Multi-card bingo game features

• US 9,721,434 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2016
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Bansemer, Mark, Coleman, James, Saffari, M. Ali, Wolf, Bryan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): YOO, JASSON H
• Application Number:
  US15/266,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20170004672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• 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

After the main ball drop of a bingo game, a player may be given a free extra bingo number. A probability of awarding a free ball may be determined, at least in part, according to a desired paytable percentage for the bingo game. In some implementations providing multi-card bingo games, a player is required to hit a predetermined pattern on more than one bingo card in order to obtain a progressive award. The number of hits in the pattern(s) and/or the number of bingo cards involved may be determined according to a desired progressive award size and/or a desired probability of obtaining the progressive award. Players may have an opportunity to purchase an additional bingo number or a block of a plurality of additional bingo numbers after the main ball drop. The block may be offered at a discount compared to the price of an individual additional bingo number.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

for a first play of a game having a first average expected payback percentage;

randomly selecting, by at least one processor, a first plurality of numbers from a first set of numbers;

determining, by the at least one processor and based on a first probability, whether to select another number from the first set of numbers;

if determined to select another number from the first set of numbers, randomly selecting, by the at least one processor, a first additional number from the first set of numbers;

determining, by the at least one processor, a first quantity of hits for a player by comparing the first plurality of numbers and any first additional number to a first plurality of player numbers; and

determining, by the at least one processor, any first awards associated with the first quantity of hits and causing, by the at least one processor, at least one display device to display any first awards,

wherein the first play of the game has a first average expected payback percentage determined based at least in part on the first probability; and

for a second play of the game at a point in time after the first play of the game, the second play of the game having a second average expected payback percentage different from the first average expected payback percentage;

randomly selecting, by the at least one processor, a second plurality of numbers from a second set of numbers;

determining, by the at least one processor and based on a second probability different from the first probability, whether to select another number from the second set of numbers;

if determined to select another number from the second set of numbers, randomly selecting, by the at least one processor, a second additional number from the second set of numbers;

determining, by the at least one processor, a second quantity of hits for the player by comparing the second plurality of numbers and any second additional number to a second plurality of player numbers; and

determining, by the at least one processor, any second awards associated with the second quantity of hits and causing, by the at least one processor, the at least one display device to display any second awards,

wherein the second average expected payback percentage is determined based at least in part on the second probability.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second probability is greater than the first probability and the second average expected payback percentage is greater than the first average expected payback percentage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the game is a bingo game.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first plurality of player numbers is arranged on a first bingo card, which includes causing, by the at least one processor, the at least one display device to display the first quantity of hits for the first play of the bingo game on the first bingo card, and wherein determining any first awards for the first play of the bingo game includes determining, by the at least one processor, whether a winning pattern is formed via the first quantity of hits displayed on the first bingo card.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second plurality of player numbers is arranged on a second bingo card, which includes causing, by the at least one processor, the at least one display device to display the second quantity of hits for the second play of the bingo game on the second bingo card, and wherein determining any second awards for the second play of the bingo game includes determining, by the at least one processor, whether the winning pattern is formed via the second quantity of hits displayed on the second bingo card.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the first play of the bingo game and the second play of the bingo game have the same winning patterns.

7. The method of claim 1, which includes preventing selection of the first additional number from the first set of numbers unless an eligibility condition is satisfied.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the eligibility condition is satisfied based on game play.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first average expected payback percentage and the second average expected payback percentage are each greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum average expected payback percentage and less than or equal to a predetermined maximum expected payback percentage.

10. The method of claim 1, which is at least partially provided through a data network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data network is an internet.

12. A gaming system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

for a first play of a game having a first average expected payback percentage;

randomly select a first plurality of numbers from a first set of numbers;

determine, based on a first probability, whether to select another number from the first set of numbers;

if determined to select another number from the first set of numbers, randomly select a first additional number from the first set of numbers;

determine a first quantity of hits for a player by comparing the first plurality of numbers and any first additional number to a first plurality of player numbers; and

determine any first awards associated with the first quantity of hits and cause at least one display device to display any first awards,

wherein the first play of the game has a first average expected payback percentage determined based at least in part on the first probability; and

for a second play of the game at a point in time after the first play of the game, the second play of the game having a second average expected payback percentage different from the first average expected payback percentage;

randomly select a second plurality of numbers from a second set of numbers;

determine, based on a second probability different from the first probability, whether to select another number from the second set of numbers;

if determined to select another number from the second set of numbers, randomly select a second additional number from the second set of numbers;

determine a second quantity of hits for the player by comparing the second plurality of numbers and any second additional number to a second plurality of player numbers; and

determine any second awards associated with the second quantity of hits and cause the at least one display device to display any second awards,

wherein the second average expected payback percentage is determined based at least in part on the second probability.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the second probability is greater than the first probability and the second average expected payback percentage is greater than the first average expected payback percentage.

14. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the game is a bingo game.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the first plurality of player numbers is arranged on a first bingo card, and wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to cause the at least one display device to display any hits for the first play of the bingo game on the first bingo card and determine any first awards for the first play of the bingo game by determining whether a winning pattern is formed via the first quantity of hits displayed on the first bingo card.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the second plurality of player numbers is arranged on a second bingo card, and wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to cause the at least one display device to display any hits for the second play of the bingo game on the second bingo card and determine any second awards for the second play of the bingo game by determining whether the winning pattern is formed via the second quantity of hits displayed on the second bingo card.

17. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the first play of the bingo game and the second play of the bingo game have the same winning patterns.

18. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to prevent selection of the first additional number from the first set of numbers unless an eligibility condition is satisfied.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the eligibility condition is satisfied based on game play.

20. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the first average expected payback percentage and the second average expected payback percentage are each greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum average expected payback percentage and less than or equal to a predetermined maximum expected payback percentage.