US20100252991A1

US20100252991A1 - Dice Game

Info

Publication number: US20100252991A1
Application number: US12/577,413
Authority: US
Inventors: Patrick Thomas McGrath
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-10-17
Filing date: 2009-10-12
Publication date: 2010-10-07
Also published as: GB2464395A; GB0917831D0

Abstract

Inter alia the present invention provides an apparatus for playing a dice game with bets on the outcome of throws of the dice, which apparatus comprises: a table with a playing surface: at least one die having a plurality of sides, each of said plurality of sides having a different one from a set of indicia; a plurality of substantially identical playing pieces/chips to be used by different players or by one player for different bets in a game, the playing surface of the table being marked with a plurality of independent betting areas each corresponding to a different outcome of a throw of the at least one die, wherein at least one of the betting areas is marked with a plurality of mutually differently marked zones, each of said plurality of differently marked zones to receive a playing piece/chip thereon that is specific to one player so that each playing piece/chip may be differentiated by player from another not by the colour of the playing piece/chip but by the selected differently marked zone of the at least one betting area that the playing piece/chip is placed on.

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns dice games and more specifically a novel apparatus and method for playing a dice game that involves wagering on the outcome of throwing dice on a table.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Dice games of the type in question and which include ‘Craps’, ‘Sic Bo’, ‘Chuck-a luck’ or conventional Dice are a popular feature of casinos that have a range of different betting games. Such games are, however, quite expensive to administer since they generally involve use of a number of dedicated tables each taking up a substantial amount of floor space and each manned by several staff to supervise the game-play and betting. Also staff pr machines are needed to manage/sort and re-distribute the player-specific coloured chips/tokens at the end of each round of game play.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for playing a dice game with bets on the outcome of throws of the dice, which apparatus comprises:
a table with a playing surface:
at least one die having a plurality of sides, each of said plurality of sides having a different one from a set of indicia;
a plurality of substantially identical playing pieces/chips to be used by different players or by one player for different bets in a game,
the playing surface of the table being marked with a plurality of independent betting areas each corresponding to a different outcome of a throw of the at least one die, wherein at least one of the betting areas is marked with a plurality of mutually differently marked zones, each of said plurality of differently marked zones to receive a playing piece/chip thereon that is specific to one player so that each playing piece/chip may be differentiated by player from another not by the colour of the playing piece/chip but by the selected differently marked zone of the at least one betting area that the playing piece/chip is placed on.
With differentiated player-specific zones in each betting area on the table there is no longer any need to provide and process differently colored player-specific chips, which avoids the need for manual labour or automated machinery for sorting the chips between each bout of use. This results in very considerable time and cost savings for the casino or other operator running the dice game and can enhance the players experience too. Cost-savings amounting to many thousands of pounds/dollars a year may be made.
Preferably the differently marked zones of the at least one betting area are configured in a radial array around a centre of the at least one betting area. Suitably the at least one betting area is polygonal and each side of the polygon is a differently marked zone. By this means an optimal number of players can be serviced on a single table.
Preferably each differently marked zone of the at least one betting area is differentiated by its colour. This makes the use of the new system simpler and more intuitive/easier for players to adjust to.
Suitably the table/playing surface is further marked along the perimeter of the table facing the players with a series of marks each corresponding to a different one of the marks of the differently marked player-specific zones so that each player will stand behind their specific marked position. Alternatively, each player might be given a single token when they start playing marked to show their player specific marking so that they are reminded/validated for playing in their designated zones. In other words they are, for example, given their single player-specific colored chip at the start corresponding to their colored zone in each betting area and they hold it and return it after they have played as many games as they wish.
The game is best played with at least two dice and suitably where the or each die is a six-sided die
For greatest appeal with a twin six-sided dice game arrangement there are suitably at least 21 independent betting areas, each corresponding to a different outcome of a throw of the pair of dice. A further six independent betting areas may be provided corresponding to the six different outcomes for one of the pair of dice. Suitably the at least 21 independent betting areas are configured on the playing surface grouped together in a triangular arrangement. This is optimally compact and easily viewed and followed by the supervisor and the players. The at least 21 independent betting areas are preferably configured on the playing surface grouped together with adjacent sides of adjacent betting areas being contiguous.
In a further major improvement the table is configured to have at least two dice-throwing zones, each having a perimeter wall towards which the dice may be thrown/rolled and serving to contain the dice on the table, there being an inset bay between the at least two dice-throwing zones where a game supervisor may stand.
By making the table in this form this can enable considerable savings to be made in number of tables and floor space for a given number of players as well as in supervisor man-power to run multiple simultaneous games.
For, example, one supervisor alone stationed in the bay between the two dice-throwing zones can manage un-assisted and replace four of five supervisors where the table is set up for playing multi-player American Craps. This can, of course, represent huge cost-savings to the casino or other operator.
Thus, according to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for playing a dice game with bets on the outcome of throws of the dice, which apparatus comprises: a table with a playing surface on which the dice may be thrown wherein the table has at least two dice-throwing zones, each having a perimeter wall towards which the dice may be thrown/rolled and serving to contain the dice on the table, there being an inset bay between the at least two dice-throwing zones where a game supervisor may stand
Preferably in this table each of the perimeter walls curves/bows outwardly from the table as viewed from above. Suitably a first of the perimeter walls curves/bows outwardly oriented in a first direction and a second perimeter wall curves/bows outwardly oriented in a second direction at an acute angle to the first direction. Suitably each perimeter wall curves/bows outwardly substantially symmetrically and each is oriented with its axis of symmetry at an acute angle to the axis of symmetry of the other perimeter wall.
In further improvements the playing surface is suitably further marked with a further group of betting areas wherein each betting area of the group corresponds to multiple different outcomes of a throw of the at least one die so that a player may bet on multiple different outcomes with one placed bet. This further group suitably is arranged as a linear series or matrix of adjacent and suitably contiguous areas on the table
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for playing a dice game with bets on the outcome of throws of the dice, which apparatus comprises:
a table with a playing surface, the playing surface of the table being marked with a plurality of independent betting areas each corresponding to a different outcome of a throw of the at least one die, wherein at least one of the betting areas is marked with a plurality of mutually differently marked zones, each of said plurality of differently marked zones to receive a playing piece/chip thereon that is specific to one player so that each playing piece/chip may be differentiated by player from another not by the colour of the playing piece/chip but by the selected differently marked zone of the at least one betting area that the playing piece/chip is placed on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1A: is a top down view displaying one of two parts of the present embodiment that make up the double betting area; this part contains six bets.

FIG. 1B: is a top down view displaying the present embodiment that make up the middle betting area; this part contains fifteen bets.

FIG. 2: is a top down view displaying the present embodiment that makes up the “outside” betting area; this part contains six bets.

FIG. 1A “double” betting area and FIG. 1B “middle” betting area will collectively be known as the “inside” betting area. FIG. 2 will be known as the “outside” betting area.

FIG. 3A: is a top down view displaying the present embodiment highlighting the winning bets when the outcome of both dice is one.

FIG. 3B: is a top down view displaying the present embodiment highlighting the winning bets when the outcome of both dice is two.

FIG. 3C: is a top down view displaying the present embodiment highlighting the winning bets when the outcome of both dice is three.

FIG. 3D: is a top down view displaying the present embodiment highlighting the winning bets when the outcome of both dice is four.

FIG. 3E: is a top down view displaying the present embodiment highlighting the winning bets when the outcome of both dice is five.

FIG. 3F: is a top down view displaying the present embodiment highlighting the winning bets when the outcome of both dice is six.

FIG. 4: is a top down view displaying the present layout containing the inside, middle and outside bets. FIG. 4 contains the inside, middle and outside betting areas that are collectively known as the main betting area.

FIG. 5: is a top down view displaying a possible alternative layout containing the inside, middle and outside bets. FIG. 5 collectively could be known as the main betting area if chosen as a preferred embodiment over FIG. 4

FIG. 6A: is a top down view displaying an optional betting area for the purpose of multiple betting by the player. FIG. 6A contains six betting areas with each area representing six single bets on the “inside” betting area.

FIG. 6B: is a top down view displaying an optional betting area for the purpose of multiple betting by the player. FIG. 6B contains eleven betting areas representing the available combined totals of 2 dice with each area representing various bets on the main betting area. Single and multiple bets are available dependent upon the betting area selected by the player.

FIG. 6C: is a top down view displaying an optional betting area for the purpose of multiple betting by the player. FIG. 6C contains five betting areas representing some available combined totals of 2 dice with each area representing various bets on the main betting area. Each betting area of FIG. 6C represents multiple betting areas on the main betting area.

FIG. 6D: is a top down view of the present embodiment displaying all the optional betting areas combined into one layout. FIG. 6D is an optional sub betting area collectively known as the Track.

FIG. 7A: is a top down view of the present embodiment displaying the method of marking the layout using various player-specific colours. This method of marking the layout negates the need for player-specific coloured chips and allows all players to use the same chips.

FIG. 7B: is a top down view of a suggested alternative embodiment displaying a method of marking the layout using various colours.

FIG. 7C: is a top down view of a suggested alternative embodiment displaying a method of marking the layout using various colour borders that surround a betting area negating the need for colour chips.

FIG. 7D: is a top down view of a suggested alternative embodiment displaying a method of marking the layout using different colour symbols; in this case different coloured arrows.

FIG. 8: is a top down view of the present embodiment displaying the main layout using the method shown in FIG. 7B.

FIG. 9: is a top down view of a suggested table using the layout from FIG. 8 and the optional betting area, FIG. 7B. FIG. 9 also displays eight colour boxes positioned on the edge of the suggested table that correspond with the colours in FIG. 7B and FIG. 8.

FIG. 10: is a top down view of a suggested table identical to FIG. 9 on a reversed perspective.

FIG. 11: is a top down view of a suggested alternative shaped table. FIG. 11 offers players a choice of two areas where they can throw the dice.

FIG. 12: is a flowchart illustrating the overall operation of the present embodiment.

Table. 1 shows a pay table containing the true odds and payoffs.
Table. 2 shows a pay table where on a perfect average all players will lose one chip every 36 rolls of the dice providing an overall advantage to the house of about 2.77%.
Table. 3 shows a pay table where on a perfect average all players will lose two chips every 36 rolls of the dice providing an overall advantage to the house of about 5.54%

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Main Game Layout
FIG. 4 represents a possible layout of the playing surface of the dice game table. There are a total of twenty-seven independent betting options split into two groups, FIG. 2 shows six betting options that will be called the outside bets and will be referred to as such. FIGS. 1A and 1B together make up what will be called the inside bets and will be referred to as such. The inside bets offer twenty-one betting options. The outside bets allow for players to bet that at least one of the dice rolled will be a specific value; any winning bets are paid according to a pay table, The inside bets offer betting options on all of the possible outcomes of two identical dice. These are split into two groups.
FIG. 1A shows the six doubles and any winning bets are paid according to a pay table. FIG. 1B shows the remaining fifteen outcomes, any winning bets are paid according to a pay table. The main game layout contains a total of twenty-seven independent bets, of which there are six outside bets and twenty-one inside bets, the inside bets are made up of the absolute number of possible outcomes of two identical dice or their digital equivalent. FIG. 1A contains six betting areas where both dice have equal values; these bets will be called “doubles”. On a perfect average each of the six bets will win once in every thirty-six rolls of the dice. A player who makes a bet in one of these boxes only wins if on the next roll both dice match exactly the area that the player placed their bet. The player will then receive a pay off according to a pay table. Pay table 1, table 2 and table 3 are three possible pay tables.
FIG. 1B contains fifteen betting areas where each dice has a different value. These bets will be called “middle” bets which, on a perfect average, each bet will win four times in every thirty-six rolls of the dice. Bets that are placed in one of the fifteen areas (middle betting area) win if the dice, after being rolled, match exactly to the area that the player placed their bet or if a double is rolled that matches one of the dice values that the player is betting on, e.g. If a player placed a bet on the 1, 6 betting area, then to receive a pay off the dice must either be 1, 6 exactly or a double 1 or a double 6. In the event of a winning bet the player will receive a pay off according to a pay table. Because all twenty-one inside betting areas are independent there is no limit to how these can be arranged on the playing surface, however, it is preferable to arrange these in the shape of a triangle as it aids both the players and the dealer in identifying specific bets quickly, for example, if the winning outcome was 5, 3 the betting area 5, 3 can be found by mentally forming an equilateral triangle with double 3 at one corner and double 5 at another corner with 5, 3 being found at the other corner. Additionally if you are looking at the totals with double 1 being a total of two the next vertical row will contain 2, 1 being a total of 3 the next vertical row which contain all combinations that total 4 and so on until you reach the other side of the board where you will find double 6 giving a total of twelve. Note that all combinations that total 7 are found running straight down the centre of the layout.
Outside Betting Area
FIG. 2 contains six independent betting areas each showing one side of one dice. These bets are known as the “outside” bets. Any bets placed in these betting areas win if one of the two dice thrown matches the betting area where the bet is placed. Bets are paid according to a pay table. A winning bet will receive a higher pay off if both dice are rolled and both dice match the betting area of the winning bet. Because all six bets are independent there is no preferred layout. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 both show the “outside” (FIG. 2) bets broken up into two sets of three on each side of the main triangle betting area.
Inside Betting Area
On every roll of the dice one of the “inside” bets must be the winning combination. When one of the combinations shown in FIG. 1B is thrown, that particular combination is deemed to win and receives a payoff according to a pay table; all other combinations are deemed to lose and are removed from the layout. Additionally two outside bets win and receive pay offs; the remaining outside bets lose and are removed from the table.
Double Betting Area
When the winning combination of dice is a double, shown in FIG. 1A, there are 7 winning bets. One in the “double” betting area, five in the “middle” betting area and one in the “outside” betting area. FIG. 3A shows the winning “inside” bets when double 1 is rolled. FIG. 3B shows all the winning inside bets when double 2 is rolled. FIG. 3C shows all the winning inside bets when double 3 is rolled. FIG. 3D shows all the winning inside bets when double 4 is rolled. FIG. 3E shows all the winning inside bets when double 5 is rolled. FIG. 3F shows all the winning inside bets when double 6 is rolled. All bets are independent and as such, there is no limit to the shape of the layout or how the bets are contained within, but at present it is found preferable to have the “ inside” bets in the shape of a triangle. FIG. 5 shows a layout made up using squares to form a triangle.
Optional/Auxiliary Game Layouts
FIG. 6D shows a first optional/auxiliary layout; this layout will be called the track and referred to as such. Bets placed on the track will be called track bets. All of the track bets represent groups of “inside bets”. The number of chips required to play these bets varies depending upon how many inside bets are covered by a particular betting area. All track bets must be given to and placed by the dealer. The track contains twenty-two betting options split into two groups.
Cozy Bets
The first of these “group” bets are shown in FIG. 6A and will be called the “cozy” bets. FIG. 6A displays six betting options, each separate bet corresponds to six individual betting positions on the “inside” betting area. For example, a player wishing to place a bet on 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2 and 6.1 could make use of the betting area depicted in 6A by passing six chips of minimum table value or higher to the dealer. To identify the individual betting value he was seeking to bet the player would use the phrase ‘SIX COZY’ whereby the dealer would place the entire bet on the area designated “six” within the group of bets in FIG. 6A. To illustrate the betting area placed in the above example, please refer to FIG. 3A. In the event of any of these positions winning the appropriate chip(s) will be moved from the track and placed on the appropriate inside position(s) and then they would receive a pay off according to a pay table.
The second and third group of track bets are concerned with the total value of both dice when added together unlike the “Cozy Bets” which represent specific combinations of dice, FIGS. 6B and 6C will address those players seeking to play for totals only. FIGS. 6B and 6C offer bets that are determined by adding the outcome of both dice after a roll. Solo Bets FIG. 6B offers eleven betting option; this representing every possible total of two dice from double 1 which gives a total of 2, all the way up to double 6 which gives a total of 12. FIGS. 6B shows all of the single totals, the number of chips needed to play these bets varies depending on how many “inside” bets equal the value the player wants to play. To identify the individual betting value the player was seeking to bet, the player would use the phrase ‘SIX SOLO’ when announcing the bet, whereby the dealer would place the entire bet on the area designated “six” within the group of bets in FIG. 6B. In this example the player would need to surrender a minimum of three chips of table value or multiples of 3 chips to the dealer to place because there are three betting areas on the “inside” layout that add up to the total of six; 3.3, 4.2 and 5.1. Were the player to chose a different “solo” number, perhaps the number “ten”, the player would need only surrender two chips of table value or multiples of 2 chips to the dealer to place because there are only 2 betting areas on the inside layout that add up to the total of ten, 5.5 and 6.4. In the event of any of these positions winning the appropriate chip(s) will be moved from the track and placed on the appropriate inside position(s) and then they would receive a pay off according to a pay table. This group of bets will be called the “solo” bets and allow a player to play all of the “inside” bets that are of a certain total in one straightforward to play bet.
Bevy Bets
FIG. 6C offers five betting options, these being groups of single totals as such these will be called “Bevy” bets and allow a player to play a portion of or the entire “inside” betting area that contain certain groups of totals in one or multiple straightforward bets. The purpose of the track is to allow a player to place multiple “inside” bets quickly without the need to place many individual bets themselves. “Bevy” bet 2, 3, 11 and 12 is a four chip minimum bet as each number represents one inside betting area. A player would have to place four chips or multiple of four chips on this betting area to reach the minimum required chips for their bet to be accepted by the dealer. Likewise, “Bevy” bet 4, 5, 9 and 10 are 8 chip minimum bets as each number represents two inside betting areas. A player would have to place 8 chips or multiples of 8 chips on this betting area to reach the minimum required chips for their bet to be accepted by the dealer. “Bevy” bet 6, 7 and 8 are 9 chip minimum bets as each number represents three inside betting areas. A player would have to place 9 chips or multiple of 9 chips on this betting area to reach the minimum required chips for their bet to be accepted by the dealer. “Bevy” bet 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 is a 9 chip minimum bet as all numbers collectively representing nine inside betting areas. A player would have to place 9 chips or multiple of 9 chips on this betting area to reach the minimum required chips for their bet to be accepted by the dealer. “Bevy” bet 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 is a 9 chip minimum bet as all numbers collectively representing nine inside betting areas. A player would have to place 9 chips or multiple of 9 chips on this betting area to reach the minimum required chips for their bet to be accepted by the dealer. All track bets must be passed to the dealer by with the respective “bevy” bet called verbally by the player before the dealer accepts the bet. For example, if the player wishes to place the group betting area numbered 2, 3, 11, 12, the player would call ‘BEVY 2 to 12’. Providing sufficient chips have been passed to the dealer, the bet would be accepted and placed on the track signified as 2-3-11-12 in FIG. 6C. Each “bevy” bet called by the player must begin with the word “bevy” followed with the lowest number of the group desired and ending with the highest number from within the same group to identify the group of bets requested. As all twenty-two track bets are independent betting areas, as such there is no limit to the shape of the track and how the betting areas are contained within. There is also no need for a track to contain all twenty-two betting options, FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C could all be used as independent tracks or any combination of groups of inside bets could be used to create a track.
FIG. 4 shows a layout where the use of colour chips would be a necessary part of the game when more than one player is playing. However, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention this is undesirable. We eliminate the use of colour chips to avoid need for manpower or mechanical sorting machines to process large volumes of colour chips every turn, slowing the overall speed of the game and also enabling the removal of large banks of colour chips required to service other games that generally use colour chips as a method of identifying players.
Eliminating The Use Of Colour Chips
The use of different coloured chips to indentify where each player is placing their bets is a firmly established feature of conventional games which offer multiple betting areas. However, we dispense with the need for colour chips and by doing so we remove the ongoing cost of replacing colour chips and avoid need for any staff time or automated chip processing machines to separate mixed lots of colour chips.
FIG. 8 displays a possible layout that would function with many players without the need for colour chips. FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D each show eight colour markings printed on the layout·101 Green·102 Brown·103 Yellow·104 Light blue·105 Red·106 Grey·107 Orange·108 Dark blue.
These marking will surround all twenty-seven betting options of the main game layout in a similar fashion. FIG. 8 shows a completed layout using the method shown in FIG. 7B. By designating each player a particular colour, the player is confined to only placing bets in their respective corresponding colour marking that surrounds each betting option. This method negates the need to distribute chips of a differing colour which is a commonly found solution of differentiating bets between players of house games. This method enables all players to bet with similar chips on the “inside” and “outside” betting areas at the same time with other players whilst maintaining the ability to identify the owner of any particular bet anywhere on the game layout. There are numerous options for designating each player with a colour of which two such methods are as follows.
Method One.
Each player is given a colour marker or button that that player retains whilst playing; when they have finished playing they give the marker back to the dealer so that colour is available for the next player.
Method Two.
FIG. 9 displays that by marking the outside edge of the layout a player is designated a colour simply by his position at the layout. As an example, a player standing at 103 in FIG. 9 would place their chips at the position 103 in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D.
A player wishing to play would be offered an available colour; for example yellow. In colour method one as described above, the dealer would then give the player a yellow marker. The player would then place their chip(s) on any of the corresponding coloured areas on the layout, in this instance, yellow 103. The player would surrender the coloured marker to the dealer prior to leaving the game. Alternatively, to avoid the vacating player retaining the coloured marker after finishing their play a system of assigning colour to a player can be employed by using the method as described in FIG. 9.
FIG. 9 displays a drawing placing permanent colours around the edge of the layout allowing the players using identical chips to place their bets on the colour markings in FIG. 7B. This corresponds with the colour markings printed on the layout where the player is positioned in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9 a player standing in the yellow area 103 would place bets on the layout on the yellow markings 103 shown in FIG. 7B. If all of the available colours are being used by other players, a player who wishes to play can still place a bet by placing their chip(s) in the centre of all of the other colours
Alternative Embodiments
FIG. 10 shows a mirrored layout of that shown in FIG. 9. By not limiting the shape of the table to FIG. 9 different designs enable both left and right handed versions of the table to be offered.
Embodiment of the Second Aspect of the Invention
FIG. 11 shows a specially-shaped table different to that shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. This new table shape is easier for both the dealer and the players to reach all available betting areas and very usefully enables the dealer/supervisor of the game to manage a table that has anywhere up to eight or so players playing simultaneously without requiring assistance from colleagues. The players also have a choice of areas to throw the dice. The table is configured to have at least two dice-throwing zones, each having a perimeter wall towards which the dice may be thrown/rolled and serving to contain the dice on the table, there being an inset bay between the two dice-throwing zones where the dealer/game supervisor may stand. By making the table in this form this can enable considerable savings to be made in number of tables and floor space for a given number of players as well as in supervisor man-power to run multiple simultaneous games. For, example, one supervisor alone stationed in the bay between the two dice-throwing zones can manage un-assisted and replace what would normally be four of five supervisors where the table is set up for playing multi-player American Craps. This can represent huge cost-savings to the casino or other operator.
In a further improvement over the prior art in game play the game may be played with unconventional payouts/pay-offs where all of the betting areas offer the exact same house advantage. Furthermore the payouts/pay-offs may be exclusively whole numbers, ie X to 1 where X is a whole number. To achieve this unique payout we pay a bonus to players when a double number (eg two sixes) is the outcome of throwing the pair of dice. This has a number of benefits—making the payouts easier to comprehend and work with and uniquely offering different pay-outs for bets placed on the same betting area. The odds are also well balanced between the needs of casino and player.
Table. 2 shows a pay table where on a perfect average all players will lose one chip every 36 rolls of the dice providing an overall advantage to the house of about 2.77%. Alternative pay tables are displayed in Table.1 and Table.3 and are not exhaustive. Other pay tables are possible as are different methods of play corresponding with various pay tables. For instance, a method of play could involve a different outcome and corresponding pay table when a double number is the outcome of both dice. In an embodiment, when a double is the outcome of the dice roll, all corresponding bets on the middle betting area as in FIG. 1B with the same number as the double receive a payoff of 3 to 2. Alternative methods of play could see all of the middle bets to lose when a double is the outcome of both dice or all middle bets could remain in their positions for another throw of the dice when a double is thrown.
Operation of the preferred Embodiment
The player stands at one of the coloured areas around the table shown in FIG. 9. If playing chips are required monies are passed to the dealer 207 which is exchanged for chips from the chip area 206. The player then places any desired bets on either the main game layout or the optional game layout or both. The dealer 207 then offers two or more dice 201 to the player, who selects two dice 201. The dice are thrown against either the side walls 204 or the back wall 205. The dealer 207 calls out the winning combination and then retrieves the dice 201 using the dice stick 203 and places the dice in a display area. The dealer 207 places the dolly 202 onto the winning position on the inside betting area. All losing bets are removed from the layout and placed in the chip area 206. If the optional track layout is in use all losing track bets are cleared and any winning track bets are placed onto the winning position(s) on the main game layout. Winning bets receive a payoff and the dolly 202 is removed from the layout and the next round of betting begins.
FIG. 12 shows a flowchart illustrating a basic overview of the above process. Each roll of the dice is an independent event and is not affected by what has already been rolled.
Touch Bets
In the last 5 years casinos in many jurisdictions have introduced a new method of delivering casino games known as Touch Bet gaming that involves electronic machines that have a screen representing a gambling layout, most commonly Roulette. The player inserts cash or card to buy credits and places bets by touching the screen over the betting area. These machines are linked to a live game via a video camera that televises the outcome of a spin of a roulette wheel. The player often has the choice of either a live game or may choose to rely on numbers being generated by an automatic casino wheel which is self contained where the ball is propelled by a gas mechanism. Because Roulette is played with colour chips, normally eight to ten different colours, once all the colours are in play no more players can join the game. Remote touch bet machines permit the casino operator to effectively add further players to an existing game thereby having no limit to the amount of players who can be connected to a single roulette game. This touch bet technology may be used in the context of the present invention with changes only in the software. The game may be run from a live game or an automatic dice generator either remotely or attached to a touch bet machine. It will be appreciated that the present invention and claims embrace within their scope virtual dice tables and game play and remote televised dice games using touch bet screens.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all terms are meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. The two primary aspects of the present invention both individually and together dramatically improve efficiency in the operation of dice games, whether the game be played under the rules of ‘Craps’, ‘Sic Bo’, ‘Chuck-a luck’ or conventional Dice or any other rules that involve betting on the outcome of the roll of dice on a table. Other aspects of the invention will also be apparent from the foregoing description and the claims and drawings that follow.

Claims

1. An apparatus for playing a dice game with bets on the outcome of throws of the dice, which apparatus comprises: a table with a playing surface, the playing surface of the table being marked with a plurality of independent betting areas each corresponding to a different outcome of a throw of the at least one die, wherein at least one of the betting areas is marked with a plurality of mutually differently marked zones, each of said plurality of differently marked zones to receive a playing piece/chip thereon that is specific to one player so that each playing piece/chip may be differentiated by player from another not by the colour of the playing piece/chip but by the selected differently marked zone of the at least one betting area that the playing piece/chip is placed on.

2. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 1, which apparatus further comprises: at least one die having a plurality of sides, each of said plurality of sides having a different one from a set of indicia; and a plurality of substantially identical playing pieces/chips to be used by different players or by one player for different bets in a game.

3. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 1, wherein the differently marked zones of the at least one betting area are configured in a radial array around a centre of the at least one betting area.

4. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one betting area is polygonal and each side of the polygon is a differently marked zone.

5. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 1, wherein each differently marked zone of the at least one betting area is differentiated by its colour.

6. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are at least two dice and each die is a six-sided die

7. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 6, wherein there are at least 21 independent betting areas, each corresponding to a different outcome of a throw of the pair of dice.

8. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 7, wherein there are a further six independent betting areas corresponding to the six different outcomes for one of the pair of dice.

9. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least 21 independent betting areas are configured on the playing surface grouped together in a triangular arrangement.

10. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least 21 independent betting areas are configured on the playing surface grouped together with adjacent sides of adjacent betting areas being contiguous.

11. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 1, wherein the table has at least two dice-throwing zones, each having a perimeter wall towards which the dice may be thrown/rolled and serving to contain the dice on the table, there being an inset bay/recess between the at least two dice-throwing zones where a game supervisor may stand.

12. An apparatus for playing a dice game with bets on the outcome of throws of the dice, which apparatus comprises: a table with a playing surface on which the dice may be thrown wherein the table has at least two dice-throwing zones, each having a perimeter wall towards which the dice may be thrown/rolled and serving to contain the dice on the table, there being an inset bay between the at least two dice-throwing zones where a game supervisor may stand

13. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of the perimeter walls curves/bows outwardly from the table as viewed from above.

14. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 12, wherein a first of the perimeter walls curves/bows outwardly oriented in a first direction and a second perimeter wall curves/bows outwardly oriented in a second direction at an acute angle to the first direction.

15. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of the perimeter walls curves/bows outwardly substantially symmetrically and each is oriented with its axis of symmetry at an acute angle to the axis of symmetry of the other perimeter wall.

16. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 1, wherein the playing surface is further marked with a further group of betting areas wherein each betting area of the group corresponds to multiple different outcomes of a throw of the at least one die so that a player may bet on multiple different outcomes with one placed bet.

17. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 1, wherein the playing surface is further marked along the perimeter of the table facing the players with a series of marks each corresponding to a different one of the marks of the differently marked player-specific zones so that each player will stand behind their specific marked position.

18. A method for playing a multi-player game of chance in which bets are placed using betting areas marked on a playing surface, the method comprising marking the betting areas thereon with a plurality of markings each of which markings is specific to one player so that each player's playing piece/chip may be differentiated from that of another player not by the colour of the playing piece/chip but by the selected differently marked zone of the betting area that the playing piece/chip is placed on.

19. A method for playing a multi-player game of chance as claimed in claim 18, wherein the game is a dice game and the pay-offs for all of the available betting areas offer the same house advantage.

20. A method for playing a multi-player game of chance as claimed in claim 18, wherein the game is a dice game and pay-offs for all of the available betting areas are whole number (ie odds of X to 1 where X is a whole number).