US 8,506,384 B2 · Multi-card bingo game features

Abstract

After the main ball drop of a bingo game, a player may be given a free extra bingo number. A probability of awarding a free ball may be determined, at least in part, according to a desired paytable percentage for the bingo game (or vice versa). Some implementations of the invention provide multi-card bingo games. A player may be required to hit a predetermined pattern on more than one bingo card in order to obtain a progressive award. The number of hits in the pattern(s) and/or the number of bingo cards involved may be determined according to a desired progressive award size and/or a desired probability of obtaining the progressive award. Players may have an opportunity to purchase one or more additional bingo numbers after the main ball drop of a bingo game. A player may be provided the option of purchasing a block of more than one additional bingo number after the main ball drop. The player may be offered such a block at a discount, as compared to the price for purchasing the additional bingo numbers individually.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An apparatus for controlling a bingo paytable percentage, comprising:

a network interface;
and
a logic system comprising at least one logic device, the logic system configured to do the following:
determine a first bingo paytable percentage for a theoretical first bingo game involving a selection of N bingo numbers;
determine a second bingo paytable percentage for a theoretical second bingo game involving a selection of N+1 bingo numbers;
obtain a desired third bingo paytable percentage for an active bingo game involving a selection of N bingo numbers and a potential award of a free (N+1)th bingo number to a player in the bingo third game, the desired third bingo paytable percentage higher than the first bingo paytable percentage;
determine a probability of awarding the free (N+1)th bingo number to the player in the active bingo game, the probability determined, at least in part, by dividing a first difference by a second difference, the first difference calculated by subtracting the first bingo paytable percentage from the desired third bingo paytable percentage, and the second difference calculated by subtracting the first paytable percentage from the second paytable percentage;
and
provide an indication of the probability.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-card bingo game features

Life of this patent

Multi-card bingo game features

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25