Gaming device having a game with sequential display of numbers

• US 7,470,186 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cannon, Lee E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah; Milap
• Application Number:
  US10/639,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20050037832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,967 Days
• Field of Search: 463/18
• 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

A number matching game which can be employed in both a gaming device and in live gaming at a casino. The player picks one or more numbers from a number pool. The gaming device or house draws randomly at least one number from the pool. An award is provided to the player based on an amount of matches between the player selected number(s) and the game drawn number(s). In one embodiment, when the game displays a player picked number, the game also displays if the number results in a match. In another embodiment, one or more of either or both of the game drawn number and player selected number is weighted, for example by attaching different amounts of points to the numbers, wherein the award is based on the accumulated points of matched numbers. The above embodiments are combined and can have various outcomes, such as bonus outcomes.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a display device including a first area and a different, separate second area, said display device configured to display a keno game operable upon a wager by a player, said keno game including a plurality of symbols; and

a processor programmed to operate with the display device to;

(a) display said plurality of symbols of the keno game;

(b) enable the player to pick a first quantity of the displayed symbols, said first quantity being at least one and less than all of the displayed symbols;

(c) randomly draw a plurality of the displayed symbols;

(d) cause the first area of the display device to display each of the selected player symbols that yields a match with one of the drawn symbols without displaying each of the selected player symbols that does not yield a match with one of the drawn symbols wherein the first area is divided into at least two sections, each section associated with a different award value, wherein each matched selected player symbol is associated with one of the sections of the area, and wherein the matched player symbols are associated with the sections according to an order in which the selected player symbols are selected by the player;

(e) cause the different, separate second area of the display device to display each of the selected player symbols that does not yield a match with one of the drawn symbols without displaying each of the selected player symbols that yields a match with one of the drawn symbols; and

(f) display an award to the player for the keno game, said award contingent, at least in part, upon how many matches occur between the selected player and the drawn symbols.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each matched selected player is associated with one of the sections randomly.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first area is divided into at least two sections, and wherein the player designates which section to place any matched selected player symbol.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the award is provided only if a threshold amount of matches occur.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the award is provided only if a threshold amount of points associated with any matches is accumulated.

6. A gaming device comprising:

a display device configured to display a game operable upon a wager by a player, said game including a plurality of symbols; and

a processor programmed to operate with the display device to;

(a) cause at least one of the symbols to be selected for the player without displaying said selected symbols;

(b) randomly draw at least one of the symbols;

(c) after each drawn symbol has been drawn;

(i) display each selected player symbol within a first circular display area if a match occurs between said selected player symbol and one of the drawn symbols, wherein none of the selected player symbols that do not yield a match with one of the drawn symbols are displayed within the first circular display area, wherein the first circular area is divided into at least two sections, each section associated with a different award value, wherein each matched selected player symbol is associated with one of the sections of the area, and

(ii) display each selected player symbol outside of said first circular display area if a match does not occur between said selected player symbol and one of the drawn symbols; and

(d) display an award to the player contingent, at least in part, upon how many matches occur between the selected player symbols and the drawn symbols.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, which includes an area of the display device in which each selected player symbol that yields any match is displayed.

8. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the selected player symbol and any match are displayed as part of an activity.

9. The gaming device of claim 8, wherein the activity is a sport.

10. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein a plurality of the selected player symbols are displayed sequentially to show if the selected player symbols match the drawn symbols.

11. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the match is weighted and the award is based on the weighted match.

12. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the award is provided only if a threshold number of matches occurs.

13. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the award is provided only if a threshold amount of points associated with any matches is accumulated.

14. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the game is based on Keno, Lotto, or Bingo.

15. A gaming device comprising:

a display device configured to display a game operable upon a wager by a player, said game including a plurality of symbols; and

a processor programmed to operate with the display device to;

(a) cause at least one of the symbols to be selected for the player, wherein each selected player symbol is placed in a queue and not displayed until a match area is displayed on the display device, wherein the match area includes a circular display area;

(b) randomly draw at least one of the symbols;

(c) display the selected player symbol in the match area if the selected player symbol matches the drawn symbol, wherein none of the selected player symbols that do not yield a match with one of the drawn symbols are displayed within the match area, wherein the match area is divided into at least two sections, each section associated with a different award value, wherein each matched selected player symbol is associated with one of the sections of the area; and

(d) display an award to the player contingent, at least in part, upon how many matches occur between the selected player symbols and the drawn symbols and which sections the selected player symbols are associated with.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the award is provided only if a threshold number of matches occurs.

17. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the award is provided only if a threshold amount of points associated with any matches is accumulated.

18. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the game is based on Keno, Lotto, or Bingo.

19. A wagering game comprising:

a display device configured to display a keno game operable upon a wager by a player, said keno game including a plurality of symbols;

a processor programmed to operate with the display device to;

(a) display said plurality of symbols of the keno game;

(b) enable the player to pick a first quantity of the displayed symbols, said first quantity being at least one and less than all of the displayed symbols;

(c) randomly draw a plurality of the displayed symbols;

(d) after said draw, display each selected player symbol;

(i) in a first manner if the symbol yields a match with one of the drawn symbols, wherein the first manner does not include displaying any of the selected player symbols that do not yield a match with one of the drawn symbols, wherein the first manner includes a successful sporting event outcome; and

(ii) in a different and separate second manner if the symbol does not yield a match with one of the drawn symbols, wherein the second manner includes an unsuccessful sporting event outcome;

(d) display an award to the player for the keno game, said award contingent, at least in part, upon how many matches occur between the selected player symbols and the drawn symbols.

20. The wagering game of claim 19, wherein the award is based on a weighting associated with at least one of any matches.

21. The wagering game of claim 19, wherein the award is provided only if a threshold amount of matches occurs.

22. The wagering game of claim 19, which includes a plurality of selected player symbols and drawn symbols provided to the player, wherein at least one of the selected player symbols or the drawn symbols is taken away from the player upon one of the matches.

23. The wagering game of claim 19, which includes a plurality of selected player symbols and drawn symbols provided to the player, which includes at least one additional selected player symbol or drawn symbol provided to the player upon one of the matches.

24. The wagering game of claim 19, which includes an option provided to the player to purchase at least one additional selected player symbol in exchange for at least one game credit.

25. The wagering game of claim 19, wherein the symbols are selected from the group consisting of:

numbers, logos, words, letters and any combination thereof.

26. A method of operating a gaming device comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a set of symbols in a keno game, said set of symbols including a plurality of displayed symbols;

(b) enabling a player to select a first quantity of the displayed symbols, said first quantity being at least one and less than all of the displayed symbols;

(c) randomly drawing a plurality of the symbols;

(d) after said symbols have been drawn;

(i) displaying each selected player symbol within a first circular display area if a match occurs between said selected player symbol and one of the drawn symbols, wherein none of the selected player symbols that do not yield a match with one of the drawn symbols are displayed within the first circular display area, and

(ii) displaying each selected player symbol outside of said first circular display area if a match does not occur between said selected player symbol and one of the drawn symbols; and

(e) displaying an award to the player for the keno game, said award contingent upon at least one match between the selected player symbol and the drawn symbol.

27. The method of claim 26, which includes displaying each of the randomly drawn symbols first before displaying any selected player symbols.

28. The method of claim 26, which includes the step of removing symbols not randomly drawn and displaying only the randomly drawn symbols first before displaying any selected player symbols.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein awarding the player includes tallying points associated with any matched symbols.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein steps (a) to (e) are provided via a data network or a computer storage device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the data network is an internet.