Abstract:
A video gaming system combines multi-card bingo play with familiar and desirable entertainment elements such as spinning reels with fruit or other symbols. The game programming produces multiple bingo card representations on monitors at a plurality of game terminals. Drawn numbers (“balls”) are displayed one after another. An eight card bingo game pays a prize for a bingo win achieved on a card when less than a predetermined number of balls have been drawn and also when a cover-all or other predetermined game-ending pattern is achieved on a card that has not previously provided a prize affording win. A nine card eight line game displays bingo cards in a three-by-three grid. Prizes are awarded for pre-selected bingo wins accomplished in one of eight three-in-a-row patterns of cards running horizontally, vertically or diagonally. In the nine card, eight line game each winning card is associated with a symbol representative the bingo win. The symbol is presented by a representation of a spinning reel coming to rest at that symbol.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     For common content herein, this application claims priority from the U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/631,729 entitled “Video Bingo Game” and filed on Nov. 29, 2004. That U.S. provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to video gaming systems and more particularly to a system of networked components for an electronic bingo game.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Electronic or video bingo games have been known. These have been less than satisfactory from a player&#39;s point of view because only a single video card at a time can be played, whereas many bingo enthusiasts prefer to play several cards simultaneously.  
         [0004]     Further, bingo video games available to date have lacked the entertainment features of other popular video casino games and so have been unexciting. An object of a new video bingo game is to impart the fun and excitement of other popular video casino games such as the ability to make multiple bets, the variety of multiple levels of prizes and the anticipation of watching multiple spinning reels of symbols.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a system of video gaming that includes a networked central computer installation or server and a plurality of player terminals or client machines each of which displays and allows playing of multiple bingo cards. In addition, in preferred exemplary embodiments, sets of spinning, symbol-bearing reels are portrayed similar to those portrayed on popular, known video gaming machines.  
         [0006]     In one preferred, exemplary embodiment of the invention, bingo cards achieve a “bingo win” by having a predetermined pattern of numerals that correspond to drawn numerals, or “balls” revealed one-at-a-time. If the “bingo win” pattern is accomplished before a certain number of the drawn numerals are drawn, a prize is given in a preferred embodiment. Cards that have not resulted in a prize winning bingo win after the predetermined number of drawn numbers have been revealed still can win a prize for a player by attaining a game-ending pattern. The game-ending pattern can be a cover-all pattern (with all numbers on the card corresponding to drawn numbers), or another predetermined pattern designated as game-ending.  
         [0007]     In another preferred and exemplary embodiment of the invention, the player can choose to play, e.g., three, six, or nine cards at a single terminal. The player can select patterns of cards that, if they all result in bingo wins, will afford a prize. More particularly, the player can select lines of cards, for example lines of three cards each, extending horizontally, vertically and/or diagonally in a field of cards, so that cards with bingo wins completing one of the chosen rows in a particular fashion, say within a predetermined number of revealed drawn numerals, will achieve a prize.  
         [0008]     An attractive feature of one embodiment of the invention, where a line of winning bingo cards achieves a prize, is the display of symbols that corresponds to each winning bingo card. Preferably the card display changes to a spinning reel of symbols stopping at the appropriate symbol when a winning card is achieved. Winning cards achieve varying levels of bingo wins depending on how early in the draw of numerals they achieve their winning pattern. Similar levels of wins are represented by similar symbols. In this way a row of three winning bingo cards displaying three spinning reels of symbols appears similar to familiar spinning reel casino games. Three wins of the same level might show, for example, three sevens in a row for a high prize. Other levels of wins can correspond to familiar symbols from other spinning reel games, e.g. three cherries, or other unique or arbitrary symbols. This game, then, can combine the enjoyment of multiple-card bingo play with the excitement and anticipation of spinning reel games.  
         [0009]     The video screen displays the numerals or “balls” that are drawn for game play, the game number, the credits available to the player, the number of credits wagered in the game, the number of credits won if the player wins and notification when a player sleeps the bingo. The game can include on the display any other information which may be required and/or requested by a gaming facility and the controlling gaming authorities. Each embodiment of the games of the invention as configured complies with GLI-22.  
         [0010]     Included on the player terminal is a pay table. This can be called up and viewed by the player. When a player achieves a winning pattern, the displayed symbols on the video screen correspond with illustration on the pay table.  
         [0011]     The above and further benefits and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description of preferred, exemplary embodiments taken in consideration with the accompanying drawings. As used herein “numbers” and “numerals” are used interchangeably and have the same meaning. Drawn numerals or numbers are at times referred to as “balls” with no intended change in meaning. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration in block diagram form of a video gaming system in accordance with the present invention illustrating a game server computer and client or game terminal computer installations;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of the face of a player terminal of the system of  FIG. 1  and shows a video monitor display of eight bingo cards available for simultaneous play;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2A  is an illustration of the game enhancing spinning reels displayed on a screen of a player terminal of the system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 3A-3C  is a flow chart illustrating the programming operating the game system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4A  is an illustration of a screen of a player terminal of the system of  FIG. 1  operated in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention with nine available bingo cards displayed in a grid providing an opportunity to win on any one of eight horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4B  is an illustration of a screen of a player terminal of the system of  FIG. 1  operated in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 4A  and shows the series of symbols or icons that are portrayed for each card having a bingo win;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a partial flow chart of programming for the embodiment of the invention displaying nine bingo cards and eight win lines;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6A and 6B  are a partial flow chart of features of a multicard bingo game requiring daubing of a bingo win; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of exemplary winning bingo patterns for the nine card bingo game of  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     Shown in  FIG. 1  is a networked video gaming system  10 . The system includes a central computer or game server  11  in two way communication with a series of client computer player terminals  12   1 ,  12   2 - - -  12   n . The communication links  13  between the central computer installation  11  and the terminals  12   1 - 12   n  can be hardwired copper, optic cables or RF as desired. LAN connectors  15  and  16  are provided conventionally at the central installation  11  and the terminals  12   1 - 12   n  to facilitate interconnection of the terminal and the central installation into a LAN. These provide electronic communications to and from the terminals  12   1 - 12   n  and the server  11 .  
         [0022]     Each player terminal includes an input and output card  14  (or other means) for communicating with various player inputs as described below and to provide outputs to e.g. a voucher printer (not shown). A video display  20  may be a touch screen by which a player can operate the terminal and choose certain betting options described below. A commercially available PC motherboard  21  has processor, video and memory suitable to control operations of the terminal. One suitable such motherboard is commercially available from Desitron Corporation. Game play is governed by a programmed compact flash card mounted on the motherboard. These are commercially available from various sources.  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the player terminals  12   1 - 12   n  can include a start daub  28  as a touch screen feature and manually operable push buttons or touch pads  29 ,  30  and  31 , for example, on the face of the cabinet. A currency acceptor  33  (or coin slot) can be provided, as well, on the face of the cabinet of the game terminal as shown in  FIG. 2 . A reader (not shown) for receiving a casino-issued card or ticket and/or a credit or debit card reader can be included (again not shown). Operated in connection with the push button or touch pad  30 , a dispenser  35  dispenses a printed redeemable voucher upon activation of the collect feature by the button or pad  30 . The printer (not shown) for that purpose is included in the terminal as is conventional. The button or pad  29  is one of conventional features provided, such as one used to summon an attendant. The push button or pad 31 causes the video monitor to display a pay table that lists the prizes for the various win categories.  
         [0024]     The central computer  11  is equipped with a PC motherboard  17  ( FIG. 1 ) with a processor  40  and such memory  42  (RAM and ROM) as is needed for programming and data manipulation, record-keeping and the like. A random number generator  44  is further provided in the game server  11  for use in generating randomly ordered sets of bingo card numbers and the randomly ordered and drawn numbers or “balls.” 
         [0000]     The Eight Card Game  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in one exemplary embodiment, a player can select any number of the eight portrayed bingo cards to play. Selection is by either a touch of displayed cards, such as the cards  32 - 39  shown on a touch screen in  FIG. 2 , or by appropriately arranged buttons, or other known or convenient selection means. As shown diagrammatically at step  45  in the flow chart of  FIG. 3 , before a game begins the terminal  12   1 - 12   n  receives from the server  11  eight bingo card number sets. Using the random number generator, the server  11  generates the card numbers at  44  for each server in the system prior to the start of any game. Number sets for eight cards are distributed to each terminal in the system at  46 . Additional number sets are generated and stored in memory by the game server  11 . Each number set is identified by a unique identifying number. These are retained in nonvolatile memory of the game terminal, for those received at the terminal, and at the server, so that if power is lost or a game terminal malfunctions the game can be restored.  
         [0026]     Having received a first eight cards, a terminal waits in an initial, ready state at  47 . When money or a card or ticket is inserted in a first of the terminals  12   1 , at  49 , credits are registered at  51  and the terminal alerts the server  11  and waits in a “game over” state with credits ready to be played. In the exemplary embodiments described here, if the value received by the terminal is cash, the terminal verifies the deposit, if the value is either a casino-issued card or ticket or a credit or debit card the server verifies the deposit.  
         [0027]     The player terminals can be physically configured in a vast range of appearances. As presently embodied in the preferred embodiment, at  53  and  55  in  FIG. 2 , the player has the ability to bet from one cent ($0.01) to eight dollars ($8.00) on each bingo card played. Again this may be effected by a separate set of buttons or by active touch screen areas appropriately identified as shown. Additional graphics and features can be included as strictly entertainment provisions such as the graphics shown and the spinning reels described below.  
         [0028]     Because the bingo games of the preferred embodiments described here are competitive games, a game does not proceed until two or more players are participating. When the player is ready to enter a game, the player must press the start daub  28  on the player terminal. The game of the exemplary eight card embodiment must be played with a minimum of two players through the central computer. If there are not enough players available to play the game initially, then at  53  the central computer  11  sets a display on the screen to advise the first player that it is waiting for another player to enter. After receiving an indication that a first terminal has received a deposit, the server disconnects from that terminal and starts at  55  a timed period of seconds, for example, during which it awaits a second player. After the timed period, if no additional player joins by making a deposit, the initial player is advised at  58  ( FIG. 3B ) at the first terminal and his/her deposit is made available at  60  for refund. If a second player joins within the timed period then, as indicated at  62 , a further, shorter period may be allowed for additional players to join. After that further period play begins.  
         [0029]     Each player can now bet, at  65 , on one or more of the eight cards previously distributed to that player&#39;s terminal. Each bingo card in play will have twenty-five numbers randomly selected by the central computer  11 . The numbers range from one to seventy-five in the exemplary embodiment. For each game, no two bingo cards issued among the players contain the same number configuration established by the central computer randomly. Once the player has chosen the number of bingo cards to be played, he or she can change the numbers on each card by either, say, a button or by touching the card displayed on the screen in the case of a touch screen display  20 . A discarded number set will be restored to the pool of number sets available from the server and a replacement number set will be forwarded by the server to the particular terminal.  
         [0030]     When the first player attempts to enter a game, the random number generator incorporated in the central computer system is used to generate the seventy-five numbered “balls” in rapid succession at  67 . The numbers drawn in any one game are used in real time exclusively for that game, and are not for later use. The numbered bingo balls are revealed in the order in which they were generated. Each revealed number  1  through  75  is indicated at the display  20  in a field 70 shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . On the bingo cards  32 - 39  each number corresponding to a revealed, drawn number is shown by brightening or by change of color at  72  for example.  
         [0031]     Multiple players&#39; terminals are electronically linked to each other via the central computer so, for example, a win is announced among players as at  74 . The preferred embodiment requires and promotes competition between players in the game of bingo. The computer system and player terminals readily comply with GLI-22.  
         [0032]     The central computer generates up to the  75  randomly numbered “bingo balls.” The prize structure for the winning bingo patterns is based on the number of drawn numbers of bingo balls necessary to achieve that pattern. A player having a card completing a line across in fewer announced or revealed numbers will be awarded more credits than one who accomplishes “bingo” in this way after a greater number of ball numbers has been revealed. A player can view the prize table chart or pay table (not shown) at the player terminal by pressing the pay table button on the terminal. In a preferred embodiment prizes are awarded for achieving a winning bingo pattern (“a bingo win”) in less than 35 drawn numbers or “bingo balls.” In a preferred embodiment of the eight card bingo game, however, a prize is awarded and the game is ended whenever a game-ending pattern is achieved on a particular participating card that has not previously won a prize (even if 35 or more numbers have been drawn). A game-ending pattern may be a cover-all pattern, in which all of a card&#39;s numbers correspond to drawn numbers, thus covering the entire card. Alternatively, or in addition, a game ending pattern may be another predetermined pattern.  
         [0033]     As mentioned, in the preferred exemplary embodiment of this eight card game, the video screen at each terminal will display spinning reels graphic symbols  58  that appear to rotate at times when the bingo game is played. If a player plays eight (8) bingo cards  32 - 39 , eight (8) sets of spinning reels  58  will be displayed on the video screen. Each set of spinning reels will contain nine (9) individual reels with each reel having the ability to display up to ten (10) symbols. No other electronic video bingo game known to the inventor is capable of playing eight (8) bingo cards on the player terminal and is also so equipped to display additional graphics such as the spinning reels for each bingo card being played.  
         [0034]     The spinning reels of the preferred exemplary embodiment are without effect on the bingo play. They serve to make the game more exciting and attractive. Alternately, the spinning reels may present a separate betting opportunity or opportunities to the player in the fashion of known video gaming machines.  
         [0035]     Winning bingo patterns may be five in a row horizontally or vertically or, as in the nine card embodiment described below, the six diagonal patterns illustrated at  142  in  FIG. 7 . Unless a game ending pattern is achieved a game is over when all seventy-five randomly generated “ball” numerals have been revealed.  
         [0000]     Nine Card—Eight Way Bingo  
         [0036]     A further, preferred and exemplary embodiment of a game in accordance with the present invention is a game called 9 Card -8 Way Bingo.™ That game also is played electronically on a networked system of components like those of  FIG. 1 . Again, players participate in the bingo games through the player terminals  12   1 - 12   n  that can be physically configured in a vast range of appearances and that include the features described above in relation to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , but display a grid of nine bingo cards  110  as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0037]     The multiple player terminals  12   1 - 12   n  are electronically linked to each other via the central computer platform or game server  11  as described. The 9 Card -8 Way Bingo™ game also requires and promotes competition between players in the game of bingo. This is again accomplished through the player terminals. The computer platform or server  11  and player terminals  12   1 - 12   n  and their operations comply with GLI-22.  
         [0038]     In this embodiment the game server  11  distributes bingo numeral sets for the nine bingo cards  110  displayed on the monitor display  112  in  FIG. 4A . Like the displayed bingo cards of the preceding eight card game, the nine bingo cards each contain five vertical columns and five horizontal rows.  
         [0039]     As described above, this bingo game also must be played with a minimum of two players through the central game server  11 . The system requires that at least two players participate as described above, proceeding as illustrated in steps  44 - 62  of  FIG. 3A  and B. After two players enter a game, the enrollment period at step  62  for additional players to join the game starts. Here and in the preceding eight card game, this period may vary based upon the number of active player terminals. In that case the fewer the number of players, the longer would be the length of the enrollment period. After the enrollment period has expired, game play begins as at  65  in  FIG. 3A .  
         [0040]     At step  65  in  FIG. 3A , in this game a player can choose one of eight “pay lines.” The eight pay lines are indicated at  140  in  FIG. 4  and are numbered  1 - 8  on the display on the monitor  20 . They are the three horizontal rows of cards (rows  1 ,  2  and  3 ), the three vertical rows of cards (rows  6 ,  7  and  8 ) and the two diagonal rows of cards (rows  4  and  5 ). If all eight pay lines are selected, then using the “bet” feature  110 , the player is given the opportunity to increase the bet on any one line (for example up to eight credits), or by using the “Max Bet” activator  112  of  FIG. 4 , the player can play all eight lines at the maximum bet per line. The total bet is indicated at  128  in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0041]     Here again, as previously described, players can change one or more of the originally distributed game cards before proceeding with the game. Each of the nine bingo cards in play have 25 randomly selected numbers displayed on the card. Again, like the preceding eight card game, for each game, no two game cards in play contain the same number configuration. After selecting his or her bingo cards, the player is ready to enter the game.  
         [0042]     As in the previous eight card game the numerals drawn and displayed in sequence are shown on the display in a field  120  in  FIG. 4 . The field typically is at first blank with no numerals illuminated and the numerals are illuminated one-at-a-time until all 75 numerals or balls are exposed.  
         [0043]     Winning bingo card patterns used in the exemplary embodiment of this nine card game are displayed at  142  in  FIG. 7 . Other patterns may be chosen as winning patterns. When numerals on the bingo card representations  110  are compared to and correspond to drawn numbers displayed in the field  120  in one of the winning patterns, then a “bingo win” has been achieved.  
         [0044]     From step  72  in  FIG. 3B , the nine card game proceeds as diagrammatically illustrated in the flow chart of  FIG. 5 . For each winning bingo pattern among the nine bingo cards, a particular symbol is assigned. The number of numeral draws or ball draws (“ball count”) to achieve the bingo pattern in each of the nine bingo cards determines the symbols to be assigned. When the bingo pattern is achieved the player is awarded at  145  in  FIG. 5 a  symbol determined by the amount of balls drawn to complete the pattern. An exemplary set of symbol assignments is set forth in Table I.  
                           TABLE I                                   Balls Drawn   Symbol Assigned                            1 to 42   Seven           43 to 50   Bar           51 to 57   Bell           58 to 64   Plum           65 to 70   Orange           71 to 72   Cherry           73 to 75   Blank                      
 
         [0045]     Available by touch of the pay table button  31  on the game terminal cabinet in  FIG. 2 , a pay table may be displayed. A typical pay table is as shown in Table II.  
                             TABLE II                       Winning Line Combinations                                    3 Sevens   Pays 100 for 1            3 Bars   Pays 75 for 1           3 Bells   Pays 50 for 1           3 Plums   Pays 20 for 1           3 Oranges   Pays 12 for 1           3 Cherries   Pays 10 for 1           3 Blanks    Pays 2 for 1                      
 
         [0046]     Of course, it is the pre-selected bingo wins along any of the eight lines within the predetermined number of draws that results in the prize award rather than a random occurrence of the symbols as in the typical spinning reel gaming machine. As will be evident, any of a huge variety of symbols may be used and many variations of pay tables may be chosen with their associated corresponding prizes provided in the software of the system.  
         [0047]     A further opportunity for awarding prizes and increasing interest and excitement in the nine card bingo game is also provided. When all eight of the lines 140 are played high level prizes can be awarded based on multiple bingo wins beyond the three-in-a-row winning card pattern. An exemplary bonus prize schedule used in a preferred embodiment is shown in Table III.  
         [0048]     Bonus Pays  
         [0049]     Winning Window Combinations  
         [0050]     9 of Any One Symbol Pays 2,500 for 1  
         [0051]     8 of Any One Symbol Pays 250 for 1  
         [0052]     7 of Any One Symbol Pays 50 for 1  
         [0053]     Table III  
         [0054]     To display the symbol associated with a particular bingo win, as indicated at 145 in  FIG. 5 , the video screen  20  at each player terminal will display spinning reel graphic symbols that appear to rotate. Spinning reel program routines are well known in the art. When a winning bingo pattern is achieved the animated sequence will come to a stop at its appropriate symbol. A monitor display  20  showing exemplary reel graphics in each of nine windows corresponding to the nine bingo cards is shown in  FIG. 4B .  
         [0055]     There is at least one winner for each bingo game. The animated sequence will never show the results of the bingo game (i.e. the assigned symbol) before the results are shown on the bingo card. The animated sequence has no effect on the outcome of the bingo game. The animated sequence is included on the video monitor solely for entertainment purposes.  
         [0056]     If desired, or required by regulation or gaming authority rule, a player may be required to “daub” a win by touching a “collect” button 30 ( FIG. 2 ) or a separate “start/daub” button (not shown) before being awarded his or her prize or prizes of additional credits. Also as discussed below daubing each winning bingo card may be required if desired or necessary.  
         [0000]     Alternate Features  
         [0057]     In an alternative embodiment the randomly generated numerals or “balls” are generated or revealed in several series as at  175  in  FIG. 6A .. After each series of balls is revealed, each player may be required to cover their bingo card by daubing by touching a “play/daub” activator on the player terminal  12   1 - 12   n . The video screen cues all players to daub after each series of balls is revealed.  
         [0058]     After at least two players have entered the game, and after the enrollment period has expired, the first series of balls is revealed at  175 . A specific number of randomly generated balls are revealed simultaneously to each player in the first series at  177 . After the first series of balls is revealed, a display on each player&#39;s terminal screen will prompt each player to daub (again at  177  in  FIG. 6A ). In the event any player fails to daub within a specifically defined amount of time as at  179  after the first series of balls is revealed, that player will have “slept” the bingo and will have forfeited any prize the player may have won. In this embodiment a player who has slept a bingo remains eligible to win but must obtain another winning pattern.  
         [0059]     Next, after each player has either daubed or has slept the bingo by failing to daub within the allotted period of time, if there has been no game winning bingo win at  181  in  FIG. 6B , the next series of the randomly generated balls will be revealed, at  175 ,  176  and  177 , simultaneously to each player. A game-ending pattern is achieved when the first player obtains a coverall pattern or other designated pattern, and who then daubs that pattern.  
         [0060]     After the first player obtains a game-ending pattern that player must daub at  178  within the specifically defined period of time. If that player daubs within the allotted time, the game ends at  183 . However if that player fails to daub within the allotted time, that player will have slept the bingo. In the event no player daubs the game-ending pattern within the allotted time, the next player to obtain a game-ending pattern is required to daub before that game can end.  
         [0061]     The first player to obtain a game ending pattern and who then daubs those numbers will win the bingo and will be awarded a prize as indicated at  185 . The prize can be a percentage of the credits wagered on the game. However players do not need to be the first to obtain the game-winning pattern in order to be awarded a prize. A player may also obtain a predetermined winning bingo pattern during the course of the game as indicated at  187 . Thus if a player obtains an interim winning bingo pattern (and daubs within the allotted time) in fewer balls than were necessary to be revealed before a player obtained the game ending pattern (provided that player also daubs within the allotted period of time), that player may be awarded an interim prize.  
         [0062]     While particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood that many modifications and variations in the bingo game of the invention may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.