Bingo gaming system and method for providing multiple outcomes from single bingo pattern

• US 8,500,538 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Warner, Jeremy J., Krum, Justin M., Powell, Tracy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel, Matthew D
• Application Number:
  US12/512,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20110028201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 273/269, 273/270, 463 17- 19, 463 25- 28, 463 40- 42, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/19
• 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 gaming system and method disclosed herein provides a bingo game wherein a single bingo pattern is associated with a plurality of outcomes. In one such embodiment, a first bingo pattern is associated with a static outcome, such as an award of a designated value, and a second bingo pattern is associated with an open-ended outcome, such as a progressive award. If a bingo pattern associated with a progressive award is covered, the disclosed gaming system and method causes the bingo game to display a symbol combination associated with the progressive award. In one embodiment, the disclosed gaming system and method selects the symbol combination from a plurality of symbol combinations associated with the progressive award.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) receive a wager for a bingo game, the bingo game including at least one bingo card;

(b) determine whether a first designated event occurs in association with the bingo game, the first designated event being associated with a static award;

(c) determine whether a second designated event occurs in association with the bingo game, the second designated event being associated with a progressive award;

(d) when the determination is that only the first designated event occurred in association with the bingo game;

(i) display a first combination of reel symbols which corresponds to the static award, and

(ii) provide the static award;

(e) when the determination is that only the second designated event occurred in association with the bingo game;

(i) display a second combination of reel symbols which corresponds to the progressive award, and

(ii) provide the progressive award; and

(f) when the determination is that the first designated event and the second designated event both occurred in association with the bingo game;

(i) display the second combination of reel symbols which corresponds to the progressive award,

(ii) provide the progressive award, and

(iii) additionally provide the static award without displaying the first combination of reel symbols which corresponds to the static award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bingo game includes a plurality of elements selected in association with the at least one bingo card.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the first designated event corresponds to a first bingo pattern being marked by the selected elements on the at least one bingo card.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the second designated event corresponds to a second, different bingo pattern being marked by the selected elements on the at least one bingo card.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, which includes at least one instruction which stores data representing a plurality of seeds associated with the bingo game, wherein at least a first one of the seeds is associated with a first plurality of combinations of reel symbols including the second combination of reel symbols and a third combination of reel symbols, wherein the third combination of reel symbols is associated with a first non-progressive residual award.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to select one of the plurality of seeds when the determination is that the second designated event occurred in association with the bingo game.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to display the third combination of reel symbols and provide the first non-progressive residual award when the first seed is selected.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein at least a second one of the seeds is associated with a second plurality of combinations of reel symbols including the second combination of reel symbols and a fourth combination of reel symbols, wherein the fourth combination of reel symbols is associated with a second non-progressive residual award.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to display the fourth combination of reel symbols and provide the second non-progressive residual award when the second seed is selected.

10. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) receive a wager for a bingo game, the bingo game including at least one bingo card having a plurality of designated bingo patterns;

(b) determine whether a first one of the bingo patterns is marked in association with the bingo game, the first bingo pattern including an interim pattern that is associated with a static award;

(c) determine whether a second one of the bingo patterns is marked in association with the bingo game, the second bingo pattern including a progressive pattern that is associated with a progressive award; and

(d) when the determination is that the interim and progressive patterns are each marked in association with the bingo game;

(i) display a combination of reel symbols which corresponds to the progressive award associated with the progressive pattern,

(ii) provide the progressive award, and

(iii) provide the static award without displaying a combination of reel symbols which corresponds to the static award associated with the interim pattern.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the bingo game includes a plurality of elements, the elements being drawn during the bingo game and compared to parts of the at least one bingo card.

12. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein one of the plurality of bingo patterns includes a community pattern which, if marked, causes the at least one processor to terminate the bingo game.

13. The gaming system of claim 10, which includes at least one instruction which stores data representing a plurality of seeds associated with the bingo game, wherein at least a first one of the seeds is associated with a first plurality of combinations of reel symbols including the combination of reel symbols which corresponds to the progressive award and a combination of reel symbols which corresponds to a first non-progressive residual award.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to select one of the plurality of seeds when the determination is that the progressive pattern is marked in association with the bingo game.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to display the combination of reel symbols which corresponds to the first non-progressive residual award and provide the first non-progressive residual award if when the first seed is selected.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein at least a second one of the seeds is associated with a second plurality of combinations of reel symbols including the combination of reel symbols which corresponds to the progressive award and a combination of reel symbols which corresponds to a second non-progressive residual award.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to display the combination of reel symbols which corresponds to the second non-progressive residual award and provide the second non-progressive residual award when the second seed is selected.

18. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the interim pattern and the progressive pattern represent different, individual patterns on the same bingo card.