System and method for playing a bingo-like game

Abstract

A system and method are provided for playing a single- or multi-player interactive bingo-style game. The system includes an input device for receiving a player's inputs, a display for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI), and a processor for controlling the operations of the game according to a set of game rules. The system is preferably implemented as a combination of hardware and software. It is further contemplated that the system can also be implemented over a network, such as the Internet, for allowing players in remote locations to play the game.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for playing a game comprising: 
 providing a game board having a plurality of primary positions arranged in a predetermined manner, wherein each primary position belongs to a first group of positions and a second group of positions;    randomly selecting and displaying an icon for each of the plurality of primary positions;    providing a player with at least one turn to achieve an outcome, wherein said at least one turn causes a respective icon to be randomly selected and displayed for each of a plurality of secondary positions, each one of the plurality of secondary positions corresponding to one of the first group of positions;    performing one of at least one predetermined action and no action for each of the randomly selected and displayed icons based on a set of game rules, said at least one predetermined action includes marking at least one of the plurality of primary positions; and    determining whether at least one of a plurality of winning outcomes is obtained.    
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of primary positions on the game board are arranged in a matrix and the first group of positions are columns of the matrix and the second group of positions are rows of the matrix.  
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the step of randomly selecting and displaying an icon for each of the plurality of primary positions includes the step of randomly selecting and displaying a number for each of the plurality of primary positions selected from a numerical range, wherein each of the first group of positions corresponds to a different numerical range.  
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein at least one predetermined action is selected from the group consisting of awarding points, awarding at least one turn, and applying a penalty based on the set of game rules.  
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of obtaining payment prior to initiating game play.  
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of awarding winnings to the player in accordance with the at least one of the plurality of winning outcomes being obtained.  
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the amount of winnings awarded is based on the obtained outcome and the amount of winnings corresponding to the obtained outcome as indicated by a payout table.  
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the game is played over a network by a single player or multiple players.  
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the game is played using a computing device.  
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 8 , wherein the computing device is a slot machine.  
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving at least one bet based on the probability of a game outcome occurring; and    awarding winnings in accordance with the at least one bet received if the game outcome occurs.    
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of determining a score and updating a previous score table according to said at least one of a plurality of winning outcomes being obtained.  
     
     
         13 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one of a plurality of winning outcomes is selected from the group consisting of marking at least one of the first group of positions, marking at least one of the second group of positions, marking all of said plurality of primary positions, and displaying a predetermined number of identical icons on the plurality of secondary positions.  
     
     
         14 . A game system for playing a game comprising: 
 a display for displaying a graphical user interface having a plurality of primary positions arranged in a predetermined manner, wherein each primary position belongs to a first group of positions and a second group of positions;    means for randomly selecting and displaying an icon for each of the plurality of primary positions;    means for providing a player with at least one turn to achieve an outcome, wherein said at least one turn causes a respective icon to be randomly selected and displayed for each of a plurality of secondary positions, each one of the plurality of secondary positions corresponding to one of the first group of positions;    means for performing one of at least one predetermined action and no action for each of the randomly selected and displayed icons based on a set of game rules, said at least one predetermined action includes marking at least one of the plurality of primary positions; and    means for determining whether at least one of a plurality of winning outcomes is obtained.    
     
     
         15 . The game system as in  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of primary positions on the game board are arranged in a matrix and the first group of positions are columns of the matrix and the second group of positions are rows of the matrix.  
     
     
         16 . The game system as in  claim 14 , wherein the means for randomly selecting and displaying an icon for each of the plurality of primary positions includes means for randomly selecting and displaying a number for each of the plurality of primary positions selected from a numerical range, wherein each of the first group of positions corresponds to a different numerical range.  
     
     
         17 . The game system as in  claim 14 , wherein at least one predetermined action is selected from the group consisting of awarding points, awarding at least one turn, and applying a penalty based on the set of game rules.  
     
     
         18 . The game system as in  claim 14 , further comprising means for obtaining payment prior to initiating game play.  
     
     
         19 . The game system as in  claim 14 , further comprising means for awarding winnings to the player in accordance with the at least one of the plurality of winning outcomes being obtained.  
     
     
         20 . The game system as in  claim 19 , wherein the amount of winnings awarded is based on the obtained outcome and the amount of winnings corresponding to the obtained outcome as indicated by a payout table.  
     
     
         21 . The game system as in  claim 14 , wherein the game is played over a network by a single player or multiple players.  
     
     
         22 . The game system as in  claim 14 , wherein the game system is a computing device.  
     
     
         23 . The game system as in  claim 22 , wherein the computing device is a slot machine.  
     
     
         24 . The game system as in  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of: 
 means for receiving at least one bet based on the probability of a game outcome occurring; and    means for awarding winnings in accordance with the at least one bet received if the game outcome occurs.    
     
     
         25 . The game system as in  claim 14 , further comprising means for determining a score and updating a previous score table according to said at least one of a plurality of winning outcomes being obtained.  
     
     
         26 . The game system as in  claim 14 , wherein said at least one of a plurality of winning outcomes is selected from the group consisting of marking at least one of the first group of positions, marking at least one of the second group of positions, marking all of said plurality of primary positions, and displaying a predetermined number of identical icons on the plurality of secondary positions.  
     
     
         27 . A computer readable medium comprising a set of computer readable instructions capable of being executed by at least one processor for playing a game comprising the steps of: 
 providing a game board having a plurality of primary positions arranged in a predetermined manner, wherein each primary position belongs to a first group of positions and a second group of positions;    randomly selecting and displaying an icon for each of the plurality of primary positions;    providing a player with at least one turn to achieve an outcome, wherein said at least one turn causes a respective icon to be randomly selected and displayed for each of a plurality of secondary positions, each one of the plurality of secondary positions corresponding to one of the first group of positions;    performing one of at least one predetermined action and no action for each of the randomly selected and displayed icons based on a set of game rules, said at least one predetermined action includes marking at least one of the plurality of primary positions; and determining whether at least one of a plurality of winning outcomes is obtained.