Dynamic session bingo gaming system

Abstract

A number of bingo games are conducted serially one after the other, and each of a number of players across a network are enabled to initiate a respective bingo game session by entering a respective bingo game in the ongoing series of bingo games. Each bingo game session is associated with a respective player, a number of respective bingo games entered by the respective player, and an outcome for the respective player for each such bingo game. A session score is maintained for each respective bingo game session based upon the outcomes associated with the respective player's bingo games in the bingo game session. A session prize is awarded for each bingo game session having a session score that meets or exceeds a predetermined prize winning session score. This session prize is awarded to the player associated with the respective bingo game session.

1 . A method including: 
 (a) conducting a number of bingo games;    (b) enabling each of a number of players across a network to initiate a respective bingo game session by entering respective bingo games in the number of bingo games, each bingo game session being associated with a respective player, a number of respective bingo games entered by the respective player, and an outcome for the respective player for each bingo game entered by the respective player;    (c) maintaining a session score for each bingo game session, the session score for the respective bingo game session being based upon the outcomes associated with the respective bingo game session; and    (d) awarding a session prize for each bingo game session in which the respective session score meets a predetermined prize winning session score, the session prize being awarded to the respective player associated with the respective bingo game session.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each respective bingo game session includes two or more consecutive bingo games in the number of bingo games.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  including assigning a respective numerical value to each bingo game outcome for the respective player and wherein the session score for the respective bingo game session comprises a total of the respective numerical values.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further including defining two or more different session prize levels, each respective session prize level being associated with a respective predetermined session prize level score and wherein awarding the session prize includes awarding the session prize at one of the session prize levels.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further including displaying to each respective player a respective session display, the respective session display showing the respective player's session score for the player's current bingo game session.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the respective session display also shows each bingo game outcome for the respective player's current bingo game session.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further including awarding a must go prize to a winning player for each respective bingo game.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  further including resetting the bingo game session for a player in the event the player fails to enter one of a number of consecutive bingo games included in the number of bingo games.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus including: 
 (a) a number of player stations, each player station including player controls that are operable to enable a player to enter a bingo game play request;    (b) a bingo game controller operatively connected for communications with each of the number of player stations, the bingo game controller for conducting a number of bingo games based upon game play requests entered through the player stations;    (c) a session tracking controller for maintaining a session score for each of a number of bingo game sessions, each bingo game session being initiated by a respective player through one of the player stations, each bingo game session being associated with a number of respective bingo games for which the respective player entered respective game play requests, and also being associated with an outcome for the respective player for each bingo game associated with the respective bingo game session; and    (d) a session award controller for awarding a session prize for each bingo game session in which the respective session score meets a predetermined prize winning session score, the session prize being awarded to the player initiating the respective bingo game session.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein each respective bingo game session includes two or more consecutive bingo games in the number of bingo games.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the session tracking controller is also for assigning a respective numerical value to each bingo game outcome for the respective player and wherein the session score for a respective bingo game session comprises a total of the respective numerical values.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the session prize controller maintains two or more different session prize levels, each respective session prize level being associated with a respective predetermined session prize level score, and wherein the session prize controller awards the session prize at one of the session prize levels.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein each player station includes a display device for displaying a respective session display to a respective player at the player station, the respective session display showing the respective player's session score for the player's current bingo game session.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the respective session display also shows each bingo game outcome for the respective player's current bingo game session.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the session tracking controller is also for resetting the bingo game session for a player in the event the player fails to enter one of a number of consecutive bingo games included in the number of bingo games.  
   
   
       16 . A program product stored on one or more computer readable devices, the program product including: 
 (a) session tracking program code being executable for maintaining a session score for each of a number of bingo game sessions, each bingo game session being uniquely associated with a respective player, each bingo game session being associated with a number of respective bingo games for which the respective player entered respective game play requests, and also being associated with an outcome for the respective player for each bingo game associated with the respective bingo game session; and    (b) session award program code being executable for awarding a session prize for each bingo game session having a respective session score that meets a predetermined prize winning session score, the session prize being awarded to the player uniquely associated with the respective bingo game session.    
   
   
       17 . The program product of  claim 16  further including player station program code executable at a player station to enable a respective player to enter a game play request for a respective bingo game.  
   
   
       18 . The program product of  claim 17  further including bingo engine program code executable to conduct a number of bingo games.  
   
   
       19 . The program product of  claim 17  wherein the player station program code is also executable for directing a display device to display a respective session display to a respective player at the player station, the respective session display showing the respective player's session score for the player's current bingo game session.  
   
   
       20 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein the session tracking program code is also executable for resetting the bingo game session for a player in the event the player fails to enter one of a number of consecutive bingo games.