US20100184503A1

US20100184503A1 - Bingo powerball

Info

Publication number: US20100184503A1
Application number: US12/321,293
Authority: US
Inventors: Hashem Sultan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-01-16
Filing date: 2009-01-16
Publication date: 2010-07-22

Abstract

A new method of combining Bingo and lottery games as one. The new game can be played online or by buying a ticket from an authorized lottery agent.

Players select a grid of numbers 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, 6×6, from a matrix of numbers containing the state lottery numbers or the power ball numbers (1-59) in the preferred embodiment and a selection of a power ball number (1-39).

Players win if they match the lottery draw numbers by the State or the national power ball in horizontal, vertical, or diagonal in either direction.

With Bing Powerball online version, the player opens an account at the hosting site and log in to play. Players can create or buy their tickets by simply dragging the selected grids and releasing it at the appropriate field at the larger grid ( the matrix) creating therefore his selection of 25 numbers, for example, that makes up the grid 5×5.

Patient is then is instructed to select at lease one number from 1-39 (the current power ball numbers) and then save his selections. A ticket will be issued online.

Players win if they match the powerball bingo winning numbers in horizontal, vertical or diagonal.

Description

I—FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally pertains to the game of Bingo as well to traditional Lottery game and Lottery games online.

II—BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bing is a very common popular game which is played in different professional institutions like casinos and non professional bingo halls in communities as Churches and other Charity organizations.
Bingo cards are flat pieces of cardboard or non-reusable paper which contain 25 squares arranged in five vertical columns and five horizontal rows; Dual dab, or “double-action” cards have two numbers in each square. Each space in the grid contains a number, except for the center square, which is considered filled. The highest number used is 75. The letters B, I, N, G, O are pre-printed above the five vertical columns, with one letter appearing above each column. The center space is marked “Free”. The printed numbers on the card correspond to the following arrangement: 1 to 15 in the B column; 16 to 30 in the I column; 31 to 45 in the N column; 46 to 60 in the G column and 61 to 75 in the O column.
Bingo games are also played individually as scratch off lottery cards and are already available in the market and sold at lottery agency all over the world. Several websites also offer playing Bingo online.
The common denominator of all the current Bingo games is that a matrix of numbers are provided to players by the lottery agency and winning numbers are called randomly. Players have no role in selecting his matrix of preferred numbers.
Several prior patents describe different modifications and techniques to the game like U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,711 to Wei et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,155 to Lees, U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,815 to Pollard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,610 to Behm et al, US 2008/0054564A1 to Siegel et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,880 to Maksymec.
The current invention provides a new innovative game that can be played at regular lottery state agency, Casinos, as well as online as a promotional game or as online lottery games in States that allow online gambling.
Main objects and advantages over current existing bingo games and traditional lottery is that it provides players with more exciting type of games in which players select their own grids 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, 6×6, 7×7, or any other grids (n×n) as defined by different agency as well as their own selections of numbers from a larger mother grid (m×m) where (m) is larger than (n). The winning numbers are compared to State Lottery winning numbers or other official agency. The game provides the advantage of playing both Bingo and Lottery at the same time and provide the ability to add several other options like selecting a power ball and alike. The invention provides the options of being played online for promotions or gambling and can be played as a new State lottery ticket or lottery tickets at other professional facilities like casinos.

III—BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Power ball Bingo game is a combined lottery and Bingo game played online as well as off line from a lottery agency.
It is a game of chance in which players select their number grids 5×5, 4×4, 3×3, 2×2 from a larger number matrix containing the numbers of a state lottery or the national power ball lottery. Description here will be given to National lottery power ball as an example.
Game online is played after creating an account to sign in. Buying or creating a ticket is made on line for a specific draw date. Results are then compared to the winning numbers of the national power ball results.
Players win if they match the numbers in horizontal, vertical, or diagonal in either direction. They win the jackpot if they match the PB as well.
Off line playing is made by buying tickets from an authorized lottery agent. The Tickets have a printed material showing the matrix of 1-59 numbers and another matrix of 1-39.
Players make their selection of the grid numbers; 5×5, 4×4, 3×3, 2×2. From the matrix number 1-59 and one number from the matrix 1-39.
After making the selections, player gives the card to the sale agent to buy the bingo ticket in a very similar way of buying lottery ticket.
Selection may also be made by the computer if players decided to do so. Again Players win if they match the numbers in horizontal, vertical, or diagonal in either direction. They win the jackpot if they match the PB as well.

IV—BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of general description of playing the game online.

FIG. 2 is a gross view of the online page that directs players to drag the provided grid (22) and drop it anywhere of their choice on the number matrix (21). It also illustrate the selection of the power ball number (23) and then to save (24) their options.

FIG. 3 illustrates the page screen of the ticket creation or bought on line by the player. Their selected number grids (31) and their selected power ball number (33).

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2 but shows different options of grids 4×4 (42), 3×3 (45), 2×2 (46).

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3. It shows a ticket selected by player online for several games 5×5, 4×4, 3×3, 2×2.

FIG. 6 shows the online accounts of players. Their drawing history; grids selected, winning numbers for that drawing and prizes won during that history.

FIG. 7 shows the card (71) that a lottery agency provides to players to play the game.

FIG. 8 shows the lottery card described in FIG. 7 (71) after the player made his selections on the card.

FIG. 9 shows a gross illustration of the ticket (91) issued by the lottery agency showing the player selected number grids (94) and the selected power ball number (95).

V—DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

This invention combines the advantages of both Bingo games and traditional lottery games. It is played both online or sold by authorized lottery agency for a chance of winning. The description in the preferred embodiment describes the national power ball lottery as an example only. Other State lottery games pick 6,5,4,3 or 2 can be applied to the game. The addition of a power ball to the ticket add more excitements and change the odd of winning and the amount of prizes but it is not a necessary element. However the description of this invention as a preferred embodiment always describes and shows the PB as part of the game. It is obvious to those in the art that several modifications can be added or deleted from the general description as well as more detailed programming of the site of the game which will not be described here in details. Similarly Numbers in the grids can be changed to letters or other symbols chosen by the lottery agency. These different options do not change the spirit of the idea.
FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 described the game played online. National Power ball lottery game is used here as an example of the size of the matrix and the same numbers of the power ball currently played by the national PB lottery.
The diagram in FIG. 1 illustrate grossly the usual signing up to the site hosting the game whether for promotions without charging members fee or selling the game online in Countries that allow online gambling.
Playing as a promotion to the site the site administration defines the winning prizes which could be a jackpot or an accumulated winning points that can be exchanged to other material prizes' money, cars, TV, etc . . . ).
Online gambling sites create their own methods of creating money accounts to charge foe selling the tickets. This is out of the scope of the current invention.
Player logs in to his account and may do one of the basic options of the game; buy (create) a ticket for the upcoming drawing, view his current ticket, or view past tickets and account history related to the game.
Other functions on the site to deal with the account according to the site administration needed options.
FIG. 2 is the typical easy use screen online to play the game. National power ball lottery numbers (1-59) are placed in the grid (21). Players are instructed to drag the grid (22) and drop it on the matrix at any area of their choice.
Therefore 25 numbers are typically selected by the player as shown in FIG. 3 (31).
In FIG. 2 again if power ball option is added players are instructed to select their PB number (23) from a drop down window showing the current PB lottery numbers from 1 to 39. After this selection player save his options and a ticket is created as shown in FIG. 3
FIG. 3 shows the selected number grids (31) and the selected PB (33). The ticket will have a field (32) for information about this ticket showing the date and time the ticket was bought or created, its serial number, date of the drawing, and any other pertinent info.
FIG. 4 illustrates the same functions described for FIG. 2. IT shows here other options of the game by changing the size of the number grids 4×4 (42), 3×3 (45), 2×2 (46). Each game option can be played individually or as one game option for the same ticket.
FIG. 5 shows the ticket on line if all options 5×5, 4×4, and 3×3. 2×2. grids are played as one game. Those different grids are placed on the same matrix (51), players, however may select different PB (53) selection for each grid or same PB number. Field (52) describes information related to each ticket.
FIG. 6 describes grossly the online account of the member. This will at least show the drawing history (61), winning numbers (62) of that draw, player's number selection for that date (63) with the matching winning numbers, points or prizes won for each draw (64).
Additional related information can be added as needed.
FIG. 7, 8, 9 describe playing the game by buying tickets from lottery agency.
FIG. 7 illustrate a gross description of printed lottery card (71) distributed to lottery sale agents for sale with printed necessary information, instruction pertained to the game and the agency printed in a specific field (72).
The card provide the matrix numbers (73) with instruction to select (n×n) grids numbers by marking the numbers on the matrix (73) like in the usual lottery selected cards currently in use by almost all lottery agency.
The card also contains a grid of the numbers of the power ball (74) with instruction to mark one number of the player's choice.
FIG.8 illustrates the same card (71) after the player marked his selections of the grid numbers (81), and the PB number (82).
The player forwards the ticket to the lottery sale agent who scans the card to issue the ticket for the player.
FIG. 9 illustrate the ticket (91) issued by the lottery sale agent. The ticket shows the selected grids numbers (94), and the PB selected number (95).
The ticket also shows all the necessary information as deemed necessary by the agency including draw date time, sale agent coded info, price among others in specific field (92).
The ticket also shows the serial number of the ticket and codes readable to scanner in a field (95).
Terms and conditions for the games and prizes are determined by the specific agency. Winners have to match the winning numbers of the state or national lottery or any other selected method of drawing winning numbers.
It is recommended that the results are compared to the national PB lottery results in the preferred embodiment.

Claims

1. A combination Bingo and lottery game, which comprises;

(a) A plurality of games on lines for members to create their own ticket of Bingo by selecting a smaller grid of numbers from a larger matrix of numbers.

The larger matrix is preferably containing numbers of one of State lottery or the national power ball lottery.

The smaller grids could be any size smaller than the above mentioned matrix.

(b) Means for selecting winning lottery numbers, either generated randomly by the computer of the site hosting the game or preferably compared to the winning numbers of a State or power ball lottery.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein a selection of at least one number from a list of numbers is added to the ticket.

3. The game of claim 1 wherein the player is able to play different grids in the same ticket.

4. The game of claim 2 wherein the player is able to select different selections when playing different grids in the same ticket.

5. The game of claim 1 wherein numbers of the grids and the matrix may be replaced with letters or any other symbols or images.

6. The game in claim 1 wherein the hosting site creates an account to player.

7. A combination Bingo and lottery game, which comprises;

A plurality of Bingo games created by customers when buying a lottery ticket by selecting a smaller grid of numbers from a larger matrix of numbers.

The larger matrix is preferably containing the same State lottery or the national power ball lottery numbers.

The smaller grids could be any size smaller than the above mentioned matrix.

Players win if they match the lottery winning numbers in either horizontal, vertical or diagonal.

8. The game in claim 7 wherein the player is able to select at least one number from a list of numbers comparable to power ball numbers.