Devices and Methods for Feature Ball Bingo

• US 20090011814A1
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGS LLC (PlayAGS, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cadillac Jack Incorporated (PlayAGS, Inc.)
• Inventors: Macke, Michael, Lozano, Carlos
• Granted Patent: US 7,874,907 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 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

An electronic bingo game and method for playing the same wherein a random number generator selects bingo balls from a predetermined range that includes regular bingo balls (210) and one or more feature balls (208). As regular bingo balls (210) are selected they are compared to the numbers on a bingo card (206). The card is marked when a match occurs. Eventually, if the spaces marked on the player'"'"'s card match one or more of the winning patterns, the player receives an award. The selection of a feature ball (208) triggers a game altering function such as terminating the game and comparing the marked spaces on the bingo card to a set of winning patterns, or, alternatively, terminating the game and paying additional winnings for bingo patterns marked on the player'"'"'s bingo card prior to selection of the Feature Ball (208). Other feature ball functions may also be implemented.

Claims

1. A method of implementing an electronic Bingo game comprising:

selecting a random number ftom a universe of numbers, wherein the universe of numbers includes a predefined range of Bingo numbers and at least one game altering number;

evaluating the random number as it is drawn as either a number within the predefined range or the at least one game altering number; and

if the random number corresponds to the at least one game altering number, performing a game altering function associated with the at least one game altering number, wherein the game altering function includes terminating the game and comparing the pattern of marked spaces to at least one winning Bingo pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the game altering function further includes multiplying an award associated with the at least one winning Bingo pattern by a multiple associated with the at least one game altering number.

3. A method of implementing an electronic Bingo game comprising:

selecting a random number from a universe of numbers, wherein the universe of numbers includes a predefined range of Bingo numbers and at least one game altering number;

evaluating the random number as it is drawn as either a number within the predefined range or the at least one game altering number; and

if the random number corresponds to the at least one game altering number, performing a game altering function associated with the at least one game altering number, wherein the game altering function performs one of the steps of terminating the game, multiplying the award associated with the at least one winning Bingo pattern by a multiple associated with the at least one game altering number, and associating at least one additional winning Bingo pattern with the game.

4. An electronic Bingo game comprising:

a display, wherein the display is capable of displaying at least one Bingo card having a plurality of spaces;

at least one interface that accepts instructions from a user to initiate play of the Bingo game;

a memory, wherein the memory stores a plurality of software instructions, at least one winning Bingo pattern and pay table information corresponding to the at least one winning Bingo pattern;

a random number generator that randomly selects a number from a universe of numbers, wherein the universe of numbers includes a predefined range of Bingo numbers and at least one game altering number; and

a processor that controls the display, the at least one interface and the random number generator, wherein the processor is capable of processing a game altering function located in the plurality of software instructions associated with at least one game altering number, wherein the game altering function includes terminating the game and comparing the pattern of marked spaces to at least one winning Bingo pattern.

5. The electronic Bingo game of claim 4, wherein the game altering function increases an award amount associated with the at least one winning Bingo pattern.

6. The electronic Bingo game of claim 4 further comprising, a network interface in communication with other electronic Bingo games through a remote server.

7. An electronic Bingo game comprising:

a display, wherein the display is capable of displaying at least one Bingo card having a plurality of spaces;

at least one interface that accepts instructions from a user to initiate play of the Bingo game;

a memory, wherein the memory stores a plurality of software instructions, at least one winning Bingo pattern and pay table information corresponding to the at least one winning Bingo pattern;

a random number generator that randomly selects a number from a universe of numbers, wherein the universe of numbers includes a predefined range of Bingo numbers and at least one game altering number; and

a processor that controls the display, the at least one interface and the random number generator, wherein the processor is capable of processing a game altering function located in the plurality of software instructions associated with at least one game altering number, wherein the game altering function performs one of the functions of terminating the game, multiplying the award associated with the at least one winning Bingo pattern by a multiple associated with the at least one game altering number, and associating at least one additional winning Bingo pattern with the game.

8. A server connecting at least two Bingo gaming machines comprising:

at least one interface that receives instructions from at least one Bingo gaming machine and transmits game related data to the at least one Bingo gaming machine;

a memory, wherein the memory stores a plurality of software instructions, at least one winning Bingo pattern and pay table information corresponding to the at least one winning Bingo pattern;

a random number generator that randomly assigning numbers to each of a plurality of spaces located on at least one Bingo card, the numbers being within a predefined range of Bingo numbers; and

a processor, wherein the processor implements the following software instructions;

(a) selecting a random number from a universe of numbers, the universe comprising the predefined range of Bingo numbers in addition to at least one game altering number;

(b) evaluating the selected random number as either a number within the predefined range or the at least one game altering number and

(i) if the selected random number is within the predefined range of Bingo numbers, comparing the random number to the numbers assigned to the Bingo card and, where a match occurs, controlling a display to identify the space corresponding to the match, or

(ii) if the selected random number corresponds to the at least one game altering number, terminating the game and comparing the pattern of marked spaces to the at least one winning Bingo pattern and paying an award to the player based upon the pay table information; and

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b).

9. The electronic Bingo game of claim 8, wherein the game altering number is a multiple associated with the pay table information altering a pay out associated with the at least one winning Bingo pattern.

10. A server connecting at least two Bingo gaming machines comprising:

at least one interface that receives instructions from at least one Bingo gaming machine and transmits game related data to the at least one Bingo gaming machine;

a memory, wherein the memory stores a plurality of software instructions, at least one winning Bingo pattern and pay table information corresponding to the at least one winning Bingo pattern;

a random number generator that randomly assigning numbers to each of a plurality of spaces located on at least one Bingo card, the numbers being within a predefined range of Bingo numbers; and

a processor, wherein the processor implements the following software instructions;

(a) selecting a random number from a universe of numbers, the universe comprising the predefined range of Bingo numbers in addition to at least one game altering number;

(b) evaluating the selected random number as either a number within the predefined range or the at least one game altering number and

(i) if the selected random number is within the predefined range of Bingo numbers, comparing the random number to the numbers assigned to the Bingo card and, where a match occurs, controlling a display to identify the space corresponding to the match, or

(ii) if the selected random number corresponds to the at least one game altering number, performing one of the functions of terminating the game, multiplying the award associated with the at least one winning Bingo pattern by a multiple associated with the at least one game altering number, and associating at least one additional winning Bingo pattern with the game; and

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b).

11. An electronic Bingo game comprising:

a display, wherein the display is capable of displaying at least one Bingo card having a plurality of spaces;

at least one interface that accepts instructions from a user to initiate play of the Bingo game;

a memory, wherein the memory stores a plurality of software instructions, at least one winning Bingo pattern and pay table information corresponding to the at least one winning Bingo pattern;

a random number generator that randomly assigning numbers to each of the plurality of spaces located on the least one Bingo card, the numbers being within a predefined range of Bingo numbers; and

a processor, wherein the processor implements the following software instructions;

(a) selecting a random number from a universe of numbers, the universe comprising the predefined range of Bingo numbers in addition to at least one game altering number;

(b) evaluating the selected random number as either a number within the predefined range or the at least one game altering number and

(i) if the selected random number is within the predefined range of Bingo numbers, comparing the random number to the numbers assigned to the Bingo card and, where a match occurs, controlling the display to identify the space corresponding to the match, or

(ii) if the selected random number corresponds to the at least one game altering number, terminating the game and comparing the pattern of marked spaces to the at least one winning Bingo pattern and paying an award to the player based upon the pay table information; and

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b).

12. The electronic Bingo game of claim 11, wherein the game altering number is a multiple associated with the pay table information altering a pay out associated with the at least one winning Bingo pattern.