Electronic bingo game and method

• US 6,581,935 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: True Bingo International
• Original Assignee: Karaway Gaming, Inc.
• Inventors: Odom, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierce, William M.
• Application Number:
  US09/557,948
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 463/18, 463/19, 273/274, 273/269
• US Class Current: 273/269
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/062 Bingo games, e.g. Bingo card games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0645 Electric lottos or bingo games
• 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

An electronic Bingo game and method are set forth wherein a player inputs a wager and a Bingo card is displayed. A first set of balls is selected and compared to the numbers of the Bingo card. If a predetermined winning pattern is obtained, the player receives a reward. A second outcome set of balls is selected. If the player obtains a cover all Bingo card from the first and second outcome sets, the player is entitled to a second award. The player can select the numbers for his Bingo card and can make a desired wager up to a pre-selected maximum wager.

Claims

1. An electronic device for playing a Bingo game comprising:

a data processor;

a display;

means for a player to initiate play of a Bingo game, said processor controlling the display to display a standard 5×

5 matrix Bingo card and at each coordinate of the card a number selected from a universe of Bingo numbers;

a first data structure storing data corresponding to each of a plurality winning patterns of identified coordinates on said card;

means for the processor to select from the of said Bingo numbers a pre-determined number of Bingo numbers defining a first outcome set and an additional pre-determined number of indicia to represent a second outcome set; and

said processor programmed to (i) compare said indicia sets to the indicia of the card and if a concordance occurs, (ii) to control the display to identify the coordinate location of the concordance on the card, (iii)(a) to compare the pattern of identified coordinates from the first outcome set to the patterns stored at the first data structure and to issue an award to the player based upon the number of said winning patterns occurring on said card and (b) to compare the identified locations from the first and second sets to determine additional identified coordinates of the card and, if all of the coordinates are identified, issue an award to the player.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first data structure includes data corresponding to card patterns of any column, four corners, a diagonal, and any row.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said first outcome set is twenty-five Bingo numbers.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the second outcome set is ten Bingo numbers.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first outcome set is twenty-five Bingo numbers and the second outcome set is ten Bingo numbers.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said processor is programmed to control the display to display each Bingo number selected.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said processor is programmed to control the display to show the first and second outcome sets in different color.

8. The device of claim 1 including means for the player to select the Bingo numbers for any location on the card matrix from said universe.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said processor includes a clock operated random number generator (RNG) and further including means for altering the timing position of the clock.

10. An electronic device for playing a Bingo game comprising:

a data processor;

a display;

means for a player to initiate play of a Bingo game, said processor controlling the display to display a standard 5×

5 matrix Bingo card having a center free coordinate and at each remaining coordinate of the card a discrete Bingo number selected from a universe of Bongo numbers;

a first data structure storing data corresponding to each of a plurality winning patterns of identified coordinates on said card;

means for the processor to select from the of said universe of Bingo numbers a pre-selected number of Bongo numbers defining a first outcome set and an additional pre-selected number of Bingo numbers to represent a second outcome set, the sum of said first outcome set including at least 24 indicia; and

said processor programmed to (i) compare said Bingo number sets to the numbers of the card and if a concordance occurs, (ii) to control the display to identify the coordinate location of the concordance on the card, (iii)(a) to compare the pattern of identified coordinates from the first outcome set to the patterns stored at the first data structure and to issue an award to the player based upon the number of said winning patterns occurring on said card and (b) to compare the identified locations from the first and second sets to determine any additional identified coordinates and if all coordinates of the card are identified and, if so, issue a cover all award to the player.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said first outcome set is twenty-five Bingo numbers.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the second outcome set is ten Bingo numbers.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein the first outcome set if twenty-five Bingo numbers and the second outcome set is ten Bingo numbers.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein said processor is programmed to control the display to display each Bingo number selected.

15. An electronic device for playing a Bingo game comprising:

a data processor;

a display;

means for a player to initiate play of a Bingo game, said processor controlling the display to display a standard 5×

5 matrix Bingo card having a center free coordinate and at each remaining coordinate of the card a discrete Bingo number selected from a universe of Bingo numbers;

a first data structure storing data corresponding to each of a plurality of winning patterns of identified coordinates on said card;

means for the processor to select from the of said Bingo numbers universe a pre-selected number of Bingo numbers defining at least one outcome set; and

said processor programmed to (i) compare said indicia sets to the Bingo numbers of the card and if a concordance occurs, (ii) to control the display to identify the coordinate location of the concordance on the card and (iii) to compare the pattern of identified coordinates from the at least one outcome set to the patterns stored at the first data structure and to issue an award to the player based upon the number of said winning patterns occurring on said card.

16. The device of claim 15 including issuing an award based upon the schedule of: