Abstract: Gaming methods, apparatus, and program products prompt players to move between different gaming machines or player stations (103) included in a gaming system (100). One preferred method includes receiving a player input at a first player station (103) in a network gaming system (100). Upon receiving the player input at the first player station (103), a station changing prompt is produced at the first player station (103). A multi-station game result for the player is then awarded to the player after the player makes some input at a second player station (103) in the system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product for conducting bingo games that includes using a server to collect game play requests from a plurality of player stations. A first player and at least one additional player may submit multiple game play requests, and a server may separate the game play requests into at least two bingo games and conduct the bingo games simultaneously. Results for the bingo games are displayed at a player station in an order determined dynamically based at least in part on the order in which game results become available from the server.

Abstract: A server in a network receives a player's game play request from a player station that is located remotely from the server in the network. In response to the player's game play request, a display of the player station generates an image prompting a player to enter a player input at the player station. The player input, which is at least partially skill dependent, is ultimately evaluated at the server to produce a game result. The game result is then communicated back to the player station and presented to the player in some fashion.

Abstract: A lottery ticket distribution system according to the invention includes a ticket distribution center (9) that is in electronic communication with a number of player terminals (10) at locations remote to the ticket distribution center. The ticket distribution center (9) includes an electronic ticket storage device (11, 20) for storing a game set (29) of electronic tickets (31) and distributing the electronic tickets to the player terminals (10). A ticket record manufacturing device (14, 15) operatively connected to the ticket distribution center (9) provides either a nonvolatile data record for each ticket or a hard copy ticket, or both. The nonvolatile data records or set of hard copy tickets for a given game set are not distributed to the players, but are held for verification and dispute resolution purposes either at the ticket distribution center (9) or some other secure location.

Abstract: A method includes issuing a physical bingo card. This physical bingo card is associated with a layout of spots or locations and bingo designations representing a bingo card or “card bingo structure.” The method also includes identifying the card bingo structure through a player station and collecting a game play request entered from the player station with at least one additional game play request to form a game group. The game play request is associated with the card bingo structure and each additional game play request in the game group is associated with a respective additional bingo structure. Once the game group is formed, a bingo game may be conducted between the card bingo structure and each additional bingo structure to identify a bingo game result for the card bingo structure and preferably each additional bingo structure. The bingo game result for the card bingo structure is then displayed at the player station.

Abstract: A back office system is preferably located in a secure area and includes one or more central computers. Each central computer stores a number of game records with each game record representing a play in a game. A database computer included in the back office system maintains an account for each authorized player in the gaming system. A casino floor system is operatively connected for communication with the back office system and includes a number of player terminals through which players may participate in various games offered in the gaming system. Each player terminal in the casino floor system is serviced by one central computer in the back office system. Each player terminal allows a player to log in and make a request for a game play, and then communicates the entered game play request to the respective central computer servicing that particular player terminal.

Abstract: A method includes first revealing a limited set of potential game results to a player through a player terminal and then presenting the player with a set of graphic representations through the player terminal. Each respective representation has no apparent relationship to any particular potential result in the limited set of potential results. Thus, the player who is presented with the graphic representations cannot tell if any particular one of the representations is tied in any way to any particular potential result in the limited set of potential results. After presenting to the player the set of representations, the player is allowed to select at least one of the representations by making a player choice input through the player terminal. In response to the player choice input, at least one of the potential results in the limited set of potential results is assigned to the player, and this assigned potential result becomes the player's result for the game.

Abstract: A method includes issuing a physical bingo card. This physical bingo card is associated with a layout of spots or locations and bingo designations representing a bingo card or “card bingo structure.” The method also includes identifying the physical bingo card through a player station and collecting a game play request entered from the player station with at least one additional game play request to form a game group. The game play request is associated with the card bingo structure and each additional game play request in the game group is associated with a respective additional bingo structure. Once the game group is formed, a bingo game may be conducted between the card bingo structure and each additional bingo structure to identify a bingo game result for the card bingo structure and preferably each additional bingo structure. The bingo game result for the card bingo structure is then displayed at the player station.

Abstract: A lottery gaming system utilizes one or more pools of predetermined game play records. In response to a game play request, the gaming system allocates a number or set of game play records. A representation for each allocated game play record is then displayed to the player in some fashion that does not indicate the result of the respective game play record, and the requesting player is allowed to select one or more of the allocated game play records through the respective representations. The selected game play record or records are assigned to the player and the player ultimately sees the result associated with each selected game play record. However, the allocated game play records that are not selected by the player, and thus remain unassigned, are collected or otherwise made available for use in response to another game play request.

Abstract: A gaming system method includes first reading external identifying information for a player from an external identification device carried by the player and then associating the external identifying information with a player account in a gaming system. The method further includes reading the external identifying information for the player from a player station device included the gaming system, and then accessing the player account using that external identifying information read from the player station device.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and program products for a bingo game are described for selecting a group of designations from an overall set of designations and matching the selected group of designations to designations associated with the locations on a player card. Each designation in the overall set of designations corresponds to a playing card in a standard playing card deck. Matching the group of designations with the player card designations produces a number of matched locations on the player card. These matched locations are used to determine a playing card hand and a player is awarded the result of the game based on the playing card hand.

Abstract: A processing device measures the time it takes for a player to take some action in a game and bases the award or result in the game for the player at least in part on that measured time. A player receives a more desirable result or outcome for a particular game play in response to a shorter player action time and/or receives a less desirable result or outcome for a particular game play in response to a longer player action time. Providing more desirable results for shorter player action times or less desirable results for longer player action times provides players an incentive that influences them to take the appropriate player actions more quickly.

Abstract: A lottery ticket distribution system according to the invention includes a ticket distribution center (9) that is in electronic communication with a number of player terminals (10) at locations remote to the ticket distribution center. The ticket distribution center (9) includes an electronic ticket storage device (11, 20) for storing a game set (29) of electronic tickets (31) and distributing the electronic tickets to the player terminals (10). A ticket record manufacturing device (14, 15) operatively connected to the ticket distribution center (9) provides either a nonvolatile data record for each ticket or a hard copy ticket, or both. The nonvolatile data records or set of hard copy tickets for a given game set are not distributed to the players, but are held for verification and dispute resolution purposes either at the ticket distribution center (9) or some other secure location.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and program products are described for conducting a networked bingo game for a number of game play requests to identify bingo game results, including at least one bonus round result. A number of selection options are presented to a player with the bonus round result (the bonus round player) and one or more selection options are associated with a respective bonus prize. After presenting the bonus round player with the selection options, the player is enabled to choose at least one of the selection options. The bonus round player is then awarded the bonus prize associated with the chosen selection option.

Abstract: Bonus designations are considered along with the regular game designations to distinguish between different pattern result levels in a bingo game. A set of one or more bonus designations is selected. Each bonus designation included in the set of bonus designations may be selected from the same pool of bingo designations from which the bingo card designations and game designations are selected. The set of bonus designations is applied to distinguish between a number of pattern result levels associated with each winning pattern that may be achieved in the bingo game and to identify a particular one of the pattern result levels for the respective player/game play request. A prize for each respective player/game play request is awarded based on the pattern result level identified for the respective player/game play request.

Abstract: A gaming method identifies a variable draw dividing point in a designation set or draw. This variable draw dividing point divides the draw into two subsets of designations including a first draw portion. The first draw portion defined by the variable draw dividing point in the draw matches card representations in play in a bingo game according to some predefined matching criteria. Once the variable draw dividing point is identified to define the first draw portion, the first draw portion is communicated to players in the bingo game that are each associated with a respective card representation matched by the first portion according to the predefined matching criteria.

Abstract: A gaming system produces a multiple-play physical pull tab ticket at the request of a player. Each chance in the game is associated with a game play record which has been produced and stored in the system prior to the sale of the physical game ticket. A player in the game selects a number of game play outcomes or plays to be purchased and the gaming system responds to the request by producing and distributing to the player a pull tab ticket having the requested number of game play outcomes printed or otherwise formed on a ticket substrate. Game play information specifying the outcomes of each game play printed on the game ticket may be printed or otherwise encoded on the game ticket. A player terminal may read this game play information using a suitable scanning device and may then display the results of the plays to the player.

Abstract: A method for detecting potential money-laundering activities or other illegal activities in the use of a gaming accounting system includes collecting data regarding a player's activity in a gaming system. The gaming system activity data is collected in terms of a gaming activity network, that is, a series of linked activities or events, and/or objects associated with activities or events. In response to a predefined event such as a cash out or credit redemption transaction request initiated by the player, the method includes evaluating the collected data to identify potentially illegal or prohibited activity. In the event illegal activity is indicated, the method includes taking some corrective action such as producing an operator alert to the potential illegal activity.

Abstract: A progressive gaming method includes producing a set of game records with each game record being associated with a result in a game. Progressive prize bearing records are included in the set of game records according to a progressive win frequency rule. Each progressive prize bearing record is associated with a progressive win indicator and a progressive prize. After producing the game record set, the method includes assigning game records from the game record set to a number of players. Each game record is assigned to a respective player in response to a game play request associated with the respective player. The method also includes awarding a progressive prize to the respective player to whom a progressive prize bearing record is assigned in response to a game play request.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for presenting multiple bingo game results on a common display. A bingo game player may participate in a number of bingo games and obtain results for each of those games. These bingo game results are combined to amount to a cumulative result and a common graphic display is produced that is representative of the cumulative result. The common graphic display is then shown to the player on the display device of a particular electronic player station.