Abstract: In a variation of a bingo game, for-profit operators designate a plurality of bingo number patterns which may result in an award to a player. The bingo game does not require multiple player participation. Play proceeds after the player pays for and selects any quantity of cards per bingo game and further pre-selects a plurality of patterns for each card. Bingo numbers are drawn by a random number generator of a gaming machine until each one of the player plurality of pre-selected bingo patterns is matched. The player eventually achieves a bingo. For-profit operators can control the player disadvantage using a plurality of payout tables based on the types of patterns comprising bingo numbers achieved by the player and by selecting payout tables based on the quantity of bingo numbers drawn to achieve an award resulting in a diminishing return for the player as the bingo game proceeds to completion.