IES65203B2 - A method and apparatus for playing a game - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for playing a game of roulette in which the odds of the house and each player winning are even, comprises providing a roulette game with a roulette table and a roulette wheel and a plurality of first and a second chips. The first chips are played in the same fashion as conventional chips in a conventional roulette game. The second chips are used for enabling a player to bet against the house that a number or numbers will not be selected by the roulette wheel. The odds paid out by the house on the second chips are the reverse of the odds paid out on the first chips. Typically, a player would purchase each second chip at a price equivalent to the odds to unity paid out on the first chips.

Description

A method and apparatus for playing a game The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for playing a game, and in particular, though not limited to a game of roulette.

Roulette, in general, is played with a roulette wheel having thirty-seven numbered pockets. A board, typically, a roulette table is divided into thirtyseven discrete numbered areas corresponding to the thirty-seven pockets. Players purchase chips at a price of unity for betting against the house on the likelihood of a particular number being selected by the roulette wheel.

Roulette may also be played with a twenty-five pocket wheel, with the pockets numbered zero to twenty-four, and the table provided with twenty-five discrete areas numbered zero to twenty-four. The odds paid out by the house on one of the chosen numbered areas being selected by the roulette wheel are appropriately set. The odds in favour of the house winning in the case of a thirty-seven pocket roulette wheel are 2.7%, and the odds in the favour of the house in the case of a twenty-five pocket roulette wheel are 4%.

In certain jurisdictions gambling games are illegal $65203 unless the odds of the house and a player winning are even. In such jurisdictions, roulette is illegal.

This, is unsatisfactory, and there is therefore a need for an apparatus and a method for playing a game of betting on an event occurring where the odds between the house and each player are even.

The present invention is directed towards providing such an apparatus and method.

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for playing a game in which each player bets against the house on a certain event occurring, the apparatus comprising a board having a plurality of discrete unique identifying means, each identifying means being different to the other identifying means, a random selecting means for randomly selecting any one of the respective unique identifying means, and a plurality of first chips for the players for placing on one or more of the identifying means by a player wishing to bet against the house on the one or more identifying means being selected by the selecting means, wherein a plurality of second chips are provided for the players for placing on one or more of the identifying means by a player wishing to bet against the house on the one or more of the identifying means not being selected by the selecting means for evening the odds between the house and each player, the odds being paid out by the house on each second chip being shorter than the odds being paid out by the house on each first chip.

Preferably, the odds paid out by the house on each second chip are the reverse of the odds being paid out by the house on each first chip.

In one aspect of the invention the random selecting means comprises a roulette wheel having a plurality of pockets, one for each identifying means, and a ball for randomly engaging a pocket for the selection thereof.

In another aspect of the invention the board comprises thirty-seven identifying means provided by thirty-seven numbered spaces, and the roulette wheel is provided with thirty-seven correspondingly numbered pockets, the odds being paid out by the house on the first chips being thirty-five to one, and the odds being paid out on the second chips being one to thirty-five.

Additionally the invention provides a method for playing a game using the apparatus according to the invention, the method comprising the steps of each player purchasing one or more first chips and/or one or more second chips, the players paying one unit for each first chip purchased and the equivalent of the odds to unity on the first chips for each second chip , purchased, each player wishing to play placing one or more of his or her first and/or second chips on the board for choosing one or more of the identifying means for betting against the house on the likelihood of the selecting means selecting or not selecting, depending on the chip played the chosen identifying means or means, and the house paying out on each first chip on an identifying means selected by the selecting means, and paying out on each second chip on an identifying means not selected by the selected means.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only.

Apparatus according to the invention for playing a game according to the invention, namely, roulette comprises a board, typically, a roulette table which is provided with a plurality of discrete unique identifying means, in this embodiment of the invention thirty-seven • discrete numbered areas numbered from zero to thirtysix. A random selecting means is provided which » comprises a roulette wheel having thirty-seven numbered pockets which are numbered zero to thirty-six corresponding to the thirty-seven numbered areas on the roulette table. A ball in the roulette wheel randomly selects a pocket on the wheel being spun. A plurality of first and second chips are provided for the players. The first and second chips are different from each other, and typically, are of different colours, for example, the first chips being red, and the second chips being blue. The players use the chips for betting against the house as will be described below on a number being selected or not being selected by the roulette wheel so that the odds of the house and each player winning are even. The first chips are used by a player wishing to bet on a particular number being selected by the roulette wheel. The player places one or more first chips on the numbered area or areas corresponding to the number or numbers which the player chooses. As in conventional roulette the player can choose one or more numbered areas with each first chip. The odds paid out by the house on each first chip which has chosen a single numbered area which has been selected by the roulette wheel are thirty-five to one. The odds are less if the first chip is used to choose more than one numbered area, one of which corresponds to the number selected by the roulette wheel. The odds paid out by the house in such an event are as follows: One of two numbers chosen by the first chip being selected seventeen to one.

One of three numbers chosen by the first chip being selected eleven to one.

One of four numbers chosen by the first chip being selected eight to one.

The odds are further reduced as greater numbers of numbered areas are chosen by a first chip. This will be well known to those skilled in the art.

The second chips are used by a player wishing to bet against the house on a number or numbers not being selected by the roulette wheel. The player chooses one or more numbered areas with each second chip. The odds paid out by the house on the second chips which have chosen numbered areas corresponding to a number not selected by the roulette wheel are the reverse of the odds paid out on the first chips. Therefore, the odds paid out on a second chip which has chosen a single number, and that number is not selected by the roulette wheel are one to thirty-five. The odds paid out by the house on each second chip which has chosen more than one numbered area corresponding to numbers, none of ' which are selected by the roulette wheel, being the reverse of the odds of the first chips are as follows: where two numbers are chosen by the second chip, and neither number is selected by the roulette wheel the odds are one to seventeen, where three numbers are chosen by the second chip, and none of the chosen numbers are selected by the roulette wheel the odds are one to eleven, and where four numbers are chosen by the second chip, and none of the chosen numbers are selected by the roulette wheel the odds are one to eight, The odds are further increased as more numbers are chosen by a second chip, and none of the chosen numbers are selected by the roulette wheel.

Accordingly, the odds of a player winning and the house winning in the roulette game according to the invention are even.

The method for playing the game will now be described. Each player purchases one or more first and/or second chips. The first chips are purchased at a price of one unit per each first chip. The second chips are purchased at different prices and an identification of the price paid for each second chip is provided on the second chip. Second chips which are to be used for choosing only one number on the board cost thirty-five units, and the house pays out one unit each time such a second chip is a winning chip. Second chips which are to be used for choosing two numbers on the board cost seventeen units, and the house pays out one unit each time such a second chip is a winning chip. And so on, second chips for choosing three numbers cost eleven units, and those for choosing four numbers cost eight units. The players, prior to each spin of the roulette wheel, wishing to play the game place one or more of their first and/or second chips on the board to indicate the numbered area or areas corresponding to the numbers on which they wish to bet will be selected by the roulette wheel in the case of the first chips, and will not be selected by the roulette wheel in the case of the second chips. As discussed above, each player can use a first and/or second chip to choose a single numbered area, or to choose two or more numbered areas. On the players having chosen the numbered area or areas by placing their first and/or second chips appropriately on the board, the roulette wheel is spun and a number from zero to thirty-six is selected by the roulette wheel. The house pays out on winning chips based on the odds discussed above.

The house collects in all loosing first chips placed on the roulette table, namely, those first chips, which had chosen numbered areas the numbers of which were not selected by the roulette wheel. The house only collects in all loosing second chips placed on the roulette table, namely, those second chips which had chosen the numbered area the number of which corresponds to the number selected by the roulette wheel. The players retrieve their second winning chips which had chosen numbered areas corresponding to numbers none of which were selected by the roulette wheel. The players can continue to play with each second chip until the second chip is a losing chip, in other words, is used to choose a numbered area which is selected by the roulette wheel. Needless to say, the players retrieve their winning first chips which chose the numbered area the number of which corresponds to the selected number.

The advantages of the invention are many, however, the main advantage of the invention is that it evens the odds of the house and each player winning, and thus, in jurisdictions where the odds of the house and each « player winning must be identical, the roulette game according to the invention is legal. j While the identifying means have been described as 5 numbered areas and numbered pockets in the roulette wheel, any other suitable identifying means may be used. Needless to say, any other random selecting means besides a roulette wheel may be used. It will also of course be appreciated that the first and second chips may be differentiated from each other by any other means besides colour.

It will also be appreciated that first and second chips of a number of different colours may be provided which would enable players to wager higher bets depending on the colour of the respective first and second chips.

While the number of identifying means has been described as being thirty-seven, the game may be played with any number of identifying means. Needless to say, the odds paid out would vary depending on the number of identifying means. However, in all cases, the odds paid out on second chips would always be shorter than ’ the odds paid on first chips, and in general, the odds paid out on second chips would be the reverse of the odds paid out on the first chips.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims (5)

1. Apparatus for playing a game in which each player bets against the house on a certain event occurring, the apparatus comprising a board having a plurality of 5 discrete unique identifying means, each identifying means being different to the other identifying means, a random selecting means for randomly selecting any one of the respective unique identifying means, and a plurality of first chips for the players for placing on 10 one or more of the identifying means by a player wishing to bet against the house on the one or more identifying means being selected by the selecting means, wherein a plurality of second chips are provided for the players for placing on one or more of the 15 identifying means by a player wishing to bet against the house on the one or more of the identifying means not being selected by the selecting means for evening the odds between the house and each player, the odds being paid out by the house on each second chip being 20 shorter than the odds being paid out by the house on each first chip.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the odds paid out by the house on each second chip are the reverse of the odds being paid out by the house on each 25 first chip.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the random selecting means comprises a roulette wheel having a plurality of pockets, one for each identifying means, and a ball for randomly engaging a pocket for the selection thereof.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 in which the board comprises thirty-seven identifying means provided by thirty-seven numbered spaces, and the roulette wheel is provided with thirty-seven correspondingly numbered pockets, the odds being paid out by the house on the first chips being thirty-five to one, and the odds being paid out on the second chips being one to thirtyfive .

5. A method for playing a game using the apparatus of any preceding claim, the method comprising the steps of each player purchasing one or more first chips and/or one or more second chips, the players paying one unit for each first chip purchased and the equivalent of the odds to unity on the first chips for each second chip purchased, each player wishing to play placing one or more of his or her first and/or second chips on the board for choosing one or more of the identifying means for betting against the house on the likelihood of the selecting means selecting or not selecting, depending on the chip played the chosen identifying means or means, and the house paying out on each first chip on an identifying means selected by the selecting means, and paying out on each second chip on an identifying means not selected by the selected means.