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

• US 8,591,309 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2012
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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:
  US13/545,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20130017880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 23, 463/25, 463 40- 42, 463 30- 33, 273269-274, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139
• 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 computer-implemented method for adapting a game of bingo to a lottery, comprising:

randomly generating a plurality of bingo faces;

randomly selecting one or more bingo faces from the plurality of bingo faces to become winning faces to achieve a desired overall payout liability profile for the lottery, wherein the selection is conducted free of player influence; and

constructing a set of predetermined call numbers that allow only the selected winning faces to win so as to achieve the liability profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of randomly generating a plurality of bingo faces to achieve a desired liability profile comprises using genetic programming to generate the plurality of bingo faces.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein using genetic programming to generate the plurality of bingo faces, comprises:

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 until a desired potential liability is achieved.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein evolving the plurality of potential bingo cards includes reproducing, crossing over, mutating, or architecture-altering.

5. 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.

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

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more distribution units distribute the bingo faces by displaying on-screen game play either on-site or over the internet.

8. A computer-implemented method for adapting a game of bingo to a lottery, comprising:

randomly generating a set of call numbers;

constructing a desired number of winning bingo card faces based on the generated set of call numbers; and

constructing a desired number of losing bingo card faces based on the generated set of call numbers,

wherein the winning bingo card faces and the losing bingo card faces are determined free of player influence and are constructed so as to achieve an overall payout liability profile for the lottery.

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

a bingo face generating unit for randomly generating a plurality of bingo faces;

a selection unit for randomly selecting one or more bingo faces from the plurality of bingo faces to become winning faces to achieve a desired overall payout liability profile for the lottery, wherein the selection is conducted free of player influence; and

a call number set construction unit for constructing a set of predetermined call numbers that allow the selected winning faces to win.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the bingo-face generating unit uses genetic programming to generate the plurality of bingo faces.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein using genetic programming to generate the plurality of bingo faces, comprises:

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 until a desired potential liability is achieved.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein evolving the plurality of potential bingo cards includes reproducing, crossing over, mutating, or architecture-altering.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the desired liability profile maximizes the likelihood that one or more prizes are won by a small number of players.