Advantage bingo bonus

• US 8,974,285 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2013
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Roper, Jay, Iddings, Cara, Paulsen, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US14/023,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20140011571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 463/19, 463/25, 463/29, 463/30, 463/40, 705/67
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

One or more instances of a bonus game (e.g., Class II games such as Bingo games) may be provided to players of another wagering game (e.g., a Class III game such as a slot game, a poker game, etc.). Some implementations of the invention allow players to exchange indicia of credit (e.g., money, game credits, or player loyalty points) for bonus opportunities. For example, players may be able to purchase one or more Bingo cards for Bingo bonus games. Some implementations award bonus opportunities to players based on wager levels, game results, a player'"'"'s level in a player loyalty program and/or other criteria.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device; and

a gaming controller configured to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) receive a wager from a player for a play of a game;

(b) display said play of the game;

(c) determine a rank associated with the player;

(d) for each of a plurality of different bonus opportunities, determine a probability of providing said bonus opportunity to the player based, at least in part, on the determined rank associated with the player, wherein, for one of the bonus opportunities;

(i) if the determined rank associated with the player is a first rank, the probability of providing said bonus opportunity to the player is a first probability; and

(ii) if the determined rank associated with the player is a second different rank, the probability of providing said bonus opportunity to the player is a second different probability;

(e) determine whether to provide one of the bonus opportunities to the player based, at least in part, on said determined probabilities; and

(f) if it is determined to provide one of the bonus opportunities to the player, provide the player said bonus opportunity.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first rank is higher than the second rank and the first probability is higher than the second probability.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the determined rank associated with the player is associated with a rank associated with the player in a player loyalty program.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one display device includes a designated display device, and the gaming controller is configured to:

(a) operate with the at least one display device to display said play of the game in a first window of the designated display device; and

(b) if it is determined to provide one of the bonus opportunities to the player, provide the player said bonus opportunity by displaying an indication representing said bonus opportunity in a second different window of the designated display device.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming controller is configured to, if it is determined to provide one of the bonus opportunities to the player, provide the player said bonus opportunity by sending an indication of said bonus opportunity to a portable electronic device of the player.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the portable electronic device is a cellular telephone.

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

(a) causing a gaming controller to operate with at least one input device to receive a wager from a player for a play of a game;

(b) causing the gaming controller to operate with at least one display device to display said play of the game;

(c) causing the gaming controller to determine a rank associated with the player;

(d) for each of a plurality of different bonus opportunities, causing the gaming controller to determine a probability of providing said bonus opportunity to the player based, at least in part, on the determined rank associated with the player, wherein, for one of the bonus opportunities;

(i) if the determined rank associated with the player is a first rank, the probability of providing said bonus opportunity to the player is a first probability; and

(ii) if the determined rank associated with the player is a second different rank, the probability of providing said bonus opportunity to the player is a second different probability;

(e) causing the gaming controller to determine whether to provide one of the bonus opportunities to the player based, at least in part, on said determined probabilities; and

(f) if it is determined to provide one of the bonus opportunities to the player, providing the player said bonus opportunity.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first rank is higher than the second rank and the first probability is higher than the second probability.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the determined rank associated with the player is associated with a rank associated with the player in a player loyalty program.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one display device includes a designated display device, and which includes:

(a) causing the gaming controller to operate with the at least one display device to display said play of the game in a first window of the designated display device; and

(b) if it is determined to provide one of the bonus opportunities to the player, providing the player said bonus opportunity by displaying an indication representing said bonus opportunity in a second different window of the designated display device.

11. The method of claim 7, which includes, if it is determined to provide one of the bonus opportunities to the player, providing the player said bonus opportunity by sending an indication of said bonus opportunity to a portable electronic device of the player.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the portable electronic device is a cellular telephone.

13. The method of claim 7, which is provided through a data network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the data network is an internet.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a gaming controller, cause the gaming controller to:

(a) operate with at least one input device to receive a wager from a player for a play of a game;

(b) cause at least one display device to display said play of the game;

(c) determine a rank associated with the player;

(d) for each of a plurality of different bonus opportunities, determine a probability of providing said bonus opportunity to the player based, at least in part, on the determined rank associated with the player, wherein, for one of the bonus opportunities;

(i) if the determined rank associated with the player is a first rank, the probability of providing said bonus opportunity to the player is a first probability; and

(ii) if the determined rank associated with the player is a second different rank, the probability of providing said bonus opportunity to the player is a second different probability;

(e) determine whether to provide one of the bonus opportunities to the player based, at least in part, on said determined probabilities; and

(f) if it is determined to provide one of the bonus opportunities to the player, provide the player said bonus opportunity.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first rank is higher than the second rank and the first probability is higher than the second probability.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the determined rank associated with the player is associated with a rank associated with the player in a player loyalty program.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one display device includes a designated display device, and the gaming controller is configured to:

(a) cause the at least one display device to display said play of the game in a first window of the designated display device; and

(b) if it is determined to provide one of the bonus opportunities to the player, provide the player said bonus opportunity by causing the at least one display device to display an indication representing said bonus opportunity in a second different window of the designated display device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the gaming controller is configured to, if it is determined to provide one of the bonus opportunities to the player, provide the player said bonus opportunity by sending an indication of said bonus opportunity to a portable electronic device of the player.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the portable electronic device is a cellular telephone.