Abstract: An electronic gaming system for playing games which includes a system base station and a plurality of gaming boards. The system base station downloads game instructions, a game schedule, and game card arrays into the gaming boards. These game card arrays are stored in the system base station as a gaming card library. The gaming card library contains a plurality of game card arrays such that no two arrays are identical. Each game card array is stored as a single record containing the elements of a particular array, while the individual enjoys instantaneous access to a plurality of gaming cards. The game schedule stores symbols which are to be matched with randomly generated symbols, particularly where the symbols are numbers and the pattern is a plurality of elements of a 5.times.5 array. The base station employs an algorithm to generate cards which ensures that numerical arrays of consecutive adjacent gaming arrays in said library differ by more than one array entry.

Abstract: A portable validation unit for an electronic gaming system, particularly a BINGO system. The validation unit communicates through a serial data interface with a base station of the gaming system to receive a serial number defining a particular validation unit and corresponding employee, and further receives a validation code defining a particular gaming schedule. As the gaming schedule is played on electronic BINGO cards, wins of each game are validated by connecting a validation unit to an electronic card to ensure that the card has a matching validation code stored therein for the current gaming schedule and is indicating a winning sequence of called numbers. If there is no winning indication, then the validation unit sounds one of two audible tunes depending upon whether the validation codes match. In response to a matching validation code and win indication, the validation unit will sound another short recognizable audible tune indicating a win.

Abstract: An electronic gaming system for playing games which includes a system base station and a plurality of gaming boards. The system base station downloads game instructions, a game schedule, and game card arrays into the gaming boards. These game card arrays are stored in the system base station as a gaming card library. The gaming card library contains a plurality of game card arrays such that no two arrays are identical. Each game card array is stored as a single record containing the elements of a particular array, while the individual enjoys instantaneous access to a plurality of gaming cards. The game schedule stores symbols which are to be matched with randomly generated symbols, particularly where the symbols are numbers and the pattern is a plurality of elements of a 5.times.5 array.

Abstract: An electronic gaming system for playing games. The electronic gaming system includes a system base station and a plurality of electronic gaming boards. The system base station downloads game instructions, a game schedule, and game card arrays into the gaming boards. These game card arrays are stored in the system base station as a gaming card library. The game schedule stores symbols which are to be matched with randomly generated symbols, particularly where the symbols are numbers and the pattern is a plurality of elements of a 5.times.5 array. The system base station retains auditing information about the distributed gaming cards; thus, the base station instantly confirms matches between the randomly-called numbers and those on a winning card, and at the same time verifies that such a card was indeed sold.

Abstract: An automatic gaming system for games of chance, such as BINGO or the like, is disclosed comprising a system base station, a plurality of electronic gaming boards, and a plurality of validation units. The electronic gaming boards are initialized by the system base station with a complex gaming schedule developed by the system operator. The system base station includes an interactive program to create a complex gaming schedule having completely arbitrary win patterns, multiple levels of payouts, and multiple place win combinations. The system base station further loads each gaming card with data representing a variable time interval which causes all of the boards to enter the play mode at the same time. The validation units are initialized by the system base station with a validation code which is used when checking a win claim of an electronic card.

Abstract: A gaming board for recording numbers, letters and/or other symbols which are selected at random during the game by the game operator is disclosed; the gaming board has the capacity to display and record several symbolic arrays, each of which has been predetermined and inputted by the game player prior to the start of the game; the board also provides for the recording and display of subarrays of a specified shape or character any one of which, if completed as a result of the selection of random numbers which correspond to the predetermined numbers prior to or simultaneous with another player completing the subarray, wins the game; the board further provides for the input by the game player of the randomly selected symbols in such a way as to be recorded on each of the several predetermined arrays.

Abstract: A gaming board for matching symbols which are selected at random with symbols stored in the board to form a selected pattern, particularly where the symbols are numbers and the pattern is a plurality of elements of a 5.times.5 array. The gaming board when used for a BINGO game receives a schedule of a gaming session permitting a plurality of independent games, each with a number of win levels and payout places. A load mode is used to randomly input numbers for selectable BINGO cards which are then played during the independent games in a play mode. A set time for loading the BINGO cards into the gaming board is maintained by a counter which, when expired, automatically loads random numbers into those cards which have not been filled. A three tier power conservation and security operation is used to control the power supplies of the gaming board. Initially, the gaming board can only be powered on by connection to a system base station and turns itself off upon command from the system base station.

Abstract: A gaming board for recording numbers, letters and/or other symbols which are selected at random during the game by the game operator is disclosed; the gaming board displays a symbolic array which has been predetermined and inputted by the game player prior to the start of the game and further provides for the display of sub-arrays of a specified shape or character which, if completed as a result of the selection of random numbers which correspond to the predetermined numbers prior to or simultaneous with another player completing the sub-array, wins the game; a winning combination indicator means is also disclosed as part of the gaming board. A safety device to prevent variation of the predetermined/inputted array during the game and other features are also disclosed.