PATTERN MATCHING IN A KENO GAME

• US 20140274275A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: International Game Technology
• Inventors: Wenker, Ross D., Brown, Bradford D., DeFrance, Daniel L., Byrd, Jerry L., Sehy, Christopher K., Joehler, Tyson
• Granted Patent: US 9,053,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/18
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A method for determining an award during a keno game includes, but is not limited to any of combination of: generating a predetermined number of draws for placement on a keno board during the keno game, wherein the keno board includes a predetermined number of spots; evaluating a plurality of sub-regions of the keno board associated with the keno game for matches between the generated draws and one or more predetermined patterns; and determining an award based on results of the evaluating step.

Claims

1. A method for determining an award during a keno game, the method comprising:

generating, by one or more processors, a predetermined number of draws for placement on a keno board during the keno game, wherein the keno board includes a predetermined number of spots;

evaluating, by the one or more processors, a plurality of sub-regions of the keno board associated with the keno game for matches between the generated draws and one or more predetermined patterns; and

determining, by the one or more processors, an award based on results of the evaluating step.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined patterns include six patterns, wherein each pattern corresponds to a side of a die and is three spots long and three spots wide.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each sub-region in the plurality of evaluated sub-regions is three spots wide and three spots long.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a sub-region of the keno board matching one of the one or more predetermined patterns does not include any marks other than marks making up the pattern.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined patterns include a plurality of shapes selected from one of the following:

Tetris shapes, geometric shapes, animal shapes, and constellations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the award is determined based on the number of matches detected during the evaluating step.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a second award based on a total number of pips on two dice thrown a predetermined number of times, and wherein during each dice throw a number of credits is determined based on predetermined correspondences between a number of pips on the dice and a number of credits.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein when two dice result in the same number of pips during one throw, a result of another die throw is used as an award modifier to the credits awarded to the throw of the two dice.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the award modifier is selected from a group consisting of a multiplier, additional credits, and additional award triggers.

10. An electronic gaming machine for playing an electronic keno game comprising:

a display configured to display the electronic keno game to a player including a keno board;

a user-input panel; and

a game controller having one or more data processors, and one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more data processors, cause the one or more data processors to perform operations comprising;

generating a predetermined number of draws for placement on a keno board during the keno game, wherein the keno board includes a predetermined number of spots;

evaluating a plurality of sub-regions of the keno board associated with the keno game for matches between the generated draws and one or more predetermined patterns; and

determining an award based on results of the evaluating step.

11. The electronic gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the one or more predetermined patterns include six patterns, wherein each pattern corresponds to a side of a die and is three spots long and three spots wide.

12. The electronic gaming machine of claim 11, wherein each sub-region in the plurality of evaluated sub-regions is three spots wide and three spots long.

13. The electronic gaming machine of claim 10, wherein a sub-region of the keno board matching one of the one or more predetermined patterns does not include any marks other than marks making up the pattern.

14. The electronic gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the one or more predetermined patterns include a plurality of shapes selected from one of the following:

Tetris shapes, geometric shapes, animal shapes, and constellations.

15. The electronic gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the award is determined based on the number of matched detected during the evaluating step.

16. The electronic gaming machine of claim 11, the operations further comprising determining a second award based on a total number of pips on two dice thrown a predetermined number of times, and wherein during each dice throw a number of credits is determined based on a predetermined correspondences between a number of pips on the dice and a number of credits.

17. The electronic gaming machine of claim 16, wherein when two dice result in the same number of pips during one throw, a result of another die throw is used as an award modifier to the credits awarded to the throw of the two dice.

18. The electronic gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the award modifier is selected from a group consisting of a multiplier, additional credits, and additional award triggers.

19. A computer-readable storage medium having machine instructions stored therein, the instructions being executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

generating a predetermined number of draws for placement on a keno board during the keno game, wherein the keno board includes a predetermined number of spots;

evaluating a plurality of sub-regions of the keno board associated with the keno game for matches between the generated draws and one or more predetermined patterns; and

determining an award based on results of the evaluating step.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more predetermined patterns include six patterns, wherein each pattern corresponds to a side of a die and is three spots long and three spots wide.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein each sub-region in the plurality of evaluated sub-regions is three spots wide and three spots long.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein a sub-region of the keno board matching one of the one or more predetermined patterns does not include any marks other than marks making up the pattern.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the one or more predetermined patterns include a plurality of shapes selected from one of the following:

Tetris shapes, geometric shapes, animal shapes, and constellations.