Multi-player bingo game and methods for determining game-winning awards

• US 7,959,507 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cannon, Lee E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner; Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hylinski; Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US10/941,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20050059471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,463 Days
• Field of Search: 463/19, 463/40, 463/42, 463/43, 463/18
• US Class Current: 463/21
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

The invention is directed to methods and gaming units for conducting a multi-player wagering game in which at least one of the players may win the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on a game array having a unique combination of game indicia based on matching the game indicia on the game array to game indicia randomly selected for the occurrence of the wagering game. The wagering game may various methods for determining a game-winning award amount for a player being the first to match the game-winning pattern on a game array. The game-winning award may be determined based on the game-winning pattern matched by the player, on the number of randomly selected game indicia required to match the game-winning pattern, on the amount wagered by the player on the occurrence of the wagering game, on the outcome of a secondary wagering game, and on other factors as discussed herein.

Claims

1. A method for determining a game-winning award amount for a player of a multi-player wagering game in a gaming network having a plurality of gaming units operatively coupled to a network computer, wherein each player has at least one game array having a unique combination of game indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein individual game indicia are randomly selected from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a first predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:

enrolling a plurality of players for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

randomly selecting game indicia from the range of game indicia;

comparing the randomly selected game indicia to the game indicia of the at least one game array for each player in the order that the randomly selected game indicia are selected;

determining that the first predetermined game-winning pattern formed by game indicia on the at least one game array matches randomly selected game indicia for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

determining a game-winning award amount for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein the game-winning award amount is determined based on the number of randomly selected game indicia required to match the first predetermined game-winning pattern on the player'"'"'s game array; and

reducing an effect of a number of game arrays of the multi-player wagering game on a probability of winning the multi-player wagering game by one of the players by controlling a number of shared spots between the first predetermined game-winning pattern and a second predetermined game-winning pattern of the at least one game array used in the multi-player wagering game.

2. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 1, wherein the game-winning award amount determined for a player is greater for matching the first predetermined game-winning pattern in fewer randomly selected game indicia than a predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia than an award amount for matching the first predetermined game-winning pattern in more randomly selected game indicia than the predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia.

3. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 1, wherein the game-winning award amount is at least a portion of an accumulated prize pool if the number of randomly selected game indicia required to match the first predetermined game-winning pattern on the player'"'"'s game array is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia.

4. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 3, wherein the accumulated prize pool is a progressive jackpot pool.

5. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 3, wherein the game-winning award amount is equal to the amount of the accumulated prize pool multiplied by a wager amount for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game and divided by a maximum wager amount that may be wagered by a player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

6. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 3, wherein the game-winning award amount is equal to the amount of the accumulated prize pool multiplied by a fixed percentage, multiplied by a wager amount for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game and divided by a maximum wager amount that may be wagered by a player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

7. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 3, comprising adding a portion of a wager for each player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game to the accumulated prize pool.

8. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 7, comprising adding a fixed percentage of the wager for each player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game to the accumulated prize pool.

9. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 3, wherein the game-winning award amount is equal to the amount of the accumulated prize pool multiplied by a fixed percentage, wherein the fixed percentage by which the accumulated prize pool is multiplied is greater when the game-winning pattern is matched in fewer randomly selected game indicia than a predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia than a percentage used when the first predetermined game-winning pattern is matched in more randomly selected game indicia than the predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia.

10. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 3, wherein the game-winning award amount is equal to the amount of the accumulated prize pool multiplied by a fixed percentage, multiplied by the wager amount for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game and divided by a maximum wager amount that may be wagered by a player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein the fixed percentage by which the accumulated prize pool is multiplied is greater when the game-winning pattern is matched in fewer randomly selected game indicia than a predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia than when the first predetermined game-winning pattern is matched in more randomly selected game indicia than the predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia.

11. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 3, wherein the game-winning award amount is equal to the amount of the accumulated prize pool multiplied by a first fixed percentage if the first predetermined game-winning pattern is matched on the player'"'"'s game array in fewer than a predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia, and the game-winning award amount is equal to the amount of the accumulated prize pool multiplied by a second fixed percentage if the first predetermined game-winning pattern is matched on the player'"'"'s game array in more than the predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia, wherein the first percentage is greater than the second percentage.

12. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 3, comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of available game-winning patterns for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

calculating the game-winning award amount equal to the amount of the accumulated prize pool multiplied by a first fixed percentage corresponding to the selected game-winning pattern if the selected game-winning pattern is matched on the player'"'"'s game array in fewer than a predetermined maximum number of randomly selected game indicia, wherein the first fixed percentage corresponding to the first predetermined game-winning pattern is greater than a second fixed percentage corresponding to a third predetermined game-winning pattern where a number of game indicia in the first game-winning pattern is greater than the number of game indicia in the third game-winning pattern.

13. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

determining that a player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game has matched an interim pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia;

adding at least one portion of an interim pattern award amount to a progressive prize pool in response to determining that the player matched the interim pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

14. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 13, comprising awarding a player a first portion of the interim pattern award amount, and adding a second portion of the interim pattern award amount to the progressive prize pool.

15. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 13, comprising:

enrolling each player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at one of the gaming units;

adding the at least one portion of the interim pattern award to a progressive prize pool stored at the gaming unit at which the player is enrolled; and

awarding at least a portion of the progressive prize pool to the player enrolled at the gaming unit in response to game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matching the randomly selected game indicia matching a progressive prize pool pattern during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

16. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 13, comprising:

enrolling each player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at one of the gaming units;

adding the at least one portion of the interim pattern award to a progressive prize pool stored at the network computer; and

awarding at least a portion of the progressive prize pool to a player in response to game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matching a progressive prize pool pattern during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

17. A method for determining a game-winning award amount for a player of a multi-player wagering game implemented in a gaming network having a plurality of gaming units operatively coupled to a network computer, wherein each player has at least one game array having a unique combination of game indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein individual game indicia are randomly selected from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a first predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:

enrolling a plurality of players for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

receiving a wager amount from each of the plurality of players for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

determining at least one game-winning pattern for each player, wherein the at least one game-winning pattern for each player corresponds to the wager amount received from the player, and wherein the at least one game-winning pattern corresponding to a larger wager amount has a greater probability of being matched by game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array than an additional game-winning pattern corresponding to a smaller wager amount, wherein the at least one game-winning pattern corresponding to the larger wager amount has fewer game indicia than the additional game-winning pattern corresponding to the smaller wager amount;

randomly selecting game indicia from the range of game indicia;

comparing the randomly selected game indicia to the game indicia of the at least one game array for each player in the order that the randomly selected game indicia are selected;

determining that the first predetermined game-winning pattern formed by game indicia on the at least one game array matches randomly selected game indicia for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

awarding a game-winning award amount to the player matching the first predetermined game-winning pattern in the fewest number of randomly selected game indicia; and

reducing an effect of a number of game arrays of the multi-player wagering game on a probability of winning the multi-player wagering game by one of the players by controlling a number of shared spots between the first predetermined game-winning pattern and a second predetermined game-winning pattern of the at least one game array used in the multi-player wagering game.

18. A method for determining a game-winning award amount for a player of a multi-player wagering game implemented in a gaming network having a plurality of gaming units operatively coupled to a network computer, wherein each player has at least one game array having a unique combination of game indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein individual game indicia are randomly selected from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a first predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:

enrolling a plurality of players for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

receiving a wager amount from each of the plurality of players for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

randomly selecting game indicia from the range of game indicia;

comparing the randomly selected game indicia to the game indicia of the at least one game array for each player in the order that the randomly selected game indicia are selected;

determining that the first predetermined game-winning pattern formed by game indicia on the at least one game array matches randomly selected game indicia for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game

determining a game-winning award amount for the player matching the first predetermined game-winning pattern in the fewest number of randomly selected game indicia,

determining a probability of an occurrence of a secondary wagering game being a winning outcome based on the wager amount for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

reducing an effect of a number of game arrays of the multi-player wagering game on a probability of winning the multi-player wagering game by controlling a number of shared spots between the first predetermined game-winning pattern and a second predetermined game-winning pattern on one of the player'"'"'s game array used in the multi-player wagering game.

19. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 18, wherein the probability of the occurrence of the secondary wagering game being a winning outcome is directly proportional to the wager amount for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

20. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 18, comprising awarding to the player a game-winning award amount equal to at least a portion of a progressive jackpot pool in response to determining that the outcome of the secondary wagering game is a winning outcome.

21. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 18, comprising determining the outcome of the secondary wagering game immediately following the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

22. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 18, wherein the secondary wagering game is a second multi-player wagering game, the method comprising:

enrolling the player in an occurrence of the secondary wagering game in response to determining that the player matched the predetermined game-winning pattern in the fewest number of randomly selected game indicia; and

determining the outcome of the secondary wagering game in response to enrolling at least a predetermined number of players in the occurrence of the secondary wagering game.

23. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 18, wherein the secondary wagering game is a secondary wagering game played by a plurality of players, the method comprising:

awarding secondary wagering game enrollment points to a player matching the first predetermined game-winning pattern in the fewest number of randomly selected game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

enrolling the player in an occurrence of the secondary wagering game in response to determining that the player has accumulated at least a minimum number of secondary wagering game enrollment points; and

determining the outcome of the secondary wagering game in response to enrolling at least a predetermined number of players in the occurrence of the secondary wagering game.

24. A method for determining a game-winning award amount in accordance with claim 18, wherein the secondary wagering game is a second multi-player wagering game, the method comprising:

enrolling the player in an occurrence of the secondary wagering game in response to determining that the player matched the predetermined game-winning pattern in the fewest number of randomly selected game indicia; and

determining the outcome of the secondary wagering game at a predetermined scheduled time.

25. A computer readable medium including computer program code for performing the method recited in claim 18.

26. A method for determining a game-winning award amount for a player of a multi-player wagering game implemented in a gaming network having a plurality of gaming units operatively coupled to a network computer, wherein each player has at least one game array having a unique combination of game indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein individual game indicia are randomly selected from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a first predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:

enrolling a plurality of players for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

receiving a wager amount from each of the plurality of players for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

determining at least one game-winning pattern for each player, wherein the at least one game-winning pattern for each player corresponds to the wager amount received from the player, and wherein the at least one game-winning pattern corresponding to a larger wager amount has a greater probability of being matched by game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array than an additional game-winning pattern corresponding to a smaller wager amount;

randomly selecting game indicia from the range of game indicia;

comparing the randomly selected game indicia to the game indicia of the at least one game array for each player in the order that the randomly selected game indicia are selected;

determining that the first predetermined game-winning pattern formed by game indicia on the at least one game array matches randomly selected game indicia for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game

determining a game-winning award amount for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein the game-winning award amount is determined based on the wager amount for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein a game-winning award amount corresponding to larger wager amount is greater than a game-winning award amount corresponding to the smaller wager amount; and

reducing an effect of a number of game arrays of the multi-player wagering game on a probability of winning the multi-player wagering game players by controlling a number of shared spots between the first predetermined game-winning pattern and a second predetermined game-winning pattern of the at least one game array used in the multi-player wagering game.

27. A gaming apparatus comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

enroll a plurality of players for an occurrence of a multi-player wagering game, wherein each player has at least one game array having a unique combination of game indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein individual game indicia are randomly selected from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a first predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia;

receive a wager amount from each of the plurality of players for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

randomly select game indicia from the range of game indicia;

compare the randomly selected game indicia to the game indicia of the at least one game array for each player in the order that the randomly selected game indicia are selected;

determine that the first predetermined game-winning pattern formed by game indicia on the at least one game array matches randomly selected game indicia for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

determine a game-winning award amount for the player matching the first predetermined game-winning pattern in the fewest number of randomly selected game indicia,

determine a probability of an occurrence of a secondary wagering game being a winning outcome based on the wager amount for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

reduce an effect of a number of game arrays of one of the multi-player wagering game on a probability of winning the multi-player wagering game by one of the players by controlling a number of shared spots between the first predetermined game-winning pattern and a second predetermined game-winning pattern on one of the player'"'"'s game array used in the multi-player wagering game.

28. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 27, further comprising:

a value input device configured to receive value equal to the wager amount from each of the plurality of players; and

a display device configured to display the multi-player wagering game.

29. A gaming apparatus comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

enroll a plurality of players for an occurrence of multi-player wagering game in a gaming network, wherein each player has at least one game array having a unique combination of game indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein individual game indicia are randomly selected from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a first predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia;

receive a wager amount from each of the plurality of players for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

determine the first predetermined game-winning pattern, wherein the first predetermined game-winning pattern for each player corresponds to the wager amount received from the player, and wherein the first predetermined game-winning pattern corresponding to a larger wager amount has a greater probability of being matched by game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array than an additional game-winning pattern corresponding to a smaller wager amount;

randomly select game indicia from the range of game indicia;

compare the randomly selected game indicia to the game indicia of the at least one game array for each player in the order that the randomly selected game indicia are selected;

determine that the first predetermined game-winning pattern formed by game indicia on the at least one game array matches randomly selected game indicia for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

determine a game-winning award amount for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein the game-winning award amount is determined based on the wager amount for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein a game-winning award amount corresponding to a larger wager amount is greater than a game-winning award amount corresponding to a smaller wager amount; and

reduce an effect of a number of game arrays of the multi-player wagering game on a probability of winning the multi-player wagering game by one of the players by controlling a number of shared spots between the first predetermined game-winning pattern and a second predetermined game-winning pattern of the at least one game array used in the multi-player wagering game.

30. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 29, further comprising:

a value input device configured to receive value equal to the wager amount from each of the plurality of players; and

a display device configured to display the multi-player wagering game.