Method and apparatus for awarding wins for game play

Abstract

A method of awarding wins for game play comprises determining winning outcomes from all possible outcomes of game play and assigning at least one of two different types of awards, such as either or both primary and secondary credit awards, to each winning outcome. Preferably, the winning combinations and associated awards are selected so that, when assigned to a secondary event, the outcome of the game may be represented as the outcomes of a secondary event. In one embodiment, the outcomes of a Class II game, such as bingo, are represented by outcomes Class III type event, such as the game of slots. In accordance with the invention, the representation of the game outcomes mimics the frequency of wins and the payouts associated for those wins in a true Class III game, including as dependent upon the size of a player's wager.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of determining awards associated with game play comprising the steps of:
 determining a plurality of winning outcomes from all possible outcomes for said game;   assigning an award to each winning outcome, said award comprising at least one of two different types of awards, said award assigned to each winning outcome varying depending upon a size of a wager placed by a player to play said game; and   mapping said winning outcomes to outcomes of a representative secondary event.   
     
     
         2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said game comprises the game of bingo. 
     
     
         3 . The method in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said winning outcomes comprise matching bingo game number patterns. 
     
     
         4 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said at least two different types of awards comprise at least a primary credit and a secondary credit. 
     
     
         5 . The method in accordance with  claim 4  wherein said secondary credit has a value which is less than said primary credit. 
     
     
         6 . The method in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the award assigned to each winning outcome comprises at least one secondary credit. 
     
     
         7 . The method in accordance with  claim 6  including the step of determining a base payout for said game from said secondary credit awards and assigning primary credit awards to one or more of said winning outcomes so that the awards associated with said winning outcomes, when represented by said outcome of said secondary event, mimic the play of a game comprising said secondary event. 
     
     
         8 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said secondary event comprises a game of slots.