CA2332197A1 - On-line bingo system and method - Google Patents
On-line bingo system and method Download PDFInfo
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- CA2332197A1 CA2332197A1 CA 2332197 CA2332197A CA2332197A1 CA 2332197 A1 CA2332197 A1 CA 2332197A1 CA 2332197 CA2332197 CA 2332197 CA 2332197 A CA2332197 A CA 2332197A CA 2332197 A1 CA2332197 A1 CA 2332197A1
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- game
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- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- G07C15/00—Generating random numbers; Lottery apparatus
- G07C15/006—Generating random numbers; Lottery apparatus electronically
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F3/00—Board games; Raffle games
- A63F3/06—Lottos or bingo games; Systems, apparatus or devices for checking such games
- A63F3/0645—Electric lottos or bingo games
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to an online game of chance available to players from a plurality of remotely dispersed game-playing locations. The invention is administered by a game administrator and controlled from a central computer system connected to a wide-area network. Players submit a purchase request and receive a lottery ticket on which is printed an array of symbols by means of any one of a plurality of remote terminals. At regular intervals, a preset number of random symbols are generated by the central computer system and communicated to a display board located in the vicinity of each one of the remote terminals. The object of the game is to match the symbols displayed on a display board with the symbols contained on the array printed on the lottery ticket, a player holding a winning ticket if a collection of matching symbols in the array form a pre-specified pattern on the array.
Description
ON-LINE BINGO SYSTEM AND METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, bingo, as played in a bingo hall, is a game played by any number of players, each player having a game card with an array of numbers. Typically the pre printed game card consists of 24 numbers arranged in a five-by-five array, the centremost space being a free, or blank or common space. A series of random numbers are drawn and announced to the players by a caller. Between any two successive draws, the caller pauses for a short interval of time, allowing players to examine their game cards for matching numbers, which may be marked off using a marker. Players also examine their game cards for some pre-specified pattern as formed by the arrangement of several matching numbers in the array; usual types of pre-specified patterns include horizontal and/or vertical lines, diagonal lines, and blackouts. ( A blackout consists of matching every number contained in the player's game card with random numbers announced by the caller). The first player who identifies a pre-specified pattern on his or her game card and calls out "bingo" for all to hear and is the winner of the game. That is, bingo players are pitted against one another and the game terminates when a player matches some pre-specified pattern on his or her game card. A winner is usually rewarded some pre-set monetary prize.
Avid bingo players often play several games in succession, sometimes over the course of an evening.
Several improvements to the game of bingo have been developed. These are described in US Patent No., 5,679,077 (Pocock et al., issued October 21 1997), No.
5,601,287 (Lundin, issued February 11 1997), No. 5,351,970 (Fioretti, issued October 4 1994), No. 5,096,202 (Hesland, issued March 17, 1992), No. 4,909,516 (Kolinsky, issued March 20 1990), and No. 4,378,940 (Gluz et al., issued 5 April 1983).
Most of the foregoing patents relate to an electronic based system for assisting or automating some aspect of conventional bingo, as played in a bingo hall. Two of the aforementioned patents, however, relate to systems enabling players from remote locations to participate in a game of bingo. What follows is a brief description of these systems and methods.
US Patent No. 5,679,077 (Pocock et al., issued October 21 1997) discloses a system and method for enabling remotely located bingo players to participate in a televised game of bingo by means of a supporting telephone network and computer system. In particular, a remote player provides registration information to a central computer system using either a telephone, a telefax machine, or a computer terminal connected to a wide-area computer network such as the Internet. A player may select his own bingo numbers, whereupon a game card is generated, and is automatically monitored on behalf of the player. The system described in this patent includes means for automatically alerting a winner when a winning game card has been detected, thereby terminating the game. The system as described in this patent is necessarily elaborate in order to provide remote players with many of the same options and interactions as available to local players during a conventional game of bingo. As in conventional bingo, each game terminates when a winning bingo card first occurs.
Similarly US Patent No. 5,351,970 (Fioretti, issued October 4 1994) describes a system enabling bingo to be played in real time over a wide geographic area which optionally allows players to create and play arrays of their own choosing and determination. An interactive network includes remote terminals for purchasing game card arrays from remote locations, and means for engaging in two-way communications with a central game system to record player-selected numbers, to signal a winning game card array, and/or to validate a winning game card. The system sequences through a bingo schedule and broadcasts the progress of each game to players;
players may participate in each game by viewing or listening to the game in progress from remote locations by tuning into a designated radio or television channel.
The Fioretti patent describes two somewhat different embodiments of the invention disclosed in that patent. In one embodiment of the Fioretti invention, as in conventional bingo, a winning game card may be recognized by the player when some pre-specified shape or pattern is reproduced on the card as a result of covering the numbers that have been generated. A player is required to register a winning game card within a pre-selected time period, whereupon the game is terminated. The patent describes such a system as "interactive". In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the central computer system maintains a record of all game cards played in a particular bingo game. The central computer system exhaustively checks all game cards for winning patterns during the period between the generation and communication of successive randomly generated numbers. When the central computer system detects a win, the game is terminated. Such latter system is described as "passive", presumably because the role of the player is passive once the game begins. The patent also describes a wholly electronic version of either embodiment, wherein the game is played over the Internet.
Both of the aforementioned patents describe systems based upon a conventional technique of playing bingo wherein series of random numbers are generated until a game card is determined to contain some pre-specified matching pattern, whereupon the game is terminated. There are several problems with implementing a conventional game of bingo in an on-line system made accessible for remotely dispersed players.
The foremost difficulty with such systems is the detection of a winning game card, thereby providing a signal to the central computer system to stop the game.
Previous patentees granted patents for games of this sort have tended to rely primarily on elaborate telephone systems, allowing players to register a winning game card within some specified time period, presumably before the next random number is drawn.
This solution, however, presents additional problems for the game administrator or operator in terms of game card verification and validation. Specifically, not only does the game administrator need to check the game card registered by the player to ensure a desired pattern has been matched and ensure that the pattern matched consists only of numbers drawn for that game, the administrator must also check the game card registered by the player against all the other game cards entered in the game to ensure the game card registered by the player is, if not the first match, at least among the first group of game cards that match the pre-specified pattern. Alternatively, the game administrator (e.g., by means of a computer) is required to exhaustively check all game cards between any two successive draws. Both solutions are complicated and potentially expensive to operate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, bingo, as played in a bingo hall, is a game played by any number of players, each player having a game card with an array of numbers. Typically the pre printed game card consists of 24 numbers arranged in a five-by-five array, the centremost space being a free, or blank or common space. A series of random numbers are drawn and announced to the players by a caller. Between any two successive draws, the caller pauses for a short interval of time, allowing players to examine their game cards for matching numbers, which may be marked off using a marker. Players also examine their game cards for some pre-specified pattern as formed by the arrangement of several matching numbers in the array; usual types of pre-specified patterns include horizontal and/or vertical lines, diagonal lines, and blackouts. ( A blackout consists of matching every number contained in the player's game card with random numbers announced by the caller). The first player who identifies a pre-specified pattern on his or her game card and calls out "bingo" for all to hear and is the winner of the game. That is, bingo players are pitted against one another and the game terminates when a player matches some pre-specified pattern on his or her game card. A winner is usually rewarded some pre-set monetary prize.
Avid bingo players often play several games in succession, sometimes over the course of an evening.
Several improvements to the game of bingo have been developed. These are described in US Patent No., 5,679,077 (Pocock et al., issued October 21 1997), No.
5,601,287 (Lundin, issued February 11 1997), No. 5,351,970 (Fioretti, issued October 4 1994), No. 5,096,202 (Hesland, issued March 17, 1992), No. 4,909,516 (Kolinsky, issued March 20 1990), and No. 4,378,940 (Gluz et al., issued 5 April 1983).
Most of the foregoing patents relate to an electronic based system for assisting or automating some aspect of conventional bingo, as played in a bingo hall. Two of the aforementioned patents, however, relate to systems enabling players from remote locations to participate in a game of bingo. What follows is a brief description of these systems and methods.
US Patent No. 5,679,077 (Pocock et al., issued October 21 1997) discloses a system and method for enabling remotely located bingo players to participate in a televised game of bingo by means of a supporting telephone network and computer system. In particular, a remote player provides registration information to a central computer system using either a telephone, a telefax machine, or a computer terminal connected to a wide-area computer network such as the Internet. A player may select his own bingo numbers, whereupon a game card is generated, and is automatically monitored on behalf of the player. The system described in this patent includes means for automatically alerting a winner when a winning game card has been detected, thereby terminating the game. The system as described in this patent is necessarily elaborate in order to provide remote players with many of the same options and interactions as available to local players during a conventional game of bingo. As in conventional bingo, each game terminates when a winning bingo card first occurs.
Similarly US Patent No. 5,351,970 (Fioretti, issued October 4 1994) describes a system enabling bingo to be played in real time over a wide geographic area which optionally allows players to create and play arrays of their own choosing and determination. An interactive network includes remote terminals for purchasing game card arrays from remote locations, and means for engaging in two-way communications with a central game system to record player-selected numbers, to signal a winning game card array, and/or to validate a winning game card. The system sequences through a bingo schedule and broadcasts the progress of each game to players;
players may participate in each game by viewing or listening to the game in progress from remote locations by tuning into a designated radio or television channel.
The Fioretti patent describes two somewhat different embodiments of the invention disclosed in that patent. In one embodiment of the Fioretti invention, as in conventional bingo, a winning game card may be recognized by the player when some pre-specified shape or pattern is reproduced on the card as a result of covering the numbers that have been generated. A player is required to register a winning game card within a pre-selected time period, whereupon the game is terminated. The patent describes such a system as "interactive". In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the central computer system maintains a record of all game cards played in a particular bingo game. The central computer system exhaustively checks all game cards for winning patterns during the period between the generation and communication of successive randomly generated numbers. When the central computer system detects a win, the game is terminated. Such latter system is described as "passive", presumably because the role of the player is passive once the game begins. The patent also describes a wholly electronic version of either embodiment, wherein the game is played over the Internet.
Both of the aforementioned patents describe systems based upon a conventional technique of playing bingo wherein series of random numbers are generated until a game card is determined to contain some pre-specified matching pattern, whereupon the game is terminated. There are several problems with implementing a conventional game of bingo in an on-line system made accessible for remotely dispersed players.
The foremost difficulty with such systems is the detection of a winning game card, thereby providing a signal to the central computer system to stop the game.
Previous patentees granted patents for games of this sort have tended to rely primarily on elaborate telephone systems, allowing players to register a winning game card within some specified time period, presumably before the next random number is drawn.
This solution, however, presents additional problems for the game administrator or operator in terms of game card verification and validation. Specifically, not only does the game administrator need to check the game card registered by the player to ensure a desired pattern has been matched and ensure that the pattern matched consists only of numbers drawn for that game, the administrator must also check the game card registered by the player against all the other game cards entered in the game to ensure the game card registered by the player is, if not the first match, at least among the first group of game cards that match the pre-specified pattern. Alternatively, the game administrator (e.g., by means of a computer) is required to exhaustively check all game cards between any two successive draws. Both solutions are complicated and potentially expensive to operate.
Another difficulty has been the scheduling and broadcasting of bingo games;
because in conventional bingo the number of randomly generated numbers needed to be generated before a winning game card is detected cannot be predetermined, the duration of each bingo game is highly variable. This poses problems for the scheduling of television and radio broadcasts, or other such carriers of the game; the duration of any given game is highly dependent upon the number of players.
Lastly, much of the "head-to-head" excitement of conventional bingo as played in a bingo hall is lost in on-line bingo where players are remotely located relative to one another. Furthermore, because in conventional bingo the odds of winning are dependent upon the number of players, and because on-line bingo is made available to a large number of players, the odds of winning a game of on-line bingo may be too low to sustain the interest of players.
For the foregoing reasons, conventional bingo does not lend itself for implementation in systems available to remotely dispersed bingo players.
The technology used to host on-line lotteries for remote players is well established. In particular, the on-line lottery game of Keno is administered by lottery and/or gaming commissions and controlled from a central computer system connected to a telecommunications network or other type of wide area network. Keno may be played using kiosks or other types of remote terminals found in pubs, restaurants, casinos, gas stations, lotto booths, smoke shops, newspaper stands and the like. A
player selects a set of numbers within some predetermined range and indicates his selection using a game card. The game card is scanned by a remote terminal or kiosk and a lottery ticket is printed for purchase by the player. At regular intervals, sets of randomly generated numbers are communicated over a wide geographic area and are displayed for players on display boards located in the vicinity of the remote terminals.
A player examines his ticket to see if any of the randomly generated numbers displayed on the display board match the numbers printed on his lottery ticket.
Depending upon the number of matching numbers, the player may win a predetermined monetary prize.
because in conventional bingo the number of randomly generated numbers needed to be generated before a winning game card is detected cannot be predetermined, the duration of each bingo game is highly variable. This poses problems for the scheduling of television and radio broadcasts, or other such carriers of the game; the duration of any given game is highly dependent upon the number of players.
Lastly, much of the "head-to-head" excitement of conventional bingo as played in a bingo hall is lost in on-line bingo where players are remotely located relative to one another. Furthermore, because in conventional bingo the odds of winning are dependent upon the number of players, and because on-line bingo is made available to a large number of players, the odds of winning a game of on-line bingo may be too low to sustain the interest of players.
For the foregoing reasons, conventional bingo does not lend itself for implementation in systems available to remotely dispersed bingo players.
The technology used to host on-line lotteries for remote players is well established. In particular, the on-line lottery game of Keno is administered by lottery and/or gaming commissions and controlled from a central computer system connected to a telecommunications network or other type of wide area network. Keno may be played using kiosks or other types of remote terminals found in pubs, restaurants, casinos, gas stations, lotto booths, smoke shops, newspaper stands and the like. A
player selects a set of numbers within some predetermined range and indicates his selection using a game card. The game card is scanned by a remote terminal or kiosk and a lottery ticket is printed for purchase by the player. At regular intervals, sets of randomly generated numbers are communicated over a wide geographic area and are displayed for players on display boards located in the vicinity of the remote terminals.
A player examines his ticket to see if any of the randomly generated numbers displayed on the display board match the numbers printed on his lottery ticket.
Depending upon the number of matching numbers, the player may win a predetermined monetary prize.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a game of chance available to players from a plurality of remotely dispersed game-playing locations. The object of the game is to match symbols, selected at random from a predefined symbol universe by a game administrator and displayed on a display board for a plurality of players, with a discrete number of pre-selected symbols, selected by a player and recorded on an array generated by the game administrator for the player, a player holding a winning array if the matching symbols form a pre-specified pattern on the array. (The foregoing object is a generic description that includes the specific object of a conventional bingo game.
In this specification, frequent reference will be made to "bingo", but it is to be understood that other manifestations of games with the foregoing generic object may be substituted for bingo and that the principles of the invention apply to such manifestations, mutatis mutandis.) An interactive game of bingo played according to the invention is administered by a game administrator and controlled from a central computer system connected to a wide-area network such as the Internet. According to one aspect of the invention, players may interact with the system using kiosks or other types of remote terminals as found in pubs, restaurants, casinos, gas stations, lotto booths, smoke shops, newspaper stands and the like. According to this aspect of the invention, the game may be implemented using similar equipment and techniques as currently used for the on-line lottery game Keno. According to another aspect of the invention, players interact with the system by means of a website maintained by the game administrator.
More particularly, in a preferred embodiment of an interactive bingo game or the like according to the invention, a player selects a set of symbols from a predefined symbol universe (e.g., a letterinumeral combination of the sort conventionally used in playing bingo) on a scannable game card; the symbols selected by the player are used to generate a customized game array for the player, as described below. There may be constraints applicable to the symbols selected by a player; for example, as in conventional bingo, array symbols are numerals from 1 to 75. Furthermore, in order to emulate another aspect of conventional bingo, the player may be instructed to select several sets of numbers, one set for each column of a five by five bingo array. That is, the player selects five numbers from 1 to 15 (corresponding to the first column in the bingo array), five numbers from 16 to 30 (corresponding to the second column in the bingo array), four numbers from 31 to 45 (corresponding to the third column in the bingo array, and assuming a central "free" space in the five-by-five array), five numbers from 46 to 60 (corresponding to the fourth column in the bingo array), and five numbers from 61 to 75 (corresponding to the fifth column in the bingo array).
Once the player has selected a set of symbols on a game card, the scannable game card is scanned by a scanner and read by the remote terminal thereby generating a purchase request. The purchase request is uploaded from the remote terminal to the central computer system. In particular, the symbols selected by the player are transmitted from the remote terminal to the central computing system.
Furthermore, using the symbols selected by the player, the central computer system generates the particulars for the player's lottery ticket; the lottery ticket includes an array randomly pre-selected by the game administrator comprising symbols selected by the player.
Lottery ticket particulars include the locations of those symbols in the array; typically, the symbols selected by the player will be randomly distributed within each column of the array. The lottery ticket particulars are communicated from the central computer system to the remote terminal. From the remote terminal, in accordance with the lottery ticket particulars, a lottery ticket (including the array) is printed and may be purchased by the player. The precise stage in the foregoing sequence at which the purchase is completed by debiting a credit card or paying cash to a local operator or the like, is in the discretion of the designer of the system. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, each lottery ticket is eligible for only one game of chance, the game number being identified on the ticket.
At periodic intervals, the game then in progress is closed to further players and to further symbol selection by players. Thereafter, a set of symbols, randomly selected by the central computer system, is communicated to the remote gaming locations.
Each set of symbols corresponds to one game of chance. More particularly, for each game, the central computer system generates a different set of randomly-generated symbols; each randomly-generated set consists of a preset number of symbols selected at random from the predefined symbol universe. These symbols, correlated by a game number, may be communicated from the central computing system to display boards located in each of the remote gaming locations, in the vicinity of the remote terminal.
The symbols generated by the central computing system may be displayed on the display boards all at once, or in a sequence over some interval of time; most important is that all the randomly selected symbols generated by the central computing system be displayed for every game along with the game number. The display board need not present the symbols for the players in any particular type of format or arrangement, players need only identify the game number and which of the randomly selected symbols have been generated in order to play the game in its simplest form.
Each player examines his or her ticket to see if any of the randomly generated numbers displayed on the display board match the numbers printed on his or her lottery ticket. Certain collections of matching symbols, as arranged on the array printed on the lottery ticket, form patterns on the array. A player holds a winning ticket if the pattern or matching symbols as printed in the array on the lottery ticket match one of a certain type of pre-specified pattern. Typical types of pre-specified patterns include rows of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines, and blackouts.
Winning tickets may be validated by checking the array particulars as stored by the central database. Prizes of different monetary value may be awarded to players holding matching symbols in different types of pre-specified patterns.
SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a depiction of a game card according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a depiction of a bingo lottery ticket according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
The invention is a game of chance available to players from a plurality of remotely dispersed game-playing locations. The object of the game is to match symbols, selected at random from a predefined symbol universe by a game administrator and displayed on a display board for a plurality of players, with a discrete number of pre-selected symbols, selected by a player and recorded on an array generated by the game administrator for the player, a player holding a winning array if the matching symbols form a pre-specified pattern on the array. (The foregoing object is a generic description that includes the specific object of a conventional bingo game.
In this specification, frequent reference will be made to "bingo", but it is to be understood that other manifestations of games with the foregoing generic object may be substituted for bingo and that the principles of the invention apply to such manifestations, mutatis mutandis.) An interactive game of bingo played according to the invention is administered by a game administrator and controlled from a central computer system connected to a wide-area network such as the Internet. According to one aspect of the invention, players may interact with the system using kiosks or other types of remote terminals as found in pubs, restaurants, casinos, gas stations, lotto booths, smoke shops, newspaper stands and the like. According to this aspect of the invention, the game may be implemented using similar equipment and techniques as currently used for the on-line lottery game Keno. According to another aspect of the invention, players interact with the system by means of a website maintained by the game administrator.
More particularly, in a preferred embodiment of an interactive bingo game or the like according to the invention, a player selects a set of symbols from a predefined symbol universe (e.g., a letterinumeral combination of the sort conventionally used in playing bingo) on a scannable game card; the symbols selected by the player are used to generate a customized game array for the player, as described below. There may be constraints applicable to the symbols selected by a player; for example, as in conventional bingo, array symbols are numerals from 1 to 75. Furthermore, in order to emulate another aspect of conventional bingo, the player may be instructed to select several sets of numbers, one set for each column of a five by five bingo array. That is, the player selects five numbers from 1 to 15 (corresponding to the first column in the bingo array), five numbers from 16 to 30 (corresponding to the second column in the bingo array), four numbers from 31 to 45 (corresponding to the third column in the bingo array, and assuming a central "free" space in the five-by-five array), five numbers from 46 to 60 (corresponding to the fourth column in the bingo array), and five numbers from 61 to 75 (corresponding to the fifth column in the bingo array).
Once the player has selected a set of symbols on a game card, the scannable game card is scanned by a scanner and read by the remote terminal thereby generating a purchase request. The purchase request is uploaded from the remote terminal to the central computer system. In particular, the symbols selected by the player are transmitted from the remote terminal to the central computing system.
Furthermore, using the symbols selected by the player, the central computer system generates the particulars for the player's lottery ticket; the lottery ticket includes an array randomly pre-selected by the game administrator comprising symbols selected by the player.
Lottery ticket particulars include the locations of those symbols in the array; typically, the symbols selected by the player will be randomly distributed within each column of the array. The lottery ticket particulars are communicated from the central computer system to the remote terminal. From the remote terminal, in accordance with the lottery ticket particulars, a lottery ticket (including the array) is printed and may be purchased by the player. The precise stage in the foregoing sequence at which the purchase is completed by debiting a credit card or paying cash to a local operator or the like, is in the discretion of the designer of the system. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, each lottery ticket is eligible for only one game of chance, the game number being identified on the ticket.
At periodic intervals, the game then in progress is closed to further players and to further symbol selection by players. Thereafter, a set of symbols, randomly selected by the central computer system, is communicated to the remote gaming locations.
Each set of symbols corresponds to one game of chance. More particularly, for each game, the central computer system generates a different set of randomly-generated symbols; each randomly-generated set consists of a preset number of symbols selected at random from the predefined symbol universe. These symbols, correlated by a game number, may be communicated from the central computing system to display boards located in each of the remote gaming locations, in the vicinity of the remote terminal.
The symbols generated by the central computing system may be displayed on the display boards all at once, or in a sequence over some interval of time; most important is that all the randomly selected symbols generated by the central computing system be displayed for every game along with the game number. The display board need not present the symbols for the players in any particular type of format or arrangement, players need only identify the game number and which of the randomly selected symbols have been generated in order to play the game in its simplest form.
Each player examines his or her ticket to see if any of the randomly generated numbers displayed on the display board match the numbers printed on his or her lottery ticket. Certain collections of matching symbols, as arranged on the array printed on the lottery ticket, form patterns on the array. A player holds a winning ticket if the pattern or matching symbols as printed in the array on the lottery ticket match one of a certain type of pre-specified pattern. Typical types of pre-specified patterns include rows of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines, and blackouts.
Winning tickets may be validated by checking the array particulars as stored by the central database. Prizes of different monetary value may be awarded to players holding matching symbols in different types of pre-specified patterns.
SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a depiction of a game card according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a depiction of a bingo lottery ticket according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the interrelation between the apparatus elements according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The on-line bingo system and method is administered by a gaming administrator and controlled from a central computer system. Various remotely dispersed terminals communicate with the central computer system by means of a secure wide area network. Typically, remote terminals will be locally operated by a ticket vendor, but may also be directly operated by the bingo players themselves.
More particularly, the on-line bingo system and method enables players to optionally create and play arrays of their own choosing. Referring to Figures 1-3, a bingo player 300 acquires a scannable game card 100 from any remotely disperse location where on-line bingo is played. The player 300 identifies five sets of numbers between 1 and 75 by marking appropriate boxes 104 printed on a scannable game card 100 as follows: under the first column, the player is directed to select five numbers between 1 and 15; under the second column the player is directed to select five numbers between 16 and 30; under the third column the player is directed to select four number between 31 and 45; under the fourth column the player is directed to select five numbers between 46 and 60; under the fifth column, the player is directed to select five numbers between 61 and 75. Alternatively, the player 300 may select a "quick-pick"
option 102 thereby requesting that five random sets of numbers be generated automatically, in accordance with the ranges of numbers for each column, as described above. Also on the game card 100, the player 300 selects the number of games he or she wishes to play 106 as well as his or her wager amount for each game selected 108.
As indicated by numeral 1 of Figure 3, the player 300 presents his game card 100 to the on-line bingo vendor. The vendor scans the game card using a scanner 302.
The scanner 302 detects the choices made by the player 300 identified on the game card 100 and transmits this information to a remote terminal 304 as indicated by numeral 2, which is connected by means of a wide area network to the central computer system 306 operated by a lottery and/or gaming commission. The remote terminal 304 then transmits this information to the central computer system 306 as indicated by numeral 3, which creates all the data required in order to generate a bingo lottery ticket.
Specifically, the bingo lottery ticket data includes the player selected numbers, data describing the arrangement of the player selected numbers on the lottery ticket, the game tag number associated with each game, and a unique identifier number associated with each ticket. The central computer system 306 retains a copy of all such information, correlated by the unique bar code identifier, in a database.
As indicated by numeral 4, the ticket data is next transmitted from the central computer system 306 to the remote terminal 304 whereupon a bingo lottery ticket 200 is printed on a printer 308 as indicated by numeral 5, and presented for the player 300 for purchase as indicated by numeral 6. Based on the player's selections on the game card 100, the pre-specified number of bingo lottery tickets are printed; a separate ticket is printed for each game.
Specifically, each bingo lottery ticket 200 identifies the numbers selected by the player 300, the game tag number 204 associated with that ticket, the amount wagered per game and the prizes associated with matching certain patterns 210, as well as the total cost of the ticket 212. Each lottery ticket also includes a scannable bar code 216 and/ or other unique identifier 214 assigned by the lottery and/or gaming commission.
Payment may be effected to the ticket vendor using any usual payment means (cash, credit card, debit card, etc.).
The numbers as selected on the game card 100 are arranged in a five by five array 206 and printed on a bingo lottery ticket 200. Specifically, five columns are labelled "B", "I", "N", "G", and "O". Under each column label, player selected numbers are printed in the format described above. That is, five player selected numbers appear in each column except for the third column where only four player selected numbers appear; as in conventional bingo, the centremost space 208 on the bingo lottery ticket 200 is reserved for a blank or "free" space. Also as in conventional bingo, the arrangement of the player selected numbers in each column may be randomized such that the numbers do not necessarily appear in the order as selected by the player.
Various types of patterns are specified and printed on the bingo lottery ticket 200 along with associated prizes 210. For example, three lines, whether vertical or horizontal lines, may be rewarded with a one dollar prize. Four lines may be rewarded with a three dollar prize. Five lines may be rewarded with a twenty five dollar prize.
Patterns which are most difficult to match, such as a complete blackout, are rewarded with the largest prizes.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the central computer system 306 generates a pre-set number of randomly generated numbers at regular intervals. Random number generating software is widely available. For each game, a single composite set of random numbers may be generated in accordance with the following criteria: a pre-set number of random numbers are generated, the exact number preferably constrained between 35 and 48. Furthermore, the entire set of numbers for every game are selected from the pool of numbers from 1 to 75.
Alternatively the numbers may also be randomly drawn from a traditional bingo-ball dispenser in accordance to the criteria as described above, and subsequently keyed into the central computer system 306.
Each set of numbers corresponds to one complete game of bingo. Along with each set of numbers, the central computer system 306 also generates a game tag;
game tag numbers increase sequentially with each game. The entire set of numbers is correlated with the game tag and stored in a database coupled to the central computing system 306.
As indicated by numeral 7 of Figure 3, the central computer system 306 transmits the set of numbers to a remote display board 310. The display board 310 is located in the vicinity of the remote terminal 304 however need not be linked to the remote terminal 304. When a remote display board 310 receives a set of numbers from the central computing system 306, the randomly generated numbers, as a single composite result, are electronically presented on the display board 310 along with the game tag. The display board 310 should be capable of displaying all randomly generated numbers within the interval of time allocated for the game. Ideally, the numbers may be presented on the display board 310 in a five columned array, corresponding to the five columns of the bingo array.
As indicated by numeral 8 of Figure 3, the player 300 compares his lottery ticket with the numbers as displayed on the display board 310. Specifically, the player 300 first compares the game tag number as displayed on the display board 310 with the game tag number 204 as printed on his lottery ticket 200 to verify his ticket is valid for the active game. Next the player 300 compares the set of randomly generated numbers on the display board 310 with the numbers as printed in the array 206 on his lottery ticket 200 and checks for any matching numbers and, more particularly, for any matching pre-specified patterns. Any bingo lottery ticket whose matching numbers form some pre-specified pattern on the bingo lottery ticket is a winning ticket.
Winning tickets must be validated by the gaming administrator before a prize is awarded.
Specifically, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, as indicated by numeral 9 of Figure 3, the vendor scans the bar code 216 printed on the bingo lottery ticket 200 with the scanner 302. As indicated by numeral 10 of Figure 3, the scanner 302 reads the bar code 216 and transmits this information to the remote terminal 304. According to an alternate embodiment of the invention, the unique identifier number 214 as printed on the bingo lottery ticket 200 may be keyed in by the vendor of the ticket at the remote terminal 310. The operating and integrity of the verification process is the responsibility of the gaming administrator.
In either case, as indicated by numeral 11 of Figure 3, the unique identifier number is transmitted by the remote terminal 304 to the central computer system 306.
The central computer 306 receives the unique identifier number and retrieves from the database particulars of that ticket. Specifically, the central computer system retrieves the game tag number, the player selected numbers, and data describing the arrangement of the numbers as printed on the ticket. The central computer system 306 compares the numbers, and arrangement of those numbers with the set of random numbers as generated for the game as identified by the game tag number. Based on this comparison, the central computer system 306 designates the ticket to be either a winning ticket, or not a winning ticket.
As indicated by numeral 12 of Figure 3, the central computer 306 transmits validation information to the remote terminal 304. As indicated by numerals 13 and 14 of Figure 3, using the validation information, the remote terminal 304 generates a validation slip which is printed on a printer 308. Validated tickets identified as winning tickets may be redeemed for a predetermined prize based on the pre-specified pattern matched. Prizes over some predetermined value may require the customer to attend an office of the gaming administrator for validation.
According to an alternate embodiment of the invention described above, the invention as described above may be implemented entirely on-line over the Internet.
Similar functionality to that described above may be provided by interaction with a website maintained by the lottery/ gaming commission.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The on-line bingo system and method is administered by a gaming administrator and controlled from a central computer system. Various remotely dispersed terminals communicate with the central computer system by means of a secure wide area network. Typically, remote terminals will be locally operated by a ticket vendor, but may also be directly operated by the bingo players themselves.
More particularly, the on-line bingo system and method enables players to optionally create and play arrays of their own choosing. Referring to Figures 1-3, a bingo player 300 acquires a scannable game card 100 from any remotely disperse location where on-line bingo is played. The player 300 identifies five sets of numbers between 1 and 75 by marking appropriate boxes 104 printed on a scannable game card 100 as follows: under the first column, the player is directed to select five numbers between 1 and 15; under the second column the player is directed to select five numbers between 16 and 30; under the third column the player is directed to select four number between 31 and 45; under the fourth column the player is directed to select five numbers between 46 and 60; under the fifth column, the player is directed to select five numbers between 61 and 75. Alternatively, the player 300 may select a "quick-pick"
option 102 thereby requesting that five random sets of numbers be generated automatically, in accordance with the ranges of numbers for each column, as described above. Also on the game card 100, the player 300 selects the number of games he or she wishes to play 106 as well as his or her wager amount for each game selected 108.
As indicated by numeral 1 of Figure 3, the player 300 presents his game card 100 to the on-line bingo vendor. The vendor scans the game card using a scanner 302.
The scanner 302 detects the choices made by the player 300 identified on the game card 100 and transmits this information to a remote terminal 304 as indicated by numeral 2, which is connected by means of a wide area network to the central computer system 306 operated by a lottery and/or gaming commission. The remote terminal 304 then transmits this information to the central computer system 306 as indicated by numeral 3, which creates all the data required in order to generate a bingo lottery ticket.
Specifically, the bingo lottery ticket data includes the player selected numbers, data describing the arrangement of the player selected numbers on the lottery ticket, the game tag number associated with each game, and a unique identifier number associated with each ticket. The central computer system 306 retains a copy of all such information, correlated by the unique bar code identifier, in a database.
As indicated by numeral 4, the ticket data is next transmitted from the central computer system 306 to the remote terminal 304 whereupon a bingo lottery ticket 200 is printed on a printer 308 as indicated by numeral 5, and presented for the player 300 for purchase as indicated by numeral 6. Based on the player's selections on the game card 100, the pre-specified number of bingo lottery tickets are printed; a separate ticket is printed for each game.
Specifically, each bingo lottery ticket 200 identifies the numbers selected by the player 300, the game tag number 204 associated with that ticket, the amount wagered per game and the prizes associated with matching certain patterns 210, as well as the total cost of the ticket 212. Each lottery ticket also includes a scannable bar code 216 and/ or other unique identifier 214 assigned by the lottery and/or gaming commission.
Payment may be effected to the ticket vendor using any usual payment means (cash, credit card, debit card, etc.).
The numbers as selected on the game card 100 are arranged in a five by five array 206 and printed on a bingo lottery ticket 200. Specifically, five columns are labelled "B", "I", "N", "G", and "O". Under each column label, player selected numbers are printed in the format described above. That is, five player selected numbers appear in each column except for the third column where only four player selected numbers appear; as in conventional bingo, the centremost space 208 on the bingo lottery ticket 200 is reserved for a blank or "free" space. Also as in conventional bingo, the arrangement of the player selected numbers in each column may be randomized such that the numbers do not necessarily appear in the order as selected by the player.
Various types of patterns are specified and printed on the bingo lottery ticket 200 along with associated prizes 210. For example, three lines, whether vertical or horizontal lines, may be rewarded with a one dollar prize. Four lines may be rewarded with a three dollar prize. Five lines may be rewarded with a twenty five dollar prize.
Patterns which are most difficult to match, such as a complete blackout, are rewarded with the largest prizes.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the central computer system 306 generates a pre-set number of randomly generated numbers at regular intervals. Random number generating software is widely available. For each game, a single composite set of random numbers may be generated in accordance with the following criteria: a pre-set number of random numbers are generated, the exact number preferably constrained between 35 and 48. Furthermore, the entire set of numbers for every game are selected from the pool of numbers from 1 to 75.
Alternatively the numbers may also be randomly drawn from a traditional bingo-ball dispenser in accordance to the criteria as described above, and subsequently keyed into the central computer system 306.
Each set of numbers corresponds to one complete game of bingo. Along with each set of numbers, the central computer system 306 also generates a game tag;
game tag numbers increase sequentially with each game. The entire set of numbers is correlated with the game tag and stored in a database coupled to the central computing system 306.
As indicated by numeral 7 of Figure 3, the central computer system 306 transmits the set of numbers to a remote display board 310. The display board 310 is located in the vicinity of the remote terminal 304 however need not be linked to the remote terminal 304. When a remote display board 310 receives a set of numbers from the central computing system 306, the randomly generated numbers, as a single composite result, are electronically presented on the display board 310 along with the game tag. The display board 310 should be capable of displaying all randomly generated numbers within the interval of time allocated for the game. Ideally, the numbers may be presented on the display board 310 in a five columned array, corresponding to the five columns of the bingo array.
As indicated by numeral 8 of Figure 3, the player 300 compares his lottery ticket with the numbers as displayed on the display board 310. Specifically, the player 300 first compares the game tag number as displayed on the display board 310 with the game tag number 204 as printed on his lottery ticket 200 to verify his ticket is valid for the active game. Next the player 300 compares the set of randomly generated numbers on the display board 310 with the numbers as printed in the array 206 on his lottery ticket 200 and checks for any matching numbers and, more particularly, for any matching pre-specified patterns. Any bingo lottery ticket whose matching numbers form some pre-specified pattern on the bingo lottery ticket is a winning ticket.
Winning tickets must be validated by the gaming administrator before a prize is awarded.
Specifically, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, as indicated by numeral 9 of Figure 3, the vendor scans the bar code 216 printed on the bingo lottery ticket 200 with the scanner 302. As indicated by numeral 10 of Figure 3, the scanner 302 reads the bar code 216 and transmits this information to the remote terminal 304. According to an alternate embodiment of the invention, the unique identifier number 214 as printed on the bingo lottery ticket 200 may be keyed in by the vendor of the ticket at the remote terminal 310. The operating and integrity of the verification process is the responsibility of the gaming administrator.
In either case, as indicated by numeral 11 of Figure 3, the unique identifier number is transmitted by the remote terminal 304 to the central computer system 306.
The central computer 306 receives the unique identifier number and retrieves from the database particulars of that ticket. Specifically, the central computer system retrieves the game tag number, the player selected numbers, and data describing the arrangement of the numbers as printed on the ticket. The central computer system 306 compares the numbers, and arrangement of those numbers with the set of random numbers as generated for the game as identified by the game tag number. Based on this comparison, the central computer system 306 designates the ticket to be either a winning ticket, or not a winning ticket.
As indicated by numeral 12 of Figure 3, the central computer 306 transmits validation information to the remote terminal 304. As indicated by numerals 13 and 14 of Figure 3, using the validation information, the remote terminal 304 generates a validation slip which is printed on a printer 308. Validated tickets identified as winning tickets may be redeemed for a predetermined prize based on the pre-specified pattern matched. Prizes over some predetermined value may require the customer to attend an office of the gaming administrator for validation.
According to an alternate embodiment of the invention described above, the invention as described above may be implemented entirely on-line over the Internet.
Similar functionality to that described above may be provided by interaction with a website maintained by the lottery/ gaming commission.
Claims (29)
1. A game of chance available to players located in a plurality of gaming locations remote from one another, comprising the steps, for each player in each game, of:
(a) generating an array of symbols for the player in response to a purchase request placed by the player, the array comprising a selection by the player of a discrete number of said symbols from a larger plurality of said symbols selected from a pre-defined symbol universe, and wherein the array is constrained to conform to one of a larger number of possible permitted arrays of such symbols, wherein the step of generating an array further includes the steps of:
(i) uploading the purchase request to a central computer system;
(ii) generating an array in response to the purchase request;
(iii) recording the array on a recordable means; and (iv) communicating or transferring the recorded array to the player;
(b) communicating to the player a preset number of randomly selected symbols generated from the predefined symbol universe, including the sub-steps of:
(i) downloading the preset number of randomly selected symbols from the central computer system; and (ii) communicating to the player the preset number of randomly selected symbols;
wherein the object of the game is to match randomly selected symbols with the player's pre-selected symbols recorded in the player's array, the array being a winning array if the matching symbols form a pre-specified pattern on the array.
(a) generating an array of symbols for the player in response to a purchase request placed by the player, the array comprising a selection by the player of a discrete number of said symbols from a larger plurality of said symbols selected from a pre-defined symbol universe, and wherein the array is constrained to conform to one of a larger number of possible permitted arrays of such symbols, wherein the step of generating an array further includes the steps of:
(i) uploading the purchase request to a central computer system;
(ii) generating an array in response to the purchase request;
(iii) recording the array on a recordable means; and (iv) communicating or transferring the recorded array to the player;
(b) communicating to the player a preset number of randomly selected symbols generated from the predefined symbol universe, including the sub-steps of:
(i) downloading the preset number of randomly selected symbols from the central computer system; and (ii) communicating to the player the preset number of randomly selected symbols;
wherein the object of the game is to match randomly selected symbols with the player's pre-selected symbols recorded in the player's array, the array being a winning array if the matching symbols form a pre-specified pattern on the array.
2. The game of claim 1 wherein pre-specified patterns on the array include rows of horizontal lines, columns of vertical lines, diagonal lines, boxes and blackouts.
3. The game of claim 2 wherein different types of pre-specified patterns may be awarded with prizes of different monetary value.
4. The game of claim 1 wherein players interact with the system by means of remote terminals located at remotely disperse gaming locations.
5. The game of claim 1 wherein players interact with the system by means of a website maintained by the gaming administrator.
6. The game of claim 1 wherein the pre-set number of randomly selected symbols are exhibited to players as a single composite result.
7. The game of claim 6 wherein the pre-set number of randomly selected symbols are exhibited to players by means of display boards located at each of the remotely disperse gaming locations.
8. The game of claim 7 wherein single composite results of randomly generated symbols are exhibited to players at periodic intervals.
9. The game of claim 1 wherein a player indicates the particulars of a purchase request using a scannable game card.
10. The game of claim 9 wherein the purchase request includes a pre-set number of symbols selected from a pre-defined symbol universe.
11. The game of claim 1 wherein the recordable means includes a lottery ticket;
12. The game of claim 11 wherein the lottery ticket additionally includes a game tag number and a unique identification array number.
13. The game of claim 1 wherein the central computer system includes a central database for recording array particulars.
14. The game of claim 13 wherein winning tickets may be validated by comparing array particulars stored in the central database against the array as recorded on recordable means.
15. A game of chance available to players from a plurality of remotely disperse gaming locations comprising:
a central computer system connected to a wide area network;
remote terminal means for accepting a purchase request and uploading the purchase request to the central computer system;
central computer system means for generating an array in response to the purchase request, the array comprising a plurality of symbols selected from a predefined number universe, and for downloading array particulars to remote terminal means;
remote terminal means for recording the generated array;
central computer system means for generating a pre-set number of randomly selected symbols generated from the predefined symbol universe, and for downloading the pre-set number of randomly selected symbols to the remotely dispersed gaming locations; and means for communicating the pre-set number of randomly selected symbols for the players;
wherein the object of the game is to match randomly selected symbols with pre-selected symbols recorded in an array, the array being a winning array if the matching symbols form a pre-specified pattern on the array.
a central computer system connected to a wide area network;
remote terminal means for accepting a purchase request and uploading the purchase request to the central computer system;
central computer system means for generating an array in response to the purchase request, the array comprising a plurality of symbols selected from a predefined number universe, and for downloading array particulars to remote terminal means;
remote terminal means for recording the generated array;
central computer system means for generating a pre-set number of randomly selected symbols generated from the predefined symbol universe, and for downloading the pre-set number of randomly selected symbols to the remotely dispersed gaming locations; and means for communicating the pre-set number of randomly selected symbols for the players;
wherein the object of the game is to match randomly selected symbols with pre-selected symbols recorded in an array, the array being a winning array if the matching symbols form a pre-specified pattern on the array.
16. The game of claim 15 wherein pre-specified patterns on the array include rows of horizontal lines, columns of vertical lines, diagonal lines, boxes and blackouts.
17. The game of claim 16 wherein different types of pre-specified patterns may be awarded with prizes of different monetary value.
18. The game of claim 15 wherein players interact with the system by means of a website maintained by the gaming administrator.
19. The game of claim 1 wherein the pre-set number of randomly selected symbols are exhibited to players as a single composite result.
20. The game of claim 19 wherein means for exhibiting includes display boards located at each of the remotely disperse gaming locations.
21. The game of claim 20 wherein single composite results of randomly generated symbols are exhibited to players at periodic intervals.
22. The game of claim 21 wherein a player indicates the particulars of a purchase request using a scannable game card.
23. The game of claim 22 wherein the purchase request includes a pre-set number of symbols selected from a pre-defined symbol universe.
24. The game of claim 15 wherein means for recording the generated array includes a printing the array on a lottery ticket.
25. The game of claim 24 wherein the lottery ticket additionally includes a game tag number and a unique identification array number.
26. The game of claim 15 wherein the central computer system includes a central database for recording array particulars.
27. The game of claim 26 wherein winning tickets may be validated by comparing array particulars stored in the central database against the array as recorded by means of the remote terminal.
28. A game of chance available to players located in a plurality of gaming locations remote from one another, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing each player with a game card enabling a player to make a purchase request by identifying a discrete number of symbols selected from a pre-defined symbol universe on the game card;
(b) reading the game card and communicating the purchase request to a remote terminal;
(c) communicating the purchase request from the remote terminal to a central computer system;
(d) generating an array for the player in response to the purchase request;
(e) recording the array generated for the player in a database coupled to the central computing system;
(f) communicating the array generated for the player from the central computer system to the remote terminal;
(g) generating a lottery ticket for purchase by the player, the lottery ticket including the array generated for the player;
(h) generating a preset number of randomly selected symbols from the predefined symbol universe, the symbols being generated by the central computer system; and (f) communicating the symbols from the central computer system to a display board located in the vicinity of the remote terminal where the lottery ticket was generated;
wherein the object of the game is to match randomly selected symbols with the player's pre-selected symbols recorded on the lottery ticket, the lottery ticket being a winning lottery ticket if the matching symbols contained in the array form a pre-specified pattern on the array.
(a) providing each player with a game card enabling a player to make a purchase request by identifying a discrete number of symbols selected from a pre-defined symbol universe on the game card;
(b) reading the game card and communicating the purchase request to a remote terminal;
(c) communicating the purchase request from the remote terminal to a central computer system;
(d) generating an array for the player in response to the purchase request;
(e) recording the array generated for the player in a database coupled to the central computing system;
(f) communicating the array generated for the player from the central computer system to the remote terminal;
(g) generating a lottery ticket for purchase by the player, the lottery ticket including the array generated for the player;
(h) generating a preset number of randomly selected symbols from the predefined symbol universe, the symbols being generated by the central computer system; and (f) communicating the symbols from the central computer system to a display board located in the vicinity of the remote terminal where the lottery ticket was generated;
wherein the object of the game is to match randomly selected symbols with the player's pre-selected symbols recorded on the lottery ticket, the lottery ticket being a winning lottery ticket if the matching symbols contained in the array form a pre-specified pattern on the array.
29. A game of chance available to players located in a plurality of gaming locations remote from one another, comprising:
(a) a game card enabling a player to make a purchase request by identifying a discrete number of symbols selected from a pre-defined symbol universe on the game card;
(b) remote terminal means for reading the game card and transmitting the purchase request to a central computer system;
(d) central computer means for generating an array for the player in response to the purchase request;
(e) database means coupled to the central computer means for recording the array generated for the player;
(f) central computer means for transmitting the array generated for the player to the remote terminal means;
(g) remote terminal means for generating a lottery ticket for purchase by the player, the lottery ticket including the array generated for the player;
(h) central computer means for generating a preset number of randomly selected symbols from the predefined symbol universe and communicating the symbols to a display means; and (f) display board means located in the vicinity of where the purchase request was made for displaying the preset number of randomly selected symbols from the predefined symbol universe for the player;
wherein the object of the game is to match randomly selected symbols with the player's pre-selected symbols recorded on the lottery ticket, the lottery ticket being a winning lottery ticket if the matching symbols contained in the array form a pre-specified pattern on the array.
(a) a game card enabling a player to make a purchase request by identifying a discrete number of symbols selected from a pre-defined symbol universe on the game card;
(b) remote terminal means for reading the game card and transmitting the purchase request to a central computer system;
(d) central computer means for generating an array for the player in response to the purchase request;
(e) database means coupled to the central computer means for recording the array generated for the player;
(f) central computer means for transmitting the array generated for the player to the remote terminal means;
(g) remote terminal means for generating a lottery ticket for purchase by the player, the lottery ticket including the array generated for the player;
(h) central computer means for generating a preset number of randomly selected symbols from the predefined symbol universe and communicating the symbols to a display means; and (f) display board means located in the vicinity of where the purchase request was made for displaying the preset number of randomly selected symbols from the predefined symbol universe for the player;
wherein the object of the game is to match randomly selected symbols with the player's pre-selected symbols recorded on the lottery ticket, the lottery ticket being a winning lottery ticket if the matching symbols contained in the array form a pre-specified pattern on the array.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2332197 CA2332197A1 (en) | 2001-01-24 | 2001-01-24 | On-line bingo system and method |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2332197 CA2332197A1 (en) | 2001-01-24 | 2001-01-24 | On-line bingo system and method |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2332197A1 true CA2332197A1 (en) | 2002-07-24 |
Family
ID=4168168
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2332197 Abandoned CA2332197A1 (en) | 2001-01-24 | 2001-01-24 | On-line bingo system and method |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2332197A1 (en) |
-
2001
- 2001-01-24 CA CA 2332197 patent/CA2332197A1/en not_active Abandoned
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