EP1782403A1

EP1782403A1 - Game playing apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP1782403A1
Application number: EP05773115A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Stergides
Original assignee: Electrocoin Leisure S Wales Ltd
Current assignee: Electrocoin Leisure S Wales Ltd
Priority date: 2004-08-10
Filing date: 2005-08-09
Publication date: 2007-05-09
Also published as: WO2006016130A1; GB0417720D0

Abstract

A game playing apparatus comprises a roulette simulator providing a display showing a simulated roulette wheel (12), and means for simulating the projections and rest point of projected balls, wherein there are means providing for the simulated projection of two or more balls at each play, either together, rapidly one after the other before the previous ball has come to rest, or in turn after each previous ball has come to rest.

Description

Game Playing Apparatus

This invention relates to game playing apparatus for playing a game involving random selection of numbers and particularly to an electronically operated roulette simulator.

The game of roulette, as played in casinos with mechanical

apparatus, comprises placing wagers on which of thirty six or thirty seven spaces or numbered sockets, a ball, projected from an impelling apparatus

will finish after traversing a bowl several times, until it looses energy and settles.

Sockets are conventionally numbered from 1 to 36, upon which

wagers are to be placed, and it is common practice to provide a thirty seventh "zero" space which represents the house stake. Alternate numbers are also picked out on red or black, and it is possible to wager

on the number or colour upon which the ball will settle, with the pay out related to the odds - correct predictions of a number may result in a 36: 1 payout, whilst, a correct prediction of a colour only yields 2: 1 . The

"house" wins if the ball rests on the zero, or on unclaimed number or

colour. It is well known to provide coin or token operated game playing machines which simulate roulette. These generally follow the pattern of

wagers and pay-outs established in the casino game. Legislation however

limits the maximum stake (50 pence) which can be placed in any one game, and with a maximum payment of only 36 times the stake, other games which offer larger maximum payments are proving more popular,

even if the chances of winning are reduced with the higher payout: stake ratio. It has recently been proposed to provide a coin or token operated

game playing apparatus wherein it is possible to simulate the playing of two or more, up to e.g. six simultaneous roulette games, each of which takes place on a separate simulator.

An object of the invention is to provide a coin, token or otherwise operated game playing apparatus simulating roulette based game, in which provision is made for the multiplication of odds, and therefore the

payment/stake ratio.

According to the invention a game playing apparatus is provided which is adapted to simulate a game of roulette, characterised in that

means are provided whereby the use of two or more balls in simultaneous

or consecutive play may be simulated in conjunction with a simulation

representing a single roulette wheel.

Simultaneous play means that the balls are projected together or rapidly one after the other before previous balls have come to rest.

Consecutive play means that each ball is projected immediately when the preceding ball has come to rest, to give in effect a plurality of games for a

single play operation. This multiple - play feature means that an increased number of combinations can be the subject of wager, and that also the stake can be

increased up to say six times the legal maximum single stake where six simulated balls are used. Two or more simulated balls, up to any practical limit may be used.

Options include, staking all in a single number, so that the odds against winning, and hence against the maximum pay out are multiplied by 36n (wherein n = number of balls used in a single play sequence) whilst the pay-out itself is multiplied by 36n² . Thus, whereas with a maximum 5Op stake, at 36: 1 the maximum payout on a single ball game Is £18.00 with six simulated balls, the maximum payment in the event of

all balls finishing on the nominated number, (odds 216: 1 ), the maximum payout, with a permitted stake of £3.00 is £648.

Further options are nominating a different number for each 50p

stake, so that the odds are reduced to say 6:1 with a £18.00 pay out on a £3.00 stake, or a combination of a colour with one or more selected numbers (up to a reduced maximum).

The apparatus according to the invention therefore preferably

includes means for simulating a roulette wheel, means for displaying the

simulated roulette wheel, means for simulating projection of a plurality of

balls into the simulated roulette wheel simultaneously or consecutively,

means for simulating the trajectory of each said ball over the simulated

roulette wheel, means for bringing each simulated ball to rest after a random time interval at a randomly determined place on the simulated

roulette wheel, and means for displaying the simulated motion of said simulated balls over said simulated roulette wheel.

The game playing machine may include a display panel including a display simulating a roulette wheel, and showing the simulated path of each ball, and may also include selection means for choosing one or more numbers, and for selecting options such as red or black or odd or even numbers, and also a slot for insertion of stake money a start button, win

or lose indicating means and a slot for paying out prize winnings.

The machine may be operated by coins, or tokens, and pay out prizes in cash, tokens or goods.

A game playing machine according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is an elevation view of an embodiment of game playing machine for simulating a roulette game, in accordance with the invention, and

Figure 2 is a block diagram summarising by way of example the operation of a game playing machine such as shown in

Figure 1 .

A game playing machine according to the invention for simulating a

roulette game, has a front panel 10 having an upper section 1 1 , with a

display 12 simulating a roulette wheel, having a central raised portion 13 and a peripheral groove 14 divided into 37 compartments numbered 0-36, and apart from the zero, coloured alternate red and black. The display 12

is adapted to simulate the simultaneous or consecutive projection of a series from 2 to for example 6, of simulated roulette balls into the wheel,

to each circulate there for a randomly determined time interval and to then come to rest on a randomly selected one of the compartments 0-36. The simulated balls and their trajectory are generated with random parameters by computer means, and displayed through the intermediary

of a display driver. The number of compartments may be increased, for example to indicate OO' and 000.

The front panel 10 also has a middle section 15 which incorporates a coin insertion slot 16, a push button matrix 17 for

selection of wagers, and a row of operating buttons 18. The matrix 17 includes number selection buttons from one to 36 and four option

selection buttons for selecting red or black, or odd or even numbers for different possible wager combinations.

A lower section 19 of the front panel includes a pay-out slot 20 for paying out any prize won as a result of a successful wager.

Figure 2 illustrates a mode of operation in block flow diagram form. One or more numbers up to a prescribed limit are selected by pressing appropriate buttons or pressure sensitive areas in the selection matrix 17,

and/or options are selected using the E R B or D buttons or buttons 18,

and appropriate coins for the bets placed inserted in slot 16. The selections are transmitted to a setting circuit - 21 which stores the selected values, while a sensor associated with the coin slot 16

signals to a start means 22 the value of stake placed in the slot 16. When insertion of coins is confirmed and a start button pressed, the start means 22 triggers the timers 1-6, 23 and CPU 24. The latter computes the virtual trajectory of each of the simulated roulette balls, terminating each trajectory separately when the respective timer is stopped by a randomised stop signal from a randomiser 25.

The computer 24 converts the resultant stop position of each ball

to a corresponding number, and also determines whether each number is red or black, odd or even and applies the result to comparator 26 where it

is compared with the settings from the setting circuit 21 which correspond with the player's selections. The computer 24 also drives the display 12 to give a visual display corresponding to the computed trajectories and the eventual result.

Comparator 26 determines to what extent the settings and the result correspond in accordance with rules established for each type of

wager, and determines whether the player has won or lost, triggering

"win" enabler 27 to make an appropriate payout of coins or tokens from

slot 20, or a "lose" enabler 28 to drive on appropriate display, and credit

the "house" or "bank" which may involve physically transferring coins and

tokens to a separate storage container. It will be appreciated that the above embodiment has been

described by way of example only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the apparatus may be adapted to accept stakes, and pay out prizes in any suitable manner, that is by coin, bank note, token,

or credit card, and the apparatus may be adapted to be played on-line, with a virtual panel displayed on the player's computer screen rather than a physical panel as in an arcade version, with click-on features replacing

push buttons but retaining a similar display of the roulette wheel and simulated trajectories of the multiple balls.

Any number of balls, from 2 up to any practical or desirable limit may be used in playing of the game.

Claims

1 . Game playing apparatus adapted to simulate a game of roulette,

characterised in that means are provided for simulation of the use of two or more balls in simultaneous or consecutive play, and means to simulate a single roulette wheel.

2. Game playing apparatus according to claim 1 , characterised in that means are provided to simulate projection of said two or more balls simultaneously together.

3. Game playing apparatus according to claim 1 , characterised in that means are provided to simulate projection of said two or more balls rapidly one after the other, before previous balls have

come to rest.

4. Game playing apparatus according to claim 1 , characterised in that means are provided to simulated projection of said two or

more balls immediately when each preceding ball has come to rest.

5. Game playing apparatus according to claim 1 , characterised in

that it includes means for simulating a roulette wheel, means for displaying the simulated roulette wheel, means for simulating projection of a plurality of balls into the simulated roulette wheel

simultaneously or consecutively, means for simulating the

trajectory of each said ball over the simulated roulette wheel,

means for bringing each simulated ball to rest after a random time interval at a randomly determined place on the simulated roulette wheel, and means for displaying the simulated motion

of said simulated balls over said simulated roulette wheel.

6. Game playing apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it includes a display panel including a display panel simulating a roulette wheel and adapted to show the simulated path of each ball.

7. Game playing apparatus according to claim 6 characterised in

that there are selection means for choosing one or more numbers, and for selecting options such as red or black or odd

or even numbers.