Keno-based wagering game having a game-termination feature

Abstract

A gaming system for playing a keno-type wagering game. The system includes conducting the keno-type wagering game at a gaming terminal. The keno-type wagering game has at least one game card to be played by a player and a plurality of symbols to be selected during the keno-type wagering game. The plurality of symbols includes at least one game-termination symbol and a plurality of other symbols. At least some of the plurality of symbols are displayed on a display on the gaming terminal. A first set of symbols is selected from the plurality of other symbols that are associated with the at least one game card. A second set of symbols is randomly selected from the plurality of symbols. The random selection of second set of symbols is terminated upon a random selection of a predetermined quantity of the game-termination symbols. After the termination, the player is awarded a winning award in response to at least one of the symbols of the second set matching a symbol from the first set.

1 . A method of playing a keno-type wagering game, the method comprising:
 conducting the keno-type wagering game at a gaming terminal, the keno-type wagering game having at least one game card to be played by a player and a plurality of symbols to be selected during said keno-type wagering game, said plurality of symbols includes at least one game-termination symbol and a plurality of other symbols;   displaying at least some of said plurality of symbols on a display on said gaming terminal;   selecting a first-set of symbols from said plurality of other symbols and associating said first-set with said at least one game card;   randomly selecting a second-set of symbols from said plurality of symbols;   terminating said random selection of said second-set upon a random selection of a predetermined quantity of said game-termination symbols;   after said terminating, awarding said player a winning award in response to at least one of said symbols of said second-set matching a symbol from said first-set.   
     
     
         2 . One or more computer readable storage media encoded with instructions for performing the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  being conducted for a first keno-type wagering game in which four symbols are selected for a first second-set before a game-termination symbol terminates said random selection, and being repeated for a second keno-type wagering game in which six symbols are selected for a second second-set before a game-termination symbol terminates said random selection. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined quantity of game-terminations symbols is one. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein upon said random selection of said at least one game-termination symbol before selecting a predetermined minimum quantity of symbols, said game-termination symbol becomes a wild symbol. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said second set has at least three symbols, and said at least three symbols for said second-set is chosen such that said first symbol is displayed prior to said second symbol and said second symbol is displayed prior to said third symbol. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said selecting is done by at least one of said player and a controller. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of other symbols includes a plurality of numbers and said displaying of said plurality of symbols comprises only displaying said plurality of numbers and said at least one game-termination symbol. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said selecting of said first set from said plurality of other symbols comprises selecting from said plurality of numbers. 
     
     
         11 . A gaming system for playing a keno-type wagering game, comprising:
 an input device for receiving inputs from a player;   at least one display for displaying a plurality of symbols associated with the keno-type wagering game, said plurality of symbols includes at least one game-termination symbol and a plurality of other symbols, said at least one display further displaying a game card indicating a first set of symbols selected from said plurality of other symbols by said player via said input device;   a controller coupled to said input device and said at least one display, and operative to:   randomly select a second set of symbols from said plurality of symbols, said random selection continuing until said at least one game-termination symbol is selected, and   award said player an award in response to at least one of said symbols from said second set matching a symbol displayed from said first set.   
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein said at least a portion of said plurality of symbols are displayed in a hopper. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , wherein said hopper is a mechanical hopper and said plurality of symbols are displayed on physical items within said hopper. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein said controller is further operative to cause said display to display said second set of symbols as said second set of symbols are randomly selected. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming terminal of  claim 11 , wherein said display and said input device are located on a gaming terminal, said controller being external to the gaming terminal. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming terminal of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one game-termination symbol becomes a wild symbol when said at least one game-termination symbol is selected before a predetermined minimum quantity of second subset symbols are randomly selected. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming terminal of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one display further displays a plurality of game cards indicating said first set of symbols and said controller is further operative to randomly select a plurality of second set symbols for each of said plurality of game cards from said plurality of symbols. 
     
     
         18 . A method of playing a keno-type wagering game, the method comprising:
 conducting the keno-type wagering game at a gaming terminal, the keno-type wagering game having a game card and a plurality of symbols to be selected during the keno-type wagering game, said plurality of symbols includes at least one game-termination symbol and a plurality of other symbols;   displaying at least some of said plurality of symbols in at least one hopper on a display on said gaming terminal;   selecting a first subset of symbols from said plurality of other symbols that are associated with said game card;   randomly selecting a plurality of second subsets of symbols from said plurality of symbols;   terminating said random selection for any one of said plurality of second subsets upon a random selection of a predetermined quantity of said game-termination symbols; and   after said terminating, awarding the player a winning award in response to at least one of said symbols of said second subsets matching a symbol from said first subset.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  being conducted for a first keno-type wagering game in which four symbols are selected for a first second-subset before a game-termination symbol terminates said random selection, and being repeated for a subsequent keno-type wagering game in which ten symbols are selected for a subsequent second subset before a game-termination symbol terminates said random selection. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said terminating occurs only after a predetermined minimum quantity of second subset symbols has been selected. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a game-termination symbol becomes a wild symbol when said game-termination symbol is selected before said predetermined minimum quantity of second subset symbols has been selected. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a game-termination symbol becomes a bonus symbol when said game-termination symbol is selected before said predetermined minimum quantity of second subset symbols has been selected. 
     
     
         23 . The method of game  22 , wherein said bonus symbol is at least one of a multiplier symbol and a free-game symbol.