Game server, gaming system and a gaming method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9659459-B2
Application number	US-78077207-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2007
Priority date	Jul 20, 2006
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

In a first aspect, the invention provides a game server configured to communicate during use with at least one player terminal, each of which is configured to facilitate play of a centrally drawn game, the game server configured to: determine that a win rule of the centrally drawn game has been satisfied; determine a prize corresponding to satisfaction of the win rule; and find a probabilistic game instance having a prize outcome corresponding to the prize, at least in part, by executing one or more probabilistic game instances to attempt to find a probabilistic game instance having a prize outcome corresponding to the prize.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A game server configured to communicate with at least one gaming machine configured to facilitate play of a centrally drawn bingo game having a win rule, the game server comprising a processor configured to:
provide an electronic bingo card to the gaming machine in exchange for a credit input received at the gaming machine through at least one of a coin input mechanism and a bill acceptor;
determine a bingo prize for the electronic bingo card when the electronic bingo card satisfies the win rule for the centrally drawn bingo game;
initiate execution of a plurality of probabilistic game instances in response to determining the bingo prize, each of the probabilistic game instances having a corresponding probabilistic prize;
compare a first corresponding probabilistic prize of a first probabilistic game instance, of the plurality of probabilistic game instances, to the bingo prize;
execute a second probabilistic game instance, of the plurality of probabilistic game instances, upon determining the bingo prize does not match the first corresponding probabilistic prize;
compare a last corresponding probabilistic prize of a last probabilistic game instance, of the plurality of probabilistic game instances, to the bingo prize;
transmit game data representing the last probabilistic game instance to the gaming machine for display upon determining the bingo prize matches the last corresponding probabilistic prize;
terminate execution of the plurality of probabilistic game instances upon determination the bingo prize matches the last corresponding probabilistic prize; and
instruct the gaming machine to award the last corresponding probabilistic prize upon determining the bingo prize matches the last corresponding probabilistic prize.

2. A game server as claimed in claim 1 wherein the game server is further configured to run a separate game application that executes the plurality of probabilistic game instances.

3. A game server as claimed in claim 1 further configured to execute each probabilistic game instance, of the plurality of probabilistic game instances, on the basis of random numbers obtained from a random number generator (RNG) server.

4. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines comprising a) a player interface that facilitates play of a centrally drawn bingo game having a win rule, b) at least one of a coin input mechanism and a bill acceptor configured to receive credit input in exchange for entry to the centrally drawn bingo game, and c) a display configured to display a probabilistic game instance; and
a game server in data communication with a gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines, the game server configured to:
provide an electronic bingo card to the gaming machine in exchange for the credit input received at the gaming machine;
determine a bingo prize for the electronic bingo card when the electronic bingo card satisfies the win rule for the centrally drawn bingo game;
initiate execution of a plurality of probabilistic game instances in response to determining the bingo prize, each of the probabilistic game instances having a corresponding probabilistic prize;
compare a first corresponding probabilistic prize of a first probabilistic game instance, of the plurality of probabilistic game instances, to the bingo prize;
execute a second probabilistic game instance, of the plurality of probabilistic game instances, upon determining the bingo prize does not match the first corresponding probabilistic prize;
compare a last corresponding probabilistic prize of a last probabilistic game instance, of the plurality of probabilistic game instances, to the bingo prize;
transmit game data representing the last probabilistic game instance to the gaming machine for display upon determining the bingo prize matches the last corresponding probabilistic prize;
terminate execution of the plurality of probabilistic game instances upon determination the bingo prize matches the last corresponding probabilistic prize; and
instruct the gaming machine to award the last corresponding probabilistic prize upon determining the bingo prize matches the last corresponding probabilistic prize.

5. A gaming system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the player interface is configured to allow a player to enter a win claim instruction, the gaming machine communicates the win claim instruction to the game server, and the game server is configured to determine that a win claim instruction has been received as a condition of awarding the bingo prize amount.

6. A gaming system as claimed in claim 4 comprising a random number generator (RNG) server in data communication with the game server and wherein the game server obtains random numbers from the RNG server.

7. A gaming system as claimed in claim 6 the game server executes each probabilistic game instance, of the plurality of probabilistic game instances, on the basis of random numbers obtained from the RNG server.

8. A gaming method of conducting a centrally drawn bingo game having a win rule, the method comprising:
receiving a credit input at a gaming machine using at least one of a coin input mechanism and a bill acceptor in exchange for entry to the centrally drawn bingo game;
providing an electronic bingo card for the centrally drawn bingo game with entry to the centrally drawn bingo game;
determining a bingo prize for the electronic bingo card when the electronic bingo card satisfies the win rule for the centrally drawn bingo game;
initiating execution of a plurality of probabilistic game instances in response to determining the bingo prize, each of the probabilistic game instances having a corresponding probabilistic prize;
comparing a first corresponding probabilistic prize of a first probabilistic game instance, of the plurality of probabilistic game instances, to the bingo prize;
executing a second probabilistic game instance, of the plurality of probabilistic game instances, upon determining the bingo prize does not match the first corresponding probabilistic prize;
comparing a last corresponding probabilistic prize of a last probabilistic game instance, of the plurality of probabilistic game instances, to the bingo prize;
transmitting game data representing the last probabilistic game instance to the gaming machine for display upon determining the bingo prize matches the last corresponding probabilistic prize;
terminating execution of the plurality of probabilistic game instances upon determination the bingo prize matches the last corresponding probabilistic prize; and
instructing the gaming machine to award the last corresponding probabilistic prize upon determining the bingo prize matches the last corresponding probabilistic prize.

Assignees

• Phillips Gareth
• Olive Scott Christopher
• Miller William Patrick
• Aristocrat Technologies Au

Inventors

• Phillips Gareth
• Olive Scott Christopher
• Miller William Patrick

Classifications

• G07F17/329 Primary

  Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards · CPC title

• G07F17/32

  for games, toys, sports, or amusements · CPC title