GB2495276A

GB2495276A - Roulette betting layout

Info

Publication number: GB2495276A
Application number: GB201116770A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthew Eric Hyland; Peter Francis Hackett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-09-29
Filing date: 2011-09-29
Publication date: 2013-04-10
Also published as: GB201116770D0

Abstract

A roulette betting layout 1 comprises a betting board 2 having a track 3 of numbers arranged as a circle, the numbers being in the same order as a corresponding roulette wheel (not shown) for use with the layout. The track defines an inner area separated into three or more segments 4 radiating from a common point. Each of the segments 4 is aligned with one or more of the numbers in the track 3 such that each segment is associated with a particular number or group of numbers. The layout allows bets to be placed on groups of adjacent numbers on the corresponding roulette wheel. The layout may include areas 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d for placing traditional roulette wagers, such as red and black, and odd and even. There are preferably four identical segments each corresponding to nine numbers from 1-36 as on a traditional European roulette wheel, with a fifth single segment corresponding to the number 0. A sixth segment corresponding to 00 may be provided for a layout used with an American roulette wheel (see figure 2). The layout is preferably provided as part of a roulette table.

Description

A ROULETTE TABLE LAYOUT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a table layout for use in the game of roulette and specifically for use in the placement of bets during a game of roulette.

Background of the Invention

Roulette is a game of chance wherein a ball is spun round on a wheel and p]ayers place bets on where the ball will stop. Bets are made by placing chips 11) on a layout, which typically comprises the numbers of the roulette wheel arranged in a grid.

Aside from betting on the number of the slot in which the ball will land there are a variety of possible bets that can be made. The most straightforward of these bets include Red' vs. Black' and Odd' vs. Even'.

However over the years more sophisticated bets have developed to offer a variation in the level of risk, and thus the potential payout, for a player.

One particularly popular bet is the neighbour bet, which allows a player to cover a single number and the two numbers to either side of that number. For example, on a typical roulette wheel a neighbour bet on the number 8 would payout if the ball stopped on 11, 30, 8, 23, 10. Section bets, which cover a group of numbers, are another form of bet.

In order to accommodate these more sophisticated bets different table layouts have been developed. Some roulette table layouts have what is known as a race track. It is possible to place bets on the race track after the ball has started spinning, however such bets must be made through the dealer and are usually referred to as call bets'.

Typically roulette attracts two basic styles of player. One style of player likes to sit at a table and place a bets themselves on the layout so that they cover virtually every outcome. This approach leads to the player limiting the level of both their wins and their losses.

The second style of player watches the ball as it spins and then gives bets to the dealer to place on the race track. These types of bets are known as call bets. Using this approach a player might give the dealer £100 and ask for the number 8 and the neighbours. If 8 comes in the dealer will pay £700, but the dealer will also pay £700 if the ball stops on 11, 30, 23 or 10.

Very often, when players of these two styles play at the same table, confusion can be created both between the players and the dealer and the players themselves. In particular with call bets' it is not unusual for players to claim they asked for one bet and not another, or even claiming that a bet is theirs and not another players. CCTV is often used in order to resolve disputes at a

roulette table.

All of these disputes are part of a busy game and the CCTV checks result in lost time, lost spins and loss of player satisfaction.

The profitability of a roulette table is to a large extent determined by the number of spins that can be played in a night. Thus disruptions of this nature reduce the overall number of spins that can be played, which in turn reduces the profitability of a roulette table.

A loss of player satisfaction also reduces the profits of a table as players do not spend as long at the table as they might otherwise have done if the game flowed more smoothly.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a roulette table layout for the placement of bets during a game of roulette. The layout provides a simplified arrangement whilst at the same time permitting more sophisticated bets (e.g. neighbour bets and section bets) for all styles of player.

The present invention provides a roulette table layout for the placement of bets during a game of roulette according to claim 1.

The design of the layout helps to reduce the number of disputes over bets by enabling players to place neighbour and section bets themselves, rather than having to rely on call bets'. This reduction in disputes leads to reduction in a tab'e's downtime and thereby increases its profitability.

Other benefits of the simplified design of the layout are that new players can quickly understand how to make more sophisticated bets and are less intimidated by the game. The design also makes it easy for the dealer and does not require extra training for the dealer.

Preferably the betting board may be circular or substantially circular. In this way the betting board closely resembles the actual roulette wheel, thereby making it even easier for a player to keep up with the play of the game.

Preferably the common point from which the segments radiate may be at the centre of the betting board, This again helps to provide a simple design that is easy for the dealer and players to appreciate.

Preferably the board may comprise at least two, three or four segments that are each aligned with a separate group of numbers. In this way different variants of the layout are possible, each having different spreading of bets.

Preferably each group may have the same number of numbers. In this way each of the segments has the same odds. Alternatively, some of the groups of numbers may contain less numbers than others. In this way different segments can have different odds.

Preferably one of the segments may be solely aligned with 0'. Further preferably, in situations where the roulette wheel has both a 0' and a 00', the board may further comprise a segment that is solely aligned with 00'. In this -3.,.

way the 0' and 00' are kept separate from the other numbers on roulette wheel.

Preferably the segment associated with a group of numbers may be provided with a marking, perhaps in the form of the betting adds for that segment.

Alternatively the marking may take the farm of another indicia, such as card suit or a sponsor's logo.

Preferably the layout may further comprise additional betting options, such as Black' and Red' and Odd' and Even'. In this way the layout also accommodates the more straightforward bets too.

The roulette table layout of the present invention may preferably take the form of a tangible cover for a casino table. However it is also appreciated that the layout of the present invention also lends itself to virtual betting using computer-based roulette games.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the figures, wherein: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the roulette table layout of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the roulette table layout of the present invention; and Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the roulette table layout of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The present invention provides a simplified roulette table layout for use in the placement of bets during a game of roulette. The game of roulette is played in a range of location including both casinos and online, using computers.

It is appreciated the roulette table layout of the present invention can be used both in real world' casinos as well as in virtual' online casinos. Only the manner in which the layout is fixed varies.

For example, in a casino the layout of the present invention would be applied to an appropriate medium, such as a cloth, which is then located near the roulette wheel so that players can place there bets on it.

In contrast, in the virtual world of computers the layout would be represented on a screen, which may or may not be a touch screen that allows players to directly interact with the layout Regardless of the medium that is used to fix the roulette table layout of the present invention the core benefits of clarity and simplicity of use are always present.

There are two main variants of roulette wheel in common usage around the world. They are the single zero wheel and the double zero wheel. Although the ordering of the numbers differs on the single zero wheel from that on the double zero wheel, the general arrangement of the numbers on each variant of the roulette wheel is constant throughout the world.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the layout 1 of the present invention that is suitable for use with the single zero wheel. Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the layout 10 that is suitable for use with the double zero wheel.

The roulette table layout 1 shown in figure 1 comprises a main betting board 2 and a plurality of additional betting options 5a-5d. The main betting board 2 consists of a generally circular board with a track 3 of numbers running round its perimeter.

The order in which the numbers run round the track 3 is identical to that which is adopted on the roulette wheel being used. Given the generally consistent arrangement of numbers on roulette wheels the layout of the present invention can be used without having to adapt the roulette wheel in any way.

The generally circular shape of the betting board 2 and the ordering of the S numbers serve to substantially reproduce the roulette wheel, which has the benefit of enabling both the dealer and the players to quickly and easily see The outer track 3 defines an inner area of the betting board 2. The inner area is in turn separated in to segments 4 that radiate from a common point. In the preferred embodiment the common point is located in a substantially central location on the betting board 2.

In each case, except for the segment 4a, the curved side of each segment 4 is aligned with a group of numbers in the outer track 3. In the case of the zero' segment 4a only the 0' of the outer track 3 is aligned with the segment 4a.

In the layout 1 shown in figure 1 the inner area is split in to four segments 4 each of which is aligned with a separate group of numbers. However it is envisaged that the inner area may be split in to more or less segments. For example figure 3 shows an arrangement where the inner area is split in to three segments 23, each of which is aligned with a separate group of numbers.

In addition to the four segments that are aligned with the grouped numbers, the layout also has a zero segment 4a which is aligned solely with the zero on the outer track 3.

In order to further simplify the use of the layout of the present invention each of the segments 4 that are aligned with the grouped numbers is provided with an indication of the odds or payQut for a successful bet placed in that segment 4.

It is envisaged that the segments 4 could be distinguished from one another using additional or alternative indicia, such as sponsor's logo or card suit for

example.

En addition to the main betting board 2, the layout 1 may further be provided with additional betting options which are not easily accommodated on the main board 2. Suitable examples of additional betting options include Red' 5a, Black' 5b, Odd' 5c and Even 5d. It is appreciated that other betting options may be adopted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of roulette table layout 101 which is essentially the same as that shown in figure 1 However, unlike the layout 1 shown in figure 1, the layout 10 has a betting board 11 with two zero segments, one for the single zero 4a and one for the double zero 4b.

Figure 3 shows an alternative variant of the roulette table layout 20 of the present invention. The layout 20 has a betting board 21 with an outer track of numbers 22.

As before the track 22 defines an inner area that is in turn split in to segments.

However unlike before the inner area of the betting board is split in to three segments 23 that each align with a group of numbers in the outer track 3. It will be appreciated that as the board 21 is split in to less segments each segment aligns with a larger amount of numbers in the outer track 3. As a result the payout from a bet placed in such a segment is reduced.

It is envisaged that the layout shown in figure 3 could easily be adapted to adopt two zero segments as shown in figure 2.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. A roulette table layout for the pEacement of bets during a game of roulette, said layout having a betting board comprising: a track of numbers arranged around the perimeter of the board in the same order as an associated roulette wheel; and an inner area, defined by said track, that is separated rnto three or more segments that radiate from a common point, wherein each of the segments is aligned with one or more of the numbers in the track such that each segment is associated with a particular number or group of numbers.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The roulette table layout of claim 1, wherein the betting board is circular or substantially circular.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The roulette table layout of claim 1 or 2, wherein the common point is at the centre of the betting board.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The roulette table layout of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the board comprises at least two segments that are each aligned with a separate group of numbers.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The roulette table layout of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the board comprises at least three segments that are each aligned with a separate group of numbers.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The roulette table layout according to any of claims I to 5, wherein the board comprises at least four segments that are each aligned with a separate group of numbers.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The roulette table layout according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein each group has the same number of numbers.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. The roulette table layout according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein one of the segments is solely aligned with 0'.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. The roulette table layout of claim 8 as dependant on claim 4, wherein the board further comprises a segment that is solely arigried with 00'.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. The roulette table layout of any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the segments associated with a group of numbers is provided with a marking, preferably in the form of the betting odds for that segment.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. The roulette table layout of any of the preceding claims, further TO comprising additional betting options, preferably in the form of black', red', odd' and even'.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A roulette table comprising a roulette table layout according to any of claims ito ii.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A roulette table layout substantially as described, with reference to the drawings, hereinbefore.</claim-text>