Multi-card bingo patterns and wild balls

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for enhanced bingo play, particularly multi-card play. Multi-card bingo patterns can provide low hit probabilities and correspondingly high payouts, even if the underlying bingo cards have relatively few spots. Some multi-card patterns can only be hit one way. “Wild” bingo balls, which may be placed on any available spot on a bingo card, are also provided.

1 . A system for providing a bingo game, comprising:
 means for selecting N bingo numbers in a base game ball draw and up to E extra balls after the base game ball draw;   means for providing a bingo number indication for the selected bingo numbers;   means for determining whether a selected ball is a wild ball that may be placed on any available spot on a bingo card; and   means for providing a wild ball indication when it is determined that a ball is a wild ball.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the determining means applies a predetermined probability to determine whether a selected ball will be treated as a wild ball. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the determining means comprises means for determining whether a predetermined ball corresponding with a wild ball has been selected. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for assigning a bingo number to the wild ball. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the selecting means and the determining means comprises a device of a central system. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the determining means determines that one of the N bingo numbers in the base game ball draw is a wild ball. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the determining means determines that one of the extra balls selected after the base game ball draw is a wild ball. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the determining means determines that more than one selected ball is a wild ball. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the assigning means assigns the bingo number to the wild ball according to an optimal bingo number for bingo cards displayed on a wager gaming machine. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the assigning means assigns the bingo number to the wild ball taking into account all wager gaming machines participating in the bingo game. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the assigning means assigns a first bingo number to the wild ball according to a first optimal bingo number for a first wager gaming machine and assigns a second bingo number to the wild ball according to a second optimal bingo number for a second wager gaming machine. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the assigning means comprises means for receiving input from a player indicating which bingo number should be assigned to the wild ball. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the central system comprises at least one server. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising means for assigning a bingo number to a wild ball after non-wild bingo balls in the base game ball draw are selected. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising means for assigning a bingo number to a wild ball before all of the non-wild bingo balls in the base game ball draw are selected. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the wager gaming machine comprises the assigning means. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the means for receiving input from a player comprises a touch screen of a wager gaming machine. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  15 , further comprising means for determining whether a non-wild ball is drawn having a bingo number previously assigned to a wild ball. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  18 , further comprising means for assigning a new bingo number to the wild ball when it is determined that a non-wild ball is drawn having a bingo number previously assigned to the wild ball. 
   
   
       20 . A method for providing a bingo game, comprising:
 selecting N bingo numbers in a base game ball draw and up to E extra balls after the base game ball draw;   providing a bingo number indication for the selected bingo numbers;   determining whether a selected ball is a wild ball that may be placed on any available spot on a bingo card; and   providing a wild ball indication when it is determined that a ball is a wild ball.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the determining comprises applying a predetermined probability to determine whether a selected ball will be treated as a wild ball. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the determining comprises determining whether a predetermined ball corresponding with a wild ball has been selected. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising assigning a bingo number to the wild ball. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the selecting and the determining is performed by a device of a central system. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the determining comprises determining that one of the N bingo numbers in the base game ball draw is a wild ball. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the determining comprises determining that one of the extra balls selected after the base game ball draw is a wild ball. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the determining comprises determining that more than one selected ball is a wild ball. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the assigning comprises assigning the bingo number to the wild ball according to an optimal bingo number for bingo cards displayed on a wager gaming machine. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the assigning comprises assigning the bingo number to the wild ball taking into account all wager gaming machines participating in the bingo game. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the assigning comprises assigning a first bingo number to the wild ball according to a first optimal bingo number for a first wager gaming machine and assigns a second bingo number to the wild ball according to a second optimal bingo number for a second wager gaming machine. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the assigning is based, at least in part, upon input received from a player indicating which bingo number should be assigned to the wild ball. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the assigning further comprises assigning a bingo number to a wild ball after non-wild bingo balls in the base game ball draw are selected. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 25 , the assigning further comprises assigning a bingo number to a wild ball before all of the non-wild bingo balls in the base game ball draw are selected. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the input comprises input from a touch screen of a wager gaming machine. 
   
   
       35 . A system for providing a multi-card bingo game, comprising:
 means for providing information to a plurality of wager gaming machines, the information corresponding to a representation of multiple bingo cards;   means for selecting randomly N bingo numbers in a base game ball draw;   means for determining whether a metapattern has been hit, the metapattern being a single, fixed pattern that spans multiple bingo cards; and   means for indicating to a wager gaming machine when the metapattern has been hit.   
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising means for selecting up to E extra bingo numbers after the base game ball draw. 
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the bingo game can be played with up to R bingo cards. 
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising means for receiving player input regarding how bingo cards are arranged, wherein the metapattern can only be hit if all bingo cards played are arranged in a predetermined manner. 
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 means for determining whether a selected ball is a wild ball that may be placed on any available spot on a bingo card; and   means for providing a wild ball indication when it is determined that a ball is a wild ball.   
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the determining means is configured to determine whether a metapattern has been hit by one of the extra bingo numbers. 
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the metapattern can only be hit if all R bingo cards are played. 
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the assigning means assigns the bingo number to the wild ball according to an optimal bingo number for bingo cards displayed on a wager gaming machine. 
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the assigning means assigns the bingo number to the wild ball taking into account all wager gaming machines participating in the bingo game. 
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the assigning means assigns a first bingo number to the wild ball according to a first optimal bingo number for a first wager gaming machine and assigns a second bingo number to the wild ball according to a second optimal bingo number for a second wager gaming machine. 
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the assigning means comprises means for receiving input from a player indicating which bingo number should be assigned to the wild ball. 
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the determining means further comprises means for determining whether sufficient components of a metapattern have been completed on fewer than R bingo cards, further comprising means for providing an award if the determining means determines that sufficient components of a metapattern have been completed on fewer than R bingo cards. 
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the wager gaming machine comprises the assigning means. 
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the means for receiving input from a player comprises a touch screen of a wager gaming machine. 
   
   
       49 . A method for providing a multi-card bingo game, comprising:
 providing information to a plurality of wager gaming machines, the information corresponding to a representation of multiple bingo cards;   selecting randomly N bingo numbers in a base game ball draw;   determining whether a metapattern has been hit, the metapattern being a single, fixed pattern that spans multiple bingo cards; and   indicating to a wager gaming machine when the metapattern has been hit.   
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising selecting up to E extra bingo numbers after the base game ball draw. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the providing comprises providing information for up to R bingo cards. 
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising receiving player input regarding how bingo cards are arranged, wherein the metapattern can only be hit if all bingo cards played are arranged in a predetermined manner. 
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 determining whether a selected ball is a wild ball that may be placed on any available spot on a bingo card; and   providing a wild ball indication when it is determined that a ball is a wild ball.   
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the determining comprises determining whether a metapattern has been hit by one of the extra bingo numbers. 
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the metapattern can only be hit if all R bingo cards are played. 
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the assigning comprises assigning the bingo number to the wild ball according to an optimal bingo number for bingo cards displayed on a wager gaming machine. 
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the assigning comprises assigning the bingo number to the wild ball taking into account all wager gaming machines participating in the bingo game. 
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the assigning comprises assigning a first bingo number to the wild ball according to a first optimal bingo number for a first wager gaming machine and assigns a second bingo number to the wild ball according to a second optimal bingo number for a second wager gaming machine. 
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising receiving input from a player indicating which bingo number should be assigned to the wild ball wherein the assigning further comprises assigning the bingo number according to the input. 
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the determining comprises determining whether sufficient components of a metapattern have been completed on fewer than R bingo cards, further comprising providing an award if it is determined that sufficient components of a metapattern have been completed on fewer than R bingo cards. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving input from a touch screen of a wager gaming machine.