Patent Application
20170326441
The present invention relates to an improved bingo method and apparatus that improves a player's odds of winning by means of a bonus wagering system against the house. The improved bingo method and apparatus as described herein has an improved bonus wagering and bonus elimination system allowing for individual wagers against the house, reduces the number of people needed to play the game, does not require a large wagering establishment and increases the speed of the game by requiring a maximum of 21 spins with or without a winner. The game also allows for peer-to-peer wagering against a set pool of entry fees. This creates a communal effect among the players who can wager equal amounts against one another and not against the wagering facility. The maximum of 21 spins would not apply and the players in the peer-to-peer wagering system would continue to play until a winner is announced. The casino would then receive a percentage of the winner's pot.
The improved bingo method and apparatus provides new ways for the player to wager and interact using a custom wagering pool that is controlled by the players. Additional players are easily invited to join new games. This further provides for a social and exciting competition among friends or large groups of players. The game and excitement can be brought to the main floor of a wagering establishment or a large wagering room and played at a standard wagering table having the capacity to seat 7 to 10 players. There is added excitement because of the eliminator ball which cancels all the bonus balls and none of the players want to see the eliminator ball being called as it exits a random ball generator.
In the game of bingo, each player receives a bingo playing card having a matrix of five rows and five columns that define a playing surface of twenty-five grid squares. The word “bingo” is written across the top of each column and each letter in the word identifies a column in consecutive order. Traditional bingo games use the numbers 1 through 75 and the center space of the card is typically marked with the word “free” and is considered an automatically covered bonus spot. The number ranges on the card have been traditionally restricted by column. The “B” column contains numbers between 1 and 15, the “I” column contains number 16 through 30, the “N” column contains numbers 31 through 45, the “G” column contains numbers 46 through 60 and the “O” column contains numbers 61 through 75. A player selects the grid squares as the caller randomly calls the numbered columns. The players can mark the grid squares by daubing or placing items on the squares. A wagering establishment can determine the winner of a bingo game based on specified patterns of called numbers. For example, a player can win by achieving called numbers in a straight line, two straight lines, the entire card or the borders of the grid.
There are many existing methods of playing bingo where the bonus features are initiated when the player obtains a specified event that triggers a bonus during the game. U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,985 to Yuri Itkis, et al. involve a bonus prize being awarded to a player whose bingo playing card has a winning combination of bingo balls called last in a bingo game. This bingo gaming method would not be attractive to most players, as they would have to wait for the completion to achieve the winning combination. The high energy and excitement associated with yelling “BINGO” is also lost and is likely to decrease participation in the game.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,727,786 to Gary Weingardt discloses another method of playing bingo using bonus balls. A player wins bonus prizes based on the color of a plurality of bingo balls. The game has a progressive feature in which each player is eligible for progressive jackpot payouts. This game does not have the excitement of the present invention and is difficult to play. Knowing the basic rules of the game is also necessary for an exciting gaming experience.
Bonus wagering options are attractive to most players, encourage players to wager in a specified game and add to the excitement of a game. Accordingly, there is a need for a bingo game that is exciting to play and will allow for more payouts by the wagering establishment.
The present invention increases a player's chances for bigger payouts by using a bonus wagering and elimination system against the house and each player has the capacity to place an individualized wager against the house. The house can cut the pot and divide the wagers. Multiple levels of bonus awards are offered and an initial wager would determine each player's award. This bingo method features a plurality of bonus and eliminator balls and a reduced number of bingo balls numbered 1-40. The number of bingo balls, maximum spins and numbered spaces on the bingo cards can be increased or decreased depending on the desired speed for the game and the number of players that are present.
The game features a plurality of bonus wagering options including bonus and super bonus wagers. Bonus wagers can be made on a gold ball and additional super bonus balls that are included in a random ball generator. A player can place multiple wagers that these bonus balls will be released during the set maximum spins of the random ball generator. The peer-to-peer wagering allows additional spins and opportunities for the gold and big money balls to be released. A super bonus wager allows wagering on the release of either the gold ball or the big money ball. As the game progresses, a player awaits the release of bonus balls that either double, triple or further multiply a player's winnings The anticipation of bigger payouts continues as the player waits for the big money ball or the gold ball to be released. A player's hopes for a big payout can be eliminated completely if an eliminator ball is released before or after any of the aforementioned bonus balls are called.
The improved bingo game as described herein does not require a large wagering establishment. The game can be played on a bingo-wagering table on a main casino floor or a large room with a caller controlling the game, collecting wagers and signaling the beginning and the ending of the game. At least one player can participate in the game but the wagering establishment can decide to accommodate multiple players or large crowds. This can reduce the advantage taken by the house and produce a fun-filled atmosphere of anticipation as the bonus or eliminator balls are called.
Additionally, the bingo playing card of the present invention contains multiple “free spaces” which speed up the pace of the game and increase a player's chance of winning. The number of free spaces can be increased or decreased depending on the desired length for the game. In the traditional bingo game, individually numbered bingo balls numbered from 1 to 75 are mixed in a number receptacle and are drawn out one at a time. The bingo game and apparatus as described herein provides for numbered bingo balls numbered from 1 to 40. A tracking device is use to hold the bingo balls that have been called. The device has labeled spots for the bingo balls and said bonus balls and has the capacity to record the order of calls.
The game can be administered in a peer-to-peer system where each player places identical wagers and play against a set pool of entry fees. The play continues until a player is deemed a winner and the house can retain a percentage of the pool of entry fees.
To this end there is provided an improved bingo method and apparatus that improves a player's odd of winning, is adapted to provide bonus wagering and bonus elimination system against the house, reduces the number of people needed to play the game, does not require a large wagering establishment and allows peer-to-peer wagering against a set pool of entry fees.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to address the above concerns and to provide an improved bingo method and apparatus that improves a player's odds of winning by means of a bonus wagering system against the house. The game features multiple levels of bonus awards, a plurality of bonus and eliminator balls and a reduced number of bingo balls.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved bingo method that reduces the number of people needed to play the game. Each player participates in a bonus wagering system against the house and has the capacity to place an individualized wager against the house. At the end of each game, the house can cut the pot and divide the wagers.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved bingo method that does not require a large wagering establishment. The game can be transitioned and immediately set up on the main floor of a wagering establishment or a large wagering room. The bingo game can continue on a comfortable and spacious wagering table having the capacity to seat multiple players.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved bingo method that increases the speed of the game by requiring a maximum of 21 spins with or without a winner. The number of bingo balls, maximum spins and numbered spaces on the bingo cards can be increased or decreased depending on the desired speed for a particular game and the number of players present at the start of the game. The bingo playing card of the present invention contains multiple “free spaces” which increase the pace of the game, the number of free spaces can be increased or decreased depending on the desired length for the game, numbered bingo balls numbered from 1 to 40 are provided and a tracking device is used to hold the bingo balls being called.
Still another objective of the present invention is to allow a peer-to-peer wagering system against a set pool of entry fees. Each player places similar wagers and play against a set pool of entry fees.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent when considered in light of the following specification and drawings.
An improved method of playing a bingo game wherein the bingo game features a plurality of bonus wagering, super bonus wagering and bonus elimination against a wagering establishment. In the spirit of the preferred method of playing the bingo game,
The bingo-wagering table 10 has a playing surface 12 that can accommodate at least one player station 14. The bingo-wagering table 10 preferably includes a random ball generator 18, a plurality of bingo balls 16, a plurality of bonus balls, at least one bingo playing card 24, a plurality of labeled spots for placing ante wagers 26 and a tracking device 58 disposed around the perimeter of the playing surface 12.
As shown in
The bingo playing card 24 of the present invention is indicated in
The modified bingo playing card 24 of the present invention features twenty-five grid squares 38 being numbered from 1 to 40. As in the traditional bingo game, the numbered spots 54 correspond to the numbered bingo balls 16 and the bingo playing card 24 has a plurality of FREE spaces 56. The free space is an automatic bonus spot and adds to the excitement of the game. The grid squares 38 on the first column 42 having the numbers 1 to 8, the grid squares 38 on the second column 44 having the numbers 9 to 16, the grid squares 38 on the third column 46 having the numbers 17 to 24, the grid squares 38 on the fourth column 48 having the numbers 25 to 32, the grid squares 38 on the fifth column 52 having the numbers 33 to 40.
The maximum number of spins and maximum number of numbered spots 54 in each of the bingo games can be modified by the wagering establishment depending on the desired length for each bingo game or the number of players in the game. For example, the wagering establishment can quickly change the maximum number of spins to 28 and announce a new arrangement of grid squares 38 in the following order: B 1-10, I 11-20, N 21-30, G 31-40 and O 41-50.
At least one player is allowed to play and place an individualized ante wager in the bingo game. In addition to the ante wager, a player can make bonus wagers that either a big money ball 34 or the gold ball 32 will be released from the random ball generator 18 and super bonus wagers that either a big money ball 34 or the gold ball 32 is the first ball drawn from the random ball generator 18. The game is played against a wagering establishment that decides the minimum wagers for each game, the value of the bonus balls and the degree of bonus elimination of the eliminator ball 28. As in the traditional game of bingo, the player selects the grid squares 38 which have been called by marking or placing items 66 on the grid squares 38. These items can include coins, chips or other small items that allows the player to track the numbers that have been called. The player achieving a pre-determined pattern of called grid squares 38 is the winner of the game. The wagering establishment distributes awards, bonus prizes and payouts to the winners who the successful bonus wagers. The awards, bonus prizes and payouts can include cash or bonus points.
A caller in the modified bingo game makes a maximum of 21 calls when the bingo game is being played against the house. A tracking device 58 records the number of calls and stores the bingo balls 16 and bonus balls that have been called. The tracking device 58 houses at least 40 receptacles 62 that are arranged in row and column positions for receiving the randomly called bingo balls 16 and the plurality of bonus balls. The receptacles 62 are marked and correspond to the number of bingo balls 16 and bonus balls in the random ball generator. The layout of the tracking device 58 has labeled spots corresponding to the bingo balls 16 and the bonus balls. The order of calls can be recorded and displayed on the tracking device 58.
The improved method of playing a bingo game described can be played against a common pool where the players wager against each other in a peer-to-peer wagering system. Each player places an identical ante wager against a set pool of entry fees. The wagering establishment cuts the pot and retains a percentage of the entry fees. As in the preferred method of playing this modified bingo format, an actuary of the wagering establishment can determine the value of the bonus balls, winning orders and combinations and the minimum ante wager. The actuary can further determine the odds of winning bonus or super bonus points using spreadsheets, money lines or various other types of sport books.
The bingo game as described herein can be administered in physical, paper, electronic and online game formats. For example, the game can be formatted for active wagering and play on cell phones, laptops and other types of interactive screens.
The description presented and the accompanying drawings are a representation of the modified bingo game and apparatus of the present invention. The bingo game has a speedy installation and convenient set up. The setup can be quickly re-organized to accommodate additional players and large groups.
