WO2008090419A1

WO2008090419A1 - A social game

Info

Publication number: WO2008090419A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/050207
Authority: WO
Inventors: Silver Teigar; Sagi Harari
Original assignee: Videob Holdings Limited
Priority date: 2007-01-22
Filing date: 2007-01-22
Publication date: 2008-07-31

Abstract

A new game and method, comprising a spinning wheel divided into betable parts and non-bctable parts, and a ball. The wheel and ball are spinned, and the winning part is the part in which the ball rests when the spinning stops. Alternatively, the game is an online game played on a terminal by one or more players wherein the terminal optionally enables each player to deposit, bet and win separately form all other players by providing colored or patterned controls. The number of betable parts is preferably a multiplication of twelve. In the method for playing the game, if the number of parts is smaller than thirty six, a part of the wager is optionally returned to a player when the ball stops on a non- bctable part.

Description

Λ SOCIAL GAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a social game in general, and to roulette in particular.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED AR F

Roulette is a popular game, which often involves betting. Conventional roulette involves spinning a walled wheel comprising thirty seven parts, numbered zero to thirty six. A small ball spins within the wheel, and when the wheel and the ball come to a stop, the part of the wheel on which the ball stopped is the winning number. Prior to spinning the wheel one or more players place their bets. Each bet can be a number between one and thirty six. Alternatively, a player can bet on the number to be odd, even, in the range of zero to twelve, thirteen to twenty-four, or twenty-five to thirty-six. I f the ball stops on the part marked with a zero, the game operator collects the bets.

Traditional roulettes are social games, wherein an operator spins the wheel and collects the bets from multiple players. Another type of roulettes is terminal-based roulette, wherein a player is using a gaming terminal, which imitates a roulette game. In such terminals, cither a physical wheel is rotated, or a computerized illustration is provided.

However, the structure of a roulette wheel and the rules of the game may be boring to players after some games. In addition, the large number of options, may cause a player to believe that the winning chances arc too low, which can frustrate them and prevent them from playing. An enhancement of the structure and rules of the game may encourage such players and provide them with a more convenient feeling about the game.

There is therefore a need for an enhanced roulette game, which can be implemented both as a physical game and as an online game. The enhanced game will provide a sense of change to experienced gamers, as well as a more convenient feeling to other players, who may get an impression that their chances are higher in the enhanced game. On the other hand, the enhanced game should still be profitable to the game operator, such as a gaming room or an online terminal operator, in order to encourage the operator to offer the game to players.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of conventional thirty-six part roulette game, both as a physical game and as a landbascd online game. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention, there is thus provided a terminal for enabling one or more players to play a game, the terminal comprising a computing platform executing instructions for: enabling the players to deposit a sum; enabling the players to determine a bet sum; enabling the players to determine a bet; displaying a wheel divided into a number of bclablc parts and a number of non-bctablc parts, wherein the number of betable parts summed with the number of non-bclablc parts is different than thirty seven and thirty-eight; displaying a ball spinning on the wheel and stopping on one of the betable parts or on one of the non-betable parts; determining the one of the betable parts or one of the non-betable parts on which the ball stops; and crediting the players according to the bet, the bet sum and the one of the betable parts or one of the non-betable parts on which the ball stops. Within the terminal, the number of betable parts is optionally dividablc by twelve, or is twelve. Within the terminal, the computing platform optionally further executes instructions for presenting a balance of an account associated with the player, or for presenting at least two coded buttons, wherein each ol^{^} at least two players presses a different coded button prior to depositing a sum or prior to placing a bet or prior to choosing a bet sum. The computing platform optionally further executes instructions for presenting two or more coded numeric displays for displaying a balance or a winning or losing sum for each of the at least two players, wherein each coded numeric display corresponds to one of coded buttons. The coded buttons and the at least two coded numeric displays are optionally color coded or pattern coded. The bet can be any of the group consisting of: any half of the parts; parts indicated by numbers between one and half the number of the betable parts; parts indicated by numbers between half the number of betable parts plus one and the number of betable parts; all parts indicated by a predetermined color; all parts indicated by odd numbers; or all parts indicated by even numbers. The terminal can comprise a display having a first window for showing the wheel and a second window for enabling the players to deposit a sum, to play a roulette game, or to cash out money. The terminal can alternatively comprise a display having a single window presenting displays alternating between showing the wheel and enabling the players to deposit a sum, to play a roulette game or to cash out money. The one or more players are optionally two or more players.

Another aspect of the disclosed invention relates to a method for playing a game, the method comprising: depositing a sum; determining a bet sum to be placed on a bet; placing the bet, the bet denoting one or more of a predetermined number of bctable objects, said predetermined number unequal to thirty-six; determining a result of said game, said result selected from the group consisting of: one of the bctable objects, or one of at least one additional objects; and paying a player according to the bet, the bet sum and the result, if the result is included in the bet placed by the player. The method optionally comprises a step of paying the player a fraction of the bet sum if the result is one of the additional objects. The fraction is optionally a half. The predetermined number is optionally dividablc by twelve. The additional objects can be one object or two objects.

Yet another aspect of the disclosed invention relates to a device for playing a game, comprising a substantially round spinnablc wheel, said wheel comprising a number of bctable parts and a number of non-betablc parts, wherein the number of betable parts is unequal to thirty-six, said basis divided into the parts so that a ball spun within the wheel can only rest on a part, and each part is distinguishable from each other part. The number of betable parts is optionally dividable by twelve. The number of non-bctablc parts is optionally smaller than three. Within the device, any neighboring first betable part and second bctable part have a feature for distinguishing between the first betable part and the second betable part. The device can further comprise walls surrounding said wheel. The walls can be connected to the wheel. The wheel can comprise tilted part. The device optionally comprises a ball spinnable on the wheel. The betable parts and the non bctable parts are optionally implemented as pockets. BRIEF DESCRIP TION OF TFIE DRAWINGS

Non-limiling embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following description of exemplary embodiments, in conjunction with the figures. The figures are generally not shown to scale and any sizes arc only meant to be exemplary and not necessarily limiting. In the figures, identical structures, elements or parts that appear in more than one figure are preferably labeled with a same or similar number in all the figures in which they appear, in which:

I⁷ig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a physical roulette game, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a gaming terminal in which a roulette game can be played, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention; and

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of the main steps in a method of playing a game, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TI IE PRElITiRRED EMBODIMEN T

The present invention provides a description and rules for an enhanced roulette game.

In a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention, a roulette game is disclosed in which the roulette wheel is divided into a number of bctable parts, i.e. parts a player can bet on, and a number of non-bctablc parts, i.e. parts a player can not bet on, so that the number of betable parts is different from thirty six. The bctable parts are preferably randomly numbered, for example from one to twelve, wherein each part carries a different number or other identilication. The parts are preferably colored in two alternating colors or patterns, such as red and black, so that any two neighboring parts are distinguishable by this feature. The non-bctable parts, such as a part numbered zero ("0") are of further different one or more colors or patterns, such as white. The game itself is similar to a traditional roulette game, wherein the wheel, divided into the parts is spun and a ball is thrown inside the spinning wheel, preferably in the opposite direction to the spinning direction of the wheel. A fter both the wheel and the ball have stopped, the number or other identification of the part the ball has stopped on is the winning part.

Each player can place a bet on particular one or more of the bctable parts. If the winning part is included in the parts a player bet on, the player wins. If the player bet on one part, and there are twelve bctable parts, the player wins twelve times the betting sum. If the player chose "red" (or "black"), or another indication to half the betable numbers, and the winning part is indeed colored in red (or black) or is otherwise included in the player's bet, the player receives his bet back, i.e. does neither win nor lose. Similarly, the player can bet on odd or even numbers, or on low (one to six) or high (seven to twelve) numbers. The player can further bet on a third of the parts (such as parts numbered one to four out of twelve parts), the middle third (five to eight) or the higher third (nine to twelve). When betting on a third of the parts and winning, the player receives a sum which is double the sum he bet on, i.e. wins his betting sum. If the ball landed on the part numbered zero, the player optionally receives back about a half, or another fraction of the sum he bet on. This is different from thirty-seven or thirty-eight part roulette, in which the player loses his bet if the ball stopped in the "zero" part. The difference is necessary, since when the wheel comprises twelve rather than thirty-six betablc parts, the chances of the ball to stop on "zero" arc one to thirteen as compared to one to thirty-seven or thirty-eight in regular roulette, resulting in higher chances for the house. Therefore, to compensate the players for the increased chances of the house, all players lose only part of their bels rather than the whole sum if the ball stops on "zero".

Referring now to Fig. 1 , showing a preferred embodiment of a physical thirleen-part roulette game. The game comprises a substantially round bowl-like container K)O. Container 100 houses a substantially round wheel 102, the peripheral area of which is preferably divided into a number of parts such as thirteen parts, numbered zero to twelve. Part 1 14 numbered zero is preferably colored in a distinct color, such as white, while other parts are alternately colored in preferably two other colors, such as black and red. For example, in Fig. 1 , parts 1 12 and 120 arc colored in one color, other than the color of part 1 14, while parts 108 and 1 16 are colored in a third color. Container 120 can spin relatively to container 100, around shaft 102, connected to a handle 104. When a user spins handle 104, shaft 104 and container 102 connected to shaft 104 spin. Λs container 102 spins, the user throws into container 102 ball 124. The ball is preferably thrown in a direction counter the spinning direction of container 102. The internal part 130 of wheel 102 is preferably tilted so that its peripheral part is lower than its central part, so that a ball spinning on wheel 102 eventually stops inside one of the parts. The number of the part of container 102 on which the ball stops, is the winning number. The winnings or loses of the players depends on their bets and on the winning number, as described above. In an alternative embodiment, container 102 is substantially planar, so that the substantially-planar surface of container 102 and ball 124 spin within the fixed walls. In yet another preferred embodiment, container 100 is either omitted, or replaced with a substantially planar object, wherein a pin connected to container 102 in the opposite direction to shaft 104 is inserted into a socket in the planar object, so that container 102 spins around itself on object 100. In all alternatives, a substantially planar spin- able basis divided into parts, and walls surrounding the basis, are required to enable the basis and the ball to spin, and to make sure the ball eventually stops on the basis. The ball is preferably small in diameter relatively to the basis, for example the ball's diameter can be between about 5% and about 25% of the basis' diameter. The parts of the basis are preferably physically divided, so that once all spinning stops, the ball must rest on a particular part and not between parts, so that it is clear which part the ball rests on. Such division can be achieved, for example by dividers extending upwards from the wheel and having one dimension substantially smaller than the diameter of the ball. Alternatively, the distinguishable parts are implemented as pockets.

Referring now to lug. 2, showing a preferred embodiment of a computerized terminal for playing online thirteen-part roulette. The terminal, generally referenced 200 is generally a commercially available terminal, such as Butterfly manufactured by Favola of Italy (www.lavolasrl.it) or Nevada manufactured by Tab-Austria (www.tab.at). The terminal comprises a computing platform which comprises a memory and CPU (no shown) for running one or more applications, such as the disclosed roulette application. The terminal can run any operating system, such as any type of Windows operating system by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Linux, or others. Lach application is preferably a collection of machine instructions and data structures cooperating to provide the desired effect, and implemented in software, hardware, or a combination thereof. The instructions can be provided in any programming language and in any format, such as an executable, a collection of methods, functions, libraries, DLLs or others. The terminal can further comprise a connection to a communication network such as the internet, so that updates or changes to the provided applications can be downloaded. The terminal is preferably further provisioned with a storage device (not shown) for storing the application and data of the game. The terminal comprises a display, such as LCD, CR T, or others, showing the options available to a user, the ongoing game and additional data, such as balance. The display is preferably a touch screen, wherein screen areas produce an event which initiates an action when pressed. Using touch screen enables the addition or deletion of buttons or parts of the display so as to enable a more complex or simple presentation of the progress of the game. The addition or deletion can be performed cither constantly or dynamically as the game evolves, Thus, for example, if at a certain point in the game no more bets can be placed, the betting button is removed or disabled, i.e. docs not respond to press. Alternatively, the terminal can comprise physical buttons, mechanical levers or other elements which produce actions relevant to the game, and the display only presents the game and information to the players. The terminal of the disclosed invention combines physical components, such as a fund receiving mechanism, and a computing platform for executing instructions lor playing the game according to the method described in association with Fig. 3 below. The display shown in Fig. 2 comprises a top window 204 and a bottom window 208. Top window 204 shows a roulette wheel 210 comprising twelve parts numbered zero to twelve, wherein the part numbered zero has a distinct colors, and the other twelve parts have two colors, so that each part has a color different then its neighboring parts. When the game is played, the display shows a spinning wheel, and a ball 214 spinning preferably in the opposite direction. The spinning wheel and ball are preferably shown using computer graphics, but a video clip can also be used. The part of wheel 210 on which ball 214 stopped is the winning number. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, that since no physical wheel exists, the parts of the illustrated wheel are merely objects, on some of which a player can place a bet on, and the winning part is actually a graphic representation of a programmatical choice, made for example using a random number generator. Optionally, the winnings of one or more players arc shown in areas 209 and 21 1. The win or lose of each player depends on the placed bet and on the winning number, as explained above. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that it is preferable to refund a part of the wager placed by a player, when the ball slops on the part numbered zero, in order to make the players' winning odds similar to those of regular roulette. It will be further appreciated that the roulette wheel can be divided into a different number of parts, such as nineteen parts, twenty-live parts, or the like and that the numbering of the parts does not have to start at one and proceed in intervals of one to the highest numbers. Rather, any other numbering system can be used, such as 10, 20, 30..., as long as each part is distinguishable from all other parts, and that the non-betable parts are distinct from the other parts. It will also be appreciated that the game can be enhanced by adding one or more additional non-betable parts, such as 00 in regular roulette, so that there are one or two non-betable parts. The part of the wager returned to a player if the ball stopped on /cro or on 00, if any, can be adjusted according to the odds, as implied by the particular division of the wheel. The computing platform of the disclosed terminal executes instructions for determining the result and crediting or paying the player according to the bet sum, the bet, and the result. Bottom window 208 comprises a fund receiving slot 206 connected to a fund receiving mechanism for receiving cash money, betting buttons 212, 214, 216, 218, 220 and 220 for letting up to six players to deposit money, place bets, and participate in the game simultaneously, and a display 226 for placing the bets. Λ method and apparatus for multi player games is described in International Patent Application serial number PCT/IB2007/0501 18 titled Λ SOCIAL GAME filed January 15 2007 by the inventor of the disclosed invention, incorporated herein by reference. Display 226 comprises an area for belling on each individual number, such as area 230 for placing a bet on number three. Display 226 further comprises area 234 for placing a bet on any of the numbers between one and six, area 238 for placing a bet on any of the numbers between seven and twelve, area 240 for placing a bet on all numbers having the color of the shape shown in area 240, and area 244 for placing a bet on all numbers having the color of the shape shown in area 244. It will be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art that additional areas can be added to the display, such as areas for betting on then umbers between one and four, the numbers between five and eight and the numbers between nine and twelve, or additional areas. When a player places a bet on a number or an area, one or more coins are displayed on the area the bet was placed on. Each coin is optionally marked in a fashion that identifies the bet value and the player who placed the bet, such as coin 248 or coin 252. Modules or other components provide the required functionality for receiving a deposit, determining a bet sum and placing a bet. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the How of the game and the display are activated and updated by the computing platform of the terminal executing instructions for controlling the game, determining a winning part, displaying, and updating the relevant display, according to the player's choices and the winning part.

Referring now to Fig. 3, showing a method for playing roulette, wherein the roulette wheel is divided into a number of parts other than thirty- seven or thirty-eight. Λt step 300 each player deposits a sum of money. Λt step 304, each player places a bet on a single part of the wheel, or on a combination of parts. Λt step 308, the wheel and ball are spun. Step 308 can refer Io either physically spinning a wheel and a ball, or a computerized illustration of a spinning wheel and a ball. Λt step 3 12 the winning part is determined, either by observing the wheel and ball in the case of a physical game, or by a computerized determination of the winning number, for example by using a random number generator, in the case of a computerized game. Λt step 316 the payers are credited or paid according to their bets and the game's result, and at step 320, which occurs only when the winning part is a non-bctable part, such as the part numbered zero or 00 in conventional roulette, each player receives a fraction of his or her bet. The size of the fraction may be predetermined, or may depend on the bet placed by the player.

The disclosed invention is a game and method for a roulette wherein the roulette wheel has a different number of betable parts than conventional roulette. The parts are optionally but not necessarily numbered from one to the maximal number of parts, and there are one or more non-betable parts. If the number of betable parts is smaller than those of a conventional roulette, i.e. thirty- six, in case lhc result is a non-bctable part, the player receives back a portion of the placed bet, rather than lose all his bet. Optionally, when there are twelve parts, a player may receive about a half of his wager if the ball stopped on a non-betable part, for adjusting the winning chances to those of a regular roulette. Additionally, different betting options may be suggested to players, such as betting on e group of parts having certain numbers, betting on parts which neighbor a specific part, betting on every third, fourth, fifth or the like numbers, and other options. The betable parts may be colored or otherwise patterned using more than two colors or patterns, so that a player may bet on all parts that carry a certain color or pattern. Preferred embodiments of the disclosed invention use a number of betable parts which is dividable by as many as possible numbers, in particular a number which can be fully divided by 12, such as 12, 24, 48, 60 or the like.

The present invention has been described using non-limiting detailed descriptions of embodiments thereof that are provided by way of example and arc not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It should be understood that features described with respect to one embodiment may be used with other embodiments and that not ail embodiments of the invention have all of the features shown in a particular figure or described with respect to one of the embodiments. It is noted that some of the above described embodiments may describe the best mode contemplated by the inventors and therefore include structure, acts or details of structures and acts that may not be essential to the invention and which are described as examples.

While some of the above description has focused on methods, it is meant to also encompass apparatus for carrying out the invention. The apparatus may be a system comprising of hardware and software. The apparatus may be a system, such as a terminal or programmed computers or a network appliance, for executing instructions for carrying out and the disclosed method and presenting to one or more user aspects of the method. The apparatus may include various computer readable media having suitable software thereon, for example, diskettes and computer and/or Hash RAM. The present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hcrcinabove. Structure and acts described herein are replaceable by equivalents, which perform the same function, even if the structure or acts are different, as known in the art. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow. When used in the following claims, the terms "comprise", "include", "have" and their conjugates mean "including but not limited to".

Claims

1 . A terminal for enabling an at least one player to play a game, the terminal comprising a computing platform executing instructions for: enabling the at least one player to deposit a sum; enabling the at least one player to determine a bet sum; enabling the at least one player to determine a bet; displaying a wheel divided into a number of betable parts and a number of non-betablc parts, wherein the number of betable parts summed with the number of non-betablc parts is different than thirty seven and thirty-eight; displaying a ball spinning on said wheel and stopping on one of the betable parts or on one of the non-betablc parts; determining the one of the belable parts or one of the non-betablc parts on which the ball stops; and crediting the at least one player according to the bet, the bet sum and the one of the betable parts or one of the non-bctable parts on which the ball stops.

2. The terminal of claim 1 wherein the number of betable parts is dividable by twelve.

3. The terminal of claim 1 wherein the number of betable parts is twelve. 4. The terminal of claim 1 wherein the computing platform further executes instructions for presenting a balance of an account associated with the player.

5. The terminal of claim 1 wherein the computing platform further executes instructions for presenting at least two coded buttons, wherein each of at least two players presses a different coded button prior to depositing a sum or prior to placing a bet or prior to choosing a bet sum.

6. The terminal of claim 5 wherein the computing platform further executes instructions for presenting at least two coded numeric displays for displaying a balance or a winning or losing sum for each of the at least two players, wherein each coded numeric display corresponds to one of the at least two coded buttons.

7. The terminal of claim 6 wherein the at least two coded buttons and the at least two coded numeric displays are color coded.

8. The terminal of claim 6 wherein the at least two coded buttons and the at least two coded numeric displays arc pattern coded. 9. The terminal of claim 1 wherein the bet is any of the group consisting of: any half of the parts; parts indicated by numbers between one and half the number of the bctable parts; parts indicated by numbers between half the number of betable parts plus one and the number of bctable parts; all parts indicated by a predetermined color; all parts indicated by odd numbers; or all parts indicated by even numbers.

K). The terminal of claim I comprising a display having a first window for showing the wheel and a second window for enabling the at least one player to deposit a sum, to play a roulette game, or to cash out money.

1 1 . The terminal of claim 1 comprising a display having a single window presenting displays alternating between showing the wheel and enabling the at least one player to deposit a sum, to play a roulette game or to cash out money.

12. The terminal of claim 1 wherein the at least one player is at least two players.

13. Λ method for playing a game, the method comprising: depositing a sum; determining a bet sum to be placed on a bet; placing the bet, the bet denoting one or more of a predetermined number of bctable objects, said predetermined number unequal to thirty-six; determining a result of said game, said result selected from the group consisting of: one of the betable objects, or an additional object; and paying a player according to the bet, the bet sum and the result, if the result is included in the bet placed by the player.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising a step of paying the player a fraction of the bet sum if the result is one of the additional objects. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the fraction is a half.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the predetermined number is dividable by twelve.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one additional object is taken from the group consisting of: one object or two objects.

18. Λ device for playing a game, comprising a substantially round spinnable wheel, said wheel comprising a number of bclable parts and a number of non- bctable parts, wherein the number of betable parts is unequal Io thirty-six, said wheel divided into the parts so that a ball spun within the wheel can only rest on a part, and each part is distinguishable from each other part.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the number of betable parts is dividable by twelve.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein the number of non-betablc parts is smaller than three. 21 . The device of claim 18 wherein any neighboring first betable part and second betable part have a feature for distinguishing between the first betable part and the second betable part.

22. The device of claim 18 further comprising walls surrounding said wheel.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the walls are connected to the wheel. 24. The device of claim 18 wherein the wheel comprises a tilted part.

25. The device of claim 18 further comprising a ball spinnable on said wheel.

26. The device of claim 18 wherein the betable parts and the non betable parts arc implemented as pockets.