Keno Trigger Spot Mechanics for Bonus Draw Award Expansion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing keno games lack features that enhance player engagement and award potential through innovative use of trigger spots and unmatched drawn spots.

Innovation Solution

A gaming system that displays keno cards with player, trigger, and drawn spots, allowing for bonus draws and extra awards based on matches between trigger and drawn spots, including extra drawn spots and awards for non-player selected spots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional keno games are played without trigger spots and bonus draws, then the game rules are simple, but player engagement and award potential are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidgame rule complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The keno game is segmented into distinct functional components: player-selected spots, trigger spots, and drawn spots. This segmentation allows the game to handle different spot types with different rules, enabling bonus draws and extra awards while maintaining clear, manageable game logic that enhances player engagement without overwhelming complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Trigger spots are predetermined and marked on the keno card before the drawing begins. This preliminary action allows the game system to pre-identify which drawn spots will trigger bonus draws or extra awards, enabling dynamic game features while keeping the rules straightforward for players to understand

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If bonus draws and extra drawn spots are added for matched trigger spots, then award potential increases, but game volatility increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaward amountVSAvoidgame volatility

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The game implements partial action by providing bonus draws and extra awarded spots only for matched trigger spots, not for all drawn spots. This selective approach increases award potential for players who match trigger spots while maintaining controlled volatility through the predetermined trigger spot mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The game dynamically changes parameters during play by adjusting the number of drawn spots based on trigger spot matches. When trigger spots are matched, the system increases the draw quantity through bonus draws, creating variable award structures that balance potential payouts with controlled game volatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If extra drawn spots are provided for matched non-player spots, then player time on system increases, but wear on casino equipment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayer time on systemVSAvoidequipment wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The game uses periodic action through structured bonus draw sequences triggered by matched trigger spots. These periodic bonus draws engage players for extended periods through multiple drawing cycles, increasing player time on system while the structured nature of the periodic draws allows for efficient equipment utilization and reduced overall wear

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS20260018021A1Keno employing initially unmatched drawn spots via trigger spots

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Gaming systems and methods that provide a play of a keno game employing initially unmatched drawn spots via trigger spots, wherein the play of the keno game includes, for each match of one of the drawn spot set and the trigger spot set, one or more different opportunities to obtain extra awards, extra drawn spots, and extra trigger spots.