US20030178771A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20030178771A1
Application number: US10/390,955
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank Banyai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-21
Filing date: 2003-03-17
Publication date: 2003-09-25
Also published as: US20050167916A1

Abstract

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/366,598, filed Mar. 21, 2002, and the disclosure of said Provisional Application is incorporated herein by reference.[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to match number gaming methods and apparatus, and more particularly to a match number game similar to bingo and a bingo card for playing the game.[0002]

The traditional game of bingo is played with a card having twenty-four numbers arranged in a five-by-five matrix with a free space in the center. As the game is played, various patterns may be achieved from a draw of numbers from a set of numbers conventionally totaling seventy-five in the United States and ninety in other parts of the world. The first matching of numbers forming any one of specific patterns (e.g., a line of five numbers vertically, horizontally or diagonally) would create the game ending event for which a prize is awarded.[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The game of the present invention is similar to bingo but with significant departures therefrom for enhanced excitement, is particularly adaptable for casino play, and is preferably electronically implemented as with video terminals although the game may be played without the use of such terminals.[0004]

According to a preferred embodiment of the game of the present invention, there is provided a method of playing a game by a plurality of players, comprising the steps of: (a) each player placing a game wager; (b) assigning to each player designations from a set of designations, the assigned designations arranged on a card in two adjacent lines, each of the lines including at least three (and preferably four) of the assigned designations, the assigned designations of the lines arranged in a grid; (c) randomly drawing a plurality (preferably four) of designations from the set of designations; and (d) paying game prizes to the first players whose assigned designations matching designations drawn in step (c) are arranged in predetermined patterns on their cards respectively.[0005]

In step (a), each player may place a first progressive wager to a progressive pool, the first progressive wager being associated with one of the lines on the cards; in step (c), the quantity of drawn designations of such plurality is equal to the quantity of assigned designations in such one of the lines (i.e. preferably four); and in step (d), the game prizes are paid from a game pool, and prizes are paid from the progressive pool to players placing the first progressive wager whose assigned designations in such one line match the designations drawn in step (c).[0006]

In step (a), each player may place a second progressive wager to the progressive pool, the second progressive wager being associated with the other of the two lines; in step (b), the quantity of assigned designations in each of the lines are the same; in step (d), paying prizes from the progressive pool to players placing the second progressive wager whose assigned designations in the other of the two lines match the designations drawn in step (c).[0007]

The game of this embodiment may continue with the steps of: (e) after step (d), continuing to draw designations from the set; and (f) paying game prizes to the first players whose assigned designations matching designations drawn in steps (c) and (e) are arranged in predetermined patterns. Preferably, in step (e), the drawing of designations from the set is discontinued upon the first occurrence of all of the assigned designations on the players card being matched by designations drawn in steps (c) and (e), i.e. upon the first occurrence of a “blackout”.[0008]

According to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of playing a game by a plurality of players, comprising the steps of: (a) each player placing a wager; (b) assigning to each player designations from a set of designations, the assigned designations arranged on a card in two adjacent lines, each of the lines including at least three (and preferably four) of the assigned designations, the assigned designations of the lines arranged in a grid; (c) randomly drawing designations from the set of designations; and (d) paying a prize to the first player whose assigned designations matching designations drawn in step (c) are arranged in a predetermined pattern on his or her card. The predetermined pattern may be selected, prior to step (c), from a plurality of predetermined patterns.[0009]

In step (a), each player may place a progressive wager associated with one of the lines on the cards, and/or a progressive wager associated with the other of the two lines; in step (c), the quantity of drawn designations of such plurality is equal to the quantity of assigned designations in the lines (i.e., preferably four); and in step (d), paying progressive prizes to players placing a progressive wager whose assigned designations in the line associated with such progressive wager match the designations drawn in step (c).[0010]

In step (c), as previously noted, the quantity of designations drawn is preferably equal to the quantity of assigned designations in each of the lines, toward facilitating the progressive features of the game. The method of the second embodiment may further include the steps of: (e) if no player's assigned designations matching designations drawn in step (c) are arranged in such predetermined pattern, continuing to draw designations from the set; and (f) paying a prize to the first player whose assigned designations matching designations drawn in steps (c) and (e) are arranged in such predetermined pattern, ending the game.[0011]

An aspect of the present invention includes a bingo card comprising: a card having a display thereon of assigned designations from a set of designations, the assigned designations arranged in two adjacent lines each including at least three (and preferably four) of said assigned designations, the assigned designations of such lines arranged in a grid.[0012]

A preferred embodiment of the bingo card includes a display having a first information area concerning a game wager, a second information area concerning a progressive wager associated with one of the lines on the card, and a third information area concerning a progressive wager associated with the other line on the card. The display is preferably a video display and the first, second and third information areas preferably include touch-sensitive switching devices for respectively implementing a player's placing of the game wager, placing of the progressive wager associated with one of the lines, and placing of the progressive wager associated with the other of the lines.[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the invention, together with further advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.[0014]

FIG. 1 is an example of a preferred embodiment of a bingo game card for playing the bingo game according to the present invention;[0015]

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred embodiment of the method of playing the bingo game of the present invention;[0016]

FIGS. 3[0017]aand3billustrate the game card of FIG. 1, showing two predetermined patterns of numbers matched during the play of the present game, which patterns are capable of winning prizes from a game pool as well as from a progressive pool;

FIG. 3[0018]cillustrates the game card of FIG. 1, showing an example of a predetermined pattern of numbers matched during the play of the game, capable of winning a prize from the progressive pool;

FIGS. 4[0019]a,4b,5,6a,6b,6c,7a,7band8 illustrate the game card of FIG. 1, showing various predetermined patterns of numbers matched during the play of the game, capable of winning prizes from the prize pool; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a second preferred embodiment of the method of playing the bingo game of the present invention.[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the preferred embodiments of the present game illustrated in the flow charts of FIGS. 2 and 9, the game is played by a plurality of players situated at respective electronic player stations such as video terminals including devices for the player to enter his or her wagers and designations. The terminals further include a video display for displaying information including the player designations, the drawn designations and the prizes offered and won. The designations or numbers are drawn from a set of designations or numbers through utilization of a designation or number generator, such as an electronic number generator or a random number ball blower typically used in the gaming industry for bingo, keno and other match number games (for example, ball blowers available from Tripp Enterprises, Inc. of Sparks, Nev.).[0021]

The player terminals and number generator are networked with a central computer and server for implementing the management and accounting for the game including the requirements of the progressive pool and the game pool, using techniques and apparatus well known in the art. A gaming system including a plurality of player terminals and central computer control apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,128 to Niels C. Holch et al., the disclosure of which patent is incorporated herein by reference. In the present game, each player plays against the other players for winning prizes from the game pool as well as from the progressive pool.[0022]

Turning to FIG. 1, a preferred[0023]

bingo card

50 according to the present invention includes thereon a plurality of designations ornumbers52 which are represented in the example of FIG. 1 as the numbers “29”, “3”, “22”, “14”, “15”, “7”, “5” and “16”, whichnumbers52 are arranged in two adjacent lines of at least three (preferably four as shown in FIG. 1) designations each. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, afirst line54 of numbers “29”, “3”, “22”, “14”, and asecond line56 of numbers “15”, “7”, “5”, “16”, are shown withsuch numbers52 of both of the

lines

54,56 arranged in a grid or matrix, with ones of thenumbers52 of thefirst line54 being respectively adjacent ones of thenumbers52 of thesecond line56. In the example of thecard50 shown in FIG. 1, the two

lines

54,56 ofnumbers52 are vertically disposed (as viewed in the drawing of FIG. 1) and thenumbers52 of each of the

lines

54,56 are arranged such that ones of thenumbers52 of thefirst line54 are horizontally aligned with respective ones of thenumbers52 of thesecond line56.

Specifically, in the example of FIG. 1, the first or uppermost number “29” of the[0024]

first line

54 is horizontally aligned with the first or uppermost number “15” of thesecond line56, the second number “3” of thefirst line54 is horizontally aligned with the second number “7” of thesecond line56, the third number “22” ofline54 is horizontally aligned with the third number “5” ofline56, and the fourth number “14” ofline54 is horizontally aligned with the fourth number “16” ofline56. Of course, if thecard50 were rotated 90°, the

lines

54,56 would be horizontally disposed and the pairings of thenumbers52 of such lines would be vertically disposed.

The word “card”, as used herein, is meant to include a video display of an array of designations (preferably numbers)[0025]52, as well as an array of designations or numbers printed on a tangible substrate such as cardboard. The designations ornumbers52 on the card are from a set of designations ornumbers52 that are available for being drawn such as by an electronic number generator or a ball blower as previously discussed. The set of designations ornumbers52 may typically be between twenty-five and forty in quantity, although the game may be played with fewer than twenty-five or more than forty designations. If twenty-ninenumbers52 are employed in the set,such numbers52 would be from “1” through “29”.

Turning to the first preferred game embodiment of flowchart of FIG. 2, each player at his/her respective player terminal places a wager to the game pool (block[0026]58) and, at the player's option, he/she may place a wager to the progressive pool with respect to thefirst line54 ofnumbers52 on hiscard50 and/or he may place a wager to the progressive pool (block62) with respect to thesecond line56 ofdesignations52 on hiscard50. The wagers may be placed and received by the player terminals by utilization of devices and processes well known in the gaming art, including such devices for receiving and accounting for coins, cash bills, debit cards, credit cards and “smart” cards.

The placing of one or both of the wagers to the progressive pool ([0027]

blocks

60 and62) may be mandatory rather than optional, and in any event a single cash, debit or credit entry may be made by the player with the terminal apportioning the amount entered to the game pool and to the progressive pool. As shown in FIG. 1, the video display of thecard50 may include aninformation area64 concerning the game wager, andinformation areas66 and68 concerning the respective progressive wagers.

Such information areas

64,66 and68 may include touch sensitive switching devices for permitting the player to implement the placing of the game wager and the progressive wagers by touching the

appropriate information areas

64,66,68 on the video screen.

Continuing with the game of FIG. 1, each player is assigned eight[0028]

numbers

52 to his or hercard50 from the set ofnumbers52, four of thenumbers52 being assigned to thefirst line54 and four of thenumbers52 being assigned to thesecond line56 on the card50 (block70). The eightnumbers52 for thecard50 may be assigned to thecard50 by the casino, or each player may assign the eightnumbers52 himself (i.e. he may select eight numbers from the set of say twenty-nine numbers), or the player may select a conventional “quick pick” feature on his terminal whereby eight numbers are randomly selected by the game system and assigned to him. The video display of the card50 (see FIG. 1) shows aquick pick area72, which may be a switch touch-actuable by the player for implementing the quick pick feature.

Each terminal is preferably capable of permitting a player to play a plurality of cards simultaneously, i.e. the player may place wagers with respect to multiple cards each of which having eight numbers assigned thereto as may be selected by the player or by the quick pick feature. For example, a player may play up to sixteen cards, with up to four such cards being displayed on a front video display or screen and the remaining cards displayed on a secondary video screen; while playing the game, the best four cards will preferably be caused to be displayed on the front screen.[0029]

The playing of the game continues with the drawing of[0030]

numbers

52 from the set ofnumbers52, up to four numbers (block74). For example, if a ball blower is used which contains twenty-nine balls bearing numbers “1” through “29”, the drawing of balls proceeds until fournumbers52 are drawn. The ball blower may additionally contain a thirtieth ball which is undesignated or un-numbered, and the undesignated ball if drawn may be deemed by each player to represent any one of the eight assignednumbers52 on each card not yet matched by the previously drawn numbered balls. An example of a ball blower having an undesignated or un-numbered ball is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,534 to Frank B. Banyai, the disclosure of which patent is incorporated herein by reference.

The four balls, as they are drawn by the ball blower (block[0031]74), are compared with the eightnumbers52 assigned to eachcard50 of each player to determine whether any of the eightnumbers52 on anyplayer card50 match the drawnnumbers52 when drawn, and the game prizes are paid from the game pool to the first persons whose matchednumbers52 on acard50 are arranged in predetermined patterns (block76). Prize winning predetermined number patterns are shown in FIGS. 3a,3band4-6, in which a matched number is indicated by shading in the area containing the matched number.

During this stage of the game, there are four predetermined patterns of[0032]

numbers

52 available for winning a percentage of the prize pool. Specifically, the first card on which either the top two numbers or the bottom two numbers are matched (see FIGS. 4aand4b, respectively) will be awarded a prize, for example 5% of the prize pool. A second winning predetermined pattern comprises matching the top two and bottom twonumbers52, shown in FIG. 5; thefirst card50 to have four numbers matched form such pattern is awarded a prize, say 7.5% of the prize pool. A third winning predetermined pattern is a rectangular array or block of four numbers (four corners touching) such as the top block of four matchednumbers52 shown in FIG. 6a, the bottom block of four matchednumbers52 shown in FIG. 6b, or the middle block of four matchednumbers52 shown in FIG. 6c; thefirst card50 to have fournumbers52 matched forming any such block is paid a prize, say 7.5% of the game pool. A fourth winning predetermined pattern ofnumbers52 comprises matching the four numbers of the first line54 (FIG. 3a) or the fournumbers52 of the second line56 (FIG. 3b); the first player having acard50 with matchednumbers52 forming either one of such linear patterns is awarded a prize from the prize pool, say 10% of the prize pool.

Upon completion of the four number drawing step (block[0033]74), prizes are paid from the progressive pool forcards50 in which predetermined patterns of matchednumbers52 have occurred (block78), provided the player holding anysuch card50 had placed a wager to the progressive pool with respect to theline54 or theline56 in which such predetermined pattern has occurred. Progressive prizes are normally pari-mutuel payoffs representing predetermined percentages of the progressive pool which is funded by the progressive wagers from all games.

The first predetermined pattern of matches comprises all four[0034]

numbers

52 in the first line54 (FIG. 3a), and a prize from the progressive pool is paid to such player holding acard50 with such matches from the first four balls drawn provided a wager was placed to the progressive pool with respect to the first line54 (block60). If the first four balls drawn match all fournumbers52 in thesecond line56 on a player'scard50, a prize from the progressive pool is paid to such player provided a wager to the progressive pool had been placed with respect to the second line56 (block62).

With respect to either the first or[0035]

second lines

54 or56, the four matches of the first four numbers drawn may be with or without the assistance of the undesignated ball or wild designation which when drawn may be deemed by each player to represent any one of the four assignednumbers52 on each card not yet matched by the drawn numbered balls.

In one manner of allotting progressive prizes for four in-line matches from the first four balls drawn, the greatest progressive prize may be paid to four assigned numbers matched in positional order, from the first four numbered balls drawn; a second smaller jackpot may be paid to four matches, in any order, from the first four numbered balls drawn; and a third yet smaller jackpot may be paid to four matches from the first four balls drawn where three of the drawn balls are numbered and one of the four drawn balls is the wild designation. A fourth and smallest prize from the progressive pool may also be paid at this point, for a card including three matched[0036]

inline numbers

52 only (i.e. three but not all four assignednumbers52 in oneline54 or56) matching three of the four balls drawn, one example of which is shown in FIG. 3c.

After the fourth ball or[0037]

number

52 is drawn (block74) and any game prizes and/or progressive prizes are paid (blocks76 and78), the draw from the set ofnumbers52 is continued (block80) and game prizes are paid to the first players holding cards respectively having matchednumbers52 forming predetermined patterns (block82). Such predetermined patterns may include the patterns shown in FIGS. 3a,3band4-6 to the extent such patterns have not occurred during the first four number draw (block74), as well as the first occurrence of a fifth predetermined pattern comprising a “six-pack”, i.e. six matched numbers creating a rectangular array or block of six touching numbers as shown in either of FIGS. 7aand7b. The first person having a card with matchednumbers52 in a six-pack pattern is paid a prize from the game pool, say 20% of the game pool.

A final winning predetermined pattern of matched numbers consists of a “blackout”, i.e. all eight[0038]

numbers

52 on acard50 being matched by the drawn numbers52 (shown in FIG. 8). The occurrence of a blackout is the event that ends the game embodiment of FIG. 2. The first player obtaining a blackout on one of hiscards50 is paid a prize from the game pool, say 50% of the game pool.

An exciting aspect of the game embodiment of FIG. 2 is that the game will continue from pattern to pattern paying the players for each win. In one example of such aspect, a player's card may be the first to have two matching numbers in a pattern of FIG. 4[0039]afor a first prize from the game pool, a pattern of FIG. 5 for a second prize from the game pool, as well as other prize winning patterns such as those of FIGS. 3, 6 and/or7, and finally the blackout pattern prize of FIG. 8. In another example, a player may hold a card simultaneously winning both a progressive jackpot and a game pool award upon occurrence of either of the patterns of FIG. 3aor FIG. 3bfrom the first four balls or numbers drawn.

A truncated variation of the present game, illustrated by the second preferred game embodiment flow chart of FIG. 9, provides that not all of the various pattern matches of FIGS. 3[0040]a,3b,4-8 are awarded a prize from the game pool. In a preferred example of this version, a game prize is awarded only with respect to thefirst card50 having matchednumbers52 arranged in a particular one of the predetermined patterns, which particular predetermined pattern had been preselected and preferably made known to the players prior to the drawing of any designations.

Turning to FIG. 9, in the second preferred game embodiment each player at his/her player terminal places a wager to the game pool (block[0041]58) and, either mandatorily or at the player's option, he/she places wagers to the progressive pool with respect to thefirst line54 and/or thesecond line56 ofnumbers52 on any one or more of hiscards50, and the player is assigned eight numbers in two lines of four numbers each, for each of hiscards50, in similar manner as described above with respect to the first embodiment flow chart corresponding blocks of FIG. 2.

The step of preselecting (block[0042]84) may comprise a random selection from available predetermined pattern matches or it may comprise a prescribed selection from available predetermined pattern matches. Such preselection may take place before the players place their wagers (block58), or before or after the players are assigned their eight numbers for each card played; in any case, such preselection should take place before the drawing of the first four numbers (block86).

The predetermined pattern matches available for preselection are preferably (although not necessarily) comprised of not fewer than the quantity of numbers needed for winning the progressive jackpot, such quantity being four in this example. Accordingly, the two-number pattern matches illustrated in FIGS. 4[0043]aand4bmay be excluded from preselection.

The playing of the game (in the second preferred embodiment of FIG. 9) continues with the drawing of[0044]

numbers

52 from the set ofnumbers52, the quantity of numbers drawn being the same as the quantity of numbers needed for winning the progressive jackpot, such quantity being four in the example (block86). The first four numbers or balls (if a ball blower is used) drawn are compared with the eight numbers assigned to each card of each player to determine whether the progressive prizes have been won for three or four matches in either of the

lines

54 or56 on a card50 (as in the examples of FIGS. 3a, b and c), and if so the applicable progressive prizes are paid (block78). At the same time, the eightnumbers52 assigned to eachcard50 of each player and the four balls drawn are compared to determine whether any of the eightnumbers52 on anyplayer card50 match the four numbers drawn such that the matched numbers on the card form the preselected predetermined pattern.

For example, if the preselected pattern is a four-number in-line pattern of FIG. 3[0045]aor3b, a card on which four in-line numbers are matched as in either of FIG. 3aor FIG. 3bwill be awarded a prize from the game pool, and the game ends (block90). If the predetermined pattern of FIG. 5 had been preselected, the game prize will be awarded to the player holding a card having such match pattern, and the game ends; similarly, if a four-number block is preselected, a game prize will be awarded to a player having a card exhibiting a match number pattern of any of FIG. 6a, FIG. 6bor FIG. 6c, and the game ends. The game may be played with or without the undesignated ball being included with the drawn numbered balls.

If the preselected predetermined pattern is not matched upon the fourth number being drawn, the draw from the set of[0046]

numbers

52 is continued until the first occurrence on any card of matchednumbers52 forming the preselected predetermined pattern (block92); a game prize is paid to the first player holding such card, and the game ends (block94). The matching of the preselected pattern may occur with respect to the predetermined patterns shown in FIGS. 3a,3b,5 and6 (as well as in FIG. 4 if such pattern had not been excluded from preselection) to the extent such patterns have not occurred during the first four number draw (block86), as well as from a “six pack” illustrated in FIG. 7aor FIG. 7b, or from a blackout illustrated in FIG. 8.

An exciting aspect of the game embodiment of FIG. 9 is the speed with which succeeding games may be played, as well as the variation from game to game provided by the preselecting of winning game patterns for each game played. Furthermore, the game may be played with combinations of the first and second embodiments, i.e. more than one but not all matched patterns may be preselected in one game for winning prizes from the game pool.[0047]

Thus, there have been described preferred embodiments of a method of playing a match number game similar to bingo and a bingo card for playing the game, the game being suitable for casino play and particularly adapted for electronic implementation such as with video terminals, preferably played by multiple players at a plurality of terminals. Other embodiments of the present invention and variations of the embodiments presented herein may be developed without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the invention should be limited only by the scope of the claims listed below.[0048]

Claims

I claim:

1. A method of playing a game by a plurality of players, comprising the steps of:

(a) each player placing a wager;

(b) assigning to each player designations from a set of designations, the assigned designations arranged on a card in two adjacent lines, each of said lines including at least three of said assigned designations, said assigned designations of said lines arranged in a grid;

(c) randomly drawing designations from said set of designations; and

(d) paying a prize to the first player whose assigned designations matching designations drawn in step (c) are arranged in a predetermined pattern on his or her card.

2. The method according toclaim 1, wherein:

in step (b), the quantity of assigned designations in each of said lines is four.

3. The method according toclaim 1, including:

in step (d), paying prizes to the first players whose assigned designations matching designations drawn in step (c) are arranged in other predetermined patterns on their cards respectively.

4. The method according toclaim 1, including:

prior to step (c), selecting said predetermined pattern from a plurality of predetermined patterns.

5. The method according toclaim 1,

wherein

in step (c), the quantity of designations drawn is equal to the quantity of assigned designations in each of said lines,

and including the steps of:

(e) if no player's assigned designations matching designations drawn in step (c) are arranged in said predetermined pattern, continuing to draw designations from said set; and

(f) paying a prize to the first player whose assigned designations matching designations drawn in steps (c) and (e) are arranged in said predetermined pattern.

6. The method according toclaim 5, wherein:

in step (c), the quantity of designations drawn is equal to the quantity of assigned designations in each of said lines.

7. The method according toclaim 1, wherein:

in step (a), each player places said wager to a game pool and each player may place a first progressive wager to a progressive pool, said first progressive wager associated with one of said lines;

in step (c), the quantity of designations drawn is equal to the quantity of assigned designations in said one of said lines; and

in step (d), said prize is paid from the game pool, and paying prizes from the progressive pool to players placing said first progressive wager whose assigned designations in said one of said lines match the designations drawn in step (c).

8. The method according toclaim 7, wherein:

in step (b), the quantity of assigned designations in said one of said lines is four.

9. The method according toclaim 7, including:

in step (d), paying prizes from the progressive pool to players placing said first progressive wager who have a predetermined quantity less than all of the assigned designations in said one of said lines matching designations drawn in step (c).

10. The method according toclaim 8, including:

in step (d), paying prizes from the progressive pool to players placing said first progressive wager whose assigned designations in said one of said lines match three of the four designations drawn in step (c).

11. The method according toclaim 7, wherein:

in step (a), each player may place a second progressive wager to the progressive pool, said second progressive wager associated with the other of said lines;

in step (b), the quantity of assigned designations in said other of said lines is equal to the quantity of assigned designations in said one of said lines; and

in step (d), paying prizes from the progressive pool to players placing said second progressive wager whose assigned designations in said other of said lines match the designations drawn in step (c).

12. The method according toclaim 11, wherein:

13. The method according toclaim 11, wherein:

said predetermined pattern in step (d) is preselected from a plurality of predetermined patterns.

14. The method according toclaim 11, including the step of:

(f) paying a prize from the game pool to the first player whose assigned designations matching designations drawn in steps (c) and (e) are arranged in said predetermined pattern.

15. The method according toclaim 7, including:

in step (d), paying prizes from the game pool to the first players whose assigned designations matching designations drawn in step (c) are arranged in other predetermined patterns respectively.

16. The method according toclaim 15, including:

17. The method according toclaim 15, wherein:

18. The method according toclaim 17, including:

19. The method according toclaim 15, including the steps of:

(e) after step (d), continuing to draw designations from said set; and

(f) paying prizes from the game pool to the first players whose assigned designations matching designations drawn in steps (c) and (e) are arranged in predetermined patterns.

20. The method according toclaim 19, wherein:

in step (e) the drawing of designations from said set is discontinued upon the first occurrence of all of the assigned designations on a player's card being matched by designations drawn in steps (c) and (e).

21. The method according toclaim 1, wherein:

each player may place additional wagers in step (a) and have assigned to him or her additional designations arranged on additional cards in step (b), for simultaneously subjecting each of his or her cards to the play of steps (c) and (d).

22. The method according toclaim 1, including:

providing a wild designation for being randomly drawn as if a designation is said set, and if drawn in step (c) each player may deem one of the assigned designations on his or her card to have been drawn.

23. A method of playing a game by a plurality of players, comprising the steps of:

(a) each player placing a game wager;

(c) randomly drawing a plurality of designations from said set of designations; and

(d) paying game prizes to the first players whose assigned designations matching designations drawn in step (c) are arranged in predetermined patterns on their cards respectively.

24. The method according toclaim 23, wherein:

in step (a), each player may place a progressive wager associated with a one of said lines on said cards;

in step (c), the quantity of drawn designations of said plurality is equal to the quantity of assigned designations in said one of said lines; and

in step (d), paying progressive prizes to players placing said progressive wager whose assigned designations in said one of said lines match the designations drawn in step (c).

25. The method according toclaim 24, wherein:

26. The method according toclaim 24, including:

in step (d), paying progressive prizes to players placing said progressive wager who have a predetermined quantity less than all of the assigned designations in said one of said lines matching designations drawn in step (c).

27. The method according toclaim 25, including:

in step (d), paying progressive prizes to players placing said progressive wager whose assigned designations in said one of said lines match three of the four designations drawn in step (c).

28. The method according toclaim 24, including the steps of:

(e) after step (d), continuing to draw designations from said set; and

29. The method according toclaim 28, wherein:

30. The method according toclaim 28, wherein:

each player may place additional wagers in step (a) and have assigned to him or her additional designations arranged on additional cards in step (b), for simultaneously subjecting each of his or her cards to the play of steps (c) through (f).

31. The method according toclaim 28, including:

providing a wild designation for being randomly drawn as if a designation in said set, and if said wild designation is drawn each player may deem one of the assigned designations on his or her card to have been drawn.

32. A bingo card comprising:

a card having a display thereon of assigned designations from a set of designations, the assigned designations arranged in two adjacent lines each including at least three of said assigned designations, said assigned designations of said lines arranged in a grid.

33. The bingo card according toclaim 32, wherein:

the quantity of assigned designations in each of said lines is four.

34. The bingo card according toclaim 32, wherein:

said display includes a first information area concerning a game wager and a second information area concerning a progressive wager.

35. The bingo card according toclaim 34, wherein:

said display is a video display and said first and second information areas include touch-sensitive switching devices for respectively implementing a player's placing of the game wager and placing of the progressive wager.

36. The bingo card according toclaim 32, wherein:

said display includes a first information area concerning a game wager, a second information area concerning a progressive wager associated with one of said lines, and a third information area concerning a progressive wager associated with the other of said lines.

37. The bingo card according toclaim 36, wherein:

said display is a video display and said first, second and third information areas include touch-sensitive switching devices for respectively implementing a player's placing of the game wager, placing of the progressive wager associated with said one of said lines, and placing of the progressive wager associated with said other of said lines.

38. The bingo card according toclaim 37, wherein:

the quantity of assigned designations in each of said lines is four.