Reverse keno with virtual odds

Abstract

A method and system for playing reverse keno. In one embodiment, the reverse keno system allows users to play reverse keno while they are visiting various web sites. The reverse keno system allows a user to select an initial set of numbers from a larger set of numbers. The reverse keno system then highlights the selected numbers on a reverse keno board, which may be very similar to a keno board. After the user selects the numbers, the reverse keno system then identifies a group of numbers from the numbers 1 to 80. The reverse keno system then removes the identified numbers on the reverse keno board. If any of the selected numbers have been removed, then the reverse keno game is over and the user may be awarded a consolation prize. If, however, all selected numbers remain, then the game continues. The reverse keno system then identifies and removes another set of numbers. If none of the identified numbers match the selected numbers (that is, all the selected numbers remain), then the game continues. The reverse keno system may determine whether a user should win based on probabilities that are independent of the number of numbers remaining and the number of selected numbers.

1 . A method of playing a game, comprising: 
 receiving a selection of target items selected from a plurality of items;    determining an outcome of the game based on a probability; and    when the outcome indicates success,    identifying a subset of the plurality of the items that does not include any of the target items; and    indicating success at the game.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the determining of the outcome includes selecting a random number within a range wherein the determined outcome is based on whether the selected random number is within a portion of that range, the portion being based on the probability.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the portion is based on multiplying the range by the probability.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  including: 
 when the outcome indicates lack of success,  
 identifying a subset of the plurality of items that include at least one of the target items; and  
 indicating lack of success at the game.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  including providing a visual indication of each item in the identified subset wherein the visual indication of a target item that is in the identified subset is provided last.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  including, after indicating success at the game, repeating the receiving of the selection of target items and determining an outcome using a different probability.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  including selecting the probability based on probability criterion.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the probability criterion is based on time of day.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the probability criterion is based on demographic information.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a prize is awarded based on the probability.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the game is reverse Keno.  
     
     
         12 . A computer-based method for playing a game, comprising: 
 receiving a selection of a target item from a plurality of target items;    until lack of success is indicated,    determining an outcome based on a probability;    when the outcome indicates success,    identifying a subset of the plurality of the items that does not include any of the selected target items; and    indicating success at the game; and    when the outcome indicates lack of success,    identifying a subset of the plurality of items that include at least one of the selected target items; and    indicating lack of success at the game.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the probability decreases with each successive determining.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  including after indicating success at the game determining whether a player of the game want to continue playing the game.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein when it is determined that the player does not want to continue playing the game awarding a prize based on the last determined probability.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the indicating lack of success at the game includes awarding a consolation prize.  
     
     
         17 . A computer-based method of encouraging a player to play a game during a designated time interval, comprising: 
 notifying the player of a benefit that the player will receive when the player plays the game during the designated time interval; and    when the player plays the game during that designated time interval, providing the benefit to the player.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the benefit is an increased probability of being successful at the game.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the benefit is an enhanced prize.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the notifying includes sending an electronic mail message to the player.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the electronic mail message includes an advertisement.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the notifying is by a voice message.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the notifying includes providing an advertisement.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the notifying includes providing a hint that if followed when playing the game will result in the benefit.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the game is reverse Keno and the hint is a number that when selected by the player will result in the benefit.  
     
     
         26 . A computer-based method for encouraging a person to visit a web site under a certain condition, the method comprising: 
 notifying the person of a benefit that the person will receive when the person plays a game while visiting the web site under the certain condition; and    when the person plays the game while visiting the web site under the certain condition, providing the benefit to the person.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the certain condition is a time period.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the time period is selected based on number of visits to the web site.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the certain condition is when number of visits to the web site is anticipated to be low.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the benefit is an increased probability of being successful at the game.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the benefit is an enhanced prize.  
     
     
         32 . A method in a computer system for identifying a prize for a player of reverse Keno, comprising: 
 coordinating the playing of reverse Keno by the player; and    when the player has not been successful at playing reverse Keno,    identifying a characteristics of the player; and    awarding a consolation prize based on the identified characteristic.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  including not awarding a consolation prize based on the identified characteristic.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the identified characteristic is a web site selected by the player.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the identified characteristic is based on demographic information of the player.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the identified characteristic is based on web site access patterns of the player.  
     
     
         37 . A method in a computer system for identifying a prize for playing a game, the game being provided by a game web site for playing while visiting another web site, comprising: 
 receiving from a player of the game a selection of the other web site;    determining a prize for playing the game based on selected web site; and    notifying the player of the determined prize.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein web sites that can be visited by players are categorized and the determining of a prize includes identifying the category associated with the selected web site and selecting a prize associated with the identified category.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the game is reverse Keno.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37  including coordinating the playing of the game and awarding the determined prize when the game is successfully played.  
     
     
         41 . A method in a computer system for encouraging a game to be played in a casino, comprising: 
 identifying a player of a game at the casino;    when the player has fmished playing the game,    determining a characteristic of the played game; and    storing an indication of the determined characteristics; and    providing a benefit to another person who referred the player to play a game at the casino based on the stored indication.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the determined characteristic is amount of money wagered by the player.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the determined characteristic is amount of money lost by the player.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the determined characteristic is based on the number of games played.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the determined characteristic is based on length of time played.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the benefit is based on the amount of money lost by the player.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the benefit is based on the amount of money wagered by the player.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the benefit is enhanced probability of being successful at a game.  
     
     
         49 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to play a game, by a method comprising: 
 receiving a selection of target items selected from a plurality of items;    determining an outcome of the game; and    when the determined outcome indicates success,    identifying a subset of the plurality of the items that does not include any of the target items; and    indicating success at the game.    
     
     
         50 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 49  wherein the determining of the outcome includes selecting a random number within a range wherein the determined outcome is based on whether the selected random number is within a portion of that range.  
     
     
         51 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 50  wherein the portion is based on multiplying the range by a probability.  
     
     
         52 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 49  including: 
 when the outcome indicates lack of success,  
 identifying a subset of the plurality of items that include at least one of the target items; and  
 indicating lack of success at the game.  
 
     
     
         53 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 52  including providing a visual indication of each item in the identified subset wherein the visual indication of a target item that is in the identified subset is provided last.  
     
     
         54 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 49  wherein the outcome is determined based on a probability criterion.  
     
     
         55 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 54  wherein the probability criterion is based on time of day.  
     
     
         56 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 54  wherein the probability criterion is based on demographic information.  
     
     
         57 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 49  wherein a prize is awarded based on a probability of the outcome.  
     
     
         58 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 49  wherein the game is reverse Keno.  
     
     
         59 . A computer system containing playing a game, comprising: 
 means for receiving a selection of target items selected from a plurality of items;    means for determining an outcome of the game;    means for identifying a subset of the plurality of the items that does not include any of the target items when the determined outcome indicates success; and    means for indicating success at the game when the determined outcome indicates success.    
     
     
         60 . The computer system of  claim 59  wherein the means for determining of the outcome includes selecting a random number within a range wherein the determined outcome is based on whether the selected random number is within a portion of that range.  
     
     
         61 . The computer system of  claim 60  wherein the portion is based on multiplying the range by a probability.  
     
     
         62 . The computer system of  claim 59  including means for identifying a subset of the plurality of items that include at least one of the target items when the outcome indicates lack of success and means for indicating lack of success at the game when the outcome indicates lack of success.  
     
     
         63 . The computer system of  claim 62  including means for providing a visual indication of each item in the identified subset wherein the visual indication of a target item that is in the identified subset is provided last.  
     
     
         64 . The computer system of  claim 59  wherein the outcome is determined based on a probability criterion.  
     
     
         65 . The computer system of  claim 64  wherein the probability criterion is based on time of day.  
     
     
         66 . The computer system of  claim 64  wherein the probability criterion is based on demographic information.  
     
     
         67 . The computer system of  claim 59  wherein a prize is awarded based on a probability of the outcome.  
     
     
         68 . The computer system of  claim 59  wherein the game is reverse Keno.