Networked multiple bingo game system
View Patent ↗A system and method for providing more than one simultaneous and different bingo game, using single bingo ball draws from a central location. The present invention further provides for players to be highly distributed, for example throughout the US, while still using the single centralized ball draw and still supporting different bingo games in parallel.
1. A method of simultaneously providing a plurality of different types of bingo games over a large area, the method comprising:
providing a gaming system comprising a central bingo server (CBS) operably connected to a plurality of central bingo game controllers (CBGC), each CBGC is a standalone system and controls a respective one of the different types of bingo games, each CBGC being operably connected to one or more bingo game controllers (BGC), each BGC having its own private network comprising a plurality of player terminals operably connected to the BGC, each player terminal being connected to only one BGC and no other BGC, each BGC being located outside the plurality of player terminals, and each player terminal presenting one or more bingo games;
generating a set of bingo cards by the CBS, wherein each bingo card is a unique card;
distributing a deck of the bingo cards from the CBS to the CBGC, wherein the deck of bingo cards is a subset of bingo cards;
randomly selecting one or more bingo cards from the deck and distributing the one or more bingo cards to one or more BGCs;
distributing one or more bingo cards to player terminals in response to player input;
generating a ball sequence by the CBS, wherein the ball sequence comprises a plurality of balls that represent a letter-number combination;
determining and transmitting an appropriate ball sequence, comprising an appropriate number of balls in the ball sequence, to the plurality of CBGCs which, in turn, transmit the appropriate ball sequence to the respective one or more BGCs; and
presenting one or more balls from the appropriate ball sequence on the player terminal.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the deck of bingo cards is selected based upon the type of bingo games played on the player terminals.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the appropriate ball sequence to the plurality of CBGCs which, in turn, transmit the appropriate ball sequence to the one or more BGCs, which, in turn, transmit the appropriate ball sequence to player terminals on the private network of each BGC;
determining a game outcome by mapping the ball sequence to the bingo card that is being played on the player terminal; and
presenting one or more entertainment images corresponding to the game outcome on the bingo card.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the entertainment images are spinning reels of a slot machine.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the entertainment images are one or more poker hands comprising a plurality of poker cards.
6. A method of simultaneously providing a plurality of different types of bingo games over a large area, the method comprising:
providing a gaming system comprising a central bingo server (CBS) operably connected to a plurality of central bingo game controllers (CBGC) that are operably connected to at least first and second bingo game controllers (BGCs), wherein each CBGC is a standalone system and controls a respective one of the different types of bingo games, wherein the first and second BGCs are not connected to any other CBGC, the first and second BGCs being operably connected to respective pluralities of player terminals via corresponding first and second private networks, respectively, and each player terminal is connected to only one BGC, and the player terminals present one or more bingo games;
generating a set of bingo cards by the CBS, wherein each bingo card is a unique card;
distributing one or more bingo cards to player terminals in response to player input;
generating a ball sequence by the CBS, wherein the ball sequence comprises a plurality of balls that represent a letter-number combination;
presenting a bingo card on a first player terminal;
transmitting a portion of the ball sequence to a BGC connected to the first player terminal which, in turn, transmits one or more balls to the first player terminal; and
determining whether one or more balls forms a winning outcome on the bingo card.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising marking one or more squares of the bingo card.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising presenting one or more entertainment images corresponding to a game outcome on the bingo card.