Electronic video bingo with multi-card play ability

• US 6,398,645 B1
• Filed: 04/20/1999
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoseloff, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US09/294,500
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/18, 463/19, 463/20, 463/21, 463/22, 463/12, 463/13, 463/25, 463/26, 463/27, 463/29, 463/30, 463/31, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 273/269, 273/274, 273/292, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/143.R, 273/237
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0645 Electric lottos or bingo games
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method of playing a video bingo game comprises providing for a video variant of Bingo in which the player is provided with a multiple number of Bingo Cards on the video screen. The Player may elect to play one or more of the cards displayed on the screen. At least some of the various bingo cards, even if not in elected play by the player, may remain on the screen during the play of the elected cards. The player may play the same amount or different amounts on the individual hands selected, and play of the hands is based upon the same bingo balls drawn.

Claims

1. A method of playing a wagering game on a video gaming apparatus having at least one video screen in which game wagers are placed on the outcome of a game displayed on the video screen, the method comprising:

a) a player viewing at least two games on at least one of the at least one video screens,

b) the player selecting which of the at least two games, including at least one, at least one but fewer than all, and up to all of the at least two games, will be wagered on in the play of the video bingo-type game,

c) the player wagering on the play of all selected bingo cards,

d) while all of the selected games and non-selected games are available for viewing on the at least one video screen, the gaming apparatus plays a game which would have gaming consequences on both selected and non-selected games, and

e) awarding credits or money to the player for achieving any payout lines on any of the selected games.

2. A method of playing a bingo-type wagering game on a video gaming apparatus having at least one video screen in which game wagers are placed on the outcome of a bingo-type game displayed on the at least one video screen, the method comprising:

a) a player viewing at least two different bingo cards with all symbols on the cards being from within a first set of symbols arranged in columns and rows,

b) the player selecting which of the at least two bingo-type games, including at least one, at least one but less than all, and up to all of the at least two bingo cards, will be wagered on in the play of the video gaming apparatus,

c) the player wagering on the play of all selected bingo-type games from said at least two bingo-type games,

d) while all selected bingo-type games and non-selected bingo-type games are available for viewing on the at least one video screen, the gaming apparatus randomly chooses a second set of symbols from within said first set of numbers, said second set of numbers being smaller than said first set of symbols, and

e) awarding credits or money to the player for achieving any payout consequences on any of the selected bingo-type games.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein any numbers on selected bingo cards matching the second set of numbers are illuminated differently from numbers on selected bingo cards that are not within said second set of numbers.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second set of numbers are displayed separately on said video screen.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the different illumination of matching numbers is a highlighting of the matching numbers or backlighting of the matching numbers comprising a different color or greater amplitude of color as compared to a color used to display numbers on a bingo card that are not matching numbers.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein randomly selected numbers are compared to numbers on non-selected bingo cards.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein randomly selected numbers that match numbers on non-selected bingo cards are identified on the non-selected bingo cards.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the identification of randomly selected numbers on the non-selected bingo cards comprises using a different color or greater amplitude of color as compared to a color used to display numbers on the non-selected bingo card that are not matching numbers.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the method of highlighting matching numbers on selected bingo cards is different from the method of highlighting matching numbers on non-selected bingo cards.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein a different color is used to highlight matching numbers on selected bingo cards than the color used to highlight matching numbers on non-selected bingo cards.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein a number of different bingo cards selected from the number consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are provided on the at least one video screen for selection by a player.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein a number of different bingo cards selected from the number consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are provided on the at least one video screen for selection by a player.

13. The method of claim 4 wherein a number of different bingo cards selected from the number consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are provided on the at least one video screen for selection by a player.

14. The method of claim 5 wherein a number of different bingo cards selected from the number consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are provided on the at least one video screen for selection by a player.

15. The method of claim 6 wherein a number of different bingo cards selected from the number consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are provided on the at least one video screen for selection by a player.

16. The method of claim 7 wherein a number of different bingo cards selected from the number consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are provided on the at least one video screen for selection by a player.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein at least some of the different bingo cards are provided with a free space in the center.

18. The method of claim 2 wherein each bingo card comprises a 3×

3 square mini-bingo card.

19. The method of claim 9 wherein each bingo card comprises a 3×

3 square mini-bingo card.

20. The method of claim 2 wherein each of the simultaneously displayed at least two gering games comprises bingo.

29. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second set of balls consists of five randomly selected balls.

21. A video gaming apparatus programmed for viewing at least two simultaneously occurring wagering games, the video wagering apparatus comprising:

a console,

at least one video monitor,

a plurality of player controls,

a system for receiving a wager, wherein at least one video display, player controls, and device for receiving a wager are mounted on the console; and

a computer in communication with the plurality of player controls, video monitor and system for receiving a wager, wherein the computer is programmed to;

a) simultaneously display at least two wagering games on the at least one video monitor;

b) provide a player with an option to place a wager on a number of wagering games selected from the group consisting of at least one of the simultaneously displayed games, at least one but less than all of the simultaneously displayed games, and all of the simultaneously displayed games and

c) provide a visual display for all winning outcomes for each of the at least two wagering games in response to a player placing a wager and manipulating the player controls regardless of whether a bet has been placed on all the simultaneously displayed at least two wagering games.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each of the simultaneously displayed at least two wagering games is a like game.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the apparatus is able to indicate game results for the non-selected games.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each of the simultaneously displayed at least two wagering games comprises bingo, and the bingo game includes:

providing the player with at least two bingo cards, each card bearing a plurality of symbols;

drawing a plurality of balls from a first set of game balls comprising symbols, without replacement of game balls, to define a second set of symbols;

comparing the symbols of the second set of symbols to the symbols on each card, regardless of whether or not each card is being played;

providing a visual display of all winning outcomes on each card, regardless of whether or not each card is being played; and

awarding a payout for each predetermined wining outcome on each card being played.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein each symbol on each ball is sequentially drawn from the first set of game balls and is compared to symbols on each game card as each ball is drawn.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first set of balls comprises thirty balls numbered sequentially between 1 and 30.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein each game card has three vertical columns, the first set of game balls is subdivided into three separate subsets of balls, and:

balls from a first subset are used to match symbols in a first column,

balls from a second subset are used to match symbols in a second column, and

balls from a third subset are used to match symbols in a third column.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said symbols comprise numbers and said first subset comprises balls numbered from 1 to 10, said second subset comprises balls numbered from 11 to 20, and said third subset comprises balls numbered from 21 to 30.

30. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein each simultaneous game outcome is determined by the random selection of a second set of balls from a first set of balls without replacement of any balls.

31. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the at least two simultaneously displayed games are different games.

32. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the at least two simultaneously displayed games are identical games.

33. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the at least two simultaneously displayed games comprise one or more games selected from the group consisting of card games, dice games and number matching games.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the at least two simultaneously displayed games comprise cards games selected from the group consisting of video poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, Let It Ride Poker and blackjack.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein at least one of the at least two simultaneously displayed games comprises craps.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein at least one of the at least two simultaneously displayed games is selected from the group consisting of keno, bingo and lottery games.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein at least one of the at least two simultaneously displayed games comprises a video reel slot game.

38. The apparatus of claim 21 comprising a second video monitor.

39. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein a first game is displayed on the first monitor and a second game is displayed on the second monitor.

40. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each visual display is achieved by at least one of the group selected from hilighting, backlighting, color change, variation in light intensity, outlining or association with a symbol indicative of a winning outcome.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the visual display comprises a pay line.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the visual display that indicates a winning play comprises words.

43. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first set of balls consists of twenty-one balls numbered 1 through 21 and the second set of balls consists of eighteen randomly selected balls.

44. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the predetermined winning outcome comprises all symbols on at least one card matching numbers on balls from the second set.

45. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein each card has a centrally located free space.

46. Apparatus of claim 44 wherein each card has three vertical columns consisting of three symbols each, and wherein a symbol in a central column is a free space.

47. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein payouts are approximately as follows:

48. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein a player has an option of placing unequal bets on each of said at least two simultaneously played games.

49. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein six cards are provided and the player has an option of playing every displayed card simultaneously.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the player has an option of placing equal bets on each of said simultaneously displayed games.

51. A method of playing a wagering game on a video gaming apparatus having at least one video screen in which game wagers are placed on the outcome of a game displayed on the video screen, the method comprising:

a) a player viewing at least two games on at least one of the at least one video screens,

b) the player selecting which of the at least two games, including at least one, at least one but fewer than all, and up to all of the at least two games, will be wagered on in the play of the video bingo-type game,

c) the player wagering on the play of all selected bingo cards,

d) while all of the selected games and non-selected games are available for viewing on the at least one video screen, the gaming apparatus plays a game which would have gaming consequences on both selected and non-selected games, and

e) awarding credits or money to the player for achieving any payout lines on any of the selected games,

wherein less than all of said at least two games are selected.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein game results are indicated for the non-selected games at the time that credits or money are awarded.

52. A method of playing a bingo-type wagering game on a video gaming apparatus having at least one video screen in which game wagers are placed on the outcome of a bingo-type game displayed on the at least one video screen, the method comprising:

a) a player viewing at least two different bingo cards with all symbols on the cards being from within a first set of symbols arranged in columns and rows,

b) the player selecting which of the at least two bingo-type games, including at least one, at least one but less than all, and up to all of the at least two bingo cards, will be wagered on in the play of the video gaming apparatus,

c) the player wagering on the play of all selected bingo-type games from said at least two bingo-type games,

d) while all selected bingo-type games and non-selected bingo-type games are available for viewing on the at least one video screen, the gaming apparatus randomly chooses a second set of symbols from within said first set of numbers, said second set of numbers being smaller than said first set of symbols, and

e) awarding credits or money to the player for achieving any payout consequences on any of the selected bingo-type games wherein less than all of said at least two games are selected.

54. The method of claim 52 wherein game results are indicated for the non-selected games at the time that credits or money arc awarded.