Method for assigning prizes in a bingo-type games

Abstract

A method includes determining a pattern probability for each of a number of target patterns achievable in a bingo-type game. Each pattern probability comprises a probability of achieving the respective target pattern in the bingo-type game. The method further includes associating or mapping different pattern sets to each different prize level in a desired prize distribution. The target patterns and their respective pattern probabilities are assigned or mapped to the different pattern sets so that the individual pattern probabilities included in each pattern set add up to the desired probability of the prize level with which the pattern set is associated. In this way, a desired prize distribution may be used in a bingo-type game

1 . A prize distribution method for bingo-type games, the method including the steps of: 
 (a) determining a pattern probability for each of a number of target patterns achievable in the bingo-type game, each pattern probability comprising a probability of achieving the respective target pattern in the bingo-type game;    (b) for each prize level of a number of prize levels for the bingo-type game, defining a respective pattern set, each respective pattern set containing at least one target pattern and at least one respective pattern set containing two or more target patterns;    (c) wherein for each pattern set that contains only one target pattern, the respective pattern probability associated with that respective target pattern is approximately equal to a probability associated with the respective prize level for which the respective pattern set is defined; and    (d) wherein for each pattern set that contains two or more target patterns, the respective pattern probabilities associated with those respective target patterns sum to a value that is approximately equal to a probability associated with the respective prize level for which the respective pattern set is defined.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of awarding a prize to a player in the bingo-type game when the player achieves a target pattern in the bingo-type game, the prize corresponding to the respective pattern set containing the player's achieved target pattern and corresponding to the prize level for which the respective pattern set is defined.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of: 
 (a) for each prize level of a number of additional prize levels for the bingo-type game, defining a respective additional pattern set, each respective additional pattern set containing at least one target pattern and at least one respective additional pattern set containing two or more target patterns;  
 (b) wherein for each additional pattern set that contains only one target pattern, the respective pattern probability associated with that respective target pattern is approximately equal to a probability associated with the respective additional prize level for which the respective additional pattern set is defined; and  
 (c) wherein for each additional pattern set that contains two or more target patterns, the respective pattern probabilities associated with those respective target patterns sum to a value that is approximately equal to a probability associated with the respective additional prize level for which the respective additional pattern set is defined.  
 
     
     
         4 . A prize distribution method for bingo-type games, the method including the steps of: 
 (a) determining a pattern probability for each of a number of target patterns achievable in the bingo-type game, each pattern probability comprising a probability of achieving the respective target pattern in the bingo-type game;    (b) for each prize level of a number of prize levels for the bingo-type game, defining a respective pattern set, each respective pattern set containing at least one target pattern and at least one respective pattern set containing two or more target patterns;    (c) wherein for each pattern set that contains only one target pattern, the respective pattern probability associated with that respective target pattern is approximately equal to a probability associated with the respective prize level for which the respective pattern set is defined; and    (d) wherein for each pattern set that contains two or more target patterns, the respective pattern probabilities associated with those respective target patterns sum to a value that approximates a probability associated with the respective prize level for which the respective-pattern set is defined.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further including the step of awarding a prize to a player in the bingo-type game when the player achieves a target pattern in the bingo-type game, the prize corresponding to the respective pattern set containing the player's achieved target pattern and corresponding to the prize level for which the respective pattern set is defined.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  further including the step of: 
 (a) for each prize level of a number of additional prize levels for the bingo-type game, defining a respective additional pattern set, each respective additional pattern set containing at least one target pattern and at least one respective additional pattern set containing two or more target patterns;  
 (b) wherein for each additional pattern set that contains only one target pattern, the respective pattern probability associated with that respective target pattern is approximately equal to a probability associated with the respective additional prize level for which the respective additional pattern set is defined; and  
 (c) wherein for each additional pattern set that contains two or more target patterns, the respective pattern probabilities associated with those respective target patterns sum to a value that approximates a probability associated with the respective additional prize level for which the respective additional pattern set is defined.  
 
     
     
         7 . A prize distribution method for bingo-type games in which a number of target patterns are achievable, each target pattern being associated with a respective pattern probability comprising the probability of achieving the respective target pattern in the bingo-type game, the method including the steps of: 
 (a) for each prize level of a number of prize levels for the bingo-type game, defining a respective pattern set, each respective pattern set containing at least one target pattern and at least one respective pattern set containing two or more target patterns;    (b) wherein for each pattern set that contains only one target pattern, the respective pattern probability associated with that respective target pattern is approximately equal to a probability associated with the respective prize level for which the respective pattern set is defined;    (c) wherein for each pattern set that contains two or more target patterns, the respective pattern probabilities associated with those respective target patterns sum to a value that is approximately equal to a probability associated with the respective prize level for which the respective pattern set is defined; and    (d) wherein at least one respective pattern set containing two or more target patterns is defined for a prize level positioned above a lowest prize level in the number of prize levels.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further including the step of awarding a prize to a player in the bingo-type game when the player achieves a target pattern in the bingo-type game, the prize corresponding to the respective pattern set containing the player's achieved target pattern and corresponding to the prize level for which the respective pattern set is defined.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further including the step of: 
 (a) for each prize level of a number of additional prize levels for the bingo-type game, defining a respective additional pattern set, each respective additional pattern set containing at least one target pattern and at least one respective additional pattern set containing two or more target patterns;  
 (b) wherein for each additional pattern set that contains only one target pattern, the respective pattern probability associated with that respective target pattern is approximately equal to a probability associated with the respective additional prize level for which the respective additional pattern set is defined; and  
 (c) wherein for each additional pattern set that contains two or more target patterns, the respective pattern probabilities associated with those respective target patterns sum to a value that is approximately equal to a probability associated with the respective additional prize level for which the respective additional pattern set is defined.  
 
     
     
         10 . A prize distribution method for bingo-type games in which a number of target patterns are achievable, each target pattern being associated with a respective pattern probability comprising the probability of achieving the respective target pattern in the bingo-type game, the method including the steps of: 
 (a) for each prize level of a number of prize levels for the bingo-type game, defining a respective pattern set, each respective pattern set containing at least one target pattern and at least one respective pattern set containing two or more target patterns;    (b) wherein for each pattern set that contains only one target pattern, the respective pattern probability associated with that respective target pattern is approximately equal to a probability associated with the respective prize level for which the respective pattern set is defined;    (c) wherein for each pattern set that contains two or more target patterns, the respective pattern probabilities associated with those respective target patterns sum to a value that approximates a probability associated with the respective prize level for which the respective pattern set is defined; and    (d) wherein at least one respective pattern set containing two or more target patterns is defined for a prize level positioned above a lowest prize level in the number of prize levels.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further including the step of awarding a prize to a player in the bingo-type game when the player achieves a target pattern in the bingo-type game, the prize corresponding to the respective pattern set containing the player's achieved target pattern and corresponding to the prize level for which the respective pattern set is defined.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further including the step of: 
 (a) for each prize level of a number of additional prize levels for the bingo-type game, defining a respective additional pattern set, each respective additional pattern set containing at least one target pattern and at least one respective additional pattern set containing two or more target patterns;  
 (b) wherein for each additional pattern set that contains only one target pattern, the respective pattern probability associated with that respective target pattern is approximately equal to a probability associated with the respective additional prize level for which the respective additional pattern set is defined; and  
 (c) wherein for each additional pattern set that contains two or more target patterns, the respective pattern probabilities associated with those respective target patterns sum to a value that is approximately equal to a probability associated with the respective additional prize level for which the respective additional pattern set is defined.