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[0001] The present invention relates to gaming machines and methods such as slot machines and linked slot machines as well as the game of Roulette.
[0002] Slot machines are well known in the art. In the past these machines included one or more mechanical reels having symbols or indicia printed about the periphery. The player would insert a coin or token and initiate play by pulling on a handle. The pulling of the handle would result in spinning of the reels which would slow to random present indicia at one or more designated pay lines. If predetermined symbols or symbol combinations are aligned along an enabled pay line, the player would be issued a prize. If not, the spin or “hand” would be deemed a losing hand and the wager would be lost. Modernly, slot machine games are controlled by computer processors to select and display an outcome, to determine if a winning or losing outcome has been obtained and to control the other various aspects of the operation of the machines. Also, too, modernly the mechanical reels have been replaced by video displays which are controlled by the processor to display video simulations of reels. The operation and control of such games are described in Sunaga, U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,781 and Telnaes, U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,419.
[0003] Another wagering or casino game is the popular game of Roulette. In a 1961 publication titled, “Scarne's new Complete Guide to Gambling” by John Scarne, it was estimated that 13 millions of Americans played Roulette. In its table game version, a table is provided with a layout of the numbers for Roulette of 1-36 and a “0” or a “0” and “00”. As is well known, and shown in
[0004] To play the game, players wager their chips on one or more numbers an/or propositions and a ball is launched into the spinning Roulette wheel. The Roulette wheel has numbers corresponding to the numbers of the layout about its periphery separated by frets. The ball eventually comes to rest on a number defining the number and propositions outcome.
[0005] Drawbacks of table or “live” Roulette is that players may become bored with the game, the number and nature of winning propositions is limited and there is no mechanism to offer a large jackpot.
[0006] It has been known to provide an electronic Roulette game where either a physical or virtual wheel is provided and where players can make wagers. For example in Rubin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,909 issued Jan. 12, 1999 there is disclosed an electronic Roulette game which provides for number and proposition wagers as well as sequential event (sequential hands of Roulette) wagering. In Valdez, U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,999 issued Aug. 10, 1999 three outcomes are produced by launching three balls into a modified Roulette wheel. The player makes wagers based upon the anticipated outcome(s) produced by the three, launched balls.
[0007] The same drawbacks that are noted with respect to live Roulette apply to electronic Roulette and the games noted above.
[0008] There is a need for a device and method which provides for the excitement of both Roulette and slot machines, which can provide a large jackpots and which provides for more frequent and varied winning combinations.
[0009] There is, therefor, provided according to the present invention a device and method which includes the familiarity of Roulette into a slot machine game, which provides the ability to offer large and varied winning outcomes, which is suitable to playing with games linked through a local or wide area network (LAN or WAN) or to be played over the Internet, which is fast-paced and easy to understand.
[0010] Toward this end there is set forth an electronic gaming device and method using ordered indicia such as the numbers of Roulette which are arranged in the predetermined, serial, ordered positions around a Roulette wheel as is well known.
[0011] Furthermore, and with reference to the indicia, e.g. Roulette numbers, the numbers also have secondary characteristics attributed according to the layout of a traditional Roulette layout and/or wheel of being (i) odd or even, (ii) red, black or green (iii) low or high, (iv) falling in the first, second or third twelve numbers and/or (v) falling in first, second or third rows of numbers. In a first embodiment the game processor is programmed to, in response to prompting by the player, to permit the player (or processor) to select on a 1×3 matrix secondary Roulette number characteristics, e.g. 3
[0012] The game processor is further programmed to, in response to prompting by the player, randomly select (or to obtain the results from a physical Roulette wheel, as is well known in the art) at least three Roulette numbers defining an outcome set of numbers. The outcome set of numbers is reported on a 3×3 matrix, where for each column of the matrix the outcome number and the number to either side of the outcome number as presented on a Roulette wheel, are used to fill the column coordinates for the matrix. For example, on a Roulette wheel the numbers are displayed about the periphery in an ordered fashion as is well known and as shown in 30 36 12 8 11 35 23 30 3
[0013] The device also includes means for accepting a wager, for enabling one or more pay lines of the 3×3 matrix and for prompting play of the game.
[0014] The game processor is programmed to, once the selection on a 1×3 matrix of secondary Roulette number characteristics (as described above) and on a further 1×3 matrix the Roulette numbers (as also described above) are completed, in response to prompting of play, randomly select at least three Roulette numbers defining an outcome set of numbers, to display the outcome set of numbers on the middle row of a 3×3 matrix, display the numbers to either side of each number of the outcome set (as presented on a Roulette wheel) to fill the column coordinates of the 3×3 matrix, compare the characteristics of the outcome set of numbers as displayed on the 3×3 matrix to those of each of the two 1×3 matrices to determine matches and if a predetermined pattern of matches occurs on the 3×3 matrix, issue a prize. The secondary characteristics of the numbers of the 3×3 matrix are compared to the 1×3 matrix of the secondary characteristics and the numbers of the 3×3 matrix are compared to the 1×3 matrix of numbers. If, for example, matches occur along a pay line the player is entitled to a prize. If, for example, matches occur but are not on any particular pay line, the player is entitled to a prize for scatters, e.g. matches in any position on the 3×3 matrix.
[0015] In further and additional embodiments of the invention, for matches in exact order of selected outcome numbers on a certain pay line entitles the player to a bonus or jackpot.
[0016] In another embodiment, means are provided for the player or the processor for the game to select for each column of a 3×3 matrix a sequence of three Roulette numbers. The selected numbers and the numbers to either side of the selected number as presented on the Roulette wheel are used to fill the column coordinates for the matrix. For example, on a Roulette wheel the numbers are disposed about the periphery in an ordered fashion as is well known and as shown in 30 36 12 8 11 35 23 30 3
[0017] The device also includes means for accepting a wager, for enabling one or more pay lines of the matrix and for prompting play of the game. The game processor is programmed to, in response to prompting of play, randomly select at least three Roulette numbers (or report the selection of three numbers from a physical Roulette wheel) defining an outcome set of numbers, compare the characteristics of the outcome set to those of the 3×3 matrix to determine matches and if a predetermined pattern of matches occurs issue a prize. The processor compares the outcome set numbers to those of the 3×3 and is controlled to mark or highlight matches. If, for example, matches occur along a pay line the player is entitled to a prize. The Roulette numbers are selected and compared to the numbers of the matrix and if a predetermined number or pattern of corresponding numbers occur in the matrix the player wins a prize.
[0018] These and other features and advantages will become appreciated as the same becomes better understood with reference to the description claims and drawings wherein:
[0019]
[0020]
[0021]
[0022] FIGS.
[0023] FIGS.
[0024] Turning to
[0025] Also as is well known, the game of Roulette has a wagering layout
[0026] For traditional Roulette, after each player has made their wager(s), the wheel
[0027] With the description of Roulette in mind, the various embodiments of the present invention will now be described.
[0028] Turning to
[0029] Each device
[0030] In lieu of replicating the selection of the outcome at each display
[0031] In lieu of replicating the layout
[0032] Each device
[0033] To play the game according to a first embodiment of the present invention reference is made to
[0034] After the player has made their selections, they await the selection of the outcome. Where the machines are linked as shown on
[0035] In lieu of the player making the selections of one or both of the jackpot numbers
[0036] Further it should be understood that the devices
[0037] To select the outcome, the wheel
[0038] After the selection and display of the outcome set, the host processor unit
[0039] With reference to
[0040] With reference to TABLE 1 Match Type Prize 3 exact 7000 3 mixed order 1000 3 in any position 125 2 in any position 15
[0041] Thus, in the example of
[0042] As for an award based upon the secondary characteristics, the player does not receive a prize since the matching characteristics for each column do not result in a match along any pay line
[0043] Other example of outcomes for this embodiment of the game are demonstrated below where “B” refers to black numbers and where the numbers would be placed in the matrix Outcome 3 7 15B 36 28B 19 11B 12 4B 30
[0044] Pay line Outcome 4 35B 24B 6B 3 16 27 26B 33B 13B
[0045] Pay line
[0046] As can be appreciated the player could have winning combinations along several one or pay lines and receive an award therefor.
[0047] After the outcomes for each device
[0048] With reference to FIGS.
[0049] At the expiration of the timer, the host processor unit TABLE 2 Prize Prizes for Matches on a pay line 3 exact order matches 7000 3 mixed order matches 1000 Prizes for Scattered Matches (Any position on the matrix) 3 Matches, any position 25 2 Matches, any position 3
[0050] With reference to
[0051] After the prizes have been paid, players make new wagers within the time allotted and the host unit
[0052] As can be appreciated, the games according to the prior art can be played in a linked fashion as suggested in
[0053] Further, the wheel
[0054] Also as discussed above, the selection of the number characteristics for the game matrix may be done by the player or may be done by the host or device processor as desired.
[0055] The games according to the present invention provide the player an opportunity to play a slot machine having characteristics of the numbers of Roulette. Further the games provide the player with multiple opportunities to win.
[0056] While I have shown and described certain embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the same is subject to modification without departing form the spirit and scope of the appended claims.