US20100283205A1

US20100283205A1 - Game involving cards and bingo like play and method of playing therefor (75 cards)

Info

Publication number: US20100283205A1
Application number: US12/776,336
Authority: US
Inventors: David W. Mahon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-05-07
Filing date: 2010-05-07
Publication date: 2010-11-11

Abstract

A card-based bingo game and method of playing thereof. The game consists of a deck of cards numbered from 1 to 75, 5×5 matrix card, dealer, players, and casino chips used to place and pay bets. Players place bets on whether a “Bingo”, represented by a one way pattern of five numbers in a row either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, is drawn by a dealer on or before a quantity of randomly pre-drawn cards are played with each card representing a number. If players obtain a “bingo” after the quantity of randomly pre-drawn cards are played, the player wins an amount of money based on a payout scale and the game is over. On the other hand, if the player does not obtain a bingo after the quantity of randomly pre-drawn cards are played, the player forfeits the amount of money bet against the dealer and the game is over.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This provisional application generally relates to casino wagering, and, more particularly, to placing bets on whether a “Bingo”, represented by a one way pattern of five numbers in a row either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, is drawn by a dealer on or before an exact quantity of randomly pre-drawn cards are played with each card representing a number on a community bingo card.

BACKGROUND

Bingo is a game of chance in which players purchase at least one printed or electronic 5×5 matrix card having numbers thereon. The bingo cards contain twenty-five squares arranged in five vertical columns and five horizontal rows. Each space in the grid contains a number, except for the center square, which is considered filled. The highest number used is seventy-five. The letters B, I, N, G, O are pre-printed above the five vertical columns, with one letter appearing above each column. Typically, the center space is marked “Free”. The printed numbers on the card correspond to the following arrangement: 1 to 15 in the B column; 16 to 30 in the I column; 31 to 45 in the N column; 46 to 60 in the G column and 61 to 75 in the O column.
Randomly selected numbers are then drawn and players match those numbers to those appearing on the 5×5 card. The first person to have a card where the drawn numbers form a specified pattern is the winner. The winner typically yells out the word “Bingo!” to notify others and inform the caller of the win. Before the prize is distributed to the winner, the card is properly checked for accuracy before the “win” is officially confirmed at which time the prize is secured and a new game is begun.
Specified patterns often include straight vertical or horizontal lines, but may also include diagonal lines. Dependent on the caller, various implementations of specified patterns may exist making bingo an exciting game in which players can have never ending fun.
Bingo attracts players from all ages to the chance of winning cash prizes. Bingo provides excitement to each player in part because of the uncertainty of the other players' cards and how close the other players are to receiving a bingo. A player with a relatively poor card may still win if the player is able to obtain several numbers in a row.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In accordance with one aspect of the present application, a method of playing a game having a set of cards numbered one to seventy-five is presented. The method includes collecting from players bets on lines one and two. Bets on line one are associated with a probability of hitting a bingo with five drawn cards. Bets on line two are associated with a probability of hitting a bingo with twenty-five drawn cards. The method includes drawing twenty-five cards face down and placing the twenty-five cards into bin one, drawing fifteen cards face down and placing the fifteen cards into bin two, and drawing five cards face down and placing the five cards into bin three.
In addition, the method includes populating a bingo 5×5 matrix with twenty-five numbers and drawing five cards face up from bin one. The method includes marking the numbers on the bingo 5×5 matrix with the numbers indicated by the five cards. If players bet on line one and a bingo has been made with the five cards, the dealer pays the players a multi-progressive jackpot and ends the game for those players. If no bingo has been made with the five cards, the dealer collects the bets made on line one.
Furthermore, the method includes drawing the remaining twenty cards face up from bin one and marking the numbers on the bingo 5×5 matrix with the numbers indicated by the twenty cards. If the players bet on line two and a bingo has been made, the dealer pays the players for bets on line two and ends the game for those players.
The method also includes collecting from the players optional bets on line three. Bets on line three are associated with a probability of hitting a bingo with forty drawn cards. The method includes drawing fifteen cards face up from bin two and marking the numbers on the bingo 5×5 matrix with the numbers indicated by the fifteen cards. If the players bet on lines two and three and a bingo has been made, the dealer pays the players for bets on lines two and three and ends the game for those players.
In addition, the method includes collecting from the players optional bets on line four, wherein the optional bets on line four cannot exceed the largest single bet on line two. Bets on line four are associated with a probability of hitting a bingo with forty-five drawn cards. The method includes drawing five cards face up from bin three and marking the numbers on the bingo 5×5 matrix with the numbers indicated by the five cards. If the players bet on line four and a bingo has been made, the dealer pays the players for bets on line four and ends the game for those players. If no bingo has been made, the dealer collects all bets made and the game ends.
In accordance with another aspect of the present application a card-based bingo game is presented. The game includes a deck of seventy-five cards numbered from one to seventy-five. Cards numbered one to fifteen are associated with “B”, cards numbered sixteen to thirty are associated with “I”, cards numbered thirty-one to forty-five are associated with “N”, cards numbered forty-six to sixty are associated with “G”, and cards numbered sixty-one to seventy-five are associated with “O”. The game also includes a standard bingo 5×5 card having no free spot, a dealer, and at least one player for betting against the dealer. Furthermore, the game includes a plurality of casino chips for the at least one player to make bets.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present application, a game having four ways to win is presented. The game includes a first way of winning by obtaining a bingo after five cards are drawn. In addition, the game includes a second way of winning by obtaining a bingo after twenty-five cards are drawn. The game includes a third way of winning by obtaining a bingo after forty cards are drawn and a fourth way of winning by obtaining a bingo after forty-five cards are drawn.
In accordance with another aspect of the present application, a casino wagering game providing multiple ways of winning by betting on chances of obtaining a bingo and allowing players to bet several times throughout the game. The game includes a set amount of cards to be drawn. Players win if a bingo is obtained after or before the set amount of cards are drawn. Otherwise, the players forfeit their bets.
In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present application, an electronic device for playing the card-based bingo game described herein is presented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

EXHIBIT A (13 Pages) titled “Multi-Play Bingo™ A HOUSE BANKED BINGO CARD GAME (75 CARD)” discloses information related to the casino wagering game of chance described in this provisional application. EXHIBIT A is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, including, any appendices, screen shots, and references thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the application are set forth in the appended claims. In the descriptions that follow, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The application itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration showing a deck of cards numbered 1-75, a bingo card, a dealer position, player positions, casino chips, and a board to play a card-based bingo game in accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict a flow diagram illustrating exemplary processes performed in the card-based bingo game in accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIG. 3 shows a typical betting line on the board in accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIG. 4 illustrates populating an exemplary game card on the board with numerical values in accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIG. 5 depicts filled spaces on the exemplary game card after five cards are drawn from bin 1 in accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIG. 6 depicts filled spaces on the exemplary game card after the next twenty cards are drawn from bin one in accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIG. 7 depicts filled spaces on the exemplary game card after fifteen cards are drawn from bin two in accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIG. 8 depicts filled spaces on the exemplary game card after five cards are drawn from bin three in accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIG. 9 provides illustrative hardware adaptable to a game table in accordance with one aspect of the present application; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a hand held device for playing the seventy-five card game in accordance with one aspect of the present application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION

The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the application and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present application may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the application in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of this application.
Generally described, this provisional application relates to a game. More particularly, this application speeds up the relatively slow-paced game of bingo and allows players to win chips by placing bets within multiple rounds against the house on whether a “Bingo”, represented by a one way pattern of five numbers in a row either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, is drawn by a dealer on or before an exact quantity of randomly drawn cards are played, each card possibly corresponding to a number on the bingo matrix. In one illustrative embodiment, the game consists of drawing X number of cards, wherein X is a set value. After the X number of cards are drawn, the numbers on the cards are matched with numbers on the bingo 5×5 matrix. If a player obtains a bingo indicated by the X number of cards matched with the bingo 5×5 matrix, the player will win an amount of money bet against the dealer based on a payout scale and the game is over. Otherwise, if the player fails to obtain a bingo during the drawing of X number of cards, the player forfeits the amount of money bet against the dealer and the game is over.
To play the seventy-five card-based bingo game 100, five items are generally used as depicted in FIG. 1. These items include deck of cards 102, bingo 5×5 matrix 104, dealer 106, players 108, and casino chips 110. In addition, game 100 can include game table 112, individual betting areas 114, first card bin 116, second card bin 118, third card bin 120, discard bin 122, played card bin 124, and house take box 126.
Deck of cards 102 include seventy-five cards 102, each typically labeled from one to seventy-five with no repeating numbers therein. Cards 102 can be grouped by numbers with one through fifteen associated with the letter “B”, sixteen through thirty associated with the letter “I”, thirty-one through forty-five associated with the letter “N”, forty-six through sixty associated with the letter “G”, sixty-one through seventy-five associated with the letter “O”. Deck of cards 102 are generally labeled on one side indicating the number associated with the card 102. Furthermore, deck of cards 102 can have the letter associated with the number on the card 102. Cards 102 can also include trademarked logos on the other side such as Multi-Play Bingo™.
While a seventy-five card deck 102 has been provided, a number of decks can be used having different amounts of cards. The generalized concept of game 100 is that players bet on the chance that a bingo is obtained before, during, or after a certain number of cards are drawn.
Preferably, cards 102 are reshuffled after each game 100. This allows for all cards 102 in play to be randomly distributed during game 100. Furthermore, this keeps the element of surprise for each game 100. While a single deck of cards 102 has been described, multiple decks of cards 102 may be switched in and out of play.
Continuing with FIG. 1, single bingo 5×5 matrix card 104 is shown. Bingo matrix card 104, as displayed on table 102, includes five rows intersected by five columns generating twenty-five spaces. Each column can be marked with the letters B, I, N, G, and O. Furthermore, each row can indicate a number from one to five to form grid 128. By using a combination of letters and numbers, a space on card 104 can be easily located. For example grid 128 space B1 corresponds to column B/row 1, B2 corresponds to column B/row 2, B3 corresponds to column B/row 3, B4 corresponds to column B/row 4, B5 corresponds to column B/row 5, I1 corresponds to column I/row 1, I2 corresponds to column I/row 2, I3 corresponds to column I/row 3, I4 corresponds to column I/row 4, corresponds to column I/row 5, N1 corresponds to column N/row 1, N2 corresponds to column N/row 2, N3 corresponds to column N/row 3, N4 corresponds to column N/row 4, N5 corresponds to column N/row 5, G1 corresponds to column G/row 1, G2 corresponds to column G/row 2, G3 corresponds to column G/row 3, G4 corresponds to column G/row 4, G5 corresponds to column G/row 5, G1 corresponds to column O/row 1, O2 corresponds to column O/row 2, O3 corresponds to column O/row 3, O4 corresponds to column O/row 4, and O5 corresponds to column O/row 5.
Bingo matrix card 104 can be printed onto paper and changed each game 100. Alternatively, and more preferably, bingo matrix card 104 can be fitted to a TV screen that electronically populates the matrix 104 each time a new game 100 is requested. Optionally, the TV screen is plasma, but may also be LCD or the like. Also, a touch-screen can be provided so that spaces on the card 104 can be easily marked.
While a 5×5 matrix card 104 is provided in the FIGURES, game 100 is not limited to twenty-five spaces. As such, bingo matrix card 104 can have fewer or more rows and columns. Furthermore, the number of rows do not necessarily have to match the number of columns and can be longer or wider such that card 104 does not form a square.
In some embodiments, the middle space of card 104 can be marked with “free”. The free space indicates that players do not need to fill in the space to generate bingos. While the free space is generally placed in the middle of card 104, the space may be placed anywhere on card 104. Preferably, however, no free space is provided by card 104. By removing the free spot, the game 100 provides more challenge.
Bingos on card 104 can be generated either through straight, vertical, or diagonal lines. Nonetheless, different bingo patterns can be used. These patterns can be chosen by the players 108, dealer 106, or randomly.
Continuing with FIG. 1, game 100 can also include dealer 106. Dealer 106 is generally associated with the casino where game 100 is being played. Dealer 106 is usually placed at the head of table 112. Game 100 can also be automated with the physical cards 102 being eliminated. In such a game 100, electronic cards 102 are delivered to the user through a screen, which will be provided in more detail below.
As provided in FIG. 1, six players 108 are capable of being seated at table 112. Nevertheless, only one player 108 is required for game 100 to begin. In addition, more than six players 108 may be part of game 100 and is generally dependent on the space around table 112. Players 108 are normally not allowed behind table 112.
Casino chips 110 allow each player to bet against dealer 106 and may come in the form of $5, $25, and $100 chips 110. Each player's casino chips 110 are placed within individual betting areas 114. Any bet not won against dealer 106 can be placed into house take box 126. Alternatively, a single betting area 114 can be placed on table 112 allowing each player to bet on the same betting area 114.
Individual playing card 114 can be printed on the physical table 112 or can be a plasma screen depicting the same via a touch screen control tied into a computer system within table 112. On the electronic version of the game, this is already accounted for and built in.
Each betting spot on individual playing card 114 can be the size of an actual regulation casino chip. Through individual playing cards 114, chips 110 can be tracked electronically through a high frequency RFID chip. The information can thereafter be supplied to a multi-play bingo mainframe. This allows a casino to track the progressive amounts, win/loss ratios, betting averages, and player 108 tendencies. In addition, tracking each player 108 allows the casino to award points to each player 108 through their in-house awards program.
First card bin 116, second card bin 118, third card bin 120, discard bin 122, and played card bin 124 allow cards 102 to be distinguished among each other. A more detailed description of the bins will be provided below.
With reference now to FIG. 2, a flow diagram illustrating exemplary processes performed in game 100 is presented. The process to play game 100 begins at block 202. At this point, game 100 has one or more players 108. At block 204, players 108 can bet on Bet Line 1 and Bet Line 2.
As shown in FIG. 3, players 108 can wager on Bet Line 1 to obtain the multi-link multi-progressive bingo jackpot. A multi-play, multi-progressive jackpot can be based on revenues brought in by each table 112. As described above, the revenue of each table 112 can be tracked through casino chips 110 at each table 112. A progressive jackpot is a jackpot for a series of tables 112 where the value of the jackpot increase a small amount every game 100 played. Normally, multiple tables 112 are linked together to form one large progressive jackpot that grows more quickly because multiple players 108 are contributing to the jackpot at the same time.
The jackpot is obtained when the first five out of seventy-five cards 102 displays a bingo on bingo matrix card 104. Any pattern for a bingo may work to receive the multi-progressive bingo jackpot including vertical, horizontal, or diagonally. Alternatively, the multi-progressive bingo may be obtained only when a bingo specified by dealer 106 has been obtained. In reality, the chance of obtaining a bingo within the first five cards 102 is rare. In another embodiment, the multi-progressive jackpot can be given based on the first ten cards 102 dealt or any other number of defined cards 102.
Typically, players 108 can make a minimal bet on Bet Line 1 on table 112 in order to obtain the jackpot. In other embodiments, a pay scale based on the amount of money placed on Bet Line 1 determines the return for players 108 if a bingo is obtained within the first five cards 102. For example, a quarter bet can provide half the jackpot, while a $1 bet will provide the full amount of the jackpot. If multiple players 108 at table 112 bet on the jackpot simultaneously when it is drawn, the jackpot will be split among players 108 proportionally.
Continuing with FIG. 3, Bet Line 2 is known as the primary bet. Bet Line 2 on table 112 provides two exemplary ways to win. First, and shown on the left circular area of Bet Line 2, players 108 can bet on any one way solid line bingo. The pay scale for placing a bet on this first way is AX if a bingo is obtained on the first twenty-five cards 102 drawn or BX if a bingo is obtained on the first forty cards 102 drawn. Second, and shown on the middle and right circular areas of Bet Line 2, a player 108 can bet on any horizontal solid line bingo or any vertical solid line bingo. The pay scale for placing a bet on this second way is CX if a bingo is obtained on the first twenty-five cards 102 drawn or DX if a bingo is obtained on the first forty cards 102 drawn.
After bets are placed on Bet Line 1 and/or Bet Line 2, dealer 106 draws twenty-five cards 102 face down and places them into Bin 1 116 at block 206. These twenty-five cards 102 are used in the multi-progressive jackpot round and the primary bet round.
At block 208, the dealer draws fifteen cards 102 face down and places them into Bin 2 118. The fifteen cards 102 will be used in the second chance bet round as provided below. Another five cards 102 are drawn face down at block 210 and placed into Bin 3 120. The five additional cards 102 will be used in the last chance bet round. The remainder of cards 102 can be placed into the discard bin 122. Turn-and-burn concepts, familiar with those skilled in the relevant art, may be applied when separating the cards into Bin 1 116, Bin 2 118, and/or Bin 3 120. In another embodiment, no bins are required and cards 102 can be played off the deck of cards 102.
Continuing with FIG. 2, dealer 106 populates bingo 5×5 matrix 104 at block 212. As shown in FIG. 4, matrix card 104 can be randomly populated. This can be performed by a computer or other method. Because each matrix card 104 is independent of the cards 102 drawn in blocks 206, 208, and 210, the odds of winning are random and there is no outside influence by the casino, dealer 106, or other source. As shown, grid 128 space column B/row 1 corresponds to the number 14, column B/row 2 corresponds to the number 13, column B/row 3 corresponds to the number 4, column B/row 4 corresponds to the number 6, column B/row 5 corresponds to the number 1, column I/row 1 corresponds to the number 27, column I/row 2 corresponds to the number 17, column I/row 3 corresponds to the number 23, column I/row 4 corresponds to the number 16, column I/row 5 corresponds to the number 26, column N/row 1 corresponds to the number 37, column N/row 2 corresponds to the number 34, column N/row 3 corresponds to the number 45, column N/row 4 corresponds to the number 43, column N/row 5 corresponds to the number 41, column G/row 1 corresponds to the number 57, column G/row 2 corresponds to the number 48, column G/row 3 corresponds to the number 52, column G/row 4 corresponds to the number 51, column G/row 5 corresponds to the number 55, column O/row 1 corresponds to the number 62, column O/row 2 corresponds to the number 70, column O/row 3 corresponds to the number 64, column O/row 4 corresponds to the number 74, and column O/row 5 corresponds to the number 75.
Returning to FIG. 2, block 214 begins the multi-progressive jackpot round whereby dealer 106 draws the first five cards 102 from Bin 1 116. This can occur through the auto card dispenser 130. Based on the first five cards 102, matches between the five cards 102 and spaces on bingo matrix 104 are located and marked accordingly. Matches can be manually marked, marked through a touch-screen, or automatically placed in matrix card 104 through an automatic card reader. FIG. 5, which continues the previous example, shows matches made from the first five cards 102 drawn from Bin 1 116. Two out of the five cards 102 have matched and grid 128 spaces 11 and G4 have been marked. At this time five cards 102 have been drawn. Once the cards 102 have been drawn, they can be placed into the played bin 124.
At block 216, dealer 106 determines if any bingo has been obtained through the first five cards 102. If not, and as shown in FIG. 5, dealer 106 collects the bets on Bet Line 1 from each player card 114 at block 220. If, however, a bingo was achieved on the first five cards 102, dealer 106 pays on Bet Line 1, which is the multi-progressive jackpot, at block 218. In one embodiment, game 100 ends after the jackpot has been provided. In alternative embodiments, and shown in FIG. 2, game 100 continues at block 222.
After blocks 218 and 220, block 222 begins the primary bet round. Dealer 106 draws the remaining twenty cards 102 from Bin 1 116. This can occur through the auto card dispenser 130. Based on the twenty cards 102 from Bin 1 116, matches between the twenty cards 102 and spaces on bingo matrix 104 are located and marked accordingly. Continuing the previous example, FIG. 6 shows matches made from all twenty-five cards 102 drawn from Bin 1 116. As shown, nine out of the twenty-five cards 102 have matched and grid 128 spaces B5, I1, I3, I4, N4, G2, G4, O2, and O5 are marked accordingly. At this time twenty-five cards 102 have been drawn. Once the cards 102 have been drawn, the unmatched cards 102 can be placed into the played bin 124. The played bin 124 allows a dealer 106 to go back into the cards 102 played and verify if the player 108 is a winner.
At block 224, dealer 106 determines if any bingo has been obtained through the twenty-five cards 102. If a bingo was obtained on the twenty-five cards 102, dealer 106 pays on Bet Line 2 at block 226 and the game 100 ends at block 248. If not, and as shown in FIG. 6, players 108 may choose to enter a second chance betting round. In other embodiments, and not shown in FIG. 2, game 100 does not end after block 226, but instead control is given to block 228.
Continuing with FIG. 2, players 108 are given a second chance bet beginning at block 228. Based on the first twenty-five cards 102 from Bin 1 116, players 108 now have an opportunity to do additional side betting based on their new odds of completing a bingo. Players 108 can place bets on Bet Line 3 as depicted in FIG. 3.
Placing bets on Bet Line 3 allows players 108 to make secondary bets on groups of individual horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines. Preferably, the bets on Bet Line 3 cannot exceed the single largest bet on Bet Line 2. Bet Line 3 allows players 108 to bet on whether a bingo can be obtained in any individual column or in any individual row. The pay scale for placing a bet on Bet Line 3 is FX if a bingo is obtained on the remaining fifteen cards 102 drawn in Bin 2 118. This can occur through the auto card dispenser 130. Bet Line 3 can also include diagonals. The pay scale for placing a bet on this space is GX if a bingo is obtained on the fifteen cards 102 drawn in Bin 2 118.
As shown, the five spaces on the left hand of the top row of Bet Line 3 allows players 108 to bet on the chance of obtaining a bingo on any individual row. Each spot on the top of row of Bet Line 3 corresponds to a row number on card 104. For example, if a player 108 places a chip on the space having a horizontal line with the number 4 next to it, the player 108 is betting on the chance of obtaining a bingo on row four. The pay scale for placing a bet on the horizontal line is FX if a bingo is obtained on the fifteen cards 102 drawn in Bin 2 118.
In addition, the space on the right hand of the top row of Bet Line 3 allows players 108 to bet on diagonal bingos. In alternative embodiments, this space can be separated into two spaces. The pay scale for placing a bet on this space is GX if a bingo is obtained on the fifteen cards 102 drawn in Bin 2 118.
The bottom row of Bet Line 3 corresponds to betting on the probability of hitting a bingo on any individual column. Each spot on the bottom row corresponds to a letter on card 104. For example, if a player 108 places a chip on the space having a vertical line with the letter I next to it, the player 108 is betting on the chance of obtaining a bingo on column I. As shown in FIG. 6, it only takes two more cards 102 on grid 128 spaces I2 and I5 corresponding to I17 and I26 to hit a bingo. This may encourage a player to make an additional bet as only two cards 104 are needed. Statistically the betting odds for the players 108 to win have increased. The pay scale for placing a bet on the vertical line is FX if a bingo is obtained on the fifteen cards 102 drawn in Bin 2 118.
Dealer 106 draws the full fifteen cards 102 from Bin 2 118 at block 230. This can occur through the auto card dispenser 130. Matches between the fifteen cards 102 and spaces on bingo matrix 104 are located and marked accordingly. Continuing the previous example, FIG. 7 shows matches made from the fifteen cards 102 drawn from Bin 2 118. As shown, sixteen cards 102 have matched and grid 128 spaces B1, B3, B4, B5, I1, I3, I4, I5, N3, N4, G1, G2, G4, O2, O3, and O5 have been marked. At this time forty cards 102 have been drawn. Once the cards 102 have been drawn from Bin 2 118, the unmatched cards 102 can be placed into the played bin 124.
At block 232, dealer 106 determines if any bingo has been obtained through the drawn forty cards 102. If a bingo was obtained by the forty cards 102, dealer 106 pays on Bet Line 2 and Bet Line 3 at block 234 and the game 100 ends at block 248. If not, and as shown in FIG. 7, the second and third chance of winning game 100 is over and the house wins all of the chips 110 on the table 112. In other embodiments, and not shown in FIG. 2, game 100 does not end after block 234, but instead control is given to block 236.
Prior to collecting the chips 110, however, players 108 are given an opportunity for a last chance at game 100. A last chance bet round begins at block 236 where players 108 can place a bet on Bet Line 4 as shown in FIG. 3, which is represented as the “Buy 5 More” spot. Typically, players 108 will bet on Bet Line 4 when they need only one more card 102 to obtain a bingo. In this case, players 108 know that they need only one more card 104 to hit a bingo six different ways. Five different cards 104 out of the remaining thirty-five cards 104 can be bought to have a chance of winning. Generally, this is a 14.28% chance of winning. Good players 108 can count the cards 104 to keep track of how many of each color has come up and increase their odds of winning based on the bets they place.
With continued reference to FIG. 2, dealer 106 determines if an player 108 has made a bet on Bet Line 4. If no bet has been made, then control is given to block 246. If, however, a bet has been made, control is given to block 240.
At block 240, dealer 106 draws the five cards 102 from Bin 3 120 when a bet is placed. This can occur through the auto card dispenser 130. Based on the drawn five cards 102 from Bin 3 120, matches are found on bingo matrix 104 and marked accordingly. Continuing the previous example, FIG. 8 shows matches made from the five cards 102 drawn from Bin 3 120. As shown, nineteen cards 102 have matched and grid 128 spaces B1, B3, B4, B5, I1, I2, I3, I4, I5, N1, N2, N3, N4, G1, G2, G4, O2, O3, and O5 have been marked. At this time forty-five cards 102 have been drawn. Once the cards 102 have been drawn, they can be placed into the played bin 124.
At block 242, dealer 106 determines if any bingo has been obtained through the forty-five cards 102. If a bingo was obtained on the forty-five cards 102, dealer 106 pays on Bet Line 4 at block 244 pursuant to the pay scale of HX and the game 100 ends at block 248. If not, game 100 is over and the house wins all of the chips 110 on the table 112 at block 246 and the game 100 ends at block 248.
Continuing with FIG. 8, a player 108 hits a bingo with the final five cards 104 from Bin 3 120, namely grid 128 space 12. Player 108 may have lost on bet lines 1, 2, and 3, but still won on Bet Line 4. This feature allows players 108 to keep their chances of winning money regardless if they lost in the first couple of rounds.
While FIG. 2 provided a multi-progressive jackpot round, primary bet round, second chance bet round, and a last chance bet round, the rounds do not necessarily have to occur in that order. Furthermore, more or less rounds may be included. These rounds may possibly include less or more cards 102 placed within Bin 1 116, Bin 2 118, and Bin 3 120. In other embodiments, the order in which game 100 was presented can be interchangeable. For example, the separation of cards 102 does not necessarily occur after bets are placed. Game 100 is typified by players 108 betting against the dealer 106 or house to obtain a bingo.
In addition, while multiple pay scales have been described on each of the Bet Lines shown in FIG. 3, these are for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting. In addition, one skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that there are multiple ways of setting up an individual player's card 114 for betting against dealer 106.
In the previous FIGURES, electronic versions of table 102 were shown. Table 102 can be implemented using hardware and software. An exemplary hardware and operating environment for implementing table 102 can include a general purpose computer system as shown in FIG. 9. Furthermore the hardware/software described below can be used for other electronic versions of game 100. The computer system may include a processing unit, system memory, and system bus that operatively couples various system components, including the system memory to the processing unit. There may be only one or there may be more than one processing unit, such that the processor of the computer comprises a single central processing unit (CPU), or a plurality of processing units, commonly referred to as a parallel processing environment. The computer may be a conventional computer, a distributed computer, a web server, a file server, or any other type of computer.
The system bus may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, a switched fabric, point-to-point connections, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. The system memory may also be referred to as simply the memory, and includes read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). A basic input/output system (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer, such as during start-up, is stored in ROM. The computer further includes a hard disk drive for reading from and writing to a hard disk, not shown, a magnetic disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk, and an optical disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable optical disk such as a CD ROM or other optical media.
The hard disk drive, magnetic disk drive, and optical disk drive are connected to the system bus by a hard disk drive interface, a magnetic disk drive interface, and an optical disk drive interface, respectively. The drives and their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer-readable instructions; data structures, e.g., a catalog and a context-based index; program modules, e.g., a web service and an indexing robot; and other data for the computer. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any type of computer-readable media that can store data that is accessible by a computer, for example, magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, RAM, and ROM, may be used in the exemplary operating environment.
A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk, magnetic disk, optical disk, ROM, or RAM, including an operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules, and program data. A user may enter commands and information into the personal computer through input devices such as a keyboard and pointing device, for example, a mouse. Other input devices (not shown) may include, for example, a microphone, a joystick, a game pad, a tablet, a touch screen device, a satellite dish, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a video camera, a touch screen board 106 as described above, single player wells, and an automated card reader. Input devices can also be individual player wells. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit through a serial port interface that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB).
A monitor or other type of display device for bingo matrix 106 is also connected to the system bus via an interface, such as a video adapter. In addition to the monitor, computers typically include other peripheral output devices, such as a printers and speakers. These and other output devices are often connected to the processing unit through the serial port interface that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serial bus (USB).
The computer may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers. These logical connections may be achieved by a communication device coupled to or integral with the computer; the application is not limited to a particular type of communications device. The remote computer may be another computer, a server, a router, a network personal computer, a client, a peer device, or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer, although only a memory storage device has been illustrated in FIG. 9. Computer can be logically connected to the internet. The logical connection can include a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), personal area network (PAN), campus area network (CAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), or global area network (GAN). Such networking environments are commonplace in office networks, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet, which are all types of networks.
When used in a LAN environment, the computer may be connected to the local network through a network interface or adapter, which is one type of communications device. When used in a WAN environment, the computer typically includes a modem, a network adapter, or any other type of communications device for establishing communications over the wide area network. The modem, which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus via the serial port interface. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the personal computer, or portions thereof, may be stored in a remote memory storage device. It is appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of and communications devices for establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.
The technology described herein may be implemented as logical operations and/or modules in one or more systems. The logical operations may be implemented as a sequence of processor-implemented steps executing in one or more computer systems and as interconnected machine or circuit modules within one or more computer systems. Likewise, the descriptions of various component modules may be provided in terms of operations executed or effected by the modules. The resulting implementation is a matter of choice, dependent on the performance requirements of the underlying system implementing the described technology. Accordingly, the logical operations making up the embodiments of the technology described herein are referred to variously as operations, steps, objects, or modules. Furthermore, it should be understood that logical operations may be performed in any order, unless explicitly claimed otherwise or a specific order is inherently necessitated by the claim language.
One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the computer system can include code that is loaded from a hard drive to be run on the processor. Alternatively, the system can be saved on a suitable storage medium such as a diskette, a CD, or like devices.
The system can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In one embodiment, the system is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.
Furthermore, the system can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium comprise a semiconductor or solid-state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks comprise compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.
A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code comprises at least one processor coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can include local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories that provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code is retrieved from bulk storage during execution.
Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers.
Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of network adapters.
Described above, aspects of the present application are embodied in a World Wide Web (“WWW”) or (“Web”) site accessible via the Internet. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the term “Internet” refers to the collection of networks and routers that use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”) to communicate with one another. The internet can include a plurality of local area networks (“LANs”) and a wide area network (“WAN”) that are interconnected by routers. The routers are special purpose computers used to interface one LAN or WAN to another. Communication links within the LANs may be wireless, twisted wire pair, coaxial cable, or optical fiber, while communication links between networks may utilize 56 Kbps analog telephone lines, 1 Mbps digital T-1 lines, 45 Mbps T-3 lines or other communications links known to those skilled in the art.
Furthermore, computers and other related electronic devices can be remotely connected to either the LANs or the WAN via a digital communications device, modem and temporary telephone, or a wireless link. It will be appreciated that the internet comprises a vast number of such interconnected networks, computers, and routers.
The Internet has recently seen explosive growth by virtue of its ability to link computers located throughout the world. As the Internet has grown, so has the WWW. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, the WWW is a vast collection of interconnected or “hypertext” documents written in HTML, or other markup languages, that are electronically stored at or dynamically generated by “WWW sites” or “Web sites” throughout the Internet. Additionally, client-side software programs that communicate over the Web using the TCP/IP protocol are part of the WWW, such as web browsers, SOAP clients, JavaScript, Java Applets, instant messaging, e-mail, browser plug-ins, Macromedia Flash, chat and others. Other interactive hypertext environments may include environments such as those provided in America Online or other online service providers, as well as the “wireless Web” provided by various wireless networking providers, especially those in the cellular phone industry. It will be appreciated that the present application could apply in any such interactive communication environments, however, for purposes of discussion, the Web is used as an exemplary interactive hypertext environment with regard to the present application.
A website is a server/computer connected to the Internet that has storage capabilities for storing hypertext documents and that runs administrative software for handling requests for those stored hypertext documents as well as dynamically generating hypertext documents. Embedded within a hypertext document are a number of hyperlinks, i.e., highlighted portions of text which link the document to another hypertext document possibly stored at a website elsewhere on the Internet. Each hyperlink is assigned a URL that provides the name of the linked document on a server connected to the Internet. Thus, whenever a hypertext document is retrieved from any web server, the document is considered retrieved from the World Wide Web. Known to those skilled in the art, a web server may also include facilities for storing and transmitting application programs, such as application programs written in the JAVA® programming language from Sun Microsystems, for execution on a remote computer. Likewise, a web server may also include facilities for executing scripts and other application programs on the web server itself.
A remote access user may retrieve hypertext documents from the World Wide Web via a web browser program. A web browser, such as Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft's Internet Explorer, is a software application program for providing a user interface to the WWW. Upon request from the remote access user via the web browser, the web browser requests the desired hypertext document from the appropriate web server using the URL for the document and the hypertext transport protocol (“HTTP”). HTTP is a higher-level protocol than TCP/IP and is designed specifically for the requirements of the WWW. HTTP runs on top of TCP/IP to transfer hypertext documents and user-supplied form data between server and client computers. The WWW browser may also retrieve programs from the web server, such as JavaScript or JAVA applets, for execution on the client computer. Finally, the WWW browser may include optional software components, called plug-ins, that run specialized functionality within the browser.
FIGS. 1 through 9 generally relate to a table casino game 100. In other embodiments, game 100 can be played on a hand held device as shown in FIG. 10. As depicted, the device can be used to challenge other players on an online system. For example, partybingo.com already has an online system where players 108 can play a myriad of bingo games against each other.
In other embodiments, game 100 on the hand held device can be a stand alone game played against the dealer. In addition, other players can be computer based. In some formats, “fake” money would be used.
While a table embodiment and a hand held device can be used to play game 100, multiple other variations of game 100 may exist. For example, game 100 can come within a home version. Furthermore, game 100 can also be played at work from an internet browser.
The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, and generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game having a set of cards numbered 1 to 75, the method comprising:

collecting from players bets on lines 1 and 2, wherein bets on line 1 are associated with a probability of hitting a bingo with five drawn cards, bets on line 2 are associated with a probability of hitting a bingo with twenty-five drawn cards;

drawing twenty-five cards face down and placing the twenty-five cards into bin 1;

drawing fifteen cards face down and placing the fifteen cards into bin 2;

drawing five cards face down and placing the five cards into bin 3;

populating a bingo 5×5 matrix with twenty-five numbers;

drawing five cards face up from bin 1 and marking the numbers on the bingo 5×5 matrix with the numbers indicated by the five cards;

if players bet on line 1 and a bingo has been made with the five cards, paying the players a multi-progressive jackpot and ending the game for those players;

if no bingo has been made with the five cards, collecting bets made on line 1;

drawing remaining twenty cards face up from bin 1 and marking the numbers on the bingo 5×5 matrix with the numbers indicated by the twenty cards;

if the players bet on line 2 and a bingo has been made, paying the players for bets on line 2 and ending the game for those players;

collecting from the players optional bets on line 3, wherein bets on line 3 are associated with a probability of hitting a bingo with forty drawn cards;

drawing fifteen cards face up from bin 2 and marking the numbers on the bingo 5×5 matrix with the numbers indicated by the fifteen cards;

if the players bet on lines 2 and 3 and a bingo has been made, paying the players for bets on lines 2 and 3 and ending the game for those players;

collecting from the players optional bets on line 4, wherein the optional bets on line 4 cannot exceed the bets on line 2, bets on line 4 associated with a probability of hitting a bingo with forty-five drawn cards;

drawing five cards face up from bin 3 and marking the numbers on the bingo 5×5 matrix with the numbers indicated by the five cards;

if the players bet on line 4 and a bingo has been made, paying the players for bets on line 4 and ending the game for those players; and

if no bingo has been made, collecting all bets made.

2. A card-based bingo game comprising:

a deck of 75 cards numbered from 1 to 75 with cards numbered 1 to 15 associated with “B”, cards numbered 16 to 30 associated with “I”, cards numbered 31 to 45 associated with “N”, cards numbered 46 to 60 associated with “G”, cards numbered 61 to 75 associated with “O”;

a standard bingo 5×5 card having no free spot;

a dealer;

at least one player for betting against the dealer; and

a plurality of casino chips for the at least one player to make bets.

3. A game having four ways to win comprising:

a first way of winning by obtaining a bingo after five cards are drawn.

a second way of winning by obtaining a bingo after twenty-five cards are drawn:

a third way of winning by obtaining a bingo after 40 cards are drawn: and

a fourth way of winning by obtaining a bingo after 45 cards are drawn.

4. A casino wagering game providing multiple ways of winning by betting on chances of obtaining a bingo and allowing players to bet several times throughout the game, the game comprising:

a set amount of cards to be drawn, wherein players win if a bingo is obtained after the set amount of cards are drawn, otherwise, the players forfeit their bets.

5. An electronic device for playing the card-based bingo game described herein.