MULTI-CARD BINGO PATTERNS AND WILD BALLS

• US 20090075714A1
• Filed: 05/12/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Coleman, James, Wolf, Bryan D., Bansemer, Mark, Meyer, Adam M.
• Application Number:
  US12/118,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20090075714A1
• 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 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for enhanced bingo play, particularly multi-card play. Multi-card bingo patterns can provide low hit probabilities and correspondingly high payouts, even if the underlying bingo cards have relatively few spots. Some multi-card patterns can only be hit one way. “Wild” bingo balls, which may be placed on any available spot on a bingo card, are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for providing a bingo game, comprising:

means for selecting N bingo numbers in a base game ball draw and up to E extra balls after the base game ball draw;

means for providing a bingo number indication for the selected bingo numbers;

means for determining whether a selected ball is a wild ball that may be placed on any available spot on a bingo card; and

means for providing a wild ball indication when it is determined that a ball is a wild ball.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the determining means applies a predetermined probability to determine whether a selected ball will be treated as a wild ball.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the determining means comprises means for determining whether a predetermined ball corresponding with a wild ball has been selected.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for assigning a bingo number to the wild ball.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the selecting means and the determining means comprises a device of a central system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the determining means determines that one of the N bingo numbers in the base game ball draw is a wild ball.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the determining means determines that one of the extra balls selected after the base game ball draw is a wild ball.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the determining means determines that more than one selected ball is a wild ball.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the assigning means assigns the bingo number to the wild ball according to an optimal bingo number for bingo cards displayed on a wager gaming machine.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the assigning means assigns the bingo number to the wild ball taking into account all wager gaming machines participating in the bingo game.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the assigning means assigns a first bingo number to the wild ball according to a first optimal bingo number for a first wager gaming machine and assigns a second bingo number to the wild ball according to a second optimal bingo number for a second wager gaming machine.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the assigning means comprises means for receiving input from a player indicating which bingo number should be assigned to the wild ball.

13. The system of claim 5, wherein the central system comprises at least one server.

14. The system of claim 6, further comprising means for assigning a bingo number to a wild ball after non-wild bingo balls in the base game ball draw are selected.

15. The system of claim 6, further comprising means for assigning a bingo number to a wild ball before all of the non-wild bingo balls in the base game ball draw are selected.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the wager gaming machine comprises the assigning means.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for receiving input from a player comprises a touch screen of a wager gaming machine.

18. The system of 15, further comprising means for determining whether a non-wild ball is drawn having a bingo number previously assigned to a wild ball.

19. The system of 18, further comprising means for assigning a new bingo number to the wild ball when it is determined that a non-wild ball is drawn having a bingo number previously assigned to the wild ball.

20. A method for providing a bingo game, comprising:

selecting N bingo numbers in a base game ball draw and up to E extra balls after the base game ball draw;

providing a bingo number indication for the selected bingo numbers;

determining whether a selected ball is a wild ball that may be placed on any available spot on a bingo card; and

providing a wild ball indication when it is determined that a ball is a wild ball.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the determining comprises applying a predetermined probability to determine whether a selected ball will be treated as a wild ball.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the determining comprises determining whether a predetermined ball corresponding with a wild ball has been selected.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising assigning a bingo number to the wild ball.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of the selecting and the determining is performed by a device of a central system.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the determining comprises determining that one of the N bingo numbers in the base game ball draw is a wild ball.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the determining comprises determining that one of the extra balls selected after the base game ball draw is a wild ball.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the determining comprises determining that more than one selected ball is a wild ball.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the assigning comprises assigning the bingo number to the wild ball according to an optimal bingo number for bingo cards displayed on a wager gaming machine.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the assigning comprises assigning the bingo number to the wild ball taking into account all wager gaming machines participating in the bingo game.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the assigning comprises assigning a first bingo number to the wild ball according to a first optimal bingo number for a first wager gaming machine and assigns a second bingo number to the wild ball according to a second optimal bingo number for a second wager gaming machine.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the assigning is based, at least in part, upon input received from a player indicating which bingo number should be assigned to the wild ball.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the assigning further comprises assigning a bingo number to a wild ball after non-wild bingo balls in the base game ball draw are selected.

33. The method of claim 25, the assigning further comprises assigning a bingo number to a wild ball before all of the non-wild bingo balls in the base game ball draw are selected.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the input comprises input from a touch screen of a wager gaming machine.

35. A system for providing a multi-card bingo game, comprising:

means for providing information to a plurality of wager gaming machines, the information corresponding to a representation of multiple bingo cards;

means for selecting randomly N bingo numbers in a base game ball draw;

means for determining whether a metapattern has been hit, the metapattern being a single, fixed pattern that spans multiple bingo cards; and

means for indicating to a wager gaming machine when the metapattern has been hit.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting up to E extra bingo numbers after the base game ball draw.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the bingo game can be played with up to R bingo cards.

38. The system of claim 35, further comprising means for receiving player input regarding how bingo cards are arranged, wherein the metapattern can only be hit if all bingo cards played are arranged in a predetermined manner.

39. The system of claim 35, further comprising:

means for determining whether a selected ball is a wild ball that may be placed on any available spot on a bingo card; and

means for providing a wild ball indication when it is determined that a ball is a wild ball.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the determining means is configured to determine whether a metapattern has been hit by one of the extra bingo numbers.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein the metapattern can only be hit if all R bingo cards are played.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the assigning means assigns the bingo number to the wild ball according to an optimal bingo number for bingo cards displayed on a wager gaming machine.

43. The system of claim 39, wherein the assigning means assigns the bingo number to the wild ball taking into account all wager gaming machines participating in the bingo game.

44. The system of claim 39, wherein the assigning means assigns a first bingo number to the wild ball according to a first optimal bingo number for a first wager gaming machine and assigns a second bingo number to the wild ball according to a second optimal bingo number for a second wager gaming machine.

45. The system of claim 39, wherein the assigning means comprises means for receiving input from a player indicating which bingo number should be assigned to the wild ball.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the determining means further comprises means for determining whether sufficient components of a metapattern have been completed on fewer than R bingo cards, further comprising means for providing an award if the determining means determines that sufficient components of a metapattern have been completed on fewer than R bingo cards.

47. The system of claim 42, wherein the wager gaming machine comprises the assigning means.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for receiving input from a player comprises a touch screen of a wager gaming machine.

49. A method for providing a multi-card bingo game, comprising:

providing information to a plurality of wager gaming machines, the information corresponding to a representation of multiple bingo cards;

selecting randomly N bingo numbers in a base game ball draw;

determining whether a metapattern has been hit, the metapattern being a single, fixed pattern that spans multiple bingo cards; and

indicating to a wager gaming machine when the metapattern has been hit.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising selecting up to E extra bingo numbers after the base game ball draw.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the providing comprises providing information for up to R bingo cards.

52. The method of claim 49, further comprising receiving player input regarding how bingo cards are arranged, wherein the metapattern can only be hit if all bingo cards played are arranged in a predetermined manner.

53. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

determining whether a selected ball is a wild ball that may be placed on any available spot on a bingo card; and

providing a wild ball indication when it is determined that a ball is a wild ball.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein the determining comprises determining whether a metapattern has been hit by one of the extra bingo numbers.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the metapattern can only be hit if all R bingo cards are played.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the assigning comprises assigning the bingo number to the wild ball according to an optimal bingo number for bingo cards displayed on a wager gaming machine.

57. The method of claim 53, wherein the assigning comprises assigning the bingo number to the wild ball taking into account all wager gaming machines participating in the bingo game.

58. The method of claim 53, wherein the assigning comprises assigning a first bingo number to the wild ball according to a first optimal bingo number for a first wager gaming machine and assigns a second bingo number to the wild ball according to a second optimal bingo number for a second wager gaming machine.

59. The method of claim 53, further comprising receiving input from a player indicating which bingo number should be assigned to the wild ball wherein the assigning further comprises assigning the bingo number according to the input.

60. The method of claim 51, wherein the determining comprises determining whether sufficient components of a metapattern have been completed on fewer than R bingo cards, further comprising providing an award if it is determined that sufficient components of a metapattern have been completed on fewer than R bingo cards.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the receiving comprises receiving input from a touch screen of a wager gaming machine.