US 6,599,188 B2Granted

Progressive bingo

AssigneeParker Gaming

InventorsBertram E. Hirsch, John Parker, Jr.

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Abstract

A gambling game includes the steps of preparing a plurality of gaming cards with an indicia of identification, and a plurality of gaming symbols on a face of the card. The indicia of identification is recorded within a database of a central computer system. The gaming cards are then distributed to a plurality of remote gaming card dispensing machines networked to the central computer system. Participants can purchase for a predetermined amount of money the gaming cards from the remote gaming card dispensing machines. A first set of symbols is generated and communicated over the network to a plurality of displays. If no winner is determined subsequent symbols are generated, and communicated, until the symbols complete a match on at least one participant's gaming card. The process continues until a participant completes a match and wins.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method of playing a gambling game wherein remotely located users participate in a gaming event, said method comprising:

preparing a plurality of gaming cards wherein each of said gaming cards comprises a face with a set of symbols on said face of said gaming card;
distributing said plurality of gaming cards to a plurality of remote gaming card dispensing machines interfaced with a central computer system via a network;
processing a request for one of said plurality of gaming cards upon deposit of payment of a predetermined amount of money into one of said remote gaming card dispensing machines by a remote participant;
issuing said gaming card from said remote gaming card dispensing machine;
generating a first set of reference symbols;
communicating said first set of reference symbols to a display;
daubing said face of said gaming cards in locations that correspond to said first set of reference symbols;
determining if said first set of reference symbols completely matches any of said sets of symbols on said faces of any of said plurality of gaming cards, if said complete match is determined said participant is a winner and said participant is allocated a portion of said money;
otherwise
generating subsequent reference symbols until said first set of reference symbols and said subsequent reference symbols forms a complete match with one of said set of symbols on said face of at least one of said gaming cards, when said complete match is determined said participant is a winner;
communicating said subsequent reference symbols to said display;
daubing said face of said gaming cards in locations that correspond to said subsequent set of reference symbols;
and
allocating to said winner a portion of said money.

11 more elements

An apparatus for playing a gambling game wherein remotely located users participate in a gaming event, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of gaming cards wherein each of said gaming cards comprises a face with a set of symbols on said face of said gaming card;
a central computer system;
a plurality of remote gaming card dispensing machines interfaced with said central computer system through a network, said remote gaming card dispensing machines located at a plurality of remote gambling sites;
means for distributing said plurality of gaming cards to said plurality of remote gaming card dispensing machines;
computer program means for processing a request for one of said plurality of gaming cards upon deposit of payment of a predetermined amount of money into one of said remote gaming card dispensing machines by a remote participant;
computer program means for issuing said gaming card from said remote gaming card dispensing machine to said remote participant;
means for generating a first set of reference symbols;
computer program means for communicating said first set of reference symbols to a display;
means for daubing said face of said gaming cards in locations that correspond to said first set of reference symbols;
computer program means for determining said first set of reference symbols completely matches any of said sets of symbols on said faces of any of said plurality of gaming cards, if said complete match is determined said participant is a winner and said participant is allocated a portion of said money;
otherwise
means for generating subsequent reference symbols until said first set of reference symbols and said subsequent reference symbols forms a complete match with one of said set of symbols on said face of at least one of said gaming cards, when said complete match is determined said participant is a winner;
computer program means for communicating said subsequent reference symbols to said display;
means for daubing said face of said gaming cards in locations that correspond to said subsequent set of reference symbols;
and
means for allocating to said winner a portion of said money.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/681,131Filed 17 Jan 2001
Published: US 2002/0094859 A118 Jul 2002
Granted: 29 Jul 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G07F 17/3244
For games, toys, sports, or amusements: payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
A63F 3/081
Raffle games that can be played by a fairly large number of people: electric
G07F 17/32
Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services: for games, toys, sports, or amusements
G07F 17/3258
Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes: cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots