim 1, which includes using a randomly generated set of the plurality of different numbers in the free game.

6. The method of claim 1, which includes randomly generating the second amount of the plurality of different numbers in a plurality of random generations, and designating the generated number that occurs upon a last one of the random number generations as the free game number.

7. The method of claim 1, which includes randomly designating one of the generated numbers as the free game number.

8. The method of claim 1, which includes displaying a plurality of free games if the free game number matches one of the numbers selected by the player.

9. The method of claim 1, which includes designating a plurality of the generated numbers as free game numbers, and displaying the free game if at least a portion of the plurality of the free game numbers match numbers selected by the player.

10. The method of claim 1, which includes designating a plurality of the generated numbers as free game numbers, and displaying the free game if the free game numbers match a portion of the numbers selected by the player, the portion based on the first amount of the plurality of different numbers selected by the player.

11. The method of claim 1, which includes basing a frequency of occurrence of a free game number on the player'"'"'s wager.

12. The method of claim 1, which includes basing a frequency of occurrence of the free game on the player'"'"'s wager.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the free game number is a first free game number and which includes providing a second free game number as an outcome of play of the free game.

14. The method of claim 1, which is provided via a data network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the data network is an internet.

16. A method of operating a gaming device including a Keno game, the method comprising:

(a) upon an input of a wager by a player, displaying a plurality of different numbers;

(b) enabling the player to select a first amount of the plurality of different numbers;

(c) randomly generating a second amount of the plurality of different numbers in at least one random generation;

(d) designating at least one of the generated numbers as a free game number;

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

(f) displaying a free game if the designated free game number matches one of the numbers selected by the player.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of different numbers includes numbers one to eighty and wherein the second amount of the plurality of different numbers is twenty.

18. The method of claim 16, which includes enabling the player to select from one to fifteen of the plurality of different numbers for the first amount.

19. The method of claim 16, which includes using the first amount of the plurality of different numbers selected by the player in the free game.

20. The method of claim 16, which includes using a randomly generated set of the plurality of different numbers in the free game.

21. The method of claim 16, which includes randomly generating the second amount of the plurality of different numbers in a plurality of random number generations and designating a last one of the random number generations as the free game number.

22. The method of claim 16, which includes randomly designating one of the generated numbers as the free game number.

23. The method of claim 16, which includes displaying a plurality of free games if the free game number matches one of the numbers selected by the player.

24. The method of claim 16, which includes designating a plurality of the generated numbers as free game numbers, and displaying the free game if at least a portion of the plurality of the free game numbers match numbers selected by the player.

25. The method of claim 16, which includes designating a plurality of the generated numbers as free game numbers, and displaying the free game if the free game numbers match a portion of the numbers selected by the player, the portion based on the first amount of the plurality of different numbers selected by the player.

26. The method of claim 16, which includes basing a frequency of occurrence of the free game on the player'"'"'s wager.

27. The method of claim 16, which includes basing a frequency of occurrence of a free game number on the player'"'"'s wager.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein the free game number is a first free game number and which includes providing a second free game number as an outcome of play of the free game.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein the free game includes a set of games, at least one of the games being a Keno game and at least one other game selected from the group consisting of:

slot, poker, blackjack, craps and bingo.

30. The method of claim 16, which is provided via a data network.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the data network is an internet.

32. A memory device storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, cause a gaming device to:

(i) enable a player to select a first amount of a plurality of different numbers;

(ii) randomly generate a second amount of the plurality of different numbers in at least one random generation;

(iii) designate at least one of the generated numbers as a free game number;

(iv) display an award, the award based on how many of the player selected numbers match the generated numbers; and

(v) display a free game if the designated free game number matches one of the numbers selected by the player.

33. A memory device storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, cause a gaming device to:

(i) display a plurality of different numbers;

(ii) enable a player to select a first amount of the plurality of different numbers;

(iii) randomly generate a second amount of the plurality of different numbers in at least one random generation;

(iv) designate at least one of the generated numbers as a free game number;

(v) display an award, the award based on how many of the player selected numbers match the generated numbers; and

(vi) display a free game if the designated free game number matches one of the numbers selected by the player.