Bingo flashboard and verifier

• US 7,566,058 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fortunet Incorporated (Yuri Itkis Gaming Trust 1993)
• Original Assignee: Fortunet Incorporated (Yuri Itkis Gaming Trust 1993)
• Inventors: Itkis, Yuri
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierce; William M.
• Application Number:
  US11/423,501
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 273/269, 273/270, 463/19
• 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 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

Described is an improved bingo flashboard that doubles as a verifier of winning bingo cards due to the capability to distinctly display a winning subset of bingo numbers called in a bingo game. In addition to highlighting the winning bingo numbers, the flashboard preferably highlights the winning bingo pattern and also displays the identification number of the winning bingo card along with the prize level and the prize amount of the winning bingo card. The flashboard is in communication with and controlled by a bingo caller terminal.

Claims

1. A bingo flashboard for a bingo game, comprising:

a plurality of publicly displayed discrete light indicators, each said light indicator representing a unique bingo number, the total number of said light indicators equal to the total number of all bingo numbers available to be called during a bingo game; and

a controller, in communication with a central computer, causing to display on said flashboard a first and second set of said light indicators distinctive from a rest of said light indicators, the first set of said light indicators representing an entire set of bingo numbers called during the bingo game, the second set of said light indicators representing a subset of the first set of bingo numbers, the subset representing only called bingo numbers belonging to a winning bingo card of the bingo game wherein said subset includes less of said light indicators than the first set of said light indicators whereby said subset remains displayed while light indicators from said first set of light indicators not belonging to a winning bingo card are altered automatically to appear distinct from said subset responsive to a winning bingo card being identified by said central computer.

2. The bingo flashboard according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying one or more of the following:

(i) a winning bingo pattern;

(ii) a winning bingo prize;

(iii) a prize level of a winning bingo card; and

(iv) an identification number of a winning bingo card.

3. The bingo flashboard according to claim 2, wherein the bingo flashboard is operable to receive data identifying one or more of the following:

(i) the first set of bingo numbers;

(ii) the second set bingo numbers;

(iii) the winning bingo pattern;

(iv) the winning bingo prize;

(v) the prize level of the winning bingo card; and

(vi) the identification number of the winning bingo card.

4. The bingo flashboard according to claim 1, the bingo flashboard further comprising a plurality of color light indicators.

5. The bingo flashboard according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying one or more of the following:

(i) a set of called bingo numbers called first in the bingo game;

(ii) a predetermined bingo number associated with a specific bingo prize; and

(iii) a color of a winning bingo card.

6. A method of verifying a winning bingo card in a bingo game, the method comprising:

providing a bingo flashboard including a plurality of publicly displayed discrete light indicators, each said light indicator representing a unique bingo number, the total number of said light indicators equal to the total number of all bingo numbers available to be called during a bingo game;

distinctly displaying on said flashboard a first set of said light indicators representing an entire set of bingo numbers called during the bingo game; and

responsive to a winning bingo card being identified by a central computer automatically altering an appearance of certain light indicators within said first set of light indicators such that a second set of said light indicators representing a subset of the first set of said light indicators is readily distinct from said altered light indicators from said first set of light indicators, the subset representing only called bingo numbers belonging to the winning bingo card of the bingo game wherein said subset includes less of said light indicators than the first set of said light indicators.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising displaying one or more of the following:

(i) a winning bingo pattern;

(ii) a winning bingo prize;

(iii) a prize level of a winning bingo card; and

(iv) an identification number of a winning bingo card.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising receiving data identifying one or more of the following:

(i) the first set of bingo numbers;

(ii) the second set bingo numbers;

(iii) the winning bingo pattern;

(iv) the winning bingo prize;

(v) the prize level of the winning bingo card; and

(vi) the identification number of the winning bingo card.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising displaying said first set of bingo numbers and said second set of bingo numbers utilizing a plurality of color light indicators on the bingo flashboard.

10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising displaying one or more of the following:

(i) a set of called bingo numbers called first in the bingo game;

(ii) a predetermined bingo number associated with a specific bingo prize; and

(iii) a color of a winning bingo card.