GB2468296A

GB2468296A - Bingo game machine using randomly selected dab symbols

Info

Publication number: GB2468296A
Application number: GB0903584A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andy Dinning; Ronald Arthur Watts
Original assignee: Astra Games Ltd
Current assignee: Astra Games Ltd
Priority date: 2009-03-03
Filing date: 2009-03-03
Publication date: 2010-09-08
Also published as: GB0903584D0

Abstract

A bingo game machine 10 includes a display 11 for displaying a bingo card 12 having an array of number locations, and a player operated device 14 for generating a dab or daub symbol 16 on the number locations. The machine further includes a dab generator (15, fig. 2.) for determining the nature, e.g. shape and colour, of the dab symbols, and a prize generator (16, fig. 2) for awarding an enhanced prize in accordance with a predetermined pattern or patterns of dabs. In use, the player presses a dab button to generate a dab symbol on the number location corresponding to a called or selected bingo number. The dab generator electronically applies a dab symbol which is chosen at random from a predetermined set of dab symbols. Upon achieving a predetermined winning pattern of dabs, the prize generator determines whether the dab symbols entitle the player to an enhanced prize. The dab symbols may comprise card suit symbols and crowns.

Description

A BINGO GAME MACHINE

This invention relates to a bingo game machine.

It is known in electronic bingo machines for players to be able to mark the displayed bingo card, as numbers are called, by pressing a button to generate an electronic "dab". These are in appearance a generally spherical marking as would occur on a piece of paper if someone touched it with the "nib" of a round highlighter pen.

For the purposes of this specification the word "dab" will refer to any translucent or apparently translucent marking.

The present invention consists in a bingo machine including a display for displaying a bingo card, having an array of symbol locations, and a player operated device for generating a dab on a symbol location characterised in that the machine further includes a dab generator for determining the shape or shape and colour of the dab and a prize generator for awarding an enhanced prize in accordance with a predetermined pattern or patterns of dabs.

The dab shapes may be any suitable dab shapes but conveniently they can include one or more of a card suit symbol and a crown.

Although the invention has been defined above it is to be understood it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the

following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a picture of a bingo gaming machine; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a part of the machine of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a display of a bingo card bearing dabs.

A bingo game machine 10 includes a display 11 bearing a bingo card 12, which can be generated by means well known in the art. The machine has a number of controls 13. One of these 14 is a dab button.

In the game of bingo numbers are drawn and either called out or can be displayed on the screen 11. When the player matches that number with a number of the card 12 they can press the dab button 14. This sends a signal to a dab generator 15 that will produce a dab on the equivalent square on the display 12. The generator can either produce a generally circular dab or it can produce a dab, which is a recognisable symbol, such as a card suit symbol or a crown. Examples of such dabs 16 are illustrated in Figure 3. The dab generator can determine the colour of the dabs as well as the shape. In an alternative arrangement the player can press a "catch up" button 14a which will cause all previously called numbers that appear on the card 12, to be dabbed.

A prize generator 16 determines what array of symbol dabs produces an enhanced prize, if the player wins the bingo game in accordance with normal rules and then determines if the dab symbols entitle the player to an enhanced prize. This would normally be done on a look-up table basis but it could be dynamic depending on the relationship between payout and income for a particular paying period. Having determined the prize, a prize generator causes a prize to be paid out at 17.

In an alternative embodiment the display 11 may be on an electronic tablet or other portable electronic device. In that case the prize generator 16 may be physically separate but electronically or otherwise linked.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bingo game machine including: a display for displaying a bingo card having an array of symbol locations; and a player operated device for generating a dab on a symbol location characterised in that the machine further includes a dab generator for determining the shape or shape and colour of the dab and a prize generator for awarding an enhanced prize in accordance with a predetermined pattern or patterns of dabs.
2. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dab shapes include one or more of a card suit symbol and a crown.