Gaming device having free game keno

• US 7,306,519 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rada, II; Alex F. R. P.
• Application Number:
  US10/243,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20040053668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 463 18- 19, 463 25- 28, 273/269, 273/292
• 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 gaming device for playing a game operable under control of at least one processor, the gaming device comprising:

at least one display device configured to display a plurality of numbers; and

at least one input device,

said at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

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

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

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

(iv) cause an award to be provided to the player based on how many of the player selected numbers match the generated numbers, and

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

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the display device displays the numbers one to eighty, and wherein the second amount of numbers is twenty.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first amount of numbers is from one to ten.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the free game uses the first amount of numbers selected by the player.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the free game uses a randomly generated set of the numbers.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of random number generations, wherein the generated number that occurs upon a last one of the random number generations is designated as the free game number.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein one of the generated numbers is randomly designated as the free game number.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of free games are provided to the player if the free game number matches one of the numbers selected by the player.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the generated numbers are designated as free game numbers, and which includes a free game provided to the player if at least a portion of the plurality of the free game numbers match numbers selected by the player.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the generated numbers are designated as free game numbers, and which includes a free game provided to the player if the free game numbers match a portion of the numbers selected by the player, the portion based on the first amount of the numbers selected by a player.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the game is part of a multi-game wager.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, which is part of a combination game wager.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the at least one random generation is performed via a server computer.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a frequency of occurrence of a free game number is based on a player'"'"'s wager.

15. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a frequency of occurrence of a free game is based on a player'"'"'s wager.

16. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the free game number is a first free game number and which includes a second free game number provided as an outcome of play of the free game.

17. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the free game number is generated independent of at least one other generated number.

18. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the free game includes a free Keno game.

19. A Keno gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said Keno gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

at least one display device supported by the cabinet and configured to display a plurality of numbers; and

at least one input device,

said at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(i) enable a player to select a first amount of the numbers,

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

(iii) designate at least one of the generated numbers as a free outcome numbers,

(iv) cause an award to be provided to the player based on how many of the player selected numbers match the generated numbers, and

(v) cause a free outcome to be provided to the player if the free outcome number matches one of the numbers selected by the player.

20. The Keno gaming device of claim 19, which includes a different type of wagering game additionally provided by the processor, wherein the free outcome includes a free play of the different wagering game.

21. The Keno gaming device of claim 20, wherein the video monitor is a first video monitor and which includes a second video monitor, the different wagering game displayed on the second video monitor.

22. The Keno gaming device of claim 20, wherein the different wagering game is selected from the group consisting of:

slot, poker, blackjack and craps.

23. The Keno gaming device of claim 19, wherein the free outcome includes a game played at odds that are more likely to produce a winning outcome than the odds of a game that generated the free outcome.

24. The Keno gaming device of claim 19, wherein the free outcome includes a game that has a higher percentage payout than the percentage payout of a game that generates the free outcome.

25. The Keno gaming device of claim 19, wherein the free outcome number is a first free outcome number and which includes a second free outcome number provided as an outcome of play of the free outcome.

26. The Keno gaming device of claim 19, wherein the free outcome 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.

27. The Keno gaming device of claim 19, wherein the free game number is generated independent of at least one other generated number.

28. The Keno gaming device of claim 19, wherein the free game includes a free Keno game.

29. A Keno game operable under control of a processor, said Keno game comprising:

at least one display device; and

at least one input device,

said at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(i) display a plurality of numbers;

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

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

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

(v) cause an award to be provided to the player based on how many of the player selected numbers match the generated numbers, and

(vi) cause a free game to be provided to the player if the designated free game number matches one of the numbers selected by the player.

30. The Keno game of claim 29, which includes the numbers one to eighty, wherein the second amount of numbers is twenty.

31. The Keno game of claim 29, wherein the first amount of numbers is from one to fifteen.

32. The Keno game of claim 29, wherein the free game uses the first amount of numbers selected by the player.

33. The Keno game of claim 29, wherein the free game uses a randomly generated set of the numbers.

34. The Keno game of claim 29, which includes a plurality of random number generations, wherein the generated number that occurs upon a last one of the random number generations is designated as the free game number.

35. The Keno game of claim 29, wherein one of the generated numbers is randomly designated as the free game number.

36. The Keno game of claim 29, wherein a plurality of free games are provided to the player if the free game number matches one of the numbers selected by the player.

37. The Keno game of claim 29, wherein a plurality of the generated numbers are designated as free game numbers, and which includes a free game provided to the player if at least a portion of the plurality of the free game numbers match numbers selected by the player.

38. The Keno game of claim 29, wherein a plurality of the generated numbers are designated as free game numbers, and which includes a free game provided to the player if the free game numbers match a portion of the numbers selected by the player, the portion based on the first amount of the numbers selected by a player.

39. The Keno game of claim 29, which is part of a multi-game ticket.

40. The Keno game of claim 29, which is part of a combination game ticket.

41. The Keno game of claim 29, wherein the at least one random generation is performed via a server computer.

42. The Keno game of claim 29, which is provided on a platform selected from the group consisting of:

a gaming establishment, a video gaming device, a data network, and any combination thereof.

43. The Keno game of claim 29, wherein a frequency of occurrence of a free game is based on a player'"'"'s wager.

44. The Keno game of claim 29, wherein a frequency of occurrence of a free game number is based on a player'"'"'s wager.

45. The Keno game of claim 29, wherein the free game number is a first free game number and which includes a second free game number provided as an outcome of play of the free game.

46. The Keno game of claim 29, 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.

47. The Keno game of claim 29, wherein the free game number is generated independent of at least one other generated number.

48. The Keno game of claim 29, wherein the free game includes a free Keno game.

49. A method of operating a gaming device comprising:

(a) enabling a player to select an amount of a set of numbers;

(b) randomly generating a subset of the set of numbers in at least one random generation;

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

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

(e) awarding a free outcome to the player if the free outcome number matches one of the numbers selected by the player.

50. The method of claim 49, which includes providing a ticket to the player, the ticket enabling the player to select the amount of the set of numbers.

51. The method of claim 49, which includes displaying the at least one random generation of the subset of numbers.

52. The method of claim 49, which includes at least one of:

(i) designating a plurality of the generated numbers as free outcome numbers;

(ii) requiring a plurality of the free outcome numbers to match numbers selected by a player before awarding a free outcome; and

(iii) awarding a plurality of free outcomes to the player if the free outcome number matches one of the numbers selected by the player.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the free outcome includes a free game, and which includes playing the free game after a series of games of a multi-game ticket.

54. The method of claim 49, wherein the free outcome includes a free game, and which includes using the same numbers previously selected by the player in the free game.

55. The method of claim 49, wherein awarding a free outcome includes awarding an outcome selected from the group consisting of:

a free Keno game, a free blackjack game, a free slot game, a free poker game, a free craps game, a free beverage and free food item and a free token.

56. The method of claim 49, which includes providing odds of achieving a winning outcome for play in a free outcome game that are higher than the odds of achieving a winning outcome in a game that generates the free outcome.

57. The method of claim 49, which includes providing a higher percentage payout for play in a free outcome game than the percentage payout in a game that generates the free outcome.

58. The method of claim 49, wherein steps (a) to (e) are provided via a data network.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the data network is an internet.

60. The method of claim 49, wherein the free game number is generated independent of at least one other generated number.

61. The method of claim 49, wherein the free game includes a free Keno game.

62. A gaming device for playing a game operable under control of at least one processor, the gaming device comprising:

at least one display device; and

at least one input device,

said at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(i) display a plurality of numbers,

(ii) enable a player to select a first amount of the numbers,

(iii) randomly generate a second amount of the numbers in a plurality of random generations,

(iv) designate at least one of the random generations as a free game generation,

(v) cause an award to be provided to the player based on how many of the player selected numbers match the generated numbers, and

(vi) cause a free game to be provided to the player if the designated free game generation generates one of the numbers selected by the player, wherein the free game is only available to the player for the designated free game generation.

63. A method of operating a gaming device comprising:

(a) enabling a player to select an amount of a set of numbers;

(b) randomly generating a subset of the set of numbers in a plurality of random generations;

(c) designating at least one of the random generations as a free game generation;

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

(e) awarding a free outcome to the player if the designated free game generation generates one of the numbers selected by the player, wherein the free outcome is only available to the player for the designated free game generation.