Multi-player bingo game with multi-level award amount pattern mapping

• US 8,753,188 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• 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): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSSER, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US10/887,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20050059468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,631 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/16, 463/19, 463/25
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0645 Electric lottos or bingo games
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

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 include a plurality of game awards that may be awarded to the players. The game awards may be divided into pay groups, with each pay group being associated with a primary pattern on the game array, and with each game award within a pay group being associated with a secondary pattern on the game array. A gaming award may be awarded to a player in response to determining that the primary pattern and the secondary pattern associated with the gaming award are matched by patterns formed by the game indicia of the game array matching the randomly selected game indicia.

Claims

1. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for an occurrence of a multi-player wagering game wherein each of a plurality of players plays one of a plurality of different game arrays on one of a plurality of gaming machines, each of the plurality of game arrays having a unique combination of game indicia from a range of a plurality of different game indicia for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein a plurality of the range of the plurality of game indicia are randomly selected through a network computer on a network gaming controller as active game indicia during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein said game controller is configured to execute the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game on the plurality of gaming machines and wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected active game indicia, the method comprising through execution of the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by the network gaming controller:

determining a plurality of the game awards that may be awarded to the players during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

dividing the game awards between at least two pay groups, wherein each pay group includes at least one of the game awards designated for awarding to winning players of a game award in said pay group;

associating each pay group with a respective one of a plurality of primary predetermined patterns of active game indicia;

after each random selection of an active game indicium during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, determining whether one of the primary predetermined patterns of active game indicia is achieved on the game array of any player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

for each game array, if any, on which one of the primary predetermined patterns of active game indicia is achieved, enabling continued play on the gaming machine of the player playing said game array, said continued play providing the player an opportunity to achieve one or more of a plurality of different secondary predetermined patterns of active game indicia associated with the pay group of the achieved primary predetermined pattern of active game indicia;

for each game array, if any, on which one of the primary predetermined patterns of active game indicia is not achieved, enabling continued play on the gaming machine of the player playing said game array, said continued play not providing the opportunity to achieve one or more of the plurality of different secondary predetermined patterns of active game indicia unless one of the primary predetermined patterns of active game indicia is achieved; and

through execution by the gaming machines or the network gaming controller, associating at least two of the plurality of game awards within each pay group with the respective plurality of different secondary predetermined patterns of active game indicia, wherein one of the at least two game awards has a cash or a non-monetary value different than a cash or a non-monetary value of the remaining of the at least two game awards.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, through execution of the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game on the network gaming controller:

assigning each game award a probability of being awarded to one of the players of the multi-player wagering game; and

determining for each pay group a pay group probability of awarding one of the game awards from the pay group to one of the players of the multi-player wagering game,

wherein associating each pay group with one of the primary predetermined patterns of active game indicia comprises, for each pay group, associating one of the primary predetermined patterns of active game indicia having a probability of being matched during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game that is approximately equal to the pay group probability of said pay group with said pay group.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, for each game award within each pay group, associating with said game award one of the secondary predetermined patterns of active game indicia having a probability of being matched during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game such that a probability that both the primary predetermined pattern of active game indicia associated with the pay group and the secondary predetermined pattern of active game indicia associated with the game award will be matched during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game is approximately equal to the probability of awarding the game award.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each game award has a unique game award value.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein upon dividing the game awards between the at least two pay groups, in any two pay groups the game award value of each game award in one of the pay groups is either greater than the game award value of each game award in the other one of the pay groups or less than the game award value of each game award in the other one of the pay groups.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, through execution of the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game on the network gaming controller:

assigning each game award a probability of being awarded to one of the players of the multi-player wagering game; and

determining for each pay group a pay group probability of awarding one of the game awards from the pay group to one of the players of the multi-player wagering game,

wherein associating each pay group with one of the primary predetermined patterns of active game indicia comprises, for each pay group, associating one of the primary predetermined patterns of active game indicia having a probability of being matched during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game that is approximately equal to the pay group probability of said pay group with said pay group.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the multi-player wagering game is configured to be executed on one of the gaming machines so that only the game award having a greatest game award value is awarded to the player of said gaming machine when multiple combinations of primary and secondary predetermined patterns of active game indicia resulting in game awards are matched by the player of said gaming machine during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, the method further comprising reducing through execution of the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game on the network gaming controller the probability of one of the primary predetermined patterns of active game indicia being matched by the probability that one of the primary predetermined patterns of active game indicia associated with one of the other pay groups having game awards with greater game award values will be matched during the same occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising, for each game award within each pay group, associating with said game award one of the secondary predetermined patterns of active game indicia having a probability of being matched during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game such that a probability that both the primary predetermined pattern of active game indicia associated with the pay group and the secondary pattern of active game indicia associated with the game award will be matched during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game is approximately equal to the probability of awarding the game award.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the multi-player wagering game is configured to be executed on one of the gaming machines so that only the game award having a greatest game award value is awarded to the player of said gaming machine when multiple combinations of primary and secondary predetermined patterns of active game indicia resulting in game awards are matched by the player of said gaming machine during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, the method further comprising reducing through execution of the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game on the network gaming controller the probability of one of the secondary predetermined patterns of active game indicia being matched by the probability that one of the secondary predetermined patterns of active game indicia associated with one of the game awards within the same pay group having a greater game award value will be matched during the same occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the game array for each player comprises a first portion having a first subset of the unique game indicia and a second portion having a second subset of the unique game indicia, wherein the primary predetermined patterns of active game indicia are patterns to be matched on the first portion of the game array and the secondary predetermined patterns of active game indicia are patterns to be matched on the second portion of the game array.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the game array for one of the players comprises an array having seven rows and five columns of game indicia, wherein the first portion of the game array comprises the top five rows of the game array and the second portion of the game array comprises the bottom two rows of the game array.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the game array for each player comprises a first game card having a first subset of the unique game indicia and a second game card having a second subset of the unique game indicia, wherein the primary predetermined patterns of active game indicia are patterns to be determined on the first game card of the game array and the secondary predetermined patterns of active game indicia are patterns to be determined on the second game card of the game array.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first game card comprises an array having five rows and five columns of game indicia, and the second game card comprises an array having two rows and five columns of game indicia.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein each game award has an associated game award value, and wherein, for one of the pay groups, the game award in the pay group having a lowest game award value is not assigned to one of the secondary predetermined patterns of active game indicia such that the game award having the lowest game award value is awarded to one of the players when the primary predetermined pattern of active game indicia for the pay group is matched and none of the secondary predetermined patterns of active game indicia for the game awards in the pay group are matched during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

15. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a plurality of gaming units configured to communicate with one another, wherein each of a plurality of players plays one of a plurality of different game arrays on one of the gaming units, each game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of a plurality of different game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein a plurality of the range of the plurality of game indicia are randomly selected as active game indicia during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game and transmitted to the gaming units over the gaming network, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, said gaming unit comprising:

an input device configured to receive a plurality of input selections;

a gaming unit memory device storing a plurality of game awards that may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein the game awards are divided between at least two pay groups each including at least one of the game awards designated for awarding to winning players of a game award in said pay group, each pay group being associated with a respective one of a plurality of primary predetermined patterns on the game array, and a plurality of different game awards within each pay group being associated with a plurality of different secondary predetermined patterns on the game array, wherein one of the game awards has a cash or a non-monetary value different than a cash or a non-monetary value of the remaining of the game awards;

a currency-accepting mechanism configured to enable a player to deposit a medium of currency;

a display device;

a value-dispensing mechanism configured to dispense value to the player; and

a gaming unit controller configured to operate with the input device, the gaming unit memory device, the currency-accepting mechanism, the display device, and the value-dispensing mechanism to;

(a) receive a deposit of an amount of a medium of currency from a player of the gaming unit and store the amount of the medium of currency in the gaming unit memory device as a corresponding amount of game credits;

(b) receive a wager from the player on an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

(c) compare a randomly selected active game indicium to the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array and determine whether the randomly selected active game indicium matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array in response to receiving the randomly selected active game indicium at the gaming unit;

(d) compare the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the primary predetermined patterns stored in the gaming unit memory device;

(e) enabling play for achieving the plurality of different secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that one of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns is achieved by the player;

(f) disable play for achieving the plurality of different secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that one of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns is not achieved by the player; and

(g) if one of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns is achieved by the player;

(i) compare the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the secondary predetermined patterns associated with the game awards within a pay group in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern associated with the pay group is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, and

(ii) increase the amount of game credits stored in the gaming unit memory device by a game award in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern and secondary predetermined pattern associated with the game award are matched by matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

16. The gaming unit of claim 15, wherein each game award stored in the gaming unit memory device has a unique game award value.

17. The gaming unit of claim 16, wherein the game awards stored in the gaming unit memory device are divided into the pay groups such that for any two pay groups the game award value of each game award in one pay group is either greater than the game award value of each game award in the other pay group or less than the game award value of each game award in the other pay group.

18. The gaming unit of claim 15, wherein the gaming unit controller is configured to increase the amount of game credits stored in the gaming unit memory device by the game award having a greatest gaming award value in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern and secondary predetermined pattern associated with more than one game award are matched by game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

19. The gaming unit of claim 15, wherein the gaming unit controller is configured to increase the amount of game credits stored in the gaming unit memory device by a sum of the game award values in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern and secondary predetermined pattern associated with more than one game award are matched by game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

20. The gaming unit of claim 15, wherein the game array for each player comprises a first portion having a first subset of the unique game indicia and a second portion having a second subset of the unique game indicia, wherein the gaming unit controller is configured to compare the matched game indicia on the first portion of the player'"'"'s game array to the primary predetermined patterns stored in the gaming unit memory device, and to compare the matched game indicia on the second portion of the player'"'"'s game array to the secondary predetermined patterns stored in the gaming unit memory device in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern associated with the pay group is matched by the matched game indicia on the first portion of the player'"'"'s game array.

21. The gaming unit of claim 20, wherein the game array for the player comprises an array having seven rows and five columns of game indicia, wherein the first portion of the game array comprises the top five rows of the game array and the second portion of the game array comprises the bottom two rows of the game array.

22. The gaming unit of claim 21, wherein the gaming unit controller is configured to operate with the display device to display the first portion of the player'"'"'s game array during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and display the second portion of the player'"'"'s game array in response to determining that at least one primary predetermined pattern is matched by the matched game indicia on the first portion of the player'"'"'s game array.

23. The gaming unit of claim 15, wherein the game array for each player comprises a first game card having a first subset of the unique game indicia and a second game card having a second subset of the unique game indicia, wherein the gaming unit controller is configured to compare the matched game indicia on the first game card of the player'"'"'s game array to the primary predetermined patterns stored in the gaming unit memory device, and to compare the matched game indicia on the second game card of the player'"'"'s game array to the secondary predetermined patterns stored in the gaming unit memory device in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern associated with the pay group is matched by the matched game indicia on the first game card of the player'"'"'s game array.

24. The gaming unit of claim 23, wherein the first game card comprises an array having five rows and five columns of game indicia, and the second game card comprises an array having two rows and five columns of game indicia.

25. The gaming unit of claim 24, wherein the gaming unit controller is configured to operate with the display device to display the first game card of the player'"'"'s game array during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and display the second game card of the player'"'"'s game array in response to determining that at least one primary predetermined pattern is matched by the matched game indicia on the first game card of the player'"'"'s game array.

26. The gaming unit of claim 15, wherein the gaming unit controller is configured to operate with the input device to receive input for player selection of the unique combination of game indicia for the player'"'"'s game array.

27. The gaming unit of claim 15, wherein the gaming unit controller is configured to select the unique combination of game indicia for the player'"'"'s game array.

28. The gaming unit of claim 15, wherein each game award has an associated game award value, and wherein the game award in a pay group having a lowest game award value is not assigned a secondary predetermined pattern, wherein the gaming unit controller is configured to increase the amount of game credits stored in the gaming unit memory device by the game award in a pay group having the lowest game award value in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern associated with the game award is matched by matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, and that none of the secondary predetermined patterns associated with the game awards of the pay group associated with the matched primary predetermined pattern are matched by matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

29. The gaming unit of claim 15, wherein the gaming unit controller is configured to compare the primary predetermined patterns stored in the gaming unit memory device to all the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matched during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

30. The gaming unit of claim 15, wherein at least a predetermined number of game indicia are randomly selected as active game indicia and transmitted to the gaming units over the gaming network regardless of the number of randomly selected active game indicia used for the player to match the predetermined game-winning pattern during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein the gaming unit controller is configured to compare the primary predetermined patterns stored in the gaming unit memory device to the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matched by the predetermined number of the randomly selected active game indicia.

31. The gaming unit of claim 15, wherein the gaming unit controller is configured to compare the primary predetermined patterns stored in the gaming unit memory to the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matched by the lesser of a number of randomly selected active game indicia transmitted to the gaming units and a predetermined maximum number of the randomly selected active game indicia.

32. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each of a plurality of players plays one of a plurality of different game arrays on one of the gaming units, each of the plurality of game arrays having a unique combination of game indicia from a range of a plurality of different game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected active game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting an active game indicium for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the network computer;

transmitting the randomly selected active game indicium from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected active game indicium at the gaming units; and

for each of the gaming units;

(a) comparing the randomly selected active game indicium received at the gaming unit to the game indicia on the game array of the player of said gaming unit and determining whether the randomly selected active game indicium matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

(b) enabling play for achieving a plurality of different secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that one of a plurality of primary predetermined patterns is achieved by the player;

(c) disabling play for achieving the plurality of different secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that one of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns is not achieved by the player;

(b) comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the plurality of primary predetermined patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards of a plurality of pay groups may be awarded to the players of the gaming units during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each primary predetermined pattern corresponds to the game awards designated for awarding to winning players of the pay group with which said primary predetermined pattern is associate;

(e) comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the plurality of different secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that one of the primary predetermined patterns is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein a first one of the secondary predetermined patterns corresponds to a first one of the game awards of the pay group associated with the primary predetermined pattern and a second one of the secondary predetermined patterns corresponds to a second one of the game awards of the pay group associated with the primary predetermined pattern, wherein the second game award has an amount or a non-monetary value different than an amount or a non-monetary value of the first game award; and

(f) awarding the first game award to the player in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern and the first secondary predetermined pattern associated with the first game award are matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein each game award has a unique game award value.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the game awards associated with the primary predetermined patterns are divided into the pay groups such that for any two of the pay groups the game award value of each game award in one of the pay groups is either greater than the game award value of each game award in the other pay group or less than the game award value of each game award in the other pay group.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising, for each gaming unit, awarding the player of said gaming unit the greater of the first and second game awards in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern and the first and second secondary predetermined patterns associated with more than one game award are matched by the matched game indicia on the game array of the player of said gaming unit.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising, for each gaming unit, awarding the player of said gaming unit a sum of the first and second game award values in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern and the first and second secondary predetermined patterns associated with more than one game award are matched by game indicia on the game array of the player of said gaming unit.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the game array of each player comprises an array having seven rows and five columns of game indicia, wherein the first portion of the game array comprises the top five rows of the game array and the second portion of the game array comprises the bottom two rows of the game array.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising, for each gaming unit:

displaying the first portion of the game array of the player of said gaming unit at the gaming unit during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

displaying the second portion of the game array of the player of said gaming unit at the gaming unit in response to determining that at least one of the primary predetermined patterns is matched by the matched game indicia on the first portion of the game array of the player of said gaming unit.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the game array for each player comprises a first portion having a first subset of the unique game indicia and a second portion having a second subset of the unique game indicia, the method further comprising, for each gaming unit:

comparing the matched game indicia on the first portion of the game array of the player of said gaming unit to the primary predetermined patterns; and

comparing the matched game indicia on the second portion of the game array of the player of said gaming unit to the secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that one of the primary predetermined patterns is matched by the matched game indicia on the first portion of the game array of the player of said gaming unit.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the game array for each player comprises a first game card having a first subset of the unique game indicia and a second game card having a second subset of the unique game indicia, the method further comprising, for each gaming unit:

comparing the matched game indicia on the first game card of the game array of the player of said gaming unit to the primary predetermined patterns; and

comparing the matched game indicia on the second game card of the game array of the player of said gaming unit to the secondary predetermined patterns; and

comparing the matched game indicia on the second game card of the game array of the player of said gaming unit to the secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that one of the primary predetermined patterns is matched by the matched game indicia on the first game card of the game array of the player of said gaming unit.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the first game card comprises an array having five rows and five columns of game indicia, and the second game card comprises an array having two rows and five columns of game indicia.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising for each gaming unit:

displaying the first game card of the game array of the player of said gaming unit at the gaming unit during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

displaying the second game card of the game array of the player of said gaming unit at the gaming unit in response to determining that at least one primary predetermined pattern is matched by the matched game indicia on the first game card of the game array of the player of said gaming unit.

43. The method of claim 32, further comprising receiving input for player selection of the unique combination of game indicia for the player'"'"'s game array at the gaming unit.

44. The method of claim 32, further comprising, for each gaming unit, selecting the unique combination of game indicia for the player'"'"'s game array at the gaming unit.

45. The method of claim 32, wherein each game award has an associated game award value, and wherein a third game award in the pay group having a lowest game award value is not assigned one of the secondary predetermined patterns, the method further comprising, for each gaming unit, awarding to the player of said gaming unit the third game award in the pay group having the lowest game award value in response to determining that one of the primary predetermined patterns associated with the third game award is matched by the matched game indicia on the game array of the player of said gaming unit, and determining that none of the secondary predetermined patterns associated with the game awards of the pay group associated with the matched primary predetermined pattern are matched by the matched game indicia on the game array of the player of said gaming unit.

46. The method of claim 32, further comprising, for each gaming unit, comparing the primary predetermined patterns to all the matched game indicia on the game array of the player of said gaming unit matched during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

47. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

transmitting at least a predetermined number of randomly selected active game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units regardless of the number of randomly selected active game indicia used for one of the players to match the predetermined game-winning pattern during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

for each gaming unit, comparing the primary predetermined patterns to the matched game indicia on game arrays of the player of said gaming unit matched by the predetermined number of the randomly selected active game indicia.

48. The method of claim 32, further comprising, for each gaming unit, comparing the primary predetermined patterns to the matched game indicia on the game array of the player of said gaming unit matched by the lesser of a number of randomly selected active game indicia transmitted to the gaming units and a predetermined maximum number of the randomly selected active game indicia.

49. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each of a plurality of players plays one of a plurality of different game arrays on one of the gaming units, each of the game arrays having a unique combination of indicia from a range of a plurality of different game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected active game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting an active game indicium for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the network computer;

transmitting the randomly selected active game indicium from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected active game indicium at the gaming units; and

for each of the gaming units;

(a) comparing the randomly selected active game indicium received at the gaming unit to the game indicia on the game array of the player of said gaming unit and determining whether the randomly selected active game indicium matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

(b) enabling play for achieving a first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that a first one of a plurality of primary predetermined patterns is achieved;

(c) disenabling play for achieving the first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that the first one of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns is not achieved;

(d) comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the plurality of primary predetermined patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players of the gaming units during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein the first one of the primary predetermined patterns corresponds to a first pay group including a first subset of the game awards corresponding to the first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns and a second one of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns corresponds to a second pay group including a second subset of the game awards corresponding to a second plurality of secondary predetermined patterns;

(e) awarding a first game award from the first pay group corresponding to the first one of the primary predetermined patterns to the player in response to determining that the first one of the primary predetermined patterns was matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the awarded first game award corresponds to a first number of randomly selected active game indicia used to match the first one of the primary predetermined patterns; and

(f) awarding a second game award from the second pay group corresponding to the second primary predetermined pattern to the player in response to determining that the second one of the primary predetermined patterns was matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the awarded second game award corresponds to a second number of randomly selected active game indicia used to match the second one of the primary predetermined patterns.

50. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each of a plurality of players plays one of a plurality of different game arrays on one of the gaming units, each of the game arrays having a unique combination of indicia from a range of a plurality of different game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected active game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting an active game indicium for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the network computer;

transmitting the randomly selected active game indicium from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected active game indicium at the gaming units; and

for each of the gaming units;

(a) comparing the randomly selected active game indicium received at the gaming unit to the game indicia on the game array of the player of said gaming unit and determining whether the randomly selected active game indicium matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

(b) comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a primary predetermined pattern;

(c) enabling play for achieving a first secondary predetermined pattern and a second secondary predetermined pattern if the primary predetermined pattern is achieved;

(d) disabling play for achieving the first secondary predetermined pattern and the second secondary predetermined pattern if the primary predetermined pattern is not achieved; and

(e) if the primary predetermined pattern is achieved

(i) comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the first secondary predetermined pattern and the second secondary predetermined pattern, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players of the gaming units during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein the first secondary predetermined pattern corresponds to a first one of the game awards associated with the primary predetermined pattern and the second secondary predetermined pattern corresponds to a second one of the game awards associated with the primary predetermined pattern;

(ii) awarding the first game award to the player in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern and the first secondary predetermined pattern associated with the first game award are matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array; and

(iii) awarding the second game award to the player in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern and the second secondary predetermined pattern associated with the first game award are matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

51. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each of a plurality of players plays one of a plurality of different game arrays on one of the gaming units, each of the game arrays having a unique combination of indicia from a range of a plurality of different game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected active game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting an active game indicium for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the network computer;

transmitting the randomly selected active game indicium from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected active game indicium at the gaming units; and

for each of the gaming units;

(a) comparing the randomly selected active game indicium received at the gaming unit to the game indicia on the game array of the player of said gaming unit and determining whether the randomly selected active game indicium matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

(b) enabling play for achieving a first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that a first one of a plurality of primary predetermined patterns is achieved;

(c) disabling play for achieving the first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that the first one of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns is not achieved;

(d) comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the plurality of primary predetermined patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players of the gaming units during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein the first one of the primary predetermined patterns corresponds to a first pay group including a first subset of the game awards corresponding to the first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns and a second one of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns corresponds to a second pay group including a second subset of the game awards corresponding to a second plurality of secondary predetermined patterns;

(e) awarding a first game award from the first pay group corresponding to the first one of the primary predetermined patterns to the player in response to determining that the first one of the primary predetermined patterns was matched by a first number of the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the first game award awarded from the plurality of game awards corresponds to the first number of matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array in addition to the matched game indicia corresponding to the first one of the primary predetermined patterns; and

(f) awarding a second game award from the second pay group corresponding to the second one of the primary predetermined patterns to the player in response to determining that the second one of the primary predetermined patterns was matched by a second number of the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the second game award awarded from the plurality of game awards corresponds to the second number of matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array in addition to the matched game indicia corresponding to the second one of the primary predetermined patterns.

52. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each of a plurality of players plays one of a plurality of different game arrays on one of the gaming units, each of the game arrays having a unique combination of indicia from a range of a plurality of different game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected active game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting an active game indicium for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the network computer;

transmitting the randomly selected active game indicium from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected active game indicium at the gaming units; and

for each of the gaming units;

(a) comparing the randomly selected active game indicium received at the gaming unit to the game indicia on the game array of the player of said gaming unit and determining whether the randomly selected active game indicium matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

(b) enabling play for achieving a first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that one of a plurality of primary predetermined patterns is achieved;

(c) disabling play for achieving the first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that one of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns is not achieved;

(d) comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the plurality of primary predetermined patterns corresponding to a first pay group and a second pay group, wherein the first pay group corresponds to the first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns and the second pay group corresponds to a second plurality of secondary predetermined patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards; and

(e) awarding a game award from the first pay group corresponding to one of the primary predetermined patterns to the player using a random selection mechanism at the gaming unit in response to determining that the one of the primary predetermined patterns associated with a plurality of game awards is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the random selection mechanism is a wheel having wheel stop positions corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of game awards corresponding to the one of the primary predetermined patterns.

54. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each of a plurality of players plays one of a plurality of different game arrays on one of the gaming units, each of the game arrays having a unique combination of indicia from a range of a plurality of different game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected active game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting an active game indicium for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the network computer;

transmitting the randomly selected active game indicium from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected active game indicium at the gaming units; and

for each of the gaming units;

(a) comparing the randomly selected active game indicium received at the gaming unit to the game indicia on the game array of the player of said gaming unit and determining whether the randomly selected active game indicium matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

(b) enabling play for achieving a first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that a first one of a plurality of primary predetermined patterns is achieved;

(c) disabling play for achieving the first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that the first one of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns is not achieved;

(d) comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the plurality of primary predetermined patterns, which correspond to a first pay group and a second pay group, wherein the first pay group corresponds to the first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns and the second pay group corresponds to a second plurality of secondary predetermined patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players of the gaming units during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards;

(e) awarding a first game award from the first pay group corresponding to the first one of the primary predetermined patterns to the player in response to determining that the first one of the primary predetermined patterns is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the first game award awarded from the first pay group is determined based on a first subset of the indicia on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

(f) awarding a second game award from the first pay group corresponding to the first one of the primary predetermined patterns to the player in response to determining that the first one of the primary predetermined patterns is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the second game award awarded from the first pay group is determined based on a second subset of the indicia on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein, for each player, the indicia on the player'"'"'s game array includes a color of the player'"'"'s game array, and wherein the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards is determined based on the color of the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein, for each player, the indicia on the player'"'"'s game array includes numbers arranged in the game array, and wherein the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards corresponds to a predetermined combination of numbers on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein, for each player, the indicia on the player'"'"'s game array includes colors corresponding to positions of the game array, and wherein the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards corresponds to a predetermined combination of the colors of the positions of the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

58. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each of a plurality of players plays one of a plurality of different game arrays on one of the gaming units, each game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of a plurality of different game indicia for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected active game indicia, the method comprising:

randomly selecting active game indicia for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the network computer, wherein the randomly selected game indicia further include an active secondary indicium selected from a range of secondary indicia;

transmitting the randomly selected active game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;

receiving the randomly selected active game indicia at the gaming units; and

for each gaming unit;

(a) comparing the randomly selected active game indicia received at the gaming unit to the game indicia on the game array of the player of said gaming unit and determining whether the randomly selected active game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;

(b) enabling play for achieving a first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that one of a plurality of primary predetermined patterns is achieved;

(c) disabling play for achieving the first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns in response to determining that one of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns is not achieved;

(d) comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the plurality of primary predetermined patterns, which correspond to a first pay group and a second pay group, wherein the first pay group corresponds to the first plurality of secondary predetermined patterns and the second pay group corresponds to a second plurality of secondary predetermined patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players of the gaming units during the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary predetermined patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards;

(e) awarding a first game award from the first pay group corresponding to the primary predetermined pattern to the player in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern associated with the first pay group is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the first game award corresponds to a first predetermined combination of the secondary indicia of the randomly selected active game indicia matched by the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and

(f) awarding a second game award from the first pay group corresponding to the primary predetermined pattern to the player in response to determining that the primary predetermined pattern associated with the first pay group is matched by the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the second game award corresponds to a second predetermined combination of the secondary indicia of the randomly selected active game indicia matched by the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the secondary indicia of the randomly selected active indicia are colors, and wherein for each gaming unit the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards corresponds to a predetermined combination of the colors of the randomly selected active game indicia matched by the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.