Bingo gaming machine capable of selecting different bingo pools

• US 9,005,005 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Powell, Tracy, Krum, Justin M., Wolf, Bryan D., Saffari, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E.
• Application Number:
  US11/312,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,403 Days
• Field of Search: 463/27, 463/42, 463/19
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games

Abstract

Novel methods, devices and systems are described for mapping a variety of Class III game outcomes to sets of bingo patterns. Each game theme may have a different entertaining display, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. Some implementations provide a system wherein separate pay tables and bingo pools are formed according to the number of paylines played on slot-type game themes and/or the number of hands played on poker game themes. In some such implementations, players will be limited to predetermined numbers of lines (or hands) played, e.g., only 1, 3, 5 or 9 lines. In alternative implementations, a player'"'"'s options regarding the number of lines played will depend, at least in part, on how many other players are playing any given number of lines on a slot game. Preferred implementations provide a range of payback percentages for each of the predetermined numbers of lines (or hands) played.

Claims

1. A gaming method comprising:

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to form first through M^th bingo game pools associated with a simulated Class III game enabling player selection of a game option from first through M^th corresponding game options, wherein each bingo game pool of the first through M^th bingo game pools uses a paytable derived from a paytable included in first through M^th paytables, wherein;

each of the first through M^th paytables comprises a plurality of payout amounts, a plurality of bingo patterns, and a bingo pattern probability associated with each bingo pattern, thereby forming a set of bingo pattern probabilities for each of the first through M^th paytables,

each bingo pattern in the plurality of bingo patterns is associated with the same payout amount in each of the first through M^th paytables,

the set of bingo pattern probabilities for each of the first through M^th paytables is unique with respect to the sets of bingo pattern probabilities of the other paytables of the first through M^th paytables, and

M is a number greater than 1;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to receive an indication from a first gaming machine regarding a user selection in the simulated Class III game of a selected game option;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, based at least in part on the indication, which of the first through M^th bingo game pools will provide a first bingo game on the first gaming machine; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause the first gaming machine to display the first bingo game.

2. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises at least one of a number of paylines for a slot game, a number of hands for a poker game, a number of spots picked for a keno game and a number of wagers placed on a roulette game.

3. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises at least one of a requested payback percentage and a requested hit frequency for the first gaming machine.

4. The gaming method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to ascertain that at least one other gaming machine will be participating in a bingo game from a determined bingo game pool;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to assign the at least one other gaming machine to the determined bingo game pool; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause the at least one other gaming machine to provide the bingo game from the determined bingo game pool.

5. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine which of the first through M^th bingo game pools will provide the first bingo game on the first gaming machine comprises:

determining that the indication pertains to a game option other than one of the first through M^th game options; and

ascertaining an available bingo game pool that most nearly pertains to the indication.

6. The gaming method of claim 5, wherein the indication pertains to a first payback percentage and the available bingo game pool pertains to a second payback percentage, wherein the first payback percentage and the second payback percentage are different.

7. The gaming method of claim 5, wherein the indication pertains to a first number of paylines and the available bingo game pool pertains to a second number of paylines, wherein the first number and the second number are different.

8. The gaming method of claim 5, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to offer the available bingo game pool to the first gaming machine; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine that a signal indicating acceptance of the available bingo game pool is received from the first gaming machine.

9. The gaming method of claim 8, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to assign the first gaming machine to the available bingo game pool; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions provide a bingo game for the first gaming machine from the available bingo game pool.

10. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the first through M^th bingo game pools comprises assigning one of the first through M^th paytables to a corresponding bingo server of first through M^th bingo servers.

11. A non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a plurality of, instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

form first through M^th bingo game pools associated with a simulated Class III game enabling player selection of a game option from first through M^th corresponding game options, wherein each bingo game pool of the first through M^th bingo game pools uses a paytable derived from a paytable included in first through M^th paytables, wherein;

each of the first through M^th paytables comprises a plurality of payout amounts, a plurality of bingo patterns, and a bingo pattern probability associated with each bingo pattern, thereby forming a set of bingo pattern probabilities for each of the first through M^th paytables,

each bingo pattern in the plurality of bingo patterns is associated with the same payout amount in each of the first through M^th paytables is unique with respect to the sets of bingo pattern probabilities of the other paytables of the first through M^th paytables, and

M is a number greater than 1;

receive an indication from a first gaming machine regarding a user selection in the simulated Class III game of a selected game option;

determine, based at least in part on the indication, which of the first through M^th bingo pools will provide a first bingo game on the first gaming machine; and

cause the first gaming machine to display the first bingo game.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the indication comprises at least one of a number of paylines for a slot game, a number of hands for a poker game, a number of spots picked for a keno game and a number of wagers placed on a roulette game.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the indication comprises at least one of a requested payback percentage and a requested hit frequency for the first gaming machine.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

ascertain that at least one other gaming machine will be participating in a bingo game from a determined bingo game pool;

assign the at least one other gaming machine to the determined bingo game pool; and

provide the bingo game for the at least one other gaming machine from the determined bingo game pool.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine which of the first through M^th bingo game pools will provide a bingo game on the first gaming machine by:

determining that the indication pertains to a game option other than one of the first through M^th game options; and

ascertaining an available bingo game pool that most nearly pertains to the indication.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the indication pertains to a first payback percentage and the available bingo game pool pertains to a second payback percentage, wherein the first payback percentage and the second payback percentage are different.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the indication pertains to a first number of paylines and the available bingo game pool pertains to a second number of paylines, wherein the first number and the second number are different.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

offer the available bingo game pool to the first gaming machine; and

determine that a signal indicating acceptance of the available bingo game pool is received from the first gaming machine.

19. The non-transitory machine-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:

assign the first gaming machine to the available bingo game pool; and

provide a bingo game for the first gaming machines using the available bingo game pool.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to form the first through M^th bingo game pools by assigning each of the first through M^th paytables to a corresponding bingo server of first through M^th bingo servers.

21. A gaming apparatus comprising:

a central processing unit, the central processing unit configured to;

form first through M^th bingo game pools associated with a simulated Class III game enabling player selection of a game option from first through M^th corresponding game options, wherein each bingo game pool of the first through M^th bingo game pools uses a paytable derived from a paytable included in first through M^th paytables, wherein;

each of the first through M^th paytables comprises a plurality of payout amounts, a plurality of bingo patterns, and a bingo pattern probability associated with each bingo pattern, thereby forming a set of bingo pattern probabilities for each of the first through M^th paytables,

each bingo pattern in the plurality of bingo patterns is associated with the same payout amount in each of the first through M^th paytables,

the set of bingo patterns probabilities for each of the first through M^th paytables is unique with respect to the sets of bingo pattern probabilities of the other paytables of the first through M^th paytables, and

M is a number greater than 1;

receive an indication from a first gaming machine regarding a user selection in the simulated Class III game of a selected game option;

determine, based at least in part on the indication, which of the first through M^th bingo game pools will provide a first bingo game to simulate the Class III game; and

cause the first gaming machine to display the first bingo game.

22. The gaming apparatus of claim 21, wherein the gaming apparatus comprises a server.

23. The gaming apparatus of claim 21, wherein the indication comprises at least one of a number of paylines for a slot game, a number of hands for a poker game, a number of spots picked for a keno game and a number of wagers placed on a roulette game.

24. The gaming apparatus of claim 21, wherein the indication comprises at least one of a requested payback percentage and a requested hit frequency for the first gaming machine.

25. The gaming apparatus of claim 21, wherein the central processing unit is further configured to:

ascertain that at least one other simulated Class III game will be participating in a determined bingo game pool;

assign the at least one other simulated Class III game to the determined bingo game pool; and

provide a bingo game for the at least one other simulated Class III game according to the determined bingo game pool.

26. The gaming apparatus of claim 21, wherein the central processing unit is further configured to:

determine that the indication pertains to a game option other than one of the first through M^th game options; and

ascertain an available bingo game pool that most nearly pertains to the indication.

27. The gaming apparatus of claim 26, wherein the indication pertains to a first payback percentage and the available bingo game pool pertains to a second payback percentage, and wherein the first payback percentage and the second payback percentage are different.

28. The gaming apparatus of claim 26, wherein the indication pertains to a first number of paylines and the available bingo game pool pertains to a second number of paylines, wherein the first number of paylines and the second number of paylines are different.

29. The gaming apparatus of claim 26, wherein the central processing unit is further configured to:

offer the first bingo game to a gaming machine for simulating the Class III game; and

determine that a signal indicating acceptance of the available bingo game pool is received from the gaming machine.

30. The gaming apparatus of claim 29, wherein the central processing unit is further configured to:

assign the first gaming machine to the first bingo game; and

provide the first bingo game to the first gaming machine.

31. The gaming apparatus of claim 21, wherein the central processing unit is further configured to assign each of the first through M^th global bingo payout sets to a corresponding bingo server of first through M^th bingo servers.