Abstract:
This invention relates to the field of playing an electronic Keno style game of chance which allows a player to play a four card, touch screen, video keno game which allows the player to potentially play thousands of “WAY” tickets but which also allows the player to play different kinds of tickets on each of the four cards. The invention also has a Proof of Win feature which assists the player in determining which wagers are winning wagers. The object of the game is to bring additional excitement to the traditional Keno game by providing the Keno player the chance to win a lot more money if the player should obtain a winning ticket.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/857,284, filed Nov. 7, 2006 and entitled “FOUR-CARD KENO METHOD AND DEVICE”, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein as part of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. History of the Game 
         [0003]    Though the history is a bit of a mystery, the books say it started in China. A man named Cheung Leung, of the Han Dynasty, introduced the game in order to restore his city&#39;s army to be able to fight a seven year war. The Chinese citizens at the time were unwilling to fund this war any further than it had, but seemed to really like this new game that Cheung had brought about. The possibility of winning excited them, and by introducing the game Cheung was able to fight the war and save the city. The game started out with the name, ‘White Pigeon Game’, because originally pigeons were used to carry the winning numbers from the larger cities to the smaller towns in villages. Aside from winning the war, some people say it help fund the beginning of the great wall. The original game was introduced over two thousand years ago and doesn&#39;t have the same character set as it does today. Originally the game was played with a 120 character set containing Chinese symbols and only after it was brought to North America did it get its now 1 through 80 character set that we see today. 
         [0004]    Once the game made its way to North America through its long Keno history with the Chinese immigrants, who were over building the railroad system, it was quickly adopted to the American style when gambling became legal in the state of Nevada, in 1931. Because lotteries were not covered under the new gambling phenomenon, the only thing that had to be changed was the name, from ‘Chinese Lottery’ to ‘horse race Keno’. And now most recently the name was changed to ‘Keno’ because the government decided to tax off-track betting. Now you know how Keno history saved a city from economical failure in a war and how it has became one of biggest games at the casino today. 
         [0005]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0006]    Methods for increasing the number of hits per Keno game were described in the prior art sections of the patents below. These include playing multiple draws on the same ticket, “Way Ticket” Keno. As stated in column 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,313: “The only limitation on the number of “ways” that a player may create on a Keno ticket is the imagination and creativity of the player as well as the player&#39;s bankroll.” However, none of the described prior methods is the same as the present Keno method, and they do not suggest or imply it. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,290 (Roethel et al. Nov. 13, 2001) “Extra Ball Keno Game” discloses a method of playing Keno in two passes with a pool of 80 numbers. A player selects up to 10 numbers. Then there is a random draw of 20 numbers from the pool. A first quantity of hits is determined. If there are any hits, a second drawing equal to the amount of hits is taken from the remaining pool. These additional numbers are also matched to the original selection, and the player can be awarded based on the total hits, or the award can be based on the original hits plus a bonus for any additional hits. Roethel&#39;s method potentially increases the amount of numbers drawn, and thus increases the chance of hits, but it uses a different method that requires more steps than the present method. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,313 (Moody Apr. 2, 2002) “Multiple Play Keno Game with Bonus Feature” provides a Keno ticket having each “spot” divided into two or more sections, so the player can select two or more sets of numbers to be played in respective draws. This allows games to move faster by setting-up multiple games in advance on one ticket. Bonus hits may be offered by matching the draws with all the sets of numbers selected. This bonus feature increases the number of hits, but it requires both multiple set selections and multiple draws, so it adds complexity for the player that the present invention does not. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,735 (Baba Jul. 29, 1997) “Keno Machine with Two Separate Plays” provides a Keno game method having two passes. First, a standard Keno game is played on an interactive computerized display system. Secondly, if the number of hits in the first draw exceeds a given number, the system automatically randomly draws additional balls from the remaining pool of balls, and additional matches can be made. This is similar to the method of Roethel above. It uses a different method that requires more steps than the present invention. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,213 (McNabola Apr. 9, 2002) “Multi-Way Keno Method and Device” provides an interactive Keno display system capable of playing multi-way Keno. This display allows a player to select two or more subsets of numbers on a single Keno ticket to be compared to a set of randomly drawn numbers in addition to the superset of all numbers selected. For example, a player could select 2 numbers for the first “way”, and 3 numbers for the second “way”. In addition, all 5 numbers would be played as a third “way”. Each “way” could potentially win. The payouts would be correspondingly low for a subset, and higher for the superset. This allows multiple games to be played on one draw, and provides both a higher chance of winning a low payout, with a lower chance of winning a high payout. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The invention consists of a four card, touch screen, video Keno game. Keno is a common gaming event were the player chooses up to 20 numbers from a pool of 1-80 numbers. The gaming establishment then chooses 20 numbers and the object of the game is to have as many matches as possible. The invention is unique not only that it allows the player to play thousands of “WAY” tickets, but the player may also play a different kind of tickets on each of the 4 cards. The screen shows four separate cards which can be played separately for the same game drawing. WAY is a common well known betting terminology used in the Keno parlors which allows the player to bet as many different combinations of numbers that he wants. For example if the Player bets the numbers 23, 24, 25 and 26. The player, if he chooses the WAY bet, has six two way bets (i.e., 23 and 24; 23 and 25; 23 and 26; 24 and 25; 24 and 26; 25 and 26), four three way bets (i.e., 23, 24 and 25; 23, 25 and 26; 24, 25 and 26; and 23, 24 and 26) and one four way bet (i.e., 23, 24, 25 and 26). 
         [0012]    The current electronic Keno games only allow a player to play one card at a time with limited WAY betting. There is a need for an electronic gaming device and method which allows a player to play multiple cards with numerous WAY style betting in order to increase excitement to the Keno game. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a configuration of the games screen showing the configuration of the game. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing an example of the pool of numbers associated with the game. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a display showing how a STRAIGHT ticket is played. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a display showing how a QUICK PICK Straight ticket is played. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a display showing the 20 different groups designations of a WAY ticket. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a display showing how a Special ticket of TOP BOTTOM can be played. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a display showing how a Special ticket of LEFT RIGHT can be played. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a display showing how a Special ticket of ODD EVEN can be played. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a display showing how a Special ticket of EDGE TICKET can be played. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 10 and 11  is a display showing how a HOUSE TICKET of Vertical and Horizontal rows can be played. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  represents the display screen for playing a Keno game of chance under the current invention. The present invention game (hereinafter “invented game”) is a four card, touch screen, video keno game which allows the player to potentially play thousands of “WAY” tickets but which also allows the player to play different kinds of tickets on each of the four cards. Keno is a well known game of chance were the player chooses up to 20 numbers from a pool of 1-80 numbers.  FIG. 2  provides and example of a display of a pool of numbers of 1-80. The gaming establishment then chooses 20 numbers and the object of the game is to have as many matches as possible. 
         [0024]    The invented game is unique not only that it allows the player to play thousands of “WAY” tickets, but also allows the player to play a different kind of tickets on each of the 4 cards. The screen shows four separate cards which can be played separately for the same game drawing (see  FIG. 1 ). The Player may play one, two, three or all four cards at the same time. WAY is a common well known betting terminology used in the Keno parlors which allows the player to bet as many different combinations of numbers that he wants. For example if he bets the numbers 23, 24, 25 and 26. The player, if he chooses the WAY bet, has six two way bets (i.e., 23 and 24; 23 and 25; 23 and 26; 24 and 25; 24 and 26; 25 and 26), four three way bets (i.e., 23, 24 and 25; 23, 25 and 26; 24, 25 and 26; and 23, 24 and 26) and one four way bet (i.e., 23, 24, 25 and 26). 
         [0025]    The following 5 options may be played on any and all of the 4 cards as follows:
       a) The Player may choose to play a “STRAIGHT” ticket by selecting the Straight Ticket option on the game which allows the player to choose, 2 to 10 numbers or a 20 spot special.  FIG. 3  gives an example of a Straight ticket being played whereby the Player has chosen 10 numbers consisting of 3, 10, 13, 24, 26, 29, 35, 44, 66, and 77. The touch screen technology allows the player to select his desired numbers by touching directly on the screen.   b) A straight ticket may also be played by the Player by using the “QUICK PICK” button which allows the computer to automatically select the numbers for the player. A “STRAIGHT” ticket means that you are playing one group of numbers 2 to 10 numbers or a 20 number ticket. A “STRAIGHT” ticket displays all numbers with an “A” in the number box selected.  FIG. 4  gives and example of a Straight ticket being played using the QUICK PICK button whereby the Computer has chosen 10 numbers consisting of 1, 12, 23, 26, 38, 43, 56, 62, 65, and 68 for the Player.   c) Any “Way” ticket may be played on any or all of the four cards. The player may play up to 20 groups. A “WAY” ticket is 2 or more group of numbers that displays an “A” on the first group, “B” on the second group and may continue up to 20 groups using the alphabet from “A” to “T”. These groups work together to improve the players chances of a winning ticket.  FIG. 5  shows a display of the maximum amount of 20 groups of four numbers using the letters “A” thru “T”. This allows the player to not only play numerous combinations of tickets but to also quickly determine what bets he has made.       
 
         [0029]    Another unique feature of the invention is called a “PROOF of WIN” feature. After the game numbers are drawn and the player has a winning ticket, this feature allows the player to, touch the winning ticket and a display will show how many numbers he has matched to prove the winnings. This is also available on any “WAY” ticket. On a “WAY” ticket, the display will show all the numbers of ways the ticket has paid the player.
       d) The Player may choose to play a “SPECIAL” pick ticket which includes “TOP BOTTOM” “LEFT RIGHT” “ODD EVEN” or an “EDGE TICKET” may be selected on separate cards. “TOP/BOTTOM means that you are betting on the 40 numbers on the top half of the ticket or you may choose the 40 numbers at the bottom half of the ticket. If you catch 13 numbers or more on either the top or the bottom of the ticket, you will receive a pay back. The more numbers you catch over 13 the more you win.  FIG. 6  shows an example of a player choosing Top 40 numbers.       
 
         [0031]    The “LEFT/RIGHT” means that you are betting the 40 numbers left of center on the ticket or the numbers that are right of center. The pay off is the same as in the top/bottom bet, you must catch 13 or more numbers for a pay back.  FIG. 7  shows an example of a player choosing the 40 numbers Right of center. 
         [0032]    An “ODD/EVEN” bet means that you are betting that that there will be more odd numbers or even numbers drawn. On this bet you must also catch at least 13 odd or 13 even numbers before you receive a pay back. The more numbers you catch, the more you win.  FIG. 8  shows an example of a player choosing 40 ODD numbers. 
         [0033]    An “EDGE TICKET” means you are betting on the 32 outside numbers. Here again you must catch at least 13 numbers before you receive a pay back. The more you catch, the more you win.  FIG. 9  shows an example of a player choosing the EDGE ticket.
       e) The Player may choose to play a “HOUSE TICKET” which allows the player to choose two pre-programmed tickets or choose vertical or horizontal rows. When playing the rows, he/she may play one, two or all 10 rows vertically on one of the four cards, or choose to play one, two or all 8 rows horizontally on another card.  FIG. 10  shows an example of a player choosing three horizontal rows and  FIG. 11  shows an example of a player choosing three vertical columns.   f) Finally, another unique feature of the invention is that the game provides the player with detailed instructions of how to complete the desired bet. For example, if the Player wants to play a HOUSE TICKET, the display screen on the game will provide instructions to the Player of what steps to perform in order to complete the bet desired.       
 
         [0036]    After the Player has chosen all the different bets he would like to complete on all four Keno Cards, the computer will then randomly select 20 numbers from a pool of 1-80 numbers. The computer will then determine what bets the player as completed are winners and pay the player the appropriate payout depending on the predetermined payoff schedule.