GB2334897A

GB2334897A - Lottery/bingo type game

Info

Publication number: GB2334897A
Application number: GB9823541A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Simon Thomas
Original assignee: Thomas Estates Ltd
Current assignee: Thomas Estates Ltd
Priority date: 1998-10-27
Filing date: 1998-10-27
Publication date: 1999-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2018-10-27
Also published as: GB2334897B; GB9823541D0

Abstract

Apparatus including two sets of machine readable cards 1, (10, fig.2), card reading apparatus (101, fig.3), printing means (106, fig.3) memory means (104, fig.3), randomiser means (109, fig.3), display means (103, fig.3) and comparator means (110, fig.3). The player choses a set of data, preferably about 5 numbers, from a larger set of, say 80 numbers. The first machine readable card 1 is then inserted into the machine and the data is stored in the memory (104, fig. 3). The printing means (106, fig.3) prints an authenticated second machine readable card (10, fig.2) and then the randomiser means selects a second, larger, set of data, about 15 numbers. These data are also stored in the memory (104, fig.3). The comparator (110, fig. 3) is capable of comparing the player's set of data with the randomly generated set, including determining the position of the player's data in the larger sequence of generated numbers. If the 5 numbers chosen by the player are matched by the first 5 numbers generated, a certain category of win is registered. If the numbers are matched only after all 15 numbers are generated, a lower category of win is registered. The comparator (110, fig.3) can produce signals corresponding to the category of win.

Description

GAMING APPARATUS The present invention relates to gaming apparatus, and especially to apparatus for playing a 'bingo' style game involving active participation of a number of players.

Many games of chance are known in the art. These include lotteries and 'bingo' style games. It is known to use such games of chance to wager sums of money in order to win prizes. Games of chance such as lotteries are inactive in that a player of such a game needs only to take part to have as great a chance of winning as all other players. They need exhibit no skill in playing the game. Games of chance such as bingo, lotto and house on the other hand, involve active participation by the player, in that entering the game is not sufficient to win a prize. Instead the player must react to certain events during the game and exhibit a degree of skill in order to win.

In bingo players are provided with game cards on which a randomly generated series of numbers are displayed. Numbers are called out at random which then must be covered on the player's cards. Prizes are won by the first to cover all or certain of the numbers displayed on their card (either with shutters or by marking with a pen).

Whilst bingo has proven to be entertaining it has been found to be limited in respect of the variety of game-styles available and the range of possible winning combinations.

The present invention provides gaming apparatus comprising: first and second pluralities of machine readable cards; card reading apparatus for reading the machine readable cards; printing means for printing indicia on the second plurality of machine readable cards; randomiser means for randomly generating random sequences of indicia; memory means for storing the randomly generated indicia; first display means for displaying the randomly generated indicia in sequence; comparator means for comparing indicia read by the card reading apparatus with the randomly generated indicia generated by the randomiser means; and second display means for displaying to a player an indication of a win; wherein, in use of the apparatus: a player marks at least one of the first plurality of cards to select a plurality of indicia; the card reading apparatus is used to read from the marked card the selected indicia; the printing means receives from the card reading apparatus signals indicating the selected indicia and prints the selected indicia on at least one of the second plurality of cards; the randomiser means generates randomly a sequence of indicia; the first display means displays in sequence the randomly generated indicia; the memory means stores the randomly generated indicia in sequence; the comparator means compares the randomly generated indicia stored in the memory means with the selected indicia and determines which of the selected indicia match the randomly generated indicia to determine whether there is a win, the comparator means producing a signal indicating a win in dependence on the matches; and the second display means displays a win under the control of the signal produced by the comparator means; characterised in that: the comparator means during the comparison of the selected indicia with the randomly generated indicia additionally determines the positions of the matching indicia in the sequence of randomly generated indicia stored in the memory means and produces different signals indicating different categories of win in dependence on the position of the matching indicia in the sequence; and the second display means displays different indications showing different categories of wins in response to the signals produced by the comparator means.

The present invention aims to increase the variety and entertainment available from bingo style games of chance and in particular to increase the number of possible winning combinations available and the active participation by the player.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a sample number selection card for use with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a sample game card for use with the present invention; and Figure 3 is a schematic representation of part of the game apparatus of the present invention.

The present invention provides apparatus for playing a game in the style of 'bingo'. When playing the game players are first presented with a machine readable selection card 1 as shown in Figure 1. The selection card 1 comprises one or more lists 3 of indicia, in this case numbers ranging from 1 to 80 inclusive. The numbers may be arranged in any desired format and in Figure 1 are arranged in two vertical columns of 40 numbers. Besides each number is a box 2 in which a player of the game may place a mark such as a tick, line or cross to indicate selection of that number. Each number selection card 1 may comprise more than one list of numbers from 1 to 80. The card shown in Figure 1 comprises four such lists arranged next to one another. Each list 3 is designated an identifying title of the format, "Line 1", Line 2", etc. which is shown at the top of the list 3. Instructions for use of the number selection card 3 may also be shown on the card.

To use the number selection card 1 a player of the game chooses five numbers from the range 1 to 80 inclusive and places a mark in the box 2 corresponding to each chosen number in the list entitled "Line 1".

If the player wishes to play more than one game simultaneously they may choose five more numbers and mark them on the list entitled "Line 2". In a similar way a number selection card 1 with four lists 3 shown may be used for playing up to four games simultaneously. A player can also select using the boxes in section 4 of the card 1 whether his selected five numbers will be used in more than one game. If no mark is made in the section 4 then the numbers are used only in one game. However, the player can use the box 4 to select that his chosen five numbers are used in two games, five games or ten games.

The number selection card may also have means for allowing a player to choose a random selection of five numbers from the range. Such means may be a box 5 that may be marked with a tick, line or cross.

The number selection card 1 is then taken to a machine terminal shown schematically in Figure 3 as 100 and inserted in card reading apparatus comprising a card reader 101. The numbers chosen in each list 3 are read by the reader 101 by a known method such as optical character recognition. The machine terminal 100 has stake accepting means 102 connected to the reader 101 which determines how many lists are being played and how many games each selection of numbers will be entered for and sends a signal to display means 103 such as a video screen which then indicates to the player the total stake required to be paid. The player then inserts the stake in a coin insertion and validation device of the stake collection means 102.

The machine terminal has memory means 104 which stores the details of the selected numbers in memory together with a unique authentication code randomly produced by authentication means 105 of the machine terminal 100 (such authentication means being triggered by a signal produced by card reader 101). The machine terminal 100 has printing means 106 which prints a machine readable game card 10 as shown in Figure 2 upon which are shown the five numbers selected by the player rearranged into a horizontal line for each list 3 played. The game card 10 also shows the total stake paid, the date and time of printing, the number of the draw for which the game card is valid and a representation of the authentication code produced by the machine terminal, which may be shown as a numerical code or bar code 11.

The authentication code will contain in coded form information about the numbers selected, the stake paid and the draw(s) for which the selected numbers are entered.

The machine terminal has totalising means 107 which totals the total stakes paid by all players between successive games. If the total stake paid reaches a preset threshold stored in the memory means 104 then the totalising means 107 sends a signal to the card reader 101 which then ceases to accept any new number selection cards 1 until after the next game. Likewise the machine terminal 100 may be provided with an internal clock 108 and limit the time interval between successive draws to a preset maximum limit.

Once either the stake limit or time limit is exceeded a randomiser means 109 of the machine terminal 100 randomly produces a random sequence of fifteen numbers selected from the range of numbers from 1 to 80 inclusive. The randomiser 109 will be activated by signals produced by either or both of the clock 108 and totalising means 107. Each number of the sequence is displayed by the display means 103 for a short period and is then removed from display before the next number is shown. Signals are sent from the randomiser 109 to the display means 103. The memory 104 stores the details of the drawn numbers and also the sequence in which those numbers were drawn.

Signals will be sent from randomiser 109 to memory 104 indicating the random sequence.

Players of the game participate in the draw by marking off the numbers on their game cards 10 as they are displayed by the machine terminal 100.

After the random sequence of fifteen numbers have been displayed the game is complete and players examine their game cards 10 for winning lines. A game card 10 has a winning line if all of the five selected numbers in any of their horizontal lines, representing the numbers originally marked on each list 3, have been displayed.

In traditional bingo the winner is the first player to cover all or certain of the numbers on their game card at which point they indicate this by calling out and the draw stops. According to the present invention each game always continues until fifteen numbers have been displayed irrespective of whether any player has produced a winning line. However, the level of prize won by the player depends on how quickly the winning line is completed. For example, the maximum prize will be won where the five numbers selected by a player are matched by the first five numbers of the sequence displayed by the machine terminal. The minimum prize will be won when the last of the five selected numbers to match the randomly generated numbers is matched by the fifteenth and last number of the random sequence displayed by the machine terminal 100. The prize level for winning lines completed on between the sixth and fourteenth numbers drawn will vary between the maximum and minimum levels on a graduated scale.

A player who believes he has a game card 10 with a winning line inserts the game card 10 in the card reader 101, where it is read. The authentication means 105 checks the authentication code printed on the card with the authentication codes stored in the memory 104. The authentication means determines from the authentication code the selected numbers. The authentication code is used to provide the selected numbers rather than the graphical print of the numbers because the graphical print may be altered by a player. Comparison means 110 checks the selected numbers (as determined from the authentication code) and matches with the random sequence of numbers.

The comparison means 110 also determines whether five matches are found with the first five numbers of the random sequences, or five numbers of the first six of the number sequence, or five numbers of the first seven of the random sequence and so on up to the fifteenth number of the random sequence. The comparison means 110 produces a win signal when there are five matches. The win signal indicates a category of win. The category of win will depend upon how many of the numbers of the random sequence were necessary to produce five matches. The win signal is sent to the display means 103.

The display means 103 then displays the amount of the prize won. If the prize is monetary or in tokens the machine terminal may also dispense the prize to the player using a dispenser 111.

Optionally any prizes must be collected before the next draw takes place.

The number selection cards 1 may display a range of numbers different from 1 to 80 inclusive. Indeed instead of numbers different indicia could be used, e.g. letters of the alphabet or perhaps the symbols commonly used in fruit machines. In addition the number selections chosen by the player may be shown in a different format than that shown in Figure 2.

In the embodiment described above the machine terminal has stake collection means 102. However, such means are not necessary and instead the stake could be paid to a cashier who would use activation means to operate the printing means 106 to print a game card 10 when a sufficient stake is paid. The cashier would also pay out any prizes instead of the dispenser 111.

Each venue for playing the game may be provided with one machine terminal 100 which contains in a single housing all the apparatus required for playing the game including the memory and means for randomly generating the winning numbers. Alternatively each venue may be provided with more than one terminal 100 to increase ease of access to the terminals and the speed of processing number selection cards and game cards. Each terminal 100 contains a card reader 101 and a printer 106 for printing the game cards The terminals are operatively connected, for instance by cabling, fibre optics or similar, and one of the terminals would also contains the memory 104, the randomiser 109 and other components shown in Figure 3.Optionally each terminal could be provided with stake collection means 102 and/or a dispenser 111.

In a further alternative arrangement a plurality of machine terminals 100 are provided all containing a card reader 100 and a printer 106 for printing the game cards 10. However all of the terminals 100 are operatively linked to a separate machine which contains, for instance, the memory 104 and the randomiser 109 for randomly generating the winning numbers. Each terminal could optionally comprise stake collection means 102 and/or a dispenser 111 or the separate machine could be provided with either or both.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Gaming apparatus comprising: first and second pluralities of machine readable cards; card reading apparatus for reading the machine readable cards; printing means for printing indicia on the second plurality of machine readable cards; randomiser means for randomly generating random sequences of indicia; memory means for storing the randomly generated indicia; first display means for displaying the randomly generated indicia in sequence; comparator means for comparing indicia read by the card reading apparatus with the randomly generated indicia generated by the randomiser means; and second display means for displaying to a player an indication of a win; wherein, in use of the apparatus: a player marks at least one of the first plurality of cards to select a plurality of indicia; the card reading apparatus is used to read from the marked card the selected indicia; the printing means receives from the card reading apparatus signals indicating the selected indicia and prints the selected indicia on at least one of the second plurality of cards; the randomiser means generates randomly a sequence of indicia; the first display means displays in sequence the randomly generated indicia; the memory means stores the randomly generated indicia in sequence; the comparator means compares the randomly generated indicia stored in the memory means with the selected indicia and determines which of the selected indicia match the randomly generated indicia to determine whether there is a win, the comparator means producing a signal indicating a win in dependence on the matches; and the second display means displays a win under the control of the signal produced by the comparator means; characterised in that: the comparator means during the comparison of the selected indicia with the randomly generated indicia additionally determines the positions of the matching indicia in the sequence of randomly generated indicia stored in the memory means and produces different signals indicating different categories of win in dependence on the position of the matching indicia in the sequence; and the second display means displays different indications showing different categories of wins in response to the signals produced by the comparator means.
2. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the randomiser means generates a first number of indicia and the player selects a second smaller number of indicia and if the selected indicia match the randomly generated indicia then the comparator means determines how many of the first number of indicia would have to be have been generated in sequence for all matches to be achieved.
3. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising also authentication means for generating an authentication code, wherein the authentication code is printed along with the selected indicia on the printed card, the card reading apparatus reads the printed authentication code and the authentication means uses the authentication code to determine the selected indicia which are compared by the comparison means with the random indicia.
4. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the authentication code is stored in the memory means and the authentication means checks the machine-read authentication code stored in the memory means to check the authenticity of the printed card.
5. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the authentication code is a bar code.
6. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second display means both comprise the same visual display screen.
7. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the indicia selected by the player, generated by the randomiser means and printed by the printer means are all numerals, the player selecting from the same range of numerals as used by the randomiser means in the generation of the sequence of indicia.
8. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the sequence of randomly generated numerals consists of 15 numerals and each selected plurality of numerals consists of 5 numbers.
9. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein each of the first plurality of cards is printed with the range of numerals and has defined spaces adjacent the numerals which facilitate the making of a selected plurality of numerals on the cards.
10. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the machine means comprises stake accepting means, for accepting payment of the stake from each player.
11. Gaming apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein: each of the first plurality of cards enables a player to select several pluralities of indicia; each selected plurality of indicia is printed separately by the printing means; each selected plurality of indicia is compared separately with the random sequence of indicia; the stake accepting means calculates an appropriate stake for each marked card by determining how many selected pluralities of indicia have been marked on the card once all the marked indicia have been read by the card reading apparatus; and third display means is provided to display to the player the stake required for the marked card.
12. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 comprising additionally totalising means for totalling all the stakes placed by all players, wherein: the totalising means compares the total of stakes with a preset threshold value and when the threshold is exceeded sends a first signal to the stake accepting means and a second signal to the randomiser means; the stake accepting means ceases acceptance of stakes after the receipt of the first signal until after the next operation of the randomiser means; and the randomiser means generates a random sequence of indicia in response to the second signal.
13. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the randomiser means comprises clock means and periodically generates sequences of random indicia at clocked intervals.
14. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein when a selected plurality of indicia are read by the card reading apparatus the selected indicia are compared by the comparator means only with the next generated random sequence of indicia.
15. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein each of the first plurality of cards is provided with a selection panel which enables a player to select comparison of selected indicia with a plurality of different random sequences of indicia generated by the randomiser means.
16. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first display means displays the random sequence of indicia one at a time, sequentially.
17. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the card reading apparatus, the printing means, the randomiser means, the memory means, the first and second display means and the comparator means are all provided in a single unit.
18. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the card reading apparatus, the printing means, the randomiser means, the memory means, the first and second display means and the comparator are all provided in a single housing.
19. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising a plurality of units each having a housing encasing card reading apparatus and printing means, the units being interconnected and sharing one or more of the randomiser means, the first and second display means and the comparator means.
20. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising additionally dispensing means for dispensing coins and/or tokens.
21. Gaming apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

21. Gaming apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. Gaming apparatus comprising: first and second pluralities of machine readable cards; card reading apparatus for reading the machine readable cards; printing means for printing indicia on the second plurality of machine readable cards; randomiser means for randomly generating random sequences of indicia; memory means for storing the randomly generated indicia; display means for displaying the randomly generated indicia in sequence and for displaying other game data; and comparator means for comparing indicia read by the card reading apparatus with the randomly generated indicia generated by the randomiser means; wherein: the card reading apparatus reads from a player marked card of the first plurality of machine readable cards indicia on the card selected by the player; the printing means receives from the card reading apparatus signals indicating the selected indicia and prints the selected indicia on at least one of the second plurality of cards; the randomiser means generates randomly a sequence of indicia; the display means displays in sequence the randomly generated indicia; the memory means stores the randomly generated indicia in sequence; the comparator means compares the randomly generated indicia stored in the memory means with the selected indicia and determines which o the selected indicia match the randomly generated indicia to determine whether there is a win, the comparator means producing a signal indicating a win in dependence on the matches; and the display means displays a win under the control of the signal produced by the comparator means; characterised in that: the comparator means has means for, during the comparison of the selected indicia with the randomly generated indicia, additionally determining the positions of the matching indicia in the sequence of randomly generated indicia stored in the memory means and the comparator means has means for producing different signals indicating different categories of win in dependence on the position of the matching indicia in the sequence; and the display means has means for displaying different indications showing different categories of wins in response to the signals produced by the comparator means.

2. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the randomiser means generates a first number of indicia and the player selects a second smaller number of indicia and if the selected indicia match the randomly generated indicia then the comparator means determines how many of the first number of indicia would have to be have been generated in sequence for all matches to be achieved.

3. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising also authentication means for generating an authentication code, wherein the authentication code is printed along with the selected indicia on the printed card, the card reading apparatus reads the printed authentication code and the authentication means uses the authentication code to determine the selected indicia which are compared by the comparator means with the random indicia.

4. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the authentication code is stored in the memory means and the authentication means checks the machine-read authentication code stored in the memory means to check the authenticity of the printed card.

5. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the authentication code is a bar code.

6. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the display means comprises a visual display screen.

7. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the indicia selected by the player, generated by the randomiser means and printed by the printer means are all numerals, the player selecting from the same range of numerals as used by the randomiser means in the generation of the sequence of indicia.

8. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the sequence of randomly generated numerals consists of 15 numerals and each selected plurality of numerals consists of 5 numbers.

9. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein each of the first plurality of cards is printed with the range of numerals and has defined spaces adjacent the numerals which facilitate the marking of a selected plurality of numerals on the cards.

10. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the machine means additionally comprises stake accepting means, for accepting payment of the stake from each player.

11. Gaming apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein: each of the first plurality of cards enables a player to select several pluralities of indicia; each selected plurality of indicia is printed separately by the printing means; each selected plurality of indicia is compared separately with the random sequence of indicia; the stake accepting means calculates an appropriate stake for each marked card by determining how many selected pluralities of indicia have been marked on the card once all the marked indicia have been read by the card reading apparatus; and the display means displays to the player the stake required for the marked card.

12. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 comprising additionally totalising means for totalling all the stakes placed by all players, wherein: the totalising means compares the total of stakes with a preset threshold value and when the threshold is exceeded sends a first signal to the stake accepting means and a second signal to the randomiser means; the stake accepting means ceases acceptance of stakes after the receipt of the first signal until after the next operation of the randomiser means; and the randomiser means generates a random sequence of indicia in response to the second signal.

13. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the randomiser means comprises clock means and periodically generates sequences of random indicia at clocked intervals.

14. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein when a selected plurality of indicia are read by the card reading apparatus the selected indicia are compared by the comparator means only with the next generated random sequence of indicia.

15. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein each of the first plurality of cards is provided with a selection panel which enables a player to select comparison of selected indicia with a plurality of different random sequences of indicia generated by the randomiser means.

16. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the display means displays the random sequence of indicia one at a time, sequentially.

17. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the card reading apparatus, the printing means, the randomiser means, the memory means, the display means and the comparator means are all provided in a single unit.

18. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the card reading apparatus, the printing means, the randomiser means, the memory means, the display means and the comparator are all provided in a single housing.

19. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising a plurality of units each having a housing encasing card reading apparatus and printing means1 the units being interconnected and sharing one or more of the randomiser means, the display means and the comparator means.

20. Gaming apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising additionally dispensing means for dispensing coins and/or tokens.