Free game multiplier for video keno game

Abstract

A computer-based video keno game displays a keno game including a set of game pieces of a game board of the keno game, each respective game piece of the game board corresponding to a respective number. A user interface may receive a player input for the keno game, where the player input specifies a set of selected game pieces including a set of special game pieces. A game controller may select a set of numbers from a pool of numbers and determine an amount of matches between the set of selected numbers and the set of selected game pieces. If the last selected number matches a special game piece, a number of free games may be multiplied by a multiplier.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a display configured to display a keno game including a set of game pieces of a game board of the keno game, each respective game piece of the game board corresponding to a respective number;   a user interface configured to receive a player input for the keno game, the player input specifying a set of selected game pieces; and   a game controller configured to execute a series of game instances to achieve a target return to player value, the executing including, for a game instance of the series of game instances:
 receiving the set of selected game pieces; 
 selecting a set of numbers from a pool of numbers; 
 determining an amount of matches between the set of selected numbers and the set of selected game pieces; 
 presenting at least one first visual indicator for at least one first game piece of the set of selected game pieces that does not match the set of selected numbers; 
 presenting at least one second visual indicator different from the at least one first visual indicator for at least one second game piece of the set of selected game pieces that matches the set of selected numbers; 
 presenting a third visual indicator different from the at least one first visual indicator and the at least one second visual indicator for a third game piece that corresponds to a last selected number of the set of selected numbers; 
 in accordance with a determination that the amount of matches satisfies a first condition, awarding a credit value to a player based at least in part on the amount of matches between the set of selected numbers and the set of selected game pieces, the credit value selected from a pay table correlating credit values to amounts of matches between selected numbers and selected game pieces and having a first contribution to the target return to player value; 
 in accordance with a determination that the amount of matches satisfies a second condition, determining an amount of preliminarily earned bonus games; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the last selected number of the set of selected numbers matches one of the game pieces of the set of selected game pieces:
 multiplying the amount of preliminarily earned bonus games by a multiplier value to determine an amount of earned bonus games, the multiplier value randomly selected from a set of predetermined multiplier values, the selection of the multiplier value having a second contribution to the target return to player value; 
 maintaining the target return to player value by controlling selection of the credit value and selection of the multiplier value; and 
 executing a series of bonus game instances in accordance with the amount of earned bonus games. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the second condition is a threshold number of matches. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the game controller is further configured to select the multiplier value using a random number generator associated with the gaming system. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein the game controller is further configured to select the multiplier value from a weighted table including the set of predetermined multiplier values. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second condition corresponds to a first amount of matches between the set of selected numbers and the set of selected game pieces;   in accordance with a determination that the amount of matches satisfies the second condition, the amount of preliminarily earned bonus games is a first amount of bonus games;   in accordance with a determination that the amount of matches satisfies a third condition, the amount of preliminarily earned bonus games is a second amount of bonus games that is greater than the first amount of bonus games; and   the third condition corresponds to a second amount of matches between the set of selected numbers and the set of selected game pieces that is greater than the first amount of matches.   
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the game controller is further configured to determine an amount of supplemental numbers to be selected from the pool of numbers;   the selecting the set of numbers includes selecting a main group of numbers and the supplemental numbers; and   the supplemental numbers are selected after the main group of numbers.   
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , the game controller further configured to, in accordance with a determination that the last selected number of the set of selected numbers does not match one of the game pieces of the set of selected game pieces, execute a series of bonus games in accordance with the amount of preliminarily earned bonus games. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of selected game pieces includes:
 a first subset of selected game pieces corresponding to primary game pieces; and   a second subset of game pieces corresponding to special game pieces.   
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first condition corresponds to a threshold amount of matches between the set of selected numbers and the primary game pieces; and   the second condition corresponds to a threshold amount of matches between the set of selected numbers and the special game pieces.   
     
     
         10 . A gaming system comprising:
 a display configured to display a keno game including a set of game pieces of a game board of the keno game, each respective game piece of the game board corresponding to a respective number; and   a game controller configured to:
 receive a selection of a first set of game pieces of the game board of the keno game; 
 select a first set of numbers from a pool of numbers; 
 determine, based at least in part on a first amount of matches between the first set of selected numbers and the first set of selected game pieces, a first amount of first preliminarily earned bonus games; 
 presenting at least one first visual indicator for at least one first game piece of the first set of selected game pieces that does not match the first set of selected numbers; 
 presenting at least one second visual indicator different from the at least one first visual indicator for at least one second game piece of the first set of selected game pieces that matches the first set of selected numbers; 
 presenting a third visual indicator different from the at least one first visual indicator and the at least one second visual indicator for a third game piece that corresponds to a last selected number of the first set of selected numbers; 
 in accordance with a determination that the last selected number of the first set of selected numbers matches one of the game pieces of the first set of selected game pieces, multiply the first amount of first preliminarily earned bonus games by a first multiplier value to determine a first amount of earned bonus games, the first multiplier value randomly selected from a set of predetermined multiplier values, the selection of the first multiplier value varying according to a table of values associated with a target return to player value; 
 maintain the target return to player value by controlling the selection of the first multiplier value; and 
 during one of the earned bonus games:
 receive a selection of a second set of game pieces of the game board of the keno game; 
 select a second set of numbers from the pool of numbers; 
 determine, based at least in part on a second amount of matches between the second set of selected numbers and the second set of selected game pieces, a second amount of second preliminarily earned bonus games; and 
 in accordance with a determination that a last selected number of the second set of selected numbers matches one of the game pieces of the second set of selected game pieces, multiply the second amount of second preliminarily earned bonus games by a second multiplier value to determine a second amount of earned bonus games, the second multiplier value randomly selected from the set of predetermined multiplier values, the selection of the second multiplier value varying according to the table of values associated with the target return to player value; and 
 
 further maintain the target return to player value by controlling the selection of the second multiplier value. 
   
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the game controller is further configured to select the first multiplier value using a random number generator associated with the gaming system. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the game controller is further configured to select the first multiplier value from a weighted table including the set of predetermined multiplier values. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , wherein the game controller is further configured to select the second multiplier value from the weighted table including the set of predetermined multiplier values. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the game controller is further configured to determine an amount of supplemental numbers to be selected from the pool of numbers;   selecting the first set of numbers includes selecting a group of main numbers and the supplemental numbers; and   the supplemental numbers are selected after the group of main numbers.   
     
     
         15 . A method of conducting a keno game on an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising:
 receiving a selection of a set of game pieces of a game board of the keno game, each respective game piece of the game board corresponding to a respective number;   selecting a set of numbers from a pool of numbers;   determining an amount of matches between the set of selected numbers and the set of selected game pieces;   presenting at least one first visual indicator for at least one first game piece of the set of selected game pieces that does not match the set of selected numbers;
 presenting at least one second visual indicator different from the at least one first visual indicator for at least one second game piece of the set of selected game pieces that matches the set of selected numbers; 
 presenting a third visual indicator different from the at least one first visual indicator and the at least one second visual indicator for a third game piece that corresponds to a last selected number of the set of selected numbers; 
   in accordance with a determination that the amount of matches satisfies a condition, determining an amount of preliminarily earned bonus games; and   in accordance with a determination that the last selected number of the set of selected numbers matches one of the game pieces of the set of selected game pieces:
 multiplying the amount of preliminarily earned bonus games by a multiplier value to determine an amount of earned bonus games, the multiplier value randomly selected from a set of predetermined multiplier values, the selection of the multiplier value varying according to a table of values associated with a target return to player value; 
 maintaining the target return to player value by controlling the determination of the amount of preliminarily earned bonus games and the selection of the multiplier value; and 
 executing a series of bonus game instances in accordance with the amount of earned bonus games. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the condition is a threshold number of matches. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising randomly selecting the multiplier value using a random number generator associated with the electronic gaming machine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the multiplier value is selected from a weighted table including the set of predetermined multiplier values. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the condition is a first condition;   the first condition corresponds to a first amount of matches between the set of selected numbers and the set of selected game pieces;   the method further comprises:
 in accordance with a determination that the amount of matches satisfies the first condition, the amount of preliminarily earned bonus games is a first amount of bonus games; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the amount of matches satisfies a second condition, the amount of preliminarily earned bonus games is a second amount of bonus games that is greater than the first amount of bonus games; and 
   the second condition corresponds to a second amount of matches between the set of selected numbers and the set of selected game pieces that is greater than the first amount of matches.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the method further comprises determining an amount of supplemental numbers to be selected from the pool of numbers;   selecting the set of numbers includes selecting a group of main numbers and the supplemental numbers; and   the supplemental numbers are selected after the group of main numbers.