System and method for constraining bingo card faces to limit liability of number of random drawn winners

• US 8,216,049 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games LLC (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games International Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Fisk, Michael G., Bower, Daniel W., Libby, Budd O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Application Number:
  US11/356,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20060205477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,335 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 23, 463/25, 463 30- 33, 463 40- 43, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/269, 273/274
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/062 Bingo games, e.g. Bingo card games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A method for adapting a game of bingo to a lottery, includes predetermining a plurality of bingo faces to achieve a desired liability profile. One or more of the plurality of bingo faces are distributed. Random call numbers are generated until a desired pattern is achieved on one or more of the distributed bingo faces.

Claims

1. A method for adapting a game of bingo to a lottery, comprising:

predetermining a plurality of bingo faces to achieve a desired liability profile, wherein the predetermination is conducted free of player influence;

distributing one or more of the plurality of bingo faces;

generating random call numbers until a desired pattern is achieved on one or more of the distributed bingo faces; and

wherein the step of predetermining a plurality of bingo faces to achieve a desired liability profile comprises using genetic programming to generate the plurality of bingo faces by;

randomly generating a plurality of potential bingo cards;

determining the potential liability of the plurality of potential bingo cards; and

evolving the plurality of potential bingo cards via reproducing, crossing over, mutating, or architecture-altering until a desired potential liability for the plurality of potential bingo cards is achieved.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired liability profile maximizes the likelihood that one or more prizes are won by a small number of players.

3. A system for adapting a game of bingo to a lottery, comprising:

bingo-face predetermining unit for predetermining a plurality of bingo faces to achieve a desired liability profile wherein the predetermination is conducted free of player influence;

one or more distribution units for distributing one or more of the plurality of bingo faces;

a call number generation unit for generating random call numbers until a desired pattern is achieved on one or more of the distributed bingo faces; and

wherein the bingo-face predetermining unit is configured for genetic programming to generate the plurality of bingo faces by;

randomly generating a plurality of potential bingo cards;

determining the potential liability of the plurality of potential bingo cards; and

evolving the plurality of potential bingo cards via reproducing, crossing over, mutating, or architecture-altering until a desired potential liability for the plurality of potential bingo cards is achieved.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the desired liability profile maximizes the likelihood that one or more prizes are won by a small number of players.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more distribution units distribute the bingo faces by printing game cards.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more distribution units distribute the bingo faces by displaying on-screen game play either on-site or over the internet.