AU2007329176A1 - Mahjong roulette gaming system and method - Google Patents

Description

WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 1 TILE: MAHJONG ROULETTE GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION PRIOR HISTORY 5 This patent application is associated with the following: (1) U.S. Patent Application No. 11/634,780, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on December 5, 2006; (2) U.S. Patent Application No. 11/711,374 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on February 27, 2007; (3) U.S. Patent Application 10 No. 11/711,546 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on February 27, 2007; and (4) U.S. Patent Application No. 11/732,995 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on April 5, 2007. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 15 The present invention relates generally to games of chance, and some embodiments relate more particularly to novel variations on the roulette wheel and wagers placed thereon. A preferred embodiment of the present invention essentially comprises a roulette wheel comprising mahjong or similar other symbols for effecting 20 a mahjong or symbolic roulette gaming experience. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Gaming is ancient. Over time, core gaming themes and gaming rules have 25 developed, which continue to enjoy wide popularity. In order to infuse some element WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 2 of novelty into ancient games, gaming enthusiasts continually strive to enhance the gaming experience through inventive approaches to play. Roulette, for example, has been credited to many ancient sources, including Chinese origins and Roman origins. Whatever its origin, roulette has evolved into a casino and gambling game in 5 which a croupier turns a round roulette wheel having 37 or 38 separately numbered pockets in which a ball must land. Conventional roulette wheels comprise pockets or wheel sectors numbered non-sequentially from 1 to 36 alternating between red and black backdrops. Most modern Roulette wheels further comprise at least one green pocket numbered "0". Further, in the United States (as opposed to Europe), most 10 roulette wheels comprise a second green pocket marked "00" ostensibly for increasing the house advantage in the United States as compared to house advantage in European play. A mah jongg or mahjong game set comprises tiles - of which there are 34 different types. These are the four Winds, East, South, West and North, the three 15 Dragons, Green, Red and White, the Bamboo tiles, numbered one to nine, the Circles tiles, numbered one to nine, and the Wan tiles, again numbered one to nine. For each of the 34 different tile types there are four identical pieces provided in a Mah Jongg or mahjong set. The total number of playing tiles in the game is therefore 136 tiles. However in a set there are also eight special tiles that are used solely for the purpose 20 of scoring bonus points, the Flower and Season tiles, we therefore have a total of 144 tiles in a mahjong set as generally illustrated in Figure No. 6. The ordering depicted in Figure No. 6 is called the Symbolic Square of Mahjong and shows all 144 tiles in the game.

WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 3 Mahjong sets are mainly colored using only three colors, namely, red, blue, and green. These together represent the Three Extremities, namely, Mankind, Heaven and Earth, or more particularly, as follows: . Red signifies blood and therefore Mankind and more generally Life. 5 . Blue signifies the sky, the Heavens and therefore dignity and purity. . Green symbolizes the Earth and nature, fertility and natural richness In traditional United States-based roulette play, if a player bets on a single number and wins, the payout is 35:1. A number of other betting options, however, 10 have become available to the gamer, which options offer lower payoffs, including bets on multiple numbers in various combinations or ranges, on all odd or all even numbers, or by color. Over time, variants on the basic roulette theme have evolved including electronic betting through computer stations, fully electronic ball spin/wheel simulations, stand alone games on a slot machine or through Internet gaming, multiple 15 balls, and characters other than numerals, such as zodiac symbols and the like. Bearing in mind that the present application sets forth roulette gaming systems and methodology incorporating both traditional roulette concepts (ball-identifying winning symbols) with traditional mahjong symbols, it is noted that state of the art relating to roulette gaming devices and the like is well developed, and a search into 20 the state of roulette art reveals that a number of inventive roulette-based gaming devices are known in the prior art. Some of the more pertinent prior art relating to roulette type gaming devices of which the present inventors are aware, is briefly described and set forth below. United States Patent No. 3,853,324 ('324 Patent), which issued to Reiner et 25 al., discloses a Combined Game of Chance and Skill. The '324 Patent teaches a combined game of chance and skill which is a modified form of the popular game WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 4 known as bingo. The game includes a circular playing field, a longitudinal alley extending therefrom and a ball -propelling mechanism mounted at one end of the alley for propelling small and large indicating balls along the alley and onto the playing field. The playing field includes an outer member and an inner disc which are 5 rotatably driven in opposite directions. The outer member is provided with a plurality of indicia-carrying partitions which are spaced to trap the large indicating ball which is propelled onto the playing field but are spaced to allow the small indicating ball to pass through the partitions and onto the inner disc. The inner disc is provided with a plurality of indicia-carrying, ball-receiving pockets adapted to receive the small 10 indicating ball which passes through the partitions. United States Patent No. 4,222,561 ('561 Patent), which issued to Whitten, discloses a Game Device. The '561 Patent teaches a roulette type device whereby a predetermined set of word category cards are selected randomly one at a time together with spinning a roulette wheel to select the first letter designation for a word response 15 by the players which satisfies both the category and first letter so selected. It will be seen from an inspection of the '561 Patent that the roulette type wheel comprises a series of letters of the Roman alphabet thereon. The Whitten wheel includes a total of thirty-six lettered positions thereon, with certain of the letters being duplicitous. Whitten utilizes the device to enable random selection of a letter by his wheel to 20 designate the first letter of an object from a group of related objects, e.g., kinds of fruit, etc. The subject user or gamer must come up with an object having a name that begins with the letter selected on the Whitten roulette wheel in order to win that particular play or turn. United States Patent No. 4,887,819 ('819 Patent), which issued to Walker, 25 discloses a Casino Board Game. The '819 Patent teaches a relatively complex game, WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 5 incorporating use of a roulette wheel and combines aspects of several different traditional or conventional gambling games. In this regard, the player uses either a card game similar to blackjack or a slot machine to determine the number of spaces to be moved along a segmented path, the particular game being selected by the 5 instructions contained in the segment on which the player landed on the prior move. Each segment also contains further instructions, some of those instructions designating a further gambling apparatus and giving odds. These further apparatuses are a roulette game or a dice game, and the player landing on that segment may gamble at these games at the designated odds. Other players can join in the gambling 10 when the roulette game and the dice game are played. The objective of the game is for a player to avoid penalties designated on the game board, acquire a majority of the playing chips until either all of the other players become "busted" or the casino bank becomes "busted". Notably, no alphabetic layout for the roulette wheel is disclosed. United States Patent No. 5,259,616 ('616 Patent), which issued to Bergmann, 15 discloses a Roulette-Type Coin-Operated Gaming Machine. The '616 Patent teaches a process for operating a slot machine that works as a roulette wheel. According to the process, the gambler determines the amount of the stake by introducing coins then by pressing selection keys. A microprocessor determines the result of the game by means of random algorithm. When the chosen number is hit, the microprocessor 20 instructs the coin distributing unit to eject the main prize. When a chosen number is hit, the microprocessor drives another processor with a random generator. The random generator determines, depending on a written algorithm, a gain multiplier which is multiplied by the amount of the stake on the number that was hit. The payment unit is then instructed to distribute an amount in coins which corresponds to 25 the product of the stake on the number that was hit and the gain multiplier.

WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 6 United States Patent No. 5,553,853 ('853 Patent), which issued to Sackitey, discloses a Game Apparatus and Method of Play for Teaching DNA Related Technologies. The '853 Patent teaches a game including a selector for selecting a nucleotide from a group of nucleotides normally associated with DNA. By randomly 5 selecting nucleotides and recording the selected nucleotides, each player creates a unique DNA sequence. The DNA sequence is used in one of a variety of game motifs to determine the winner of the game. It will be seen from an inspection of the '853 Patent that a roulette-type wheel having a series of seventy-one lettered positions thereon enables play. Certain alphabetic characters are repeated, with several 10 (Roman) alphabetic characters being omitted from the wheel. United States Patent No. 5,755,440 ('440 Patent), which issued to Sher, discloses an Enhanced Roulette-Style Game. The '440 Patent teaches a new Roulette apparatus comprising multiple balls and separate tracks for launching each of the balls. In a preferred embodiment there are two balls and two tracks, and a special 15 apparatus for launching the balls. In one embodiment the launching apparatus is air powered, and in another the apparatus is mechanical with the balls accelerated by contact with a spinning wheel. In either case the launching apparatus may be hand held or mounted to a frame and positioned to propel the balls into the tracks. In another aspect of the invention the wheel of the Roulette apparatus is provided as a 20 dynamic display, which may be of several different types, such as LCD and dynamic holographic displays, and electronic player stations are provided wherein players may customize and place bets. In many embodiments the games are enhanced by audio effects including such sounds as balls being launched, balls rolling in Roulette apparatus, thunder strikes, and music.

WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 7 United States Patent No. 6,164,647 ('647 Patent), which issued to Chee, discloses a Casino Wheel Game System. The '647 Patent teaches a roulette assembly comprising a lower wheel divided into a plurality of sections each representative of at least one of a unique number and a unique color. Also included is an upper wheel rotatably 5 mounted on the lower wheel and divided into a plurality of sections each representative of at least one of a unique number and a unique color. Upon the upper wheel and the lower wheel being spun, the upper wheel slows to engage with the lower wheel and a unique number and color combination is indicated. It will be seen from an inspection of the '647 Patent that a mechanically complex roulette wheel is 10 disclosed. Upper and lower wheels may be randomly joined to select a specific color and number outcome on the lower wheel. Notably, no alphabetic designations on the wheel are disclosed. United States Patent Nos. 6,227,542 ('542 Patent) and 6,663,106 ('106 Patent), both of which issued to Cosmi, disclose certain Roulette of Improved Type 15 and New Gambling Game Providing for the Use of Said Improved Roulette. The '542 and '106 Patents teach roulette of a new type including two bowls coaxial to each other and rotating around the same axis and two small balls, each ball rolling around one of the bowls, where on each bowl are engraved data which refer to an independent event. On a first embodiment, the two independent events are: the signs 20 of the zodiac, the numbers from 0 to 31, where the signs of the zodiac are preferably engraved on the external, ring-shaped bowl, while the numbers from 0 to 31 are preferably engraved on the internal bowl. On a second embodiment, the events engraved on the two bowls are related to one or more of the calendars used in Asiatic countries (China, Korea, Japan and so on). Furthermore, a new gambling game 25 providing for the use of said improved roulette is described.

WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 8 United States Patent No. 6,406,022 ('022 Patent), which issued to Nadibaidze, discloses a Method of Playing a Roulette-Type Mass Amusement Game Having a Betting Field with Zodiac Signs. The '022 Patent teaches a method of mass amusement using a stake field simulating a roulette-type betting field with various 5 color stake squares with various-color information marks from 1 to 36 formed thereupon and the twelve Zodiac signs in the stake squares with digital information marks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, and 31. Also formed is a flat image of a stationary roulette wheel having 36 main sectors and one or two additional sectors, with each main sector to contain, first, the images of digits from 1 to 36 with the 10 images of the twelve Zodiac signs in the places of location of the prime numbers 1, 2, 3, 5 ,7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, and 31, and, secondly, two images of the hexagonal die with information marks being various number of spots: from one to six. Then, the players place their bets on the stake squares of the stake field, the procedure to be followed by choosing two pairs of random gambling indices by means of double 15 simultaneous casting of two hexagonal dice. United States Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0285336, which was authored by Ilievski, discloses an alphabetic roulette game comprising a roulette wheel having twenty-five positions thereon, comprising the twenty-six letters of the Roman alphabet and a double letter position. A wagering surface or table provides for 20 the placement of wagers upon the chance of any of the single letters (or the double letters) or a letter of any of several groups of letters turning up on a spin of the wheel. The game also provides for wagers on the chance of a given letter turning up on two or more consecutive turns of the wheel. A further wagering opportunity is provided for wagering upon the chance of a letter within a given word or words coming up on a 25 turn of the wheel. The alphabetic positions on the wheel, and corresponding positions WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 9 on the table, may be colored to allow players to place wagers on a color or colors, as desired. It will be seen from a further review of the above-referenced patents and other prior art generally known to exist, however, that the prior art does not teach a roulette 5 type game for telling a mahjong story as summarized in a mahjong event. In this case, the mahjong event may be said to comprise the identification of multiple mahjong symbols by way of a roulette medium. The prior art thus perceives a need for a roulette medium for effecting a mahjong event or for otherwise dealing a hand. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like 10 which has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia or elsewhere before the priority date of this application. 15 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a combination roulette-mahjong gaming medium. In a first preferred practice of the present 20 invention, a roulette-gaming system is provided for effecting or eliciting a multi wheel roulette gaming experience. In this regard, it is contemplated that a roulette gaming system of the present invention may be said to comprise a grouped series of roulette wheel assemblies; a player participation area; certain central-processing means; and certain visual display means. Each roulette wheel assembly may further 25 comprise a roulette wheel; a roulette ball; a dome for preventing balls from escaping WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 10 from the roulette wheel(s); certain automated rotation means for rotating the roulette wheel about a wheel axis of rotation; certain automated launch means for launching the roulette ball; and certain means for automatically detecting in which slot(s) the ball(s) have landed. 5 Each roulette wheel comprises a plurality of ball-receiving sectors and at least one ball-launching track. Each ball-receiving sector comprises a superior sector surface, which superior sector surfaces each bear or are otherwise cooperable with a select wheel symbol as may be preferably defined by a mahjong symbol or as may be alternatively defined by similar other symbolism, such as traditional playing card 10 symbols. The roulette balls are respectively launchable from the ball-launching tracks and respectively receivable in one of the ball-receiving sectors for providing a multi sector event. The multi-sector event may be defined by the group of symbols identified by the balls as they come to rest in the ball-receiving sectors. In other words, the multi-sector event, if bearing a mahjong motif, is 15 essentially a mahjong event. Mahjong symbols each represent meaning beyond one dimension. And thus, combinations of symbols may be combined to essentially tell a story or mahjong event. For example, the Bamboo 1 symbol represents the Chinese character: "K'ung". The first tile of the first suit, of the three suits (the others being Circles and Wan) - it primarily signifies success. However success can lead to pride, 20 which in turn can lead to vanity. The Bamboo 1 symbol is a peacock - an emblem of beauty that represents a lady, in the prime of her life, gazing in a mirror. The mirror is the symbol of the cosmos, depending on the interpretation, and the lady can be admiring her own reflection or contemplating her own mortality. The mirror frequently indicates a change of direction in life. The Circle 1 symbol is the Chinese 25 character: "Chu". It is the first of the Circles suit and represented by the pearl - its WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 11 Chinese name is "the Moon from the Bottom of the Sea". Pearls indicate the refinement of a connoisseur and so this tile suggests luxury and wealth. The WanI symbol is Chinese character: "Ju". This symbol is represented by the Chinese character for one and resembling the bar of a door. Therefore the 5 significance is of a barrier being lifted, or a door being opened, bringing new opportunities ahead. Finally, the Red Dragon symbol is represented by the Chinese character: "Chung", which means centre or middle. The "Chung" character represents an interpretive arrow striking the centre of a target. The meaning of this tile is therefore - success or achievement. Notably, this tile is the counterpart of the Green 10 Dragon tile which shows the arrow about to leave the bow. It is commonly called the Red Dragon in western mahjong sets because the "Chung" character is generally drawn in red ink. In the foregoing recitation, the multi-sector event may thus be defined as a Bambool, Circlel, Wan1, Red Dragon event. If a player had been wagering on this 15 combination of symbols, he or she may have done so because of some underlying meaning to that player. It being noted that each mahjong symbol has underlying meaning, the combination of symbols may effectively provides a story of sorts. For example, in the foregoing example, the player who may have wagered this event may have been seeking a change of direction in the player's life (Bamboo 1) for the 20 purpose of enhancing the player's wealth (Circlel). The new opportunities presented (Wan1) via the change in life's direction, lay the potential for greater success or achievement (Red Dragon). Thus, the mahjong event or multi-sector event represented by the four symbols: Bamboo 1, Circle 1, Wan 1, and Red Dragon are more than just four symbols to the player. The roulette medium enables random selection WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 12 of symbols, which selection process may be viewed by players as fate-based and meaningful beyond the face of the tile. In addition to mahjong symbolism, the invention uses mahjong scoring combinations to define winning events such as progressive jackpot triggers. For 5 example, a progressive jackpot may be triggered by a Kong, which may be defined as four hits or ball-identifications of the same symbol; or a Pung, which may be defined as three hits or ball-identifications of the same symbol. Further, players may choose to wager on a Chow as may be defined by three consecutive tiles or symbols in the same suit. 10 Players may congregate in the player participation area spatially separated from the roulette wheel assemblies and together experience the mahjong events as they unfold. The player participation area may thus preferably comprise certain wager-inputting means for enabling electronic entry of wagers, which wagers identify select wager symbols. Together, the wheel symbols and wager symbols have paired 15 symbol correspondence for yielding a winning event. The central processing means essentially function to (1) collect the wagers, (2) govern the automated rotation and launch means, (3) compare the wagers to the multi-sector event, (4) calculate payouts to players should a wager match the multi-sector event, and (5) govern credits-debits during roulette gaming. 20 The visual display means essentially function to visually display activity at the grouped series of roulette wheel assemblies or grouped roulette wheel assembly action (comprising the multi-sector event) to the player participation area. Notably, the player participation area is spatially separated from the site of wheel action and thus the visual display means may well function to add excitement to the roulette gaming 25 experience by enabling theatrical or cinematic type viewing of the gaming events.

WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 13 The grouped roulette wheel assembly action may be said to further comprise wheel rotations, roulette ball action, and, as noted, the multi-sector event. The visual display(s) may well take the form of either a large centralized screen in an auditorium type area or via individualized screens at player seats or stations. 5 It is contemplated that in the preferred embodiment, the wheel symbols and the wagerable symbols are defined by mahjong symbols and that the automated launch means comprise certain ball-conducting conduit for converting a potentially energetic roulette ball to a kinetically energetic roulette ball and for outletting the kinetically energetic roulette ball upon the roulette wheel. In this last regard, the 10 reader is further directed to U.S. Patent Application No. 11/711,546 ('546 application), filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on February 27, 2007. This application claims the benefit of the '546 application and the specification of the '546 application is hereby incorporated by reference thereto. It may be readily seen from an inspection of the '546 application that the same more fully specifies a 15 variety of inventive ball-delivery systems and apparatus, including multi-ball delivery devices and the like usable in combination with the essential mahjong or symbolic roulette set forth in this specification. In a second preferred practice, it is contemplated that the present invention teaches a mahjong roulette game for ball-effecting a mahjong event, and which 20 mahjong roulette game comprises a plurality of grouped roulette wheel assemblies and a player participation area. Each roulette wheel assembly comprises a roulette wheel; a roulette ball; means for rotating the wheel; means for launching the roulette ball; and certain means for automatically detecting in which slot(s) the ball(s) have landed.

WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 14 Each roulette wheel comprises a plurality of ball-receiving sectors and at least one ball-launching track. Each ball-receiving sector comprises a superior sector surface bearing a select mahjong wheel symbol. The roulette balls are respectively launchable from the ball-launching tracks and respectively receivable in one of the 5 ball-receiving sectors for providing a multi-symbolic event. The player participation area enables wagering input and comprises select mahjong wager symbols, the wheel and wager symbols having paired symbol correspondence, the paired symbol correspondence and the multi-symbolic event for effecting a mahjong event. In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is provided an electronic 10 gaming apparatus having central processing means, wager inputting means and a visual display unit, the apparatus being configured to perform a game or method as defined herein. Preferably the apparatus takes the form of a slot machine, a mobile device, a personal computer, a touch screen monitor, a hand held data input - output device, a 15 cell phone, a tablet, a kiosk, a digital television or a personal digital assistant. In some contemplated embodiments the apparatus may include communication means, which may include the use of any one or more of a wireless connection, an internet connection, a cellular connection, a connection across a local area network or a connection across a wide area network. 20 Preferably the central processing means is configured so as to selectively cause the visual display unit to display at least one wheel and at least one ball. In one contemplated embodiment the wheel and the ball may be simulated and outcome of a game may be at least partially dependent upon an output of a random number generator. In another contemplated embodiment the wheel and the ball may be real WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 15 and the outcome of a game may be at least partially dependent upon the wheel and the ball. In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided an electronically-readable medium containing executable code for instructing an 5 electronic gaming apparatus to perform a game or method as defined herein. Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. 10 Other preferred features of the present invention, as well as particular elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated or become apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures, which are provided by way of non limiting example. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features of our invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief description of our patent drawings: 20 Figure No. 1 is a top perspective depiction of a first roulette wheel assembly of the present invention as combined with a fanciful creature and with an enlarged sectional view of the superior wheel surface showing ball-receiving sectors and mahjong symbols associated therewith.

WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 16 Figure No. 2 is a fragmentary top perspective type depiction of a roulette gaming system of the present invention depicting a centralized, grouped series of automated roulette wheel assemblies, visual displays of the individual roulette wheel assemblies, visual displays of ball-identified symbols, and a visual display of a progressive jackpot 5 award. Figure No. 3 is a top plan type depiction of the roulette gaming system otherwise depicted in Figure No. 2 depicting a centralized, grouped series of automated roulette wheel assemblies, a rearward visual display portion, and a forward, theater or auditorium 10 style player participation area. Figure No. 4 is a reduced top plan type depiction of the roulette gaming system otherwise depicted in Figure No. 3 as shown upon a personal viewing screen, which personal viewing screen may be integrated with a hand-held unit (shown at the left of the 15 figure), a touch screen liquid crystal display tablet (shown at the upper right of the figure), and a notebook computer (shown at the lower right of the figure). An enlarged sectional type depiction of the player participation area is further shown with a player seated at a gaming interface device. 20 Figure No. 5 is a depiction of an exemplary visual output for players showing an animated table layout, a credits-bank section, and live coverage portion of the grouped roulette wheel assembly action. Figure No. 6 is a Symbolic Square of Mahjong showing all 144 tiles that 25 comprise a traditional mahjong tile or card deck.

WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 17 Figure No. 7 is a top plan type depiction of an upper wheel surface of a roulette wheel for playing basic mahjong roulette. The figure depicts a total of forty-two tiles or symbols arranged circumferentially around the roulette wheel. 5 Figure No. 8 is a plan type depiction of a first symbolic wagering table depicting the forty-two basic mahjong tiles or symbols and certain additional wagering selections. Figure No. 9 is a top plan type depiction of an upper wheel surface of a roulette 10 wheel for playing grand dragon mahjong roulette. The figure depicts a total of one hundred forty-four (144) ball-receiving sectors outfittable with the 144 tiles or symbols otherwise depicted in Figure No. 6. Figure No. 9(a) is a file layout depicting the preferred circumferential 15 arrangement of the 144 tiles or symbols around the periphery of the roulette wheel otherwise depicted in Figure No. 9. Figure No. 10 is a top plan type depiction of a first roulette wheel of the grouped series of roulette wheel assemblies otherwise depicted in Figure Nos. 2 -4 showing a 20 total of thirty-six tiles or symbols circumferentially arranged and a roulette ball identifying the "bamboo7" symbol. Figure No. 11 is a top plan type depiction of a second roulette wheel of the grouped series of roulette wheel assemblies otherwise depicted in Figure Nos. 2 - 4 WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 18 showing a total of thirty-six tiles or symbols circumferentially arranged and a roulette ball identifying the "bamboo5" symbol. Figure No. 12 is a top plan type depiction of a third roulette wheel of the grouped 5 series of roulette wheel assemblies otherwise depicted in Figure Nos. 2 -4 showing a total of thirty-six tiles or symbols circumferentially arranged and a roulette ball identifying the "bamboo2" symbol. Figure No. 13 is a top plan type depiction of a fourth roulette wheel of the 10 grouped series of roulette wheel assemblies otherwise depicted in Figure Nos. 2 - 4 showing a total of thirty-six tiles or symbols circumferentially arranged and a roulette ball identifying the "bamboo9" symbol. Figure No. 14 is a fragmentary top plan type depiction of an alternative 15 embodiment of the roulette wheel adjacent a partially presented traditional playing card deck showing traditional playing card symbols associated with the ball-receiving sectors. Figure No. 15 is a first payout table as positioned adjacent a second symbolic table for basic mahjong roulette or roulette comprising forty-two ball-receiving sectors 20 with a breakdown of various possible wager selections. Figure No. 16 is a second payout table for basic mahjong roulette or roulette comprising forty-two ball-receiving sectors with a breakdown of various possible wager selections. 25 WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 19 Figure No. 17 depicts a first pair of payout tables with a breakdown of various possible wager selections for four-wheel mahjong roulette (upper table) or roulette with four balls and a single wheel comprising 144 ball-receiving sectors (middle table) and it also depicts parameters for various levels of progressive jackpots (lower table). 5 Figure No. 18 is a sample hits table showing possible mahjong events resulting from four-ball roulette gaming and 144 possible mahjong symbols. Figure No. 19 is a bets/payouts table corresponding to the sample hits table 10 otherwise shown in Figure No. 18. Figure No. 20 is a generic depiction of a slot machine and a cellular telephone as exemplary of electronic gaming devices. 15 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) Dragon Mahjong Roulette is a fusion of two traditional games from two distinct cultures. In other words, the heart of this invention is a fusion between two traditional games, namely roulette and mahjong. Mahjong is a traditional, social / 20 gambling game played by many Chinese as well as other cultures. The symbols used are from mahjong - those that have been around for thousands of years. The game involves one or more roulette wheels of various configurations. However, in order to appeal primarily to the orient and the explosion of casino gambling in the East, instead of using numbers or letters, we instead will use the Mahjong symbols or tiles. 25 Additionally, in some of the more complex variations of the game we integrate other WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 20 facilities terminology from Mahjong, especially to provide new forms of progressive jackpots. It is contemplated that basic dragon roulette or mahjong roulette comprises one roulette ball 10, which ball(s) 10 are illustrated and referenced in Figure Nos. 1, 7, 5 9, and 10 - 13; and a roulette wheel assembly 11. A number of individual roulette wheel assemblies 11 or roulette wheels are generally illustrated and referenced in Figure Nos. 1 - 5, 7, and 10 - 14. The roulette wheel assembly 11 for use during the basic mahjong roulette game of the present invention preferably comprises forty-two (42) mahjong symbols 16 as generally illustrated and depicted in Figure No. 7. 10 Mahjong symbols 16 are further generally depicted and referenced in Figure Nos. 1, 2, 4 - 9, and 10 - 13. Figure No. 6 depicts a full set of mahjong symbols 16. By way of comparison, a traditional playing card deck comprising four suits (Spades, Clubs, Diamonds, and Hearts) with thirteen cards (numbered one (or an ace) through 10, a Jack or (J), a Queen (Q), and a King (K)) in each suit is exemplified in Figure 15 No. 14. It is contemplated that a mahjong playing deck (entirely depicted in Figure No. 6) is akin to a traditional playing card deck (partially depicted in Figure No. 14) insofar as each may be utilized to form a symbolic hand, the symbolic hand being formed comprising a plurality of cards or tiles dealt or otherwise selected from the respective deck. 20 Each of the mahjong symbols 16 may preferably be assigned to a slot or ball receiving sector 12 of the roulette wheel 11 as generally depicted in certain of the noted figures. Sectors 12 are further referenced in Figure Nos. 7, 9, and 10 - 14. An exemplary payout table 13 for the basic dragon roulette or mahjong roulette according to the present invention is generally depicted and referenced in Figure No. 15. Extra WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 21 payouts for a basic mahjong roulette game are further generally depicted in payout table 17 as illustrated and referenced in Figure No. 16. The appeal of some contemplated embodiments of the single ball game may be further enhanced by adding progressive jackpot features to attract player interest. 5 One such example is to add one or more levels of so called Mystery Jackpots (i.e jackpot levels where the prize winning event and prize winner are determined by random means not associated with the actual result of the game). In these mystery jackpots, the probability of winning is generally directly proportional to the amount bet on the particular game. Such schemes were discussed in U.S. Patent Application 10 No. 11/634,780, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by way of reference. In some contemplated embodiments a participation progressive jackpot may be added. The participation jackpot trigger may be defined to be a series of specific results in consecutive games or spins. Various levels may be set. For example, if the 15 specific result happens in three games in a row, a major progressive prize is won, and if the specific result happens in two games in a row, a minor progressive prize is won. In one such contemplated embodiment, a progressive jackpot win trigger could be the Wind of the Round, for example, occurring in two or three games in a row. In some contemplated embodiments players may elect to participate in the 20 progressive jackpot by making a separate bet (in a similar manner as the side bet in the progressive jackpot in Caribbean Stud Poker games). Once bets are placed, a first spin is taken and if the result of the first spin does not match the desired result, all bets are lost and they are collected by the dealer. However, if the desired result does occur, the bets are moved to a special area which indicates that the first hit has occurred. A 25 second spin is then taken, and if the result of the second spin does not match the WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 22 desired result, again all bets are lost and they are collected by the dealer. On the other hand, if the desired result does occur on the second spin there will now be a progressive prize, the bets are moved to a special area which indicates that the second hit has occurred. A third spin is taken and if the result does not match the desired 5 result, the minor jackpot prize is paid. However, if the result of the third spin does match the desired result, the majorjackpot prize is paid. The participation jackpot level would increment by the amounts bet. Further interest in the game may be added by attributing a small portion of every mahjong roulette wager into the jackpot pool so that the progressive level(s) typically increase 10 over time. It is possible that more than one player may have played the initial game in a specific participation progressive jackpot hit. In such a case, the progressive jackpot payout amount may be divided between the players; typically with the payout shares being proportional to the respective amounts placed on the participation bet. 15 Another alternative is to assign each seat at the table a specific mahjong symbol e.g. a seven seat table could have the seats labelled as the 4 winds and 3 dragons. Then the progressive result would be 2 or 3 in a row of the occurrence result of the same symbol as the player's seat. Other players could not participate on that result unless the person in the seat did not elect to play that participation progressive 20 jackpot. For such a contemplated embodiment, the hit rates are as shown in the following table. Two triggers in a row 0.0005533960 30.1 hours Three triggers in arow 0.0000131761 52.7 days WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 23 The win frequency periods may be enhanced by defining the "trigger result" to be more than one symbol. For example, a table with nine seats could be labelled one through nine. In such a contemplated embodiment the person at table one would have the trigger hit if any of the One Bamboos, Circles or Wans is hit. This gives much 5 more manageable hit frequencies. In yet another contemplated embodiment a Grand jackpot for hitting four triggers may be provided in accordance with the following table: Two triggers in a row 0.0047376093 3.5 hours Three triggers in a row 0.0003384007 2 days Four triggers in a row 0.0000260308 27.7 days It is contemplated that the ball-delivery for the basic mahjong roulette game 10 may be the same as in a traditional roulette game insofar as ball-delivery may be by way of an operator or croupier. However, it is further contemplated that ball-delivery may also be achieved by launching balls with an automatic or automated roulette wheel assembly or via any number of inventive ball-delivery means as set forth in more specificity in U.S. Patent Application No. 11/711,546, the specification of which 15 is hereby further incorporated by reference thereto. As earlier stated, it may be seen from an inspection of the '546 application that the same sets forth a number of different ball-delivery means usable in combination with the teachings here presented. Further, it is noted that any number of state of the art automated roulette wheel assemblies may be utilized to provide a mahjong roulette gaming experience. Further, 20 it is contemplated that the basic mahjong or dragon roulette set-up may lend itself to a variation in the form of fully electronic versions or in the form of a mahjong roulette slot machine.

WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 24 A more elaborate version of the game may be referred to as Grand Dragon (mahjong) Roulette. In this version, it is contemplated that a roulette wheel assembly 11 may be positioned adjacent a fanciful creature 14 such as a dragon as generally depicted in Figure No. 1. The fanciful creature 14 may be formed so as to effect a 5 wheel-holding or wheel-guarding pose as generally depicted in the noted figure. The roulette wheel assembly 11 may comprise the basic number (i.e. 42) of circumferentially-aligned mahjong tiles as borne by, or otherwise cooperably associated with, ball-receiving sectors 12 and presented under the opening specifications for basic mahjong roulette. However, it is further contemplated that 10 Grand Dragon Roulette may preferably comprise 144 ball-receiving sectors 12 for receiving and circumferentially aligning 144 tiles as generally illustrated and referenced in Figure Nos. 6 and 9. Figure No. 9 is essentially a skeletal roulette wheel 11 for receiving the tiles or symbols 16 otherwise represented in Figure No. 6 and circumferentially arranged as 15 generally depicted. Figure No. 9(a) depicts a file layout of the 144 tiles or symbols 16 with a file name for each ball-receiving sector 12 otherwise depicted in Figure No. 9. It is contemplated that Figure No. 9(a) sets forth the preferred arrangement of the 144 mahjong symbols 16 left to right and top to bottom. In other words, the right most symbol in a first row is immediately followed by the left most symbol in a second 20 row. For example, referencing Row No. 1 in Figure No. 9, the sixth symbol is "cir4" (last position as at reference numeral 40). The seventh symbol is "wan9" and located in Row No. 2 (first position as at reference numeral 41). In this last regard, it will be recalled that a mahjong game set comprises tiles of which there are 34 different types. These are the four Winds, namely East, South, 25 West and North; three Dragons, namely, Green, Red and White; Bamboo tiles, WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 25 numbered one to nine; Circles tiles, numbered one to nine; and Wan tiles, again numbered one to nine. For each of the 34 different tile types there are four identical pieces provided in a mahjong set. The total number of playing tiles in the game is therefore 136 tiles. However in a set there are also eight special tiles that are used 5 solely for the purpose of scoring bonus points, the Flower and Season tiles. The preferred Grand Dragon roulette table or roulette wheel assembly 11 according to the present invention thus comprises a total of 144 tile-receiving sectors as at 12 in Figure No. 9. Notably, Figure No. 9 is not specifically illustrated with all 144 symbols actually set upon the tile-receiving sectors 12, but slightly exploded 10 therefrom in circumferential arrangement in order to keep the noted figure relatively clean for enhancing clarity of reference. In this regard, the reader should consider the 144 tiles or symbols 16 as depicted in Figure No. 6, which tiles may be circumferentially aligned or other otherwise cooperably associated with the sectors 12 of the wheel assembly 11 in Figure No. 9. The ordering of mahjong tiles depicted in 15 Figure No. 6 is called the Symbolic Square of Mahjong, which symbolic square formally orders all 144 tiles in the game. From a comparative inspection of Figure Nos. 6 and 9, it may be readily understood that the roulette wheel assembly 11 of the Grand Dragon roulette game preferably comprises 144 slots or ball-receiving sectors 12 and each one of those 20 sectors 12 is assigned a single mahjong symbol 16. This game accounts for all of the 144 symbols that can be used in the traditional game of mahjong. The game requires the use of four (4) roulette balls 10 launched upon the upper wheel surface substantially simultaneously. Because the Grand Dragon Roulette version may require multiple roulette balls 10, it is contemplated that this version of the game may 25 require certain specialized multi-ball delivery means.

WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 26 In this regard, it is noted that this application claims the benefit of the '546 application, which application substantially sets forth a number of multi-ball delivery means. The specification of the '546 application more fully supports of the notion that multiple balls may be delivered to the upper wheel surface. In addition to those 5 means set forth in the '546 application, it is contemplated that certain state of the art automated ball-delivery means, and so-called "slingshot" type ball-delivery means may also be utilized to provide ball-launching means for the present invention. So called "slingshot" ball delivery means may be exemplified by products manufactured and sold under the same brand or utility driven name by CAMMEGH LIMITED with 10 current business address of Old Surrenden Manor, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent TN26 3DL, Great Britain. Notably, this patent application further claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 11/634,780 ('780 application), filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on December 5, 2006 and U.S. Patent Application No. 11/711,374 15 ('374 application) (a continuing application of the '780 application), filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on February 27, 2007. The subject patent applications also set forth a roulette medium for effecting non-numeric, symbol based roulette gaming. The '780 and '374 applications thus bear a strong resemblance to the present teachings and the specifications of the noted applications are thus hereby 20 incorporated by reference thereto as being supportive of the concepts here delineated. More specifically, whereas the symbols in the '780 and '374 applications tend to support syllable formation and word formation as a means to enhance the gaming experience, the symbols of the present application tend to support grouped symbol, tile, or card formation in which the symbols have multi-dimensional underlying 25 cultural meaning. In this regard, it is noted that grouped tiles or grouped cards are WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 27 often referred to as a "hand" to use a well known gaming vernacular, and this it is contemplated that the present invention supports a system, apparatus, and method for dealing or forming a hand, which hand may comprise a number of symbolic tiles or cards and thereby elicit or effect a certain gaming effect. 5 For example, a four-ball game according to the present invention may thus ball-identify four tiles as generally depicted in Figure No. 9, and a five-ball game according the present invention may identify five cards or tiles (as for example, may be practiced by way of a typical playing card deck (comprising fifty- two total cards with four suits and thirteen cards in each suit) as generally depicted in Figure No. 14. 10 The odds of securing any given five-card hand by way of a traditional playing card deck are well known in the arts and thus it is contemplated that payout structures for this type of structure need not be presented here. Multi-wheel, multi-ball mahjong roulette may be exemplified by the structures generally illustrated and referenced in Figure Nos. 2 - 5, and 10 - 13, inclusive. From 15 an inspection of the noted figures, it is contemplated that the multi-wheel, multi-ball version of mahjong roulette contemplates four roulette wheels 11 and four roulette balls 10 (respectively identified in the four Figure Nos. 10, 11, 12, and 13), in which one roulette ball 10 is launchable upon each roulette wheel 11. This variation may be preferably defined by four roulette wheels 11 with thirty-six ball-receiving sectors 12 20 on each wheel 11. From an inspection of the noted figures, it may be readily seen that each respective roulette wheel 11 preferably comprises thirty-four identical symbols 16 (arranged in differing arrangements), while further comprising a unique Season and Flower tile on each of the four roulette wheels 11. Exemplary four-ball payout tables 18 are generally illustrated and referenced in Figure No. 17. For example, a 25 sequence of four tiles in a single suit (e.g. 3-4-5-6 of Bamboos), referred to in some WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 28 contemplated embodiments as a "Super Chow", yields a payout multiple of 434 in the 4-Wheel game (as shown in the "Any Chow" / "Pay 4" position of the upper table) and it yields a payout multiple of 400 in the Grand Dragon game (as shown in the "Any Chow" / "Pay 4" position of the middle table). 5 With the lower table of Figure No. 17 in view, the following points should be noted: the overall progressive jackpot return is 6%. With the base-game prizes being structured around a 90% return, this gives a total player return of around 96%. The winner selection method occurs in two stages in which the game outcome (i.e. Kong or Pung) determines whether a jackpot has been won and the mystery jackpot 10 selection methodology (set forth in more detail in the '780 and '384 applications) is used to select a winner or winners in proportion to the amount bet. It is contemplated that the start-up amounts will be set relatively low roughly in proportion to the worst case scenario of a single player only playing a single unit per game. As play is likely to be much greater than that, a portion of each progressive jackpot level will be held 15 in Reserve Pools (for the 4 Wheel game, 1.01%, 1.45% and 1.12% respectively). The Reserve Pools will be incremented as each wager is placed and decremented by the start-up amount whenever the progressive jackpot level is won. Rules for transferring amounts in the Reserve Pool to progressive levels when a level is won will be established e.g. all of the current Reserve Pool is transferred when a hit occurs or the 20 minimum start-up amount, whichever is greater. Additionally, a scheme can be developed where the amount transferred to the Reserve Pool decreases as the Reserve Pool grows and hence the increment to the current level increases. The timeframe for winning these progressive jackpots for the 4 wheel game, based upon an estimated game rate of one game per minute is, as follows: 25 * Kong: about every 34 days (the progressive jackpot growing ever larger in the interim); WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 29 * Dragon/Wind Pung: about every 28 hours * Suit Pung: about every 7 hours. The timeframe for winning these progressive jackpots for the Grand Dragon Game, based upon an estimated game rate of one game per minute is, as follows: 5 * Kong: about every 350 days; * Dragon/Wind Pung: about every 3 days * Suit Pung: about every 19 hours. It is contemplated that one way to improve the foregoing rates and thus increase or enhance the overall gaming excitement (with rapidly incrementing 10 progressive jackpot pools), is to link multiple tables, each with their own set of roulette wheels, to a common progressive jackpot. If, for example, eight tables were to be linked to a common progressive jackpot, the foregoing hit rates may reduce, as follows: * Kong: about every 4.25 days; 15 * Dragon/Wind Pung: about every 30 minutes; and * Suit Pung: about every 2 minutes. Figure No. 18 generally depicts the results of seven rounds of four-ball mahjong roulette gaming. It may be readily seen from an inspection of Figure No. 18 20 that during the first sample round, Ball No. 1 hit or identified a Green Dragon; Ball No. 2 identified a Red Dragon; Ball No. 3 identified a Green Dragon; and Ball No. 4 identified a Circle 1. Figure No. 19 then depicts the bets/payouts depending on the bet. For example, from a comparative inspection of the noted figures, it may be seen that a Green Dragon straight with hit 1 would pay back 32 for every unit bet (i.e. 31 to 25 1 or 32 for 1). Further, with different results, it should be noted that "suit pung", "dragon/wind pung", and "kong" progressive jackpots could also be paid out according to the mystery jackpot prize.

WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 30 It is contemplated that the mahjong or symbolic roulette gaming of the present invention may well be played by way of a multi-terminal game as well as one that can be adapted for mobile device(s), such as computers, including notebook and/or other personal computers 20, a touch screen liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor 50, a 5 tablet, a kiosk, a digital television or other hand held data input - output device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) 21 as generically depicted and referenced in Figure No. 4. In some contemplated embodiments a combination of various types of electronic apparatuses would interact together so as to facilitate game play amongst a plurality of players. It is noted that a touch screen LCD monitor 50 such as the type 10 generally depicted in Figure No. 4 is more feasible option in a Casino or gaming establishment and thus may define the preferred interface for player(s) 100. It is further noted that player(s) 100 are often desirous of visualizing how winning combinations are effected (i.e. ball-effected through a roulette medium) because of suspicions of results obtained through a random number - symbol generator. 15 Although a random number or symbol generator would be at the heart of some of the electronic embodiments, it is contemplated that certain facets of the present teachings could well be practiced with fully or partially electronic version(s). A further embodiment of the present invention contemplates centralizing a grouped series of roulette wheel assemblies 11 in a theater or auditorium style setting 20 19 as generally depicted in Figure Nos. 2 - 4. The grouped series of (preferably automated) roulette wheel assemblies 11 are preferably viewable from above as enabled, for example, via certain visual display means. It is contemplated that the visual display means may be defined by certain visual input means such as camera type hardware 22 as generically illustrated and referenced in Figure No. 2; and certain WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 31 visual output means such as one or more visual display screen(s) 23 as further generically illustrated and depicted in Figure Nos. 2 and 3. It is contemplated that the visual display means may function to visually display each separate roulette wheel assembly 11 in a grouped series of roulette wheel 5 assemblies 11 as well as being operable to train in on the ball-identified sectors 12 and symbols 16 and display the same in individualized screens as at reference numeral 24 in Figure Nos. 2 and 4. In this regard, it is contemplated that the roulette balls 10 are thus operable to ball-effect a mahjong event or similar other type symbolic event (i.e. a multi-tile or multi-card episode defined by the grouped symbols 16 or cards 10 identified by roulette balls 10 coming to rest in ball-receiving sectors 12). As earlier noted, it is preferred that the roulette wheel assemblies 11 be automated via state of the art automation means. To the rear of the grouped series of roulette wheel assemblies 11, a large screen 23 may also visually display the results (as at 24) and progressive jackpot (as at 25) for any given gaming episode. In 15 addition to the results 24 and the progressive jackpot 25, it is further contemplated that peripheral type symbols and animation may be displayed relating, which symbols and animation relate to mahjong and/or Chinese culture. Said visual displays could also be utilized as an advertising medium at the election of the gaming house or provider. 20 Opposite the visual output display(s) or visual display screen 23, players may participate in the gaming event(s) in a player participation area as at 26. The player participation area 26 may be preferably defined by comprising auditorium or theater type seating 27 as generally illustrated and depicted in Figure Nos. 3 and 4. From an inspection of the noted figures, it may be readily understood that players (as at 100) 25 may congregate in the participation area and utilize individualized data input means WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 32 28 for placing wagers on the gaming event and tracking debits/credits resulting from the wagering and gaming event(s). Notably, there is no table as such, and the data input means 28 may be preferably defined by notebook computer 20 or by hand-held data input - output device 21. 5 Given that there is no table per se, it is contemplated that a table layout may be available by way of an animated format on the data input means 28 or visual display means 23 as generally depicted in Figure No. 5. It is further contemplated that the means for providing a virtual table layout may also be defined by a state of the art mobile gaming device communicating via a wireless connection. Certain generic 10 depictions of wireless enabled communication(s) are illustrated in Figure Nos. 3 and 4 at reference numeral 60. It is contemplated that these and similar other devices may well function to enable the player to input credits (for example via a swiped credit card 29 as generally depicted in Figure No. 4); place wagers as at 30 and generally depicted in Figure No. 4; and enable the player to otherwise track credits and debits 15 during the wagering - gaming events. Other examples of communication means that may be employed by embodiments of the invention include the use of an internet connection, a cellular connection, a connection across a local area network or a connection across a wide area network. U.S. readers may well be familiar with traditional playing card deck 20 comprising four suits (Spades, Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts) with each suit comprising thirteen cards (numbered 1 (or ace) through 10, a Jack (J), a Queen (Q), and a King (K). Similarly, the Mahjong deck comprises (1) Circles (four sets of nine = thirty-six total); (2) Bamboos (four sets of nine = thirty-six total); (3) Wans (characters) (four sets of nine = thirty-six total); (4) Winds (four sets of four = sixteen total); (5) WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 33 Dragons (four sets of three = twelve total); (6) Flowers (four total); and Seasons (four total). The foregoing tiles or cards are represented or set forth in their totality in Figure No. 6, which tiles are configurable upon the roulette wheel assembly 11 as 5 generally depicted in Figure No. 7. It is contemplated that in the four-ball variation of dragon or mahjong roulette according to the present invention, the basic scoring elements may be defined, as follows: Kong - four of the same tile (i.e. 4 circles, 4 bamboos, 4 wans, 4 like dragons, or 4 like winds); Pung - three of the same tile (i.e. 3 circles, 3 bamboos, 3 wans, 3 like dragons, or 3 like winds); Chow - three in a row of 10 the same suit (e.g. Wan 3, Wan 4, Wan 5); and a "Wind of the Round". For example, if a bet is placed on any wind, and the Wind of the Round was drawn, the prize could be doubled. The Wind of the Round could be selected sequentially or randomly. Notably, the present teachings set forth a roulette gaming system involving multiple roulette balls 10 for identifying multiple, hand-forming symbols, particularly 15 mahjong symbols 16. Roulette gaming involving multiple roulette balls 10 and a progressive jackpot may benefit from certain means for tracking chips and for transferring data to the progressive jackpot controller, as may be governed by centralized processing means or a central processing unit 31 as generally depicted in Figure No. 3. In this regard, it is contemplated that a player 100 may complete a 20 transaction either through a cashier or alternatively through a chip dispenser to acquire chips. Via the transaction with the cashier or the chip dispenser, it is contemplated that the player may preferably be identified by way of a player card 32 as generally depicted and referenced in Figure No. 4. The primary purpose of identifying the player 100 through a player card 32 is 25 to enable effective payout delivery to player(s) 100. The chips may well further be WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 34 outfitted with a certain radio frequency identification devices and once they are placed on the dragon mat in a wagering pattern their positions can be tracked. If they are placed on bets that are linked to the progressive/mystery jackpot (as specified in more detail in the '780 and '374 applications), it can be calculated as soon as the transaction 5 is completed (i.e. the chip is placed in position). Side bets not involving a progressive jackpot could be identified in the traditional manner by associating colors with particular players. In the electronic version, or the versions where remote technology is used, the calculations in terms of progressive jackpots and the like may be calculated by the machine. Note that in some variations of purely mystery jackpots, 10 all bets may be eligible to win these jackpot prizes with the probability of winning generally in proportion to the amount wagered. The preferred practice of the present invention generally involves the combination of roulette and mahjong gaming. In a first preferred practice, it is contemplated the present invention may be said to teach a roulette-gaming system for 15 effecting or providing a multi-wheel roulette gaming experience. In this regard, it is contemplated that the roulette-gaming system of the present invention may be said to comprise a grouped series of roulette wheel assemblies 11 as generally depicted in Figure Nos. 2 - 4; a player participation area 26 as generally depicted in Figure Nos. 2 - 4; certain central-processing means as generically depicted as a black box CPU 31 20 in Figure No. 3; and certain visual display means, the output means of which is generally depicted and referenced in Figure Nos. 2 - 4 at reference numeral 23, and the input means of which is generally depicted and referenced in Figure No. 2 at reference numeral 22. Each roulette wheel assembly further comprises a roulette wheel; a roulette 25 ball 10; a dome (as at 34 in Figure No. 2) for preventing balls 10 from escaping from WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 35 the roulette wheel(s) 11; certain automated rotation means for rotating the roulette wheel about a wheel axis of rotation as referenced at an axis extending into the page at 101 in Figure Nos. 7 and 9; certain automated launch means for launching the roulette ball 10; and certain means for automatically identifying in which slots or 5 sectors 12 the roulette ball(s) 10 have landed. In this last regard, the reader is further directed to the '546 application for guidance as to certain means for automatically identifying in which sectors 12 the ball(s) 10 have landed. Each roulette wheel comprises a plurality of ball-receiving sectors 12 and at least one ball-launching track 30 as illustrated and referenced in Figure No. 1. Each 10 ball-receiving sector 12 comprises a superior sector surface as at 31, which superior sector surfaces 31 each bear or are otherwise cooperable with a select wheel symbol as may be preferably defined by a mahjong symbol 16 or as may be alternatively defined by similar other symbolism, such as traditional playing card symbols as at 33 in Figure No. 14. The roulette balls are respectively launchable from the ball 15 launching tracks 30 and respectively receivable in one of the ball-receiving sectors 12 for providing a multi-sector event. The multi-sector event may be defined by the group of symbols identified by the balls as they come to rest in the ball-receiving sectors 12. In this last regard, the reader is directed to Figure Nos. 10 - 13, inclusive. 20 Figure Nos. 10 - 13 depict a collective group of four mahjong-tiled roulette wheels (as otherwise depicted in Figure Nos. 2 - 4). Wheel No. 1 is generally depicted in Figure No. 10 and has been illustrated to ball-identify a 7 wan character. Wheel No. 2 is generally depicted in Figure No. 11 and has illustrated to ball-identify a 5 wan character. Wheel No. 3 is generally depicted in Figure No. 12 and has been illustrated 25 to ball-identify a 2 wan character. Wheel No. 4 is generally depicted in Figure No. 13 WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 36 and has been illustrated to ball-identify a 9 wan character. In this example, the multi sector event may thus be defined as a 7 bamboo, 5 bamboo, 2 bamboo, 9 bamboo event. If a player 100 had been wagering on this combination of symbols 16, he or she may have done so because of some underlying meaning to that player. It should 5 be noted that each mahjong symbol 16 has meaning, and in this example, the combination of symbols 16 provides a story of sorts. For example, in the foregoing example, a 7 bamboo represents the Chinese character: "Kuei". This character is symbolized by the tortoise, and often indicates dissatisfaction with the length of time that is being taken to resolve an issue. The tile 10 therefore signifies that thought is required and that progress will be achieved gradually. It is also a symbol of longevity, given the great age that a tortoise can achieve. The tortoise is one of the four great Chinese astrological constellations covering the Northern part of the sky and is therefore associated with the North Wind, Winter and Water. The 5 bamboo represents the Chinese character: "Lien". This 15 character is symbolized by the lotus flower and represents new birth, possibly a spiritual awakening, or on a more material level, the birth of a child. It can also suggest regeneration following an experience of extreme or endured hardship, indicating that there is a need to come to terms with the present and begin life anew. The 2 bamboo represents the Chinese character: "Ya". This character is 20 represented by the duck - the Chinese believe that a pair of ducks remains together for life, so the symbolism of the duck is an enduring partnership and/or fidelity. Finally, the 9 bamboo represents the Chinese character: "Liu". This character is symbolized by the willow tree; its meaning is strength through flexibility, in a word - diplomacy. This is because the willow bends to the wind during winter, survives, and once more 25 flourishes again upright and strong in the spring. The player 100 who wagers this WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 37 event may thus be seeking longevity (7 bamboo), spiritual awakening (5 bamboo), and diplomatic (9 bamboo) monogamy (2 bamboo). The mahjong roulette medium provides a means for ball-effecting or ball-eliciting a multi-sector event or mahjong event as exemplified by the foregoing example. Figure No. 2, by way of comparison, 5 depicts an East wind, a 9-circles, a 6-bamboo, and a 1-circle event as shown in the sector-displaying screens 24. The player participation area 26 is believed to enable grouped player participation and is spatially separated from the roulette wheel assemblies as generally depicted in Figure Nos. 2 - 4. The player participation area preferably comprises 10 wager-inputting means for enabling electronic entry of wagers, which wagers identify select wager symbols. Together, the wheel symbols and wager symbols have paired symbol correspondence for yielding a win event. The central processing means essentially function to (1) collect the wagers, (2) govern the automated rotation and launch means, (3) compare the wagers to the multi-sector event, (4) calculate payouts 15 to players should a wager match the multi-sector event, and (5) govern credits-debits during roulette gaming. It may be readily seen from an inspection of Figure No. 3 that the central processing means as generically depicted at CPU 31 is a hub interconnecting the features of the system. The visual display means essentially function to visually display activity at the 20 grouped series of roulette wheel assemblies or grouped roulette wheel assembly action (comprising the multi-sector event) to the player participation area 26. It will be recalled that the player participation area 26 is spatially separated from the site of wheel action and thus the visual display means may well function to add excitement to the roulette gaming experience by enabling theatrical or cinematic type viewing of 25 the gaming events. The grouped roulette wheel assembly action may be said to WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 38 further comprise wheel rotations, roulette ball action, and, as noted, the multi-sector event. As earlier specified, this display could be via either a large centralized screen in an auditorium type area or via individualized screens 36 at player seats or stations as generally depicted in Figure No s. 4 and 5. 5 It is contemplated that in the preferred embodiment, the wheel symbols and the wagerable symbols are defined by mahjong symbols and that the automated launch means comprise certain ball-conducting conduit for converting a potentially energetic roulette ball 10 to a kinetically energetic roulette ball 10 and for outletting the kinetically energetic roulette ball 10 upon the roulette wheel 11. In this last 10 regard, the reader is directed to the '546 application for a more in-depth discussion regarding a variety of inventive ball-delivery systems usable in combination with the mahjong and/or symbolic roulette features here delineated. In a second preferred practice, it is contemplated that the present invention essentially teaches a mahjong roulette game for ball-effecting a mahjong event, and 15 which mahjong roulette game comprises a plurality of grouped roulette wheel assemblies and a player participation area. Each roulette wheel assembly comprises a roulette wheel, a roulette ball, means for rotating the wheel, and means for launching the roulette ball. Each roulette wheel comprises a plurality of ball-receiving sectors and at least one ball-launching track. Each ball-receiving sector comprises a superior 20 sector surface bearing a select mahjong wheel symbol. The roulette balls are respectively launchable from the ball-launching tracks and respectively receivable in one of the ball-receiving sectors for providing a multi-symbolic event. The player participation area enables wagering input and comprises select mahjong wager symbols, the wheel and wager symbols having paired symbol correspondence, the WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 39 paired symbol correspondence and the multi-symbolic event for effecting a mahjong event. While the above descriptions set forth certain specificity, this specificity should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an 5 exemplification of the invention. For example, as is described hereinabove, it is contemplated that the present invention essentially discloses a mahjong roulette game for ball-effecting a mahjong event. The mahjong roulette game according to the present invention may thus be said to essentially comprise a roulette medium. Essentially, the roulette medium comprises a plurality of ball-receiving sectors and a 10 plurality of balls. Each ball-receiving sector comprises a superior sector surface, the superior sector surfaces each bearing a select mahjong wheel symbol. The roulette balls are respectively receivable in one of the ball-receiving sectors. Together, the select ball-receiving sectors and the roulette balls ball-effecting or ball- elicit a mahjong event. 15 Stated another way, the roulette game of the present invention may be said to ball-effect or ball-elicit a hand event, which hand event is akin to a multi-sector event or mahjong event in the sense that multiple cards or tiles, when grouped or dealt via a roulette medium, may yield a hand. In this regard, it is contemplated that the roulette game essentially comprises a grouped series of roulette wheel assemblies, wherein 20 each roulette wheel assembly comprises a roulette wheel and a roulette ball. Each roulette wheel comprises a plurality of ball-receiving sectors, and each ball-receiving sector comprises a select hand-forming card. The roulette balls are respectively receivable in one of the ball-receiving sectors for effecting a multi-card hand event. Alternatively, the game may be said to teach or support a roulette card game for ball 25 effecting a hand event in which the card game comprises a roulette wheel assembly WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 40 having a roulette wheel and a plurality of roulette balls. The roulette wheel comprises a plurality of ball-receiving sectors and each ball-receiving sector comprises a select hand-forming card. The roulette balls are respectively receivable in one of the ball receiving sectors for effecting a multi-card hand event. 5 The roulette game may thus well operate to effect a wagerable hand event and comprise a roulette medium having a plurality of ball-receiving sectors and a plurality of balls. The ball-receiving sectors may preferably comprise certain select hand forming symbolism such as mahjong symbols or traditional playing card symbolism, well known in the gaming arts. The roulette balls are respectively receivable in the 10 ball-receiving sectors for ball-effecting a wagerable hand event, such as the formation of a Royal Flush or four of a kind as generally depicted in Figure No. 14 at 37. A further embodiment of the present invention contemplates the game operating in a stand alone manner on an electronic gaming device. This device might be a standard slot machine 61 as generically illustrated and referenced in Figure No. 15 20; a hand held mobile terminal or personal digital assistant (PDA) as at 21; a cell phone as generically illustrated and referenced at 62 in Figure No. 20; or similar other electronic gaming device. Each such gaming device would preferably comprise certain random number generating means for generating game results, and which means may be preferably defined by (1) a random number generator or (2) access to a 20 random number generator. It is contemplated that the random number generating means may well function to generate game outcome slot(s) for the simulated dragon roulette game. It is contemplated that in one embodiment, a one-wheel 11 / one-ball 10 game would be made available to the player 100. It is further contemplated that the betting 25 layout would be as generally depicted in Figure No. 15, as would the payouts depicted WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 41 in Figure No. 15. The player would use buttons or a touch screen to select wagering options. When "play" is initiated by the player 100, the central processing means would simulate the spinning of a simulated wheel as exemplified by the wheel 11 in Figure No. 7. The central processing means would also cause a simulated ball as 5 exemplified by the ball in Figure No. 7 to be depicted on the visual display unit as spinning around the simulated wheel and coming to rest in a simulated sector. If the simulated ball were to land in a sector wagered by the player, payouts would be added to a credit meter as at 63 in Figure No. 5, or via a hand pay initiated for relatively large winnings. As stated, the payout table might be as exemplified in Figure No. 15, 10 or alternatively, it might be reduced and/or modified as gaming devices generally return on the order of 90 - 92%. In another contemplated embodiment, the spinning of a real (as opposed to simulated) wheel and ball may be depicted on the visual display means of the electronic gaming apparatus and the outcome of the game may be dependent upon the 15 physical sector in which the ball comes to rest. In yet another contemplated embodiment, the outcome may be dependent upon a combination of the resting position of one or more physical ball(s) and the output of a random number generator. A more exciting form for this aspect of the invention will be the four ball roulette game. This can be the 144 slot simulated wheel and four simulated balls 20 being spun as otherwise generally depicted in Figure No. 9. Alternatively, the representation could be four wheels of 36 slots each with a single ball spin simulated on each, as otherwise generally depicted in Figure Nos. 10 - 13. The winner selection process would be identical to the multi-sector event as earlier set forth in this paper. The payout tables could be the ones shown in Figure No. 17 as standalone gaming 25 devices generally return on the order of 90 - 92%.

WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 42 The main advantage of the four ball multi-sector event is that the gaming device can be linked into common progressive jackpot(s). This provides excitement in the form of many additional players and translates into rapidly incrementing progressives and also the frequency of progressive trigger hits would be much greater 5 and hence the excitement of the frequent winning of the progressive jackpots created. For example, if one hundred gaming devices were linked to a common progressive jackpot and each was paying at the rate of once every 5 seconds, there would be 20 results per second which could mean that the major "Kong" jackpot could be hit as frequently as once every 40 minutes and the others commensurately more frequent. 10 The gaming devices could be linked to a standard progressive jackpot controller which would perform the accumulation of the individual progressives, drive the overhead displays, and payout the winning prizes when jackpot hit events are notified by the gaming device. There is no need for the secondary jackpot winner selection phase in this configuration. 15 In addition to the game apparatus and such, it is contemplated that the foregoing specifications further support certain roulette gaming methodology. The roulette gaming method according to the present invention may be said to enhance a roulette gaming experience, and comprises the initial steps of arranging mahjong symbols 16 in radial adjacency to a central axis as at 101, which central axis may 20 preferably be an axis of rotation. The method comprises a further steps of randomly depositing symbol identifiers (for example roulette balls 10) in radial adjacency to the central axis; identifying a plurality of mahjong symbols 16 via the deposited symbol identifiers; and effecting a multi-symbolic event via the identified mahjong symbols. It should be noted that the mahjong symbol arrangement is preferably rotatable about 25 the axis of rotation to facilitate random symbol identifier deposition. It should be WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 43 further noted or recalled that mahjong symbols 16 tell a story, and the essential roulette medium provides a unique way to tell a mahjong story. Additional steps may include predicting the multi-symbolic event before randomly depositing symbol identifiers in radial adjacency to the axis of rotation; wagering property while 5 predicting the multi-symbolic event; and awarding property after wagering property should the predicted event match the multi-symbolic event. It is further contemplated that the roulette medium may well operate to effect a hand event and thus not be limited to mahjong symbols, but usable with any deck of cards or tiles. The foregoing specifications describe the use of the roulette medium to 10 effect a four of a kind hand. This is but one example of the type of hand that may be formed via a roulette medium. The method for dealing a hand event according to the present invention may thus be said to comprise the steps of: arranging hand-forming symbols in radial adjacency to a central axis; randomly depositing symbol identifiers in radial adjacency to the central axis; identifying a plurality of hand-forming symbols 15 via the deposited character identifiers; and effecting a dealt hand event via the identified hand-forming symbols. Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference to certain preferred embodiments and certain methodology associated therewith, it is not intended that the novel game or gaming methods be limited thereby, but that 20 modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims and the appended drawings.

Claims (52)

1. A roulette-gaming system, the roulette-gaming system for effecting a multi wheel roulette gaming experience, the roulette-gaming system comprising: 5 a grouped series of roulette wheel assemblies, each roulette wheel assembly comprising a roulette wheel, a roulette ball, automated rotation means for rotating the roulette wheel, and automated launch means for launching the roulette ball, each roulette wheel comprising a plurality of ball receiving sectors, each ball-receiving sector comprising a select wheel symbol, 10 the roulette balls being respectively receivable in one of the ball-receiving sectors for providing a multi-sector event; a player participation area, the player participation area for enabling grouped player participation, the player participation area being spatially separated from the roulette wheel assemblies and comprising wager-inputting 15 means, the wager-inputting means for enabling entry of wagers, the wagers for identifying select wager symbols, the wheel and wager symbols having paired symbol correspondence; central processing means, the central processing means for collecting the wagers, for governing the automated rotation and launch means, for 20 comparing wagers to the multi-sector event, for calculating payouts to players should a wager match the multi- sector event, and for governing credits -debits during roulette gaming; and visual display means, the visual display means for visually displaying grouped roulette wheel assembly action to the player participation area, the 25 grouped roulette wheel assembly action comprising the multi-sector event, the WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 45 grouped wheel assembly action for effecting a multi-wheel roulette gaming experience.

2. The roulette gaming system of claim 1 wherein the wheel and wagerable 5 symbols are defined by mahjong symbols.

3. The roulette gaming system of claim 1 wherein the automated launch means are defined by comprising ball-conducting conduit, the ball-conducting conduit for converting a potentially energetic roulette ball to a kinetically 10 energetic roulette ball and for outletting the kinetically energetic roulette ball upon the roulette wheel.

4. A roulette-gaming system, the roulette-gaming system for effecting a multi symbol roulette gaming experience, the roulette-gaming system comprising: 15 a roulette wheel assembly, the roulette wheel assembly comprising a roulette wheel and a plurality of roulette balls, the roulette wheel comprising a plurality of ball-receiving sectors, each ball-receiving sector comprising a select wheel symbol, the roulette balls being respectively receivable in one of the ball-receiving sectors for providing a multi-sector event; 20 a player participation area, the player participation area for enabling grouped player participation, the player participation area comprising wager inputting means, the wager-inputting means for enabling entry of wagers, the wagers for identifying a series of wagerable symbols, the wheel and wagerable symbols having paired symbol correspondence, the multi-sector event for 25 effecting a multi-symbol roulette gaming experience. WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 46

5. The roulette gaming system of claim 4 wherein the wheel and wagerable symbols are defined by mahjong symbols, the mahjong symbols for effecting a mahjong event. 5

6. The roulette gaming system of claim 5 comprising visual display means, the visual display means for visually displaying roulette wheel assembly action to the player participation area. 10

7. The roulette gaming system of claim 4 comprising means for effecting a self launching roulette ball, said means comprising ball-conducting conduit, the ball-conducting conduit for converting a potentially energetic roulette ball to a kinetically energetic roulette ball and for outletting the kinetically energetic roulette ball upon the roulette wheel. 15

8. A mahjong roulette game, the mahjong roulette game for ball-effecting a mahjong event, the mahjong roulette game comprising: a grouped series of roulette wheel assemblies, each roulette wheel assembly comprising a roulette wheel, a roulette ball, means for rotating the 20 wheel, and means for launching the roulette ball, each roulette wheel comprising a plurality of ball-receiving sectors, each ball-receiving sector comprising a select mahjong wheel symbol, the roulette balls being respectively receivable in one of the ball-receiving sectors for providing a multi-symbolic event; WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 47 a player participation area, the player participation area for enabling wagering input and comprising select mahjong wager symbols, the wheel and wager symbols having paired symbol correspondence, the paired symbol correspondence and the multi-symbolic event for effecting a mahjong event. 5

9. The mahjong roulette game of claim 8 comprising visual display means, the visual display means for visually displaying the multi-symbolic event to the player participation area.

10 10. The mahjong roulette game of claim 9 wherein the means for launching the roulette ball are defined by means for effecting a self-launching roulette ball, said means comprising ball-conducting conduit, the ball-conducting conduit for converting a potentially energetic roulette ball to a kinetically energetic roulette ball and for outletting the kinetically energetic roulette ball upon the 15 roulette wheel.

11. A mahjong roulette game, the mahjong roulette game for ball-effecting a mahjong event, the mahjong roulette game comprising: a roulette wheel assembly, the roulette wheel assembly comprising a 20 roulette wheel, a plurality of roulette balls, the roulette wheel comprising a plurality of ball-receiving sectors, each ball-receiving sector comprising a select mahjong wheel symbol, the roulette balls being respectively receivable in one of the ball-receiving sectors for providing a multi-symbolic event; and a player participation area, the player participation area for enabling 25 wagering input and comprising select mahjong wager symbols, the wheel and WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 48 wager symbols having paired symbol correspondence, the paired symbol correspondence and the multi-symbolic event for effecting a mahjong event.

12. The mahjong roulette game of claim 11 comprising visual display means, the 5 visual display means for visually displaying the multi-symbolic event to the player participation area.

13. The mahjong roulette game of claim 12 comprising means for effecting a self launching roulette ball, said means comprising ball-conducting conduit, the 10 ball-conducting conduit for converting a potentially energetic roulette ball to a kinetically energetic roulette ball and for outletting the kinetically energetic roulette ball upon the roulette wheel.

14. A mahjong roulette game, the mahjong roulette game for ball-effecting a 15 mahjong event, the mahjong roulette game comprising: a roulette medium, the roulette medium comprising a plurality of ball receiving sectors and a plurality of balls, each ball-receiving sector comprising a select mahjong wheel symbol, the roulette balls each being receivable in one of the ball-receiving sectors, the select ball-receiving sectors and the roulette 20 balls for ball-effecting a mahjong event.

15. The mahjong roulette game of claim 14 comprising visual display means, the visual display means for visually displaying the multi-symbolic event to a player participation area. 25 WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 49

16. The mahjong roulette game of claim 14 comprising means for effecting a self launching roulette ball, said means comprising ball-conducting conduit, the ball-conducting conduit for converting a potentially energetic roulette ball to a kinetically energetic roulette ball and for outletting the kinetically energetic 5 roulette ball upon the roulette wheel.

17. A roulette game, the roulette game for ball-effecting a hand event, the roulette game comprising: a grouped series of roulette wheel assemblies, each roulette wheel 10 assembly comprising a roulette wheel and a roulette ball, each roulette wheel comprising a plurality of ball-receiving sectors, each ball-receiving sector comprising a select hand-forming symbol, the roulette balls being respectively receivable in one of the ball-receiving sectors for effecting a multi-symbol hand event. 15

18. The roulette gaming system of claim 17 wherein the hand-forming symbols are defined by mahjong symbols, the mahjong symbols for effecting a mahjong event. 20

19. The roulette game of claim 17 comprising visual display means, the visual display means for visually displaying the multi-symbol hand event to a player participation area.

20. The roulette game of claim 17 comprising means for effecting a self-launching 25 roulette ball, said means comprising ball-conducting conduit, the ball- WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 50 conducting conduit for converting a potentially energetic roulette ball to a kinetically energetic roulette ball and for outletting the kinetically energetic roulette ball upon the roulette wheel. 5

21. A roulette card game, the roulette card game for ball-effecting a hand event, the roulette card game comprising: a roulette wheel assembly, the roulette wheel assembly comprising a roulette wheel and a plurality of roulette balls, the roulette wheel comprising a plurality of ball-receiving sectors, each ball-receiving sector identifying a 10 select hand-forming card, the roulette balls being respectively receivable in one of the ball-receiving sectors for effecting a multi-card hand event.

22. The roulette gaming system of claim 21 wherein the hand-forming cards comprise mahjong symbols, the mahjong symbols for effecting a mahjong 15 event.

23. The roulette card game of claim 21 comprising visual display means, the visual display means for visually displaying the multi-card hand event to a player participation area. 20

24. The roulette card game of claim 21 comprising means for effecting a self launching roulette ball, said means comprising ball-conducting conduit, the ball-conducting conduit for converting a potentially energetic roulette ball to a kinetically energetic roulette ball and for outletting the kinetically energetic 25 roulette ball upon the roulette wheel. WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 51

25. A roulette game, the roulette game for effecting a wagerable hand event, the roulette game comprising: a roulette medium, the roulette medium comprising a plurality of ball 5 receiving sectors and a plurality of balls, the ball-receiving sectors comprising select hand-forming symbolism, the roulette balls being respectively receivable in the ball -receiving sectors for ball-effecting a wagerable hand event via the hand-forming symbolism. 10

26. The roulette gaming system of claim 25 wherein the hand-forming symbolism comprises mahjong symbolism, the mahjong symbolism for effecting a mahjong event.

27. The roulette card game of claim 25 comprising visual display means, the 15 visual display means for visually displaying the wagerable hand event to a player participation area.

28. The roulette card game of claim 25 comprising means for effecting a self launching roulette ball, said means comprising ball-conducting conduit, the 20 ball-conducting conduit for converting a potentially energetic roulette ball to a kinetically energetic roulette ball and for outletting the kinetically energetic roulette ball upon the roulette wheel. WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 52

29. A roulette gaming method, the roulette gaming method for enhancing a roulette gaming experience, the roulette gaming method comprising the steps of: arranging mahjong symbols in radial adjacency to a central axis; 5 randomly depositing symbol identifiers in radial adjacency to the central axis; identifying a plurality of mahjong symbols via the deposited character identifiers; and effecting a multi-symbolic event via the identified mahjong symbols. 10

30. The roulette gaming method of claim 29 wherein the central axis is an axis of rotation, the mahjong symbol arrangement being rotatable about the axis of rotation to facilitate random symbol identifier deposition. 15

31. The roulette gaming method of claim 30 comprising the step of predicting the multi-symbolic event before randomly depositing symbol identifiers in radial adjacency to the axis of rotation.

32. The roulette gaming method of claim 31 comprising the step of wagering 20 property while predicting the multi-symbolic event.

33. The roulette gaming method of claim 32 comprising the step of awarding property after wagering property. 25

34. A method for dealing a hand event, the method comprising the steps of: WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 53 arranging hand-forming symbols in radial adjacency to a central axis; randomly depositing symbol identifiers in radial adjacency to the central axis; identifying a plurality of hand-forming symbols via the deposited 5 character identifiers; and effecting a dealt hand event via the identified hand-forming symbols.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the central axis is an axis of rotation, the hand-forming symbol arrangement being rotatable about the axis of rotation to 10 facilitate random symbol identifier deposition.

36. The method of claim 35 comprising the step of predicting the hand event before randomly depositing symbol identifiers in radial adjacency to the axis of rotation. 15

37. The method of claim 36 comprising the step of wagering property while predicting the hand event.

38. The gaming method of claim 37 comprising the step of awarding property 20 after wagering property.

39. A standalone gaming system, the gaming system for enabling mahjong roulette play, the gaming system comprising at least one gaming device, each gaming device comprising: WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 54 random number generating means, the random number generating means for generating game results; visual display means, the visual display means for displaying at least one roulette wheel and at least one roulette ball; 5 wagering means, the wagering means for enabling a player to wager from a mahjong roulette wager grouping; and central processing means, the central processing means for comparing generated game results with wagers and for awarding prizes if the generated game results match wagers and produce jackpot hit events. 10

40. The gaming system of claim 39 comprising multiple gaming devices, the gaming devices being linked to a progressive jackpot controller, the jackpot controller for controlling the accumulation of individual progressives, driving the visual display means, and paying out the awarded prizes when jackpot hit 15 events are notified by respective gaming devices, the jackpot hit events being triggered by mahjong specific combinations of multi-symbolic events.

41. An electronic gaming apparatus having central processing means, wager inputting means and a visual display unit, said apparatus being configured to 20 perform a game as defined in any one of claims 8 to 28.

42. An electronic gaming apparatus having central processing means, wager inputting means and a visual display unit, said apparatus being configured to perform a method as defined in any one of claims 29 to 38. 25 WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 55

43. An electronic gaming apparatus according to claim 41 or 42 wherein the apparatus is any one of a slot machine, a mobile device, a personal computer, a touch screen monitor, a hand held data input - output device, a cell phone, a tablet, a kiosk, a digital television or a personal digital assistant. 5

44. An electronic gaming apparatus according to any one of claims 41 to 43 wherein said apparatus includes communication means.

45. An electronic gaming apparatus according to claim 44 wherein said 10 communication means includes the use of any one or more of a wireless connection, an internet connection, a cellular connection, a connection across a local area network or a connection across a wide area network.

46. An electronic gaming device according to any one of claims 41 to 45 wherein 15 said central processing means is configured so as to selectively cause the visual display unit to display at least one wheel and at least one ball.

47. An electronic gaming device according to claim 46 wherein the at least one wheel and the at least one ball are simulated. 20

48. An electronic gaming device according to claim 46 wherein the at least one wheel and the at least one ball are real.

49. An electronic gaming device according to any one of claims 41 to 48 wherein 25 an outcome of a game is at least partially dependent upon an output of a WO 2008/067596 PCT/AU2007/001869 56 random number generator.

50. An electronic gaming device according to any one of claims 41 to 49 wherein an outcome of a game is at least partially dependent upon at least one real 5 wheel and at least one real ball.

51. An electronically-readable medium containing executable code for instructing an electronic gaming apparatus to perform a game as defined in any one of claims 8 to 28. 10

52. An electronically-readable medium containing executable code for instructing an electronic gaming apparatus to perform a method as defined in any one of claims 29 to 38.