Abstract:
A method of bingo play comprises providing a bingo venue having both paper bingo cards and electronic bingo cards; conducting in the bingo venue a first paper bingo game by calling paper bingo numbers for marking only on the paper bingo cards; and simultaneously conducting in the bingo venue a second, separate electronic bingo game by calling electronic bingo numbers for marking only on the electronic bingo cards; such that the paper bingo cards are not in bingo competition with the electronic bingo cards.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/685,227, filed May 26, 2005, titled METHOD OF BINGO PLAY WITH MULTIPLE CONSOLES PLAYED SIMULTANEOUSLY. The entire disclosure of the above-noted provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this specification. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field  
         [0003]     Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods of gaming, particularly methods of facilitating bingo play.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Bingo can be played using traditional paper bingo cards or with electronic bingo equipment. Paper bingo cards are marked in the familiar manner by daubing or laying tokens over the numbers printed on the card. In electronic bingo, the “cards” are represented on a computer screen and/or stored within a computer memory, along with a record of which numbers on the electronic cards have been called and marked. In both types of play, the fundamental game is the same: to score/play bingo by marking one or more numbers within one, two, three, four or all five of the B, I, N, G and O ranges indicated on a given card. Paper bingo games generally proceed more slowly than electronic bingo games, whereas electronic bingo is quicker and provides the player with more of a “slot machine” play experience.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     According to one preferred embodiment, a method of bingo play comprises providing a bingo venue having both paper bingo cards and electronic bingo cards; conducting in the bingo venue a first paper bingo game by calling paper bingo numbers for marking only on the paper bingo cards; and simultaneously conducting in the bingo venue a second, separate electronic bingo game by calling electronic bingo numbers for marking only on the electronic bingo cards; such that the paper bingo cards are not in bingo competition with the electronic bingo cards.  
         [0007]     The method can further comprise offering bingo players a choice of paper bingo play or electronic bingo play without a competitive advantage associated with either choice. The method can alternatively further comprise starting the paper bingo game and the electronic bingo game simultaneously.  
         [0008]     Another preferred embodiment is a method of bingo play in a bingo environment having both paper bingo cards and electronic bingo cards. The method comprises conducting simultaneously: (a) a first paper bingo game by calling paper bingo numbers for marking on paper bingo cards; and (b) a second, separate electronic bingo game by calling separate electronic bingo numbers for marking on electronic bingo cards.  
         [0009]     The method can further comprise permitting individual bingo players to play one or more paper bingo cards; or one or more electronic bingo cards; or both one or more paper bingo cards and one or more electronic bingo cards. In one variation of the method, calling the paper bingo numbers comprises calling the paper bingo numbers at a paper caller location; calling the electronic bingo numbers comprises calling the electronic bingo numbers at an electronic caller location; and the paper caller location is next to the electronic caller location. In one variation of the method, the paper caller location and the electronic caller location are at a common caller stand, stage or platform. One variation of the method further comprises starting the paper bingo game and the electronic bingo game simultaneously. In one variation of the method, the paper bingo numbers are indicated verbally, and the electronic bingo numbers are indicated via electronic signals. In one variation of the method, the electronic bingo cards are maintained by at least one of hand held units and fixed base computers.  
         [0010]     Another preferred embodiment is a bingo gaming method. The method comprises providing printed-card bingo play in a bingo venue; providing simultaneous electronic-card bingo play in the bingo venue; and preventing competition between players engaged only in the printed-card bingo play and players engaged only in the electronic-card bingo play.  
         [0011]     The method can further comprise starting a printed-card bingo game and an electronic-card bingo game simultaneously. In one variation of the method, providing printed-card bingo play comprises calling printed-card bingo numbers for marking only on printed bingo cards. In one variation of the method, providing electronic-card bingo play comprises calling electronic-card bingo numbers for marking only on electronic bingo cards. In one variation of the method, calling the printed-card bingo numbers comprises calling the printed-card bingo numbers at a printed-card caller location; calling the electronic bingo numbers comprises calling the electronic bingo numbers at an electronic caller location; and the printed-card caller location is next to the electronic caller location.  
         [0012]     Certain objects and advantages of the inventions are described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the inventions. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventions may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of one embodiment of a method of bingo play. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     Certain embodiments disclosed herein add a new range of interest for all bingo players, motivating players to wager and participate in multiple bingo games. The disclosed concepts will move bingo into a new level of play (gaming). Generally, the disclosed methods of bingo play, and methods of simultaneous play of multiple bingo games, are suitable for use with 75-ball bingo, 90-ball bingo, or with any other bingo game or rule set.  
         [0015]     Certain preferred embodiments relate generally to the usual method of playing bingo and the devices that enhance the game of bingo. Certain preferred embodiments provide a player with a convenient and simple way to simultaneously play multiple bingo games in an evenly matched environment.  
         [0016]     The multiple console methods disclosed herein for playing the game of bingo provide an improved level of excitement and attraction such that the game is more appealing and can better attract players. Players can have a choice to play paper bingo cards, electronic bingo cards, or both paper and electronic bingo cards, without any competitive advantages between the paper card players and the electronic card players. (As used herein with regard to bingo cards, “paper” includes paper, paperboard, cardboard, plastic, metallic foil or any other suitable inexpensive sheet material on which a bingo pattern can be printed.)  
         [0017]     When a bingo player enters a hall with this new method of playing bingo, the player can be presented with an exciting choice to make: 
        1. Buy-in (purchase) “paper session bingo” (Caller #1) 
            (players participate only in playing paper bingo cards: warm ups, early birds, main session, specials, late birds, speedball and all bingo games during a particular session playing paper bingo cards).    
            2. Buy-in (purchase) “electronic session bingo” (Caller #2) 
            (players participate only in playing bingo electronic cards loaded into a hand held bingo machine or a fixed base bingo computer:, warm ups, early birds, main session, specials, late birds, speedball and all bingo games during a particular session playing electronic bingo cards.)    
            3. Buy-in (purchase) both “paper and electronic session bingo”
            (players chose to participate in both the above sessions 1 and 2).    
               
 
         [0024]     When the two sessions begin, two bingo consoles/biowers/desks, preferably on the same stage/callers stand/platform, with two live bingo callers (the person who operates the bingo console), simultaneously call two sessions of bingo (see  FIG. 1 ). Alternatively, there may be a single caller, preferably conducting the paper bingo call while the electronic bingo call proceeds automatically, and if desired under the oversight of a bingo hall employee or supervisor.  
         [0000]     Examples of Operating Procedures for Caller #1 and Caller #2:  
         [0025]     Verify and place all of the seventy-five bingo balls numbered one through seventy-five in the marked positions on the bingo console.  
         [0026]     Pull the ball drop handle on the bingo console and allow all 75 bingo balls to drop down into ball drop chamber.  
         [0027]     Pull the blower drop handle on the bingo console and allow all  75  bingo balls to drop down into the bingo blower chamber.  
         [0028]     Turn on the bingo console, console computer and console monitor.  
         [0029]     Sign in on the console computer and proceed to the bingo session games.  
         [0030]     Turn on the blower motor.  
         [0031]     (1) When the first bingo ball comes up through the ball chute on the bingo console the caller will turn the bingo ball so the bingo ball number shows on the bingo ball camera mounted on the bingo console, located directly in front of the ball chute.  
         [0032]     (2) Waiting for the timer to sound, then pulling the ball out of the ball chute and placing it into the marked position on the bingo console. Pushing down on the ball lightly while in its marked position will activate a signal to the bingo computer and to the bingo flash boards.  
         [0033]     (3) Caller #1 will then verbally call out the letter and the number of the bingo ball, using a microphone broadcasting to the paper bingo card players.  
         [0034]     (4) Caller #2 need not verbally call out the letter and the number of the bingo ball. Instead he/she can simply allow the bingo console to relay the letter and the number of the bingo ball via a RF (Radio Frequency) signal to the hand held bingo machines and a data line relay to the fixed base bingo computers, and/or via any other data link suitable for use with the electronic bingo system in question.  
         [0035]     (5) Caller #1 will repeat procedures (1), (2) and (3) above until a paper bingo player verbally calls outs “bingo” and stops the paper bingo game.  
         [0036]     (6) Caller #1 will then verify the paper card, and the paper bingo game will end.  
         [0037]     (7) Caller #2 will repeat procedures (1), (2) and (4) above until a winner-indicative RF signal/data line signal is received and/or a electronic player verbally calls outs “bingo” and stops the electronic bingo game.  
         [0038]     (8) Caller #2 will then verify the electronic card on either the hand held machines or the fixed base computers, and the bingo electronic game will end.  
         [0039]     (9) The paper session game and the electronic session game will possibly not end at the same time; if that is the case, the paper session game will continue or the electronic session game will continue until they both have ended. If desired, the start times of some or all of the paper and electronic bingo games can be coordinated such that the game pairs or game sets all start at the same time; alternatively, the game start times can be staggered or otherwise not coordinated such that continuous play of each type of game is facilitated.  
         [0040]     Caller #1 will start the next game and repeat procedures (1), (2), (3), (5), (6) and (9) and so on until all the warm ups, early birds, main session, specials, late birds, speedball and all bingo games during that session playing paper bingo cards are finished.  
         [0041]     Caller #2 will start the next game and repeat procedures (1), (2), (4), (7), (8) and (9) and so on until all the warm ups, early birds, main session, specials, late birds, speedball and all bingo games during that session playing electronic bingo cards are finished.  
         [0042]     Referring back to the above procedure (1), the ball camera on console #1 can send a signal to all the monitors mounted on the walls and/or the ceilings in the hall. These monitors can preferably be seen by all players (both paper and electronic). The bingo balls shown in these monitors preferably pertain only to the paper bingo card players.  
         [0043]     Referring back to the above procedure (2), the console can send a signal to the “flash boards” mounted on the walls and/or ceilings in the bingo hall. The flash boards can be seen by all players (both paper and electronic). The numbers displayed on the flash boards will preferably pertain only to the paper bingo card players. (Note: a flash board is a electronic device used in a bingo hall to show the bingo players which numbers have been called or not called by the Bingo Caller. In the usual game of bingo in the United States and Canada the flash board will show fifteen “B” row numbers 1 through 15 horizontally across the board, fifteen “I” row numbers 16 through 30 horizontally across the board, fifteen “N” row numbers 31 through 45 horizontally across the board, fifteen “G” row numbers 46 through 60 horizontally across the board and fifteen “O” row numbers 61 through 75 horizontally across the board. In European countries a flash board typically uses/displays 90 numbers and no letters. As each ball is called an electronic signal is sent to the flash board and that ball number will light up and stay lit until the completion of each game.)  
         [0044]     Referring back to the above procedure (1) the ball camera on console #2 can send a signal to the caller&#39;s monitor and to a small monitor located behind Caller #2. Once the caller places the ball into the position on the console it will send a signal to both the hand held bingo machines and the fixed base bingo computers. The electronic bingo players will see the ball number and letter displayed on their screens (which are preferably visible only to the electronic bingo card players).  
         [0045]     Referring back to the above procedure (2), the console can send a signal to the flash boards located on the hand held bingo machines and the fixed base bingo computers. The flash boards can preferably be seen only by the electronic bingo cards players.  
         [0046]     The electronic hand held machines and the fixed base bingo computers both have a visual screens that the player can view during the bingo session. On the screens are displayed a flash board showing all one through seventy-five bingo numbers, and an indication of which numbers have been called and which have not been called. One or more game patterns (showing which pattern(s) is/are being played on each bingo game) can be displayed as well and, depending on the device manufacturer, many other graphics and options making electronic bingo play very exciting.  
         [0047]     Accordingly, certain embodiments comprise methods of playing multiple independent bingo games simultaneously in a bingo hall, by using multiple and independent bingo game consoles (where “multiple” means two or more).  
         [0048]     One example of a method involving multiple bingo consoles played simultaneously in a bingo hall is as follows.  
         [0049]     Two bingo callers simultaneously draw a randomly generated ball selection from two separate bingo consoles. Caller One using Console One provides a verbal bingo ball call for the bingo players using paper bingo cards. Caller Two using Console Two enters a silent bingo ball selection, sending a electronic signal (e.g., wireless radio frequency) from Console Two to an electronic bingo hand held machine/unit, and/or sending the same signal via a hardwired data line/cable to a fixed base electronic bingo computer.  
         [0050]     Caller One calls bingo numbers until the completion of the paper card bingo game , at which point Caller One typically hears a verbal yell of “bingo” from one or more of the paper bingo card players. Meanwhile, Caller Two also calls numbers until the completion of the electronic card bingo game. Via wireless (e.g. radio frequency) and/or hardwired communications the electronic bingo console alerts both Caller Two and the relevant player(s) of a “bingo”.  
         [0051]     In one variation, Caller One and Caller Two use the same program of bingo card patterns. The game number one pattern for the paper bingo card players is the same pattern as the game number one pattern for the electronic bingo card players and so on. The paper bingo game can include a prize for the winning pattern, to be awarded to the winning paper bingo card player(s). The electronic bingo card game can also include a prize for the winning pattern, to be awarded to the winning electronic bingo card player(s). The two prizes are preferably awarded or paid out for two separate and independent bingo games played simultaneously in the same bingo hall.  
         [0052]     The above-described format of bingo playing eliminates the advantages that electronic bingo card players have over paper bingo card players. Preferably competing only against other paper card players, a paper card player can derive advantage only through the traditional measures of skill, quantity of cards purchased and chance. Simultaneously the electronic bingo card player preferably competes only against other electronic bingo card players. This creates an evenly matched bingo environment since bingo players will only be allowed to compete against other bingo players using the same format (paper or electronic) of bingo.  
         [0000]     Notes:  
         [0000]    
       
          Two or more bingo consoles  
          Two or more separate randomly generated bingo ball calls  
          Starting each game simultaneously  
          One or more bingo games playing with electronic machines/computers  
          One or more bingo games playing with paper bingo cards  
          Bingo players could play both paper bingo cards and electronic bingo cards, playing two separate games at the same time  
          Two or more separate games playing for two or more separate prizes  
          Paper bingo cards: matrix of 25 numbers B, I, N, G, O rows of 5 numbers 
        Five B row numbers (1-15), Five I row numbers (16-30)     Five N row numbers (31-45), Five G row numbers (46-60),     Five O row numbers (61-75), (Four N row numbers if the Free Space is used.)    
     
          90 number paper bingo cards  
          90 number electronic bingo cards  
          At any bingo venue: Charity Halls, Tribal/Indian Gaming, Privately Owned bingo halls, Casino Bingo  
       
     
         [0067]     Although invention(s) have been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention(s) extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention(s) and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the disclosed invention(s) should not be limited by the particular embodiments described herein.