Gaming device having a wagering game wherein a wager amount is automatically determined based on a quantity of player selections

• US 20060128457A1
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cannon, Lee E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,837,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A number matching game which can be employed in both a gaming device and in live gaming at a casino is disclosed. The player picks one or more number spots from a number pool. The gaming device or house draws randomly at least one number from the same pool. An award is provided to the player based on an amount of matches between the player selected number(s) (the spots) and the game drawn number(s). In one embodiment, the amount of the player'"'"'s wager is a function of the number of spots the player selects. For example, an additional credit may be automatically wagered for each spot selected over a predefined threshold. In addition, the award provided to the player may be less than the amount wagered.

Claims

1. A gaming device operated under control of a processor, the gaming device comprising:

a game operable by the processor;

a display device operably connected to the processor;

a plurality of selections displayable by the display device in each play of the game;

a first set of the plurality of selections selectable by the player in each play of the game, the first set of selections having a set size chosen by the player, the first set including at least one of the selections and including less than a predetermined amount of the selections;

a wager amount for each play of the game, the wager amount for said play of the game determined by the processor based on said set size chosen by the player for said play of the game;

a second set of the plurality of selections determined by the processor for each play of the game; and

an award adapted to be provided to the player for any play of the game where a minimum number of matches occur between the first set and the second set for said play of the game, said award for said play of the game based on how many matches occur between the first set and the second set.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the award provided to the player is one of a plurality of different awards, wherein at least one of the plurality of awards is greater than zero and less than the wager amount.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the award provided to the player is a noninteger multiple of the wager amount.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the wager amount is equal in credits to the set size chosen by the player.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the wager amount is a multiple of the set size chosen by the player.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the wager amount is a first predetermined amount for a first portion of the set size plus a second different predetermined amount for a second portion of the set size.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the first portion of the set size added to the second portion of the set size is equal to the set size.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein:

if the set size chosen by the player is equal to three, the wager amount is equal to one credit;

if the set size chosen by the player is equal to four, the wager amount is equal to two credits;

if the set size chosen by the player is equal to five, the wager amount is equal to three credits; and

wherein the award provided to the player is one of a plurality of awards, wherein at least one of the plurality of awards is greater than zero and less than the wager amount.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the set size chosen by the player is restricted to a selection from three to ten of the plurality of selections and the plurality of selections includes the numbers one to eighty.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein one of a match indication and a no match indication is displayed after a first selection of the first set is selected by the player and before a second selection of the first set is selected by the player.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the game is based on at least one of Keno, Lotto and Bingo.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor determines the second set of selections.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selections includes a plurality of numbers.

14. A Keno gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a monitor supported by the cabinet; and

a processor operable with the monitor to;

(i) display a plurality of numbers, (ii) enable a player to select a first set of the plurality of numbers, the first set having a set size of at least one and less than a total of the plurality of numbers, (iii) determine a wager amount based on the set size, (iv) generate a second set of the plurality of numbers of at least one and less than the total of the plurality of numbers, (v) determine an outcome for the player based on how many matches occur between the first set and the second set, (vi) provide said outcome to the player.

15. The Keno gaming device of claim 14, wherein the processor is programmed to select an award from a plurality of awards, wherein at least one of the plurality of awards is greater than zero and less than the wager amount.

16. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the outcome is a noninteger multiple of the wager amount.

17. The Keno gaming device of claim 14, wherein the wager amount is equal in credits to the set size chosen by the player.

18. The Keno gaming device of claim 14, wherein the wager amount is a multiple of the set size chosen by the player.

19. The Keno gaming device of claim 14, wherein the wager amount is a first predetermined amount for a first portion of the set size plus a second different predetermined amount for a second portion of the set size.

20. The Keno gaming device of claim 19, wherein the first portion of the set size added to the second portion of the set size is equal to the set size.

21. The Keno gaming device of claim 14, wherein the processor is programmed to:

determine the wager amount to be one credit if the set size chosen by the player is equal to one;

determine the wager amount to be two credits if the set size chosen by the player is equal to two; and

determine the wager amount to be three credits if the set size chosen by the player is equal to three.

22. The Keno gaming device of claim 14, wherein the processor is programmed to restrict the set size chosen by the player to a selection from three to ten and wherein the plurality of numbers includes the numbers one to eighty.

23. The Keno gaming device of claim 14, wherein one of a match indication and a no match indication is displayed after a first member of the first set is selected by the player and before a second member of the first set is selected by the player.

24. A method of playing a game, said method comprising:

displaying a plurality of selections;

enabling a player to cause a first set of the plurality of selections to be selected, the first set having a set size of at least one and less than a total of the plurality of selections;

automatically determining a wager amount based on the set size;

determining a second set of the plurality of selections of at least one and less than the total of the plurality of selections; and

providing an award to the player if a minimum number of matches occur between the first set and the second set.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein an amount associated with the award is based on how many matches occur between the first set and the second set.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein an amount associated with the award is based on a number of points earned.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein an amount associated with the award can be greater than zero and less than the wager.

28. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein a total amount associated with the award provided to the player is a noninteger multiple of the wager amount.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the wager amount is equal in credits to the set size chosen by the player.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the wager amount is a multiple of the set size chosen by the player.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the wager amount is a first predetermined amount for a first portion of the set size plus a second different predetermined amount for a second portion of the set size.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first portion of the set size added to the second portion of the set size is equal to the set size.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying the plurality of selections includes displaying an electronic Keno card.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying the plurality of selections includes displaying a physical Keno card.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein determining the second set includes generating a random number at a Keno gaming device.

36. The method of claim 24, wherein determining the second set includes generating a number at a central server, the method including transmitting data indicative of the second set from the central server to the gaming device.

37. The method of claim 24, which includes displaying a match indication after a first member of the first set is selected by the player and before a second member of the first set is selected by the player.

38. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein the plurality of selections includes a plurality of numbers.