US20090186688A1

US20090186688A1 - Wagering game using dice or electronically simulated dice

Info

Publication number: US20090186688A1
Application number: US12/017,506
Authority: US
Inventors: Raphael Mourad
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-01-22
Filing date: 2008-01-22
Publication date: 2009-07-23

Abstract

A method of playing a dice game or an electronic simulation thereof includes having at least one player place a wager and the rolling of either three dice or two dice or representations thereof on a gaming machine. In a three dice version, the dice include a single players' die and two house dice, each die or its representation having six faces with different numerical representations thereon. The total of the two house dice is summed to determine a house score. The players win if the number indicated on the players' die is greater than the house score and the players lose if the house score is greater than the number indicated on the players' die by two or more. In one version of this game, if the number shown on the players' die is equal to the house score, a second round of the game is played with all three dice again being rolled and the sum of the two house dice being used to obtain a second house score. In the second round the players win if the number on the players' die on the second roll is equal to or greater than the house score.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to methods of playing games and, in particular, dice games or electronic simulations of dice games in which bets are placed on the outcome of dice rolls or electronically simulated dice rolls.
Dice games of various sorts have been known for many years and have been used for both gambling and entertainment. Perhaps the best known dice gambling game in North America is the game of craps. Craps is one of a number of multiple roll dice games in which some types of bets are not resolved for two, three and even up to several rolls of the dice while some types of bets in the game are resolved in one roll. A perceived significant problem with the game of craps from the point of view of many players is that the rules are complex and it takes considerable study of the game or playing of the game to learn to play it well. The complexity of this game also represents a major problem to a game operator, typically a casino. Because of the perceived complexity of the game, many potential players elect not to play the game and this in turn results in lower potential revenue for the casino. Another dice game is known as Sic Bo which is also played in casinos. This dice game is the most popular dice game in Asia but is uncommon in North America.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,834 issued Sep. 11, 2001 to IGT describes and illustrates a dice wagering game wherein, after a player has placed his or her wager, the dealer rolls a plurality of dice and sums the total to obtain the dealer's score. The player is then afforded an opportunity to select to roll one or a plurality of dice in an effort to beat the dealer's score. The player rolls the selected number of dice and sums the total to obtain his or her score. If the player's score is greater than the dealer's score, the player wins the wager according to a predetermined payout schedule, with fewer dice rolled to beat the dealer's score resulting in higher awards.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,248 issued Nov. 12, 1996 to A. C. Parra et al. describes a casino dice games which uses a gaming table and a dice shaker with two separated compartments. The game board has a series of crap bet placing areas placed around a curved edge of the table and the game is played with two standard casino dice and an additional third die. Players make wagers in accordance with the rules of craps on the faces registered by the casino dice after a shaking of the container. An additional bet may be placed on an occurrence where both the two casino dice and a third die register faces having the same number.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,101 issued Sep. 17, 1996 describes a betting game employing a first pair of dice or their equivalent. The game uses a playing surface and at least one player station with first and second betting zones. In one version of this game there are two dice spinners, one for a dealer and the second to spin a second pair of dice. Each player can place a wager on one of the available betting zones and then the dealer spins the first pair of dice using the dealer spinner. After the total of these two dice is determined, one of the players spins the second pair of dice using the second spinner. If the total of the second pair exceeds the total of the first pair, the players who placed bets on the player zone are declared winners.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,239 issued Aug. 4, 1998 describes a two dice game wherein a player makes two types of wagers against a banker. The winner of the first type of wager is determined by comparing the result of a roll of a pair of dice by the player to the result of a roll of the dice by the banker. The winner of the second type of wager is determined by the result of the roll of the dice by the banker. Combinations that may result from rolling the dice are exhaustively ranked.
The new dice games for casinos described herein are simple to play and exciting for the players and gamblers. Of particular interest to casinos is that these new dice games are likely to be attractive to existing players of such games as craps and Sic Bo. Because of their simplicity, these new games will attract casual gamblers who are primarily seeking entertainment, are not interested in being trained to play a game, and do not wish to commit a high level of concentration and mental activity to a dice game.
The dice games described herein are quite different from the known games of craps and Sic Bo where players play against a table payout and schedule. In the dice games described herein, the players place wagers on the roll of the players' designated die and compete against the number rolled with either a single house die or a pair of house dice. Because of the simplicity of these games, unskilled players can participate and enjoy playing the game because either no decisions are required during a round of the game or only a very simple decision and, because of this, these games are like other pure chance games requiring few, if any, decisions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the dice games of this invention, a method of playing a dice game or an electronic simulation of a dice game operated by a gaming house comprises having at least one player place a wager on the game outcome, rolling three dice or representations thereof on a gaming machine, including a single player die and two house dice. Each die or its representation has six faces with different numerical representations thereon. Then the total of the face up sides of the two house dice or representations of the face up sides on the gaming machine are summed to determine a house score. The or each wager is declared to be a winning wager if the number indicated on the face up side of the players' die or a representation of said face up side on the gaming machine is greater than the house score. The or each winning wager is settled by paying to each wagering player a prize according to a predetermined payout schedule. The or each wager is declared to be a losing wager if the house score is greater than the number indicated by the face up side of the players' die or the representation of the face up side by two or more. Any losing wagers are collected for the house.
In one exemplary embodiment of this dice game, all three dice are standard dice or representations of standard dice with the six faces of each die showing numerical counts from one to six respectively and the players' die or the representation thereof is distinguishable from the two house dice or representations thereof which are the same.
In an exemplary embodiment of the above three dice game, in the event that the number shown on the players' die or the representation thereof is equal to the house score, a second round of the game is played. The second round comprises rolling the three dice or representations thereof on the game machine, again summing the total of the face-up sides of the two house dice or representations of the face-up sides on the gaming machine to obtain a second house score, and settling each wager by paying to each wagering player in the second round a prize based on his or her wager at the start of the first round if the number shown on the face-up side of the players' die or a representation of this face-up side on the gaming machine on the second roll is equal to or greater than the second house score. Any wager in the second round is declared to be a losing wager if the second house score is greater than the number shown on the face-up side of the players' die or the representation of the face-up side on the second roll. Any losing wager is collected after the second round-for the gaming house.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a method of playing a dice game or an electronic simulation of a dice game comprises having at least one player place a wager on the game outcome and rolling two dice or representations thereof on a gaming machine, these two dice or their representations consisting of a players' die and a house die. Each of the dice or each representation thereof has six sides with indicia thereon showing numerical counts from one to six respectively. Any wager is declared to be a winning wager if the number indicated by the face up side of the players' die or a representation of this face up side is greater than the number indicated on the face up side of the house die or a representation of the face up side of the house die. Each winning wager is settled by paying to each wagering player a prize according to a predetermined payout schedule. Any wager is declared to be a losing wager if the number indicated by the face up side of the players' die or the representation thereof is less than the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof. A dealer collects any losing wagers for a house in charge of the game. In the event that the number shown on the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof is equal to the number on the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof, the or each player is given the option to play a second round. If any player declines to play a second round, then the dealer collects at least part of the wager of each declining player. If any player accepts the option, each accepting player puts up an additional wager, the amount of which is based on his or her initial wager. Provided at least one player has accepted the option, the two dice or representations thereof on the gaming machine are rolled a second time. Any wager in the second round is declared to be a winning wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or a representation thereof on the second roll is equal to or greater than the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or a representation thereof on the second roll. Each winning wager is settled by paying to the or each player wagering on the second round a prize according to the predetermined payout schedule. Any wager in the second round is declared to be a losing wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof on the second roll is less than the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof on the second roll. The dealer then collects any losing wagers made on the second round for the house.
According to another embodiment of the present dice games, a method of playing a dice game or an electronic simulation of the dice game comprises having at least one player place a wager on the game outcome and rolling two dice or representations thereof on a gaming machine, these two dice or the representations consisting of a players' die and a house die. Each of the dice or each representation thereof has six sides with indicia thereon showing numerical counts from one to six respectively. Any wager is declared to be a winning wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the player's die or a representation of this face-up side is greater than the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or a representation of this face-up side by at least three. Each winning wager is settled by paying to each wagering player a prize according to a predetermined payout schedule, the amount of this prize depending on and increasing with the amount by which the number on the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof exceeds the number on the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof. Any wager is declared to be a losing wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof exceeds the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof or if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof is equal to or not more than one over the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof. A dealer collects any losing wagers for the house in charge of the game.
According to an exemplary version of the aforementioned game method, any wager is declared to be a push if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof exceeds the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof by two.
Further features and advantages of the present die games or electronically simulated dice games will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dice shaker and three dice that can be used to play dice games of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation of the clear dome member which forms part of the dice shaker of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of three dice that can be used for playing some versions of the dice games; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a dice game table on which is a dice shaker according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a dice shaker 10 that can be used to facilitate the play of the dice games described herein. Although the dice shaker can take various forms, the illustrated dice shaker is fitted with a removable, clear plastic or glass dome member 12. In an exemplary version of this dome member, it is fitted with a central, clear partition 14 which can also be made of plastic or glass. The circular bottom rim 16 of the dice shaker is designed to fit on top of a base 18 of the shaker. The bottom end of the dome member surrounds a circular, horizontally extending dice supporting surface 20. When the dome member is fitted on the base 18, the dome member together with a surface 20 form two enclosed compartments 22 and 24. One of these compartments can be used to contain either one house die or two house dice depending on the particular dice game being played, while the other compartment can contain a single players' die 26. These three dice are shown separately in FIG. 3 with the two house dice being indicated at 28 and 30. The players' die 26 and the house dice 28, 30 are shown in their respective compartments in FIG. 1. Due to the partition 14 within the dice shaker, the players' die and the house dice (or a single house die) never mingle and they are always kept separate, even when they are being shaken (also described herein as being rolled) by the die shaker. Although the illustrated dice are standard six-sided dice, it is also possible to play variations of the dice games described herein using non-standard dice, for example, dice having fewer or more than six sides or faces. Each of the illustrated dice has six faces with different numerical representations thereon and, in the case of standard dice, these numerical representations show numerical counts from 1 to 6 respectively. Typically these counts are provided by a pattern of one or more dots or pips on each face or side as shown.
Except for the central partition 14 to form two chambers, the dice shaker 10 can be of known construction and accordingly a detailed description herein is deemed unnecessary. The dice shaker can be electrically or electronically operated by means of a dealer-operated button 32 (see FIG. 4). The dome member 12 is sized so that the two compartments formed therein are sufficiently large to allow good, random tumbling of the dice within the compartments. In order to shake or roll the dice, the shaker is operated for a few seconds, typically four to six seconds. When the shaking is completed, all three dice lay flat on the horizontal surface 20 and each die then has a face-up side displaying one or more dots or pips 34. The face-up side of the die 30, for example, is indicated at 36.
FIG. 4 illustrates a playing surface 40 that can, if desired, be used for the play of the dice games described herein. The semi-circular surface 40 extends horizontally and can be provided on top of a suitable table (not shown). If desired, the dice shaker 10 can be located centrally on the playing surface 40 where it can be seen by all of the players and a dealer in the employ of the house or casino. The illustrated playing surface has six player stations, the location of which can be indicated by a circular betting zone 42. Of course, the betting zone can be indicated by a marked area having a different shape such as a square or rectangular shape. Each betting zone is the area where the player using that zone places his or her wager for the game to be played. A dealer station can be provided at 44 since the dealer will normally stand next to the straight side 46 of the playing surface Although the dealer can operate the dice shaker if desired by pushing the operating button 32, the button (or buttons) can be located so that one of the players can operate the shaker instead of the dealer. Instead of electrical/electronic operation of the shaker to operate the shaker 10, it is also possible to use any of various types of mechanical shakers or shakers with mechanical drives. If desired, a tray 50 for holding money or betting chips can be provided on the playing surface 40.

Three Dice Games

Turning now to the dice games themselves of the present disclosure, one exemplary version of such a dice game is played with three dice. This game can be played with actual dice or it can be an electronic simulation of a dice game with typically the three dice being depicted electronically on a screen in a manner known per se in the gaming industry. The casino version of this game requires at least one player and a dealer employed by the gaming house, normally a casino. The at least one player is first given the opportunity to place a wager which can be in the form of actual cash but more normally is in the form of one or more chips, each of which represents a certain monetary value. Each wager can be placed in one of the betting zones 42 which can also be referred to as a circular post. Typically, in a casino environment, each wager has to be within minimum-maximum limits posted at the table and each wager can vary within these limits. Then either the dealer or one of the players who would normally be selected by the dealer, rolls the three dice 26, 28 and 30 in the manual version of the game or representations thereof on a gaming machine in an electronic version of the dice game. In the context of the present disclosure, the term “rolling” as used herein includes shaking or agitating the dice which can either be done manually, such as with a dice cup or by a machine such as the dice shaker 10. As indicated above, the three dice include a single player's die and two house dice 28, 30. In an exemplary embodiment of the game, each die (or its representation in the electronic version of the game) has six faces with different numerical representations. In the exemplary version of this three dice game, the three dice are standard dice and the six faces indicate values from 1 to 6 by means of dots or pips.
When the rolling step has been completed and the dice lay flat on the surface 20, the dealer sums the total of the face-up sides of the two house dice to determine a house score. The wagers made by the respective players (or the single wager if only one player is playing) are declared to be winning wagers, if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die 26 (or a representation of this face-up side on the gaming machine) is greater than the house score. Then, each winning wager is settled by the dealer by paying to the wagering player a monetary prize according to a predetermined pay-out schedule. Exemplary versions of several possible pay-out schedules are indicated below in Table 1.

TABLE 1

PLAYERS' DIE
VALUE EXCEEDS
HOUSE TWO	PAYOUT		PAYOUT
DICE VALUE BY:	1	PAYOUT 2	3	PAYOUT 4

−1	PUSH	1 to 1	1 to 1	LOSS
0	1 to 1	2 to 1	2 to 1	2 to 1
1	2 to 1	3 to 1	3 to 1	3 to 1
2	4 to 1	4 to 1	4 to 1	5 to 1
3	9 to 1	6 to 1	9 to 1	9 to 1
4	40 to 1	25 to 1	20 to 1	50 to 1

However, if the house score is greater than the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die (or the representation of the face-up side on the gaming machine display) by two or more, the or each wager by the player or players are declared to be a losing wager by the dealer who will then collect any losing wager for the house.
In an exemplary version of this dice game, the player's die 26 of the electronic representation thereof is distinguishable from the two house dice 28, 30 or the representations thereof on the machine, with the two house dice being the same or similar. Typically, as shown in FIG. 3, the player's die 26 has a different colour, for example, red than the two house dice which can be white dice as depicted. If a dice shaker such as the dice shaker 10 is used in the play of the game, the separation of the dice between the two compartments can also assist in distinguishing the players' die 26 from the house dice.
In an exemplary version of the aforementioned three dice game, the or each wager is also declared to be a winning wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die (or the representation of the players' die) is equal to the house score. In this event, the dealer settles the or each winning wager by paying to each wagering player a prize according to a predetermined payout schedule such as one of the schedules shown in Table 1.
As indicated in Table 1, under the payout scenario 1 of the Table, an equal score will result in a monetary prize equal to the wager. Under payout scenarios 2, 3 and 4, the monetary prize in the event of an equal score is a monetary payout twice the wager that has been made. As also indicated in Table 1, it is also possible for each wagering player to be paid a prize according to the payout schedule (see PAYOUT columns 2 and 3) if the number indicated by the rolled players' die or the electronic representation of the players' die is one less than the house score. However, under Payout Schedule 1, it is a push or a tie for each wagering player if the number indicated by the players' die is one less than the house score and under Payout Schedule 4, each player loses his or her bet if the number indicated by the players' die is one less than the house score.
The casino advantage under each of Payout Schedules 1, 2, 3 and 4 is 6%, 5.6%, 3.2% and 5.1% respectively and the hit frequency for each of these Payout Schedules is 26%, except in the case of Payout Schedule 4, where the hit frequency is 16%.
An alternate version of a three dice casino game according to the present disclosure, is played according to the procedure described above but with significant differences in the event that the numbers shown on the face-up side of the players' die is equal to the house score and with respect to the Payout Schedule. If the players' die value exceeds the house score, the players are paid according to the PAYOUT schedule in Table 2 set out below:

TABLE 2

PLAYERS' DIE VALUE EXCEEDS
HOUSE TWO DICE VALUE BY:	PAYOUT

0	GO TO SECOND ROUND
1	3 to 1
2	5 to 1
3	10 to 1
4	50 to 1

If the house score exceeds the players' die value, the dealer then collects all of the wagers which are declared to be losing wagers. However, in the event that the players' die number or the representation thereof is equal to the house score, a second round of the game is played. All initial wagers remain in this second round and there is no additional wagering. Also, the players in the second round are the same players as in the first round as the players do not have the option of withdrawing. In the second round, again the three dice, such as those shown in FIG. 3 are rolled (such as by the use of the shaker shown in FIG. 1) or representations of the three dice are “rolled” by means of a gaming machine which electronically depicts the dice and their faces. Either way, the total of the face-up sides of the two house dice or the representations of these sides are summed to obtain a second house score. Each wager is then settled by paying to each wagering player a prize if the number shown on the face-up side of the players' die or a representation of the face-up side on the gaming machine on the second roll is equal to or greater than the second house score. In one exemplary version of this particular dice game, the players win N×the original wager. In one version of this game, N equals 20 which provides a casino advantage of 5.5% based on a hit frequency of around 11%. However, any wager in the second round is declared to be a losing wager if the second house score is greater than the number shown on the face-up side of the players' die or the representation of the face-up side on the second roll. Again, the dealer then collects any of the losing wagers which were made on that round. Once all bets are resolved, new wagers are made and the game starts again with a new round.
As will be seen from both Tables 1 and 2, the prize payable to each wagering player if the number shown on the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof is greater than the house score increases with and is dependent upon the amount by which the face-up side on the players' die or the representation thereof exceeds the house score.

Two Dice Games

Dice games similar to the above described three dice games can also be played with the use of two dice, one being the players' die and the other being the house die. Instead of actual regular dice, these games can also be played by means of electronic simulations of the dice by means of a gaming machine. These two dice games are also commenced by having each player place a wager on the game outcome and this game can be played on a playing surface such as the surface 40 shown in FIG. 4. Again, each wager or the wager has to be within the minimum-maximum limits posted at the table and the wager can vary within these limits. The two dice are then rolled such as by means of a dice shaker 10 and the button to activate this shaker can either be pushed by the dealer or one of the players who would normally be selected by the dealer. Again, instead of rolling actual dice, representations of these dice can be “rolled” in a simulated manner by means of a gaming machine. In exemplary versions of these two dice games, each die is a standard die having six sides with indicia thereon showing numerical counts from 1 to 6 respectively.
After the rolling step, the dealer declares any wager to be a winning wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or a representation of the face-up side is greater than the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or a representation of the face-up side of the house die. Each winning wager is settled by paying to each wagering player a prize, normally a monetary prize, which can, for example, be a monetary prize equal to the amount of the wager. The dealer declares any wager to be a losing wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof is less than the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof. The dealer then collects any losing wagers for the house in charge of the game. In the event that the number shown on the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof is equal to the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof, the or each player is given an option to play a second round. If any player declines to play the second round, then the dealer collects at least part of the wager of the or each declining player. In a particular exemplary version of this game, if a player declines to play the second round, the dealer collects half of the wager of the declining player. If any player accepts the optional second round, then each accepting player must put up an additional wager, the amount of which is based on his or her initial wager. In an exemplary version of this game, the amount of the additional wager is equal to the amount of the original wager. Provided at least one player has accepted the option of a second round, the two dice are rolled again or representations thereof on the gaming machine are figuratively rolled. Any wager in the second round is declared to be a winning wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or a representation thereof on the second roll is equal to or greater than the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or a representation thereof on the second roll. Each winning wager is then settled by the dealer by paying to each player wagering on the second round a prize according to the predetermined payout schedule applicable to the second round. In an exemplary version of this game, the prize paid to each player for his or her winning wager in the second round is equal to the amount of the initial wager made by the respective player. The dealer declares any wager in the second round to be a losing wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the player's die or the representation thereof on the second roll is less than the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof on the second roll. The dealer then collects any losing wagers. In an exemplary version of the game, the losing wager for each player is double the initial wager made by the respective player. The casino advantage in this game is 3.6%.
In a second version of a two dice game according to the present disclosure, the initial steps of the game method are the same as described above for the first version of a two dice game. Thus, each player is required to place his or her wager on the game outcome and then two dice or representations thereof on a gaming machine are rolled, these dice consisting of a players' die and a house die, which again can be standard dice. The dealer then declares any wager to be a winning wager if the number indicated on the face-up side of the players' die or a representation of the face-up side is greater than the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or a representation of the face-up side of the house die by a pre-determined number 1 and up. In one version of a two dice game, the number indicated on the players' die must be greater than that on the house die by at least three in order for the wager to be a winning wager. The dealer settles any winning wager by paying to each wagering play a prize according to a predetermined payout schedule with the amount of the prize depending on and increasing with the amount by which the number on the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof exceeds the number on the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof. In one exemplary version of this two dice game, the payout schedule to the players is according to Table 3 set out below:

	TABLE 3

	PLAYERS' DIE EXCEEDS
	HOUSE DIE BY:

	2	3	4	5

	PLAYERS PUSH/WIN	PUSH	1 to 1	5 to 1	10 to 1

Any wager by a player is declared to be a losing wager by the dealer if the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof exceeds the number indicated on the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof or if the number indicated on the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof is equal to or not more than 1 over the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof. Again, the dealer collects any losing wagers for the house in charge of the game.
In an exemplary version of this two dice game and as indicated by Table 3 above, any wager is declared to be a push if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof exceeds the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof by two. With the payout schedule indicated in Table 3, the house advantage is calculated to be 8.3% with a hit frequency of 28%.
Also, as indicated in Table 3, in this particular version of the two dice game, if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof exceeds the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof by three, the monetary prize paid to each wagering player is equal to the wager placed by the respective player. According to the same payout schedule, if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof exceeds the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof by four, the monetary prize paid to the or each wagering player is 5 times the wager placed by the respective player.
In exemplary forms of these two dice games and to help avoid confusion, if the game is played with two actual dice, the players' die has a different color than the house die. The two dice can be rolled by shaking them simultaneously in a dice shaker 10 such as that shown in FIG. 1.
The present invention has been described with respect to specific methods and embodiments. It will be understood that various changes and modifications will be apparent to and will be suggested by those skilled in the art. It is the intent of the applicant to include all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims as part of this invention.

Claims

1. A method of playing a dice game or an electronic simulation of a dice game operated by a gaming house, comprising:

having at least one player place a wager on the game outcome;

rolling three dice or representations thereof on a gaming machine, including a single players' die and two house dice, each die or its representation having six faces with different numerical representations thereon;

summing the total of the face-up sides of two house dice or representations of said face-up sides on the gaming machine to determine a house score;

declaring the or each wager to be a winning wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of players' die or a representation of said face-up side on the gaming machine is greater than said house score;

settling the or each winning wager by paying to each wagering player a prize according to a predetermined payout schedule;

declaring the or each wager to be a losing wager if the house score is greater than the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or said representation of the face-up side by 2 or more; and

collecting any losing wager for said house.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein all three dice are standard dice or representations of standard dice with the six faces of each die showing numerical counts from 1 to 6 respectively and said players' die or the representation thereof is distinguishable from the two house dice or the representations thereof which are the same.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the or each wagering player is also paid a prize according to said predetermined payment schedule if the number shown on the players' die or the representation of the players' die is equal to the house score.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the or each wagering player is also paid a prize according to said payout schedule if the number indicated by the rolled players' die or the representation of the players' die is 1 less than the house score.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein, in the event that the number shown on the players' die or the representation thereof is equal to said house score, a second round of the game is played, said second round comprising:

rolling said three dice or representations thereof on the gaming machine;

again summing the total of the face-up sides of the two house dice or representations of said face-up sides on the gaming machine to obtain a second house score;

settling each wager by paying to each wagering player in the second round a prize based on his or her wager at the start of the first round if the number shown on the face-up side of the players' die or a representation of said face-up side on the gaming machine on the second roll is equal to or greater than said second house score;

declaring any wager in the second round to be a losing wager if the second house score is greater than the number shown on the face-up side of the players' die or said representation of the face-up side on the second roll; and

collecting any losing wager after the second round for the gaming house.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said prize paid to each wagering player in the second round is twenty times the wager of the respective player.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said prize payable to each wagering player if the number shown on the face-up side of the players' die or said representation thereof is greater than said house score increases with and is dependent on the amount by which the number on the face-up side of the players' die or said representation thereof exceeds said house score.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein said prize payable to each wagering player in the initial round preceding said second round increases with and is dependent on the amount by which the number on the face-up side of the players' die or said representation thereof exceeds said house score.

9. A method of playing a dice game or an electronic simulation of a dice game, comprising:

having at least one player place a wager on the game outcome;

rolling two dice or representations thereof on a gaming machine, said two dice or their representations consisting of a players' die and a house die, each of said dice or each representation thereof having six sides with indices thereon showing numerical counts from 1 to 6 respectively;

declaring any wager to be a winning wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or a representation of the said face-up side is greater than the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or a representation of the face-up side of the house die;

settling each winning wager by paying to each wagering player a prize according to a predetermined payout schedule;

declaring any wager to be a losing wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof is less than the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof;

having a dealer collect any losing wagers for a house in charge of the game;

in the event that the number shown on the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof is equal to said number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof, giving the or each player an option to play a second round;

if any player declines to play a second round, then the dealer collects at least part of the wager of the or each declining player;

if any player accepts said option, the or each accepting player puts up an additional wager, the amount of which is based on his or her initial wager;

provided at least one player has accepted said option, rolling said two dice or representations thereof on the gaming machine a second time;

declaring any wager in the second round to be a winning wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or a representation thereof on the second roll is equal to or greater than the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or a representation thereof on the second roll;

settling each winning wager by paying to the or each player wagering on the second round a prize according to the predetermined payout schedule;

declaring any wager in the second round to be a losing wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof on the second roll is less than the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof on the second roll; and

having the dealer collect any losing wagers made on the second round for the house.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said additional wager to play the second round is equal to the amount of the respective players' initial wager.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the prize paid to the or each player for his or her winning wager in the second round is equal to the amount of the initial wager made by the respective player.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the or each losing wager on the second round equals the initial wager made by the respective player plus said additional wager.

13. A method according to claim 9 wherein, if a player has the option to play said second round and declines to play said second round, the dealer collects half of the wager of that declining player.

14. A method of playing a dice game or an electronic simulation of the dice game, comprising:

having at least one player place a wager on the game outcome;

declaring any wager to be a winning wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or a representation of the said face-up side is greater than the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or a representation of said face-up side of the house die by at least 3;

settling each winning wager by paying to each wagering player a prize according to a predetermined payout schedule, the amount of said prize depending on and increasing with the amount by which the number on the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof exceeds the number on face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof;

declaring any wager to be a losing wager if the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof exceeds the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof or if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof is equal to or not more than 1 over the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof; and

having a dealer collect any losing wagers for a house in charge of the game.

15. A method according to claim 14 including declaring any wager to be a push if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof exceeds the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof by 2.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof exceeds the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof by 3, the prize paid to the or each wagering player is equal to the wager placed by the respective player.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof exceeds the number indicated by the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof by 4, the prize paid to the or each wagering player is five times the wager placed by the respective player.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein if the number indicated by the face-up side of the players' die or the representation thereof exceeds the number indicated on the face-up side of the house die or the representation thereof by 5, the prize paid to the or each wagering player is ten times the wager placed by the respective player.

19. A method according to claim 15 wherein the game is played with two actual dice, the players' die has a different color than the house die, and the two dice are rolled by shaking them simultaneously in a dice shaker.