Prize assignment method and program product for bingo-type games

• US 7,695,361 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Everi Games Inc. (Everi Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Multimedia Games Incorporated
• Inventors: Brandt, David M., Lind, Clifton E., Lind, Jefferson C., Enzminger, Joseph R., Loebig, Gary L., Keane, Martin A., Padgett, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoel; Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US10/238,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20040048647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,772 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 28, 273/269, 273/270
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

A pattern probability (302) is determined for each of a number of target patterns (301) achievable in a bingo-type game. Each pattern probability (302) comprises a probability of achieving the respective target pattern (301) in the bingo-type game. Different pattern sets are then associated with each different prize level in a desired prize distribution. The target patterns (301) and their respective pattern probabilities (302) are assigned or mapped to the different pattern sets so that the probability of achieving any target pattern included in a pattern set comprises a value approximating the desired probability of the prize level with which the pattern set is associated.

Claims

1. A method including:

(a) selecting a prize distribution for a bingo gaming system, the prize distribution comprising a number of winning prize levels, each winning prize level having a respective prize to be awarded for that winning prize level and having a respective prize level probability, the respective prize level probability for a respective winning prize level comprising a desired probability of winning the prize at that respective winning prize level;

(b) defining a number of target bingo patterns achievable in the bingo gaming system, each target bingo pattern having a respective corresponding probability comprising the probability of achieving that respective bingo pattern in a bingo game conducted through the bingo gaming system;

(c) after selecting the prize distribution and defining the number of target bingo patterns, for one or more winning prize levels of the prize distribution, (i) identifying two or more target bingo patterns such that the probability of achieving any one of the identified two or more target bingo patterns in a respective bingo game conducted through the bingo gaming system approximates the desired probability of winning the prize at the respective winning prize level, and (ii) correlating the identified two or more target bingo patterns to the respective winning prize level, and (iii) removing the identified two or more target bingo patterns from the group of target bingo patterns;

(d) for a winning prize level of the prize distribution for which (c) is not performed, (i) identifying a target bingo pattern having a respective corresponding probability that approximates the desired probability of winning the prize at that respective winning prize level, and (ii) correlating the identified target bingo pattern to that respective winning prize level, and (iii) removing the identified target bingo pattern from the group of target bingo patterns;

(e) continuing (c) and (d) until each winning prize level of the prize distribution is correlated to one or more target bingo patterns;

(f) with a data processing system in the bingo gaming system, (i) identifying a respective bingo result for each of a number of plays in the bingo gaming system, each respective bingo result comprising a pattern in which locations are matched on a respective bingo card for the respective play, and (ii) for each respective bingo result, searching the target bingo patterns that have been correlated to any of the winning prize levels and determining if the pattern for that bingo result comprises one of the target patterns correlated to a respective winning prize level;

(g) in the event the pattern for a respective bingo result comprises one of the target patterns correlated to one of the winning prize levels, identifying the prize at that prize level with the data processing system and awarding the prize at that prize level for the respective play and causing a player station for that play to display the awarded prize; and

(h) in the event the pattern for a respective bingo result does not comprise one of the target bingo patterns correlated to one of the winning prize levels, causing a player station for that play to display a loss.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein for a respective prize level correlated to two or more target bingo patterns, a first one of the target bingo patterns assigned to the respective prize level is defined by a first number of symbol locations and a second one of the target bingo patterns assigned to the respective prize level is defined by a second number of symbol locations, the first number of symbol locations being unequal to the second number of symbol locations.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein two respective prize levels are each correlated to two or more target bingo patterns.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein three respective prize levels are each correlated to two or more target bingo patterns.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein one respective prize level is correlated to three target bingo patterns.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein one respective prize level is correlated to four target bingo patterns.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the prize levels correlated to two or more target bingo patterns includes a first target bingo pattern associated with a first pattern probability and also includes a second target bingo pattern associated with a second pattern probability, and wherein the first pattern probability is unequal to the second pattern probability.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the prize levels correlated to two or more target bingo patterns includes a first target bingo pattern having a first shape and a second target bingo pattern having a second shape, and wherein the first shape is different from the second shape.

9. A method of emulating a desired prize distribution in a bingo gaming system in which the result of each play is determined by the manner in which the bingo card for the play matches a set of drawn bingo designations, the method including:

(a) selecting a prize distribution for the bingo gaming system, the prize distribution comprising a number of winning prize levels, each winning prize level having a respective prize to be awarded for that winning prize level and having a respective prize level probability, the respective prize level probability for a respective winning prize level comprising a desired probability of winning the prize at that respective winning prize level;

(b) defining a number of target bingo patterns achievable in the bingo gaming system;

(c) after selecting the prize distribution and defining the target bingo patterns, correlating each winning prize level to at least one respective target bingo pattern and correlating at least one winning prize level to two or more respective target bingo patterns such that (i) no target pattern is correlated to more than one of the winning prize levels, and (ii) the probability of achieving in the bingo gaming system any one of the one or more target bingo patterns correlated to a respective winning prize level comprises a value approximating the prize level probability for that respective winning prize level;

(d) with a data processing system in the bingo gaming system, (i) identifying a respective bingo result for each of a number of plays in the bingo gaming system, each respective bingo result comprising a pattern in which locations are matched on a respective bingo card for the respective play, and (ii) for each respective bingo result, searching the target bingo patterns that have been correlated to any of the winning prize levels to determine if the pattern for that respective bingo result comprises one of the target patterns correlated to a respective winning prize level; and

(e) in the event the pattern for a respective bingo result comprises one of the target patterns correlated to a respective winning prize level, awarding the prize at that prize level for the respective play and causing a player station for that play to display the awarded prize.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein for a respective prize level correlated to two or more target bingo patterns, a first one of the target bingo patterns assigned to the respective prize level is defined by a first number of symbol locations and a second one of the target bingo patterns assigned to the respective prize level is defined by a second number of symbol locations, the first number of symbol locations being unequal to the second number of symbol locations.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein two respective prize levels are each correlated to two or more target bingo patterns.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein three respective prize levels are each correlated to two or more target bingo patterns.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein one respective prize level is correlated to three target bingo patterns.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein one respective prize level is correlated to four target bingo patterns.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the prize levels correlated to two or more target bingo patterns includes a first target bingo pattern associated with a first pattern probability and also includes a second target bingo pattern associated with a second pattern probability, and wherein the first pattern probability is unequal to the second pattern probability.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the prize levels correlated to two or more target bingo patterns includes a first target bingo pattern having a first shape and a second target bingo pattern having a second shape, and wherein the first shape is different from the second shape.