Gaming system and method providing a Keno game including an additional number triggering event that causes at least one additional number to be added to a selected number set to form a modified number set

• US 8,764,544 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Daniels, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US13/481,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20130316782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463 25- 30
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a keno game including an additional number triggering event that causes at least one additional number to be added to a selected number set to form a modified number set. A player number set and a gaming system number set are selected from a plurality of numbers. Upon an occurrence of an additional number triggering event, the gaming system adds at least one of the numbers to one of: the player number set to form a modified player number set, and the gaming system number set to form a modified gaming system number set. The gaming system determines any awards based on a comparison of the player number set (or the modified player number set) with the gaming system number set (or the modified gaming system number set), and provides any determined awards.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one display device;

at least one input device; and

at least one memory device storing 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, for a play of a keno game;

(a) display a plurality of different numbers;

(b) receive a selection from a player of at least one of the numbers to form a player number set;

(c) randomly select a designated quantity of the numbers to form a gaming system number set;

(d) upon an occurrence of an additional number triggering event;

(i) determine at least one of the numbers based on a proximity of at least one of the displayed numbers to one of the displayed selected numbers, wherein a probability of determining a first number within a first proximity of said one of the displayed selected numbers is different from a probability of determining a second different number within a second different proximity of said one of the displayed selected numbers; and

(ii) add the determined at least one of the numbers to one of;

(A) the gaming system number set to form a modified gaming system number set, and

(B) the player number set to form a modified player number set;

(e) if the determined at least one of the numbers was added to the gaming system number set to form the modified gaming system number set, determine any awards based on a comparison of the player number set with the modified gaming system number set;

(f) if the determined at least one of the numbers was added to the player number set to form the modified player number set, determine any awards based on a comparison of the modified player number set with the gaming system number set; and

(g) provide any determined awards.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the numbers include one or more designated numbers.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the additional number triggering event occurs when one of the designated numbers is selected to form the player number set, and wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, upon the occurrence of the additional number triggering event, add the determined at least one of the numbers to the player number set to form the modified player number set.

4. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the additional number triggering event occurs when one of the designated numbers is selected to form the gaming system number set, and wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, upon the occurrence of the additional number triggering event, add the determined at least one of the numbers to the gaming system number set to form the modified gaming system number set.

5. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to repeat (d)(i) to (d)(ii) if one of the designated numbers is added to one of:

(i) the gaming system number set to form the modified gaming system number set, and

(ii) the player number set to form the modified player number set.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, upon the occurrence of the additional number triggering event, randomly determine a quantity of the numbers to add to one of:

(i) the gaming system number set to form the modified gaming system number set, and (ii) the player number set to form the modified player number set.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the player number set includes a plurality of the numbers.

8. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

for a play of a keno game;

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one display device to display a plurality of different numbers;

(b) receiving a selection from a player of at least one of the numbers to form a player number set;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly select a designated quantity of the numbers to form a gaming system number set;

(d) upon an occurrence of an additional number triggering event, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to;

(i) determine at least one of the numbers based on a proximity of at least one of the displayed numbers to one of the displayed selected numbers, wherein a probability of determining a first number within a first proximity of said one of the displayed selected numbers is different from a probability of determining a second different number within a second different proximity of said one of the displayed selected numbers; and

(ii) add the determined at least one of the numbers to one of;

(A) the gaming system number set to form a modified gaming system number set, and

(B) the player number set to form a modified player number set;

(e) if the determined at least one of the numbers was added to the gaming system number set to form the modified gaming system number set, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any awards based on a comparison of the player number set with the modified gaming system number set;

(f) if the determined at least one of the numbers was added to the player number set to form the modified player number set, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any awards based on a comparison of the modified player number set with the gaming system number set; and

(g) providing any determined awards.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the numbers include one or more designated numbers.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the additional number triggering event occurs when one of the designated numbers is selected to form the player number set, and which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, upon the occurrence of the additional number triggering event, add the determined at least one of the numbers to the player number set to form the modified player number set.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the additional number triggering event occurs when one of the designated numbers is selected to form the gaming system number set, and which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, upon the occurrence of the additional number triggering event, add the determined at least one of the numbers to the gaming system number set to form the modified gaming system number set.

12. The method of claim 9, which includes repeating (d)(i) to (d)(ii) if one of the designated numbers is added to one of:

(i) the gaming system number set to form the modified gaming system number set, and (ii) the player number set to form the modified player number set.

13. The method of claim 11, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, upon the occurrence of the additional number triggering event, randomly determine a quantity of the numbers to add to one of:

(i) the gaming system number set to form the modified gaming system number set, and (ii) the player number set to form the modified player number set.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the player number set includes a plurality of the numbers.

15. The method of claim 8, which is provided through a data network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the data network is an internet.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

for a play of a keno game;

(a) cause at least one display device to display a plurality of different numbers;

(b) receive a selection from a player of at least one of the numbers to form a player number set;

(c) randomly select a designated quantity of the numbers to form a gaming system number set;

(d) upon an occurrence of an additional number triggering event;

(i) determine at least one of the numbers based on a proximity of at least one of the displayed numbers to one of the displayed numbers wherein a probability of determining a first number within a first proximity of said one of the displayed selected numbers is different from a probability of determining a second different number within a second different proximity of said one of the displayed selected numbers; and

(ii) add the determined at least one of the numbers to one of;

(A) the gaming system number set to form a modified gaming system number set, and

(B) the player number set to form a modified player number set;

(e) if the determined at least one of the numbers was added to the gaming system number set to form the modified gaming system number set, determine any awards based on a comparison of the player number set with the modified gaming system number set;

(f) if the determined at least one of the numbers was added to the player number set to form the modified player number set, determine any awards based on a comparison of the modified player number set with the gaming system number set; and

(g) provide any determined awards.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the numbers include one or more designated numbers.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the additional number triggering event occurs when one of the designated numbers is selected to form the player number set, and wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, upon the occurrence of the additional number triggering event, add the determined at least one of the numbers to the player number set to form the modified player number set.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the additional number triggering event occurs when one of the designated numbers is selected to form the gaming system number set, and wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, upon the occurrence of the additional number triggering event, add the determined at least one of the numbers to the gaming system number set to form the modified gaming system number set.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to repeat (d)(i) to (d)(ii) if one of the designated numbers is added to one of:

(i) the gaming system number set to form the modified gaming system number set, and (ii) the player number set to form the modified player number set.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, upon the occurrence of the additional number triggering event, randomly determine a quantity of the numbers to add to one of:

(i) the gaming system number set to form the modified gaming system number set, and (ii) the player number set to form the modified player number set.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the player number set includes a plurality of the numbers.