Patent Application
20110241294
This invention relates to casino games, and more particularly to dice games intended to be played in gambling casinos, in which a participant attempts to achieve a particular winning combination of subsets of the dice, relying on observations, luck, and bets driven by belief and personal betting strategies for each individual game.
The history of dice is almost as old as mankind itself. They are one of the oldest gaming instruments the world has ever known and are still wildly popular today. The origin of dice games is not clear. Different Greek historians claimed that dice were invented by the Greek or the Lydians of Asia Minor. Both assertions have been discredited by numerous archaeological finds demonstrating that dice were used in many earlier societies. Egyptian tombs, dated to 2000 BC, have been found containing dice and dice reputedly dated to 6000 BC have been uncovered in archaeological excavations. Dice were developed independently by many ancient cultures all over the world and did not simply originate and spread from any one place.
In ancient times the throw of a dice was not just considered to be luck, the outcome was believed to be controlled by the gods, and casting dice was away of dividing inheritances, choosing rulers and as a method of prediction. The Roman goddess, Fortuna, daughter of Zeus (known to gamblers as Lady Luck), was believed to determine the outcome of a throw.
Animal knucklebones were the next step in the evolution of dice. The Greeks and Romans used sheep anklebones as well as the more developed cubical spotted dice. The Romans called the four-sided anklebones Tali or Astragali and the standard six-sided dice Tesserae. The Arab word for knucklebones is the same word they use for dice. Playing with dice is still known as “rolling the bones” to this day.
Before standard cubical dice became common, ancient peoples would use fruit stones, sets of flat sticks, sea shells, nut shells and pebbles to get random results for games. These were probably adopted from witch doctors and shaman who would throw them to gain insight and knowledge of the unknown and things to come. Fortune telling with standard ordinary dice is still practiced to this day.
Dice games are predominantly games of chance in which winning or losing depends on the random chance of a certain dice combination being turned rather than the skill of the player. Dice games, old and new, are abundant. Numerous dice games are known in the prior art.
Virtually all casinos, especially those in the gaming capitals of the world, have table games that are played for gambling purposes. The oldest and most popular table games involve the use of dice to determine the outcome of wagers. Of these games, the most popular and well known is the game of craps. Craps is an exciting dice game well known by name by many persons. Craps is probably the most popular dice game in the U.S. but it is not the only one. Among others, almost any Casino has some of the following dice games: Craps, Craps Variations, Sic Bo, Die Rich, Grand Hazard, ChuckA-Luck, Klondike, Under and Over Seven, Ricochet, Big Six among others.
Casinos offer different types of games to fulfill the desire of their clients. Having different types of games would result in a wider range of clients and could respond to different players needs. The game in accordance with the present invention offers a probable payout as from 1:1 to 34:1. Just as an example, roulette payout varies as from 1:1 to 35:1. However, the roulette player has to bet before the game-event takes place, whilst in the present game the outcome is fixed and only has to be revealed. A lot of players appreciate the idea of a fixed game outcome, and therefore, avoid playing roulette.
In some card games with a traditional shoe, the game result is also fixed since after the card shuffle procedure the card order will keep unchanged during many games. However a disadvantage of traditional shoes is that card counting could be a problem. Therefore in Black Jack and or Poker shufflers are replacing traditional card shoes.
The same happens with the game called Craps. Although this game is attractive to players, since they are allowed to throw their own dice, players have to place their bets prior to throw the dice.
Another card game is the Baccarat. For this game still traditional shoes are offered. In this game a player can bet on player, banker or tie. Basically the probabilities on punto or banca are almost 50/50 whist the outcome egalite is about 10%. Therefore the payouts on Baccarat are low and therefore eventually the game might be less exciting. Some players do not understand and avoid Baccarat, since the game with its special rules sounds a bit complicated.
A popular dice game is Sic Bo. In this game three regular dice are used, with dots ranging from one to six. There are plenty of betting opportunities, in which the player can bet on the total sum of the dots as well as on certain combinations of numbers. A tumbler is used which result will be revealed after all bets are set. The game is quite popular on some places, but players tend to avoid it as the payouts are quite low and the house advantage is high.
Traditional dice games are generally using traditional dice with dots ranging from one through six. Known casino dice games are for instance: Craps, Sic Bo, Grand Hazard, Chuck a Luck and Rocket-7. All games are focusing on the following main aspects:
There are many patents on dice casino games. However, none of them discloses a game comparable with the game of the present invention. In the prior art there are mainly three different groups of dice games: 1) dice casino game related to another main game, which is not a complete new casino game; 2) patents referring to another way of playing, and 3) patents of casino dice games where the outcome of a roll of a set of dice or a roll of a single dice is used for betting opportunities.
Group I: different type of game: Basically, these patents on dice casino games are related to another main game, which is not a new casino game. These patents may be:
Group 2: A different way of playing: There are patents referred to another way of playing. The way of playing can be so different that these patents can hardly be compared to the game in accordance with the present invention.
Some patents disclose a board game where players move with certain playing figure from one gaming field to another. The numbers of fields to be passed are determined by the number of dots on the dice. Different game rules exits when players are reaching certain gaming fields on such game board. Typically, these dice games are used in home situations and are not so common in a casino environment. This type of game is time consuming and therefore, unsuitable for casino games.
Some patents describe a situation where a player and a banker position exist. These two positions having their own dice rolls are compared to each other. So in this kind of dice game the main gaming event is a competition element between banker and player. This game type is different, to a game where only the outcome of an independent dice roll is relevant.
A contest type of game is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,559A where two groups of three dice are used. This invention comprises a set of six dice that provides two groups of intransitive dice, each group containing three dice. The dice of one group are sized larger than those of the other group. Each dice has one of three colors and each group of three intransitive dice includes a die of each color. The six dice are used in a casino game wherein all dice are rolled and then twelve possible bets are resolved. These bets fall into three categories: contests between two dice of the same size but different colors, contests between two dice of one color and two dice of another color, and contests matching two dice, each of a different color and different size versus another two dice, each of a different color and different size.
Letter games: There are patents where the letters of the word CASINO or of the word DRAGON are used as Letters to be placed on the surface of the dice. Typically, six dice are used and the object of the game is to create a complete word. Clearly, such an approach is not really suitable for casino games. Moreover, the way of playing is different, too. The words “DRAGON” and “CASINO” are used in two different casino dice games already known in the prior art. So in one game the word “DRAGON” should be completed. The dice in this game have on each dice face one letter of the word “DRAGON”. And the word “CASINO” is used in another casino game, where dice where used showing on each of six dice a different letter of the word “CASINO”. Both words, therefore, have six different letters.
Group 3: Dice used in a numeric way: These are patents of casino dice games where a new independent game is described and where the outcome of a roll of a set of dice or a roll of a single dice is used for betting opportunities. These betting opportunities are represented by special betting fields on a casino table layout. Most of these remaining patents describing betting results in a numerical way, as they are listed below.
A special attention is also drawn to U.S. Patent Publication US2009250870A1 which discloses a three different dice with the colors red, yellow and green and having a number marks on all dice faces. These patents also describe three dice with different colors, using our preferred colors and using an own not traditional setting of the dice faces. The purpose of the present game is quite different, since the player will need to add up the numbers on the different dice to a winning number, whilst in described game each different die is representing a different probability on which the players can bet.
In most cases dice are used to reproduce random numbers. Most numbers are created by using more than one dice. In these cases, the value of the individual are added up to a total value.
Besides these three main groups, there are few patents which draw certain attention too. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,803A discloses a dice game comprising a table surface upon which the game is to be played, the surface comprising a number of player positions, each of which has a location for at least one form of bet, the form of bet being indicated by the position on the location, a location for a bet made by the shooter, who is the person to throw the dice the game to be played with two or three dice, each dice being formed such that only two results can be achieved no matter what is the final orientation of the dice whereby, when two dice are used, there are three apparently different results and, when three dice are used, there are four apparently different results, the players being able, before each throws of the die, to wager on at least one of the possible results, the dice used in this patent, showing three times “H”ead and three times “T”ail and, therefore, is comparable to the third die in our patent, which die has three marks/indicia on three different faces. However, besides the fact that the first and the second die is missing, in described game one could only bet on the outcome of two or three of this head/tail dice. Therefore, betting on a single die as well as the special game-event, creating the house advantage is missing.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,546B1 discloses a game casino-type dice game employing at least two dice having identical indicia on each of the six faces. The game is provided with three different betting areas each associated with a different payoff rate and wager minimum. Each betting area has a different indicia combination scheme. Players selectively place wagers next to different indicia combinations associated with each of the three betting areas. Payout depends on the rolled indicia combinations, the betting areas, and the indicia combination selectedby the player. Clearly this patent does not disclose dice with different probabilities, and therefore, it is not possible to bet on the outcome of a single die.
The British patent GB2471469 discloses a dice game comprising two different colored dice where both of each dice has three types of indicia. One type of indicia is printed on one face, the other type is printed on two faces and the last type of indicia is printed on the remaining three faces. So each of these dice, combines the markings of all three described dice. This dice, however, cannot not offer a special game-event for each positive game outcome on which a house advantage can be designed. As a consequence, this die is not suitable to offer simple probabilities such as a 1:1, 1:2 and 1:5 where players can bet on. The proposed game using this dice therefore is related to a set of two of dice, on which each possible combination of dice is the purpose of the game, whilst the dice game does not offer a betting opportunity on the outcome of a single die.
All these aspects mentioned above will make the present dice game attractive and unique. The present invention is the only casino game which combines all relevant aspects mentioned above. Traditional games like Roulette, Black Jack, Poker and Baccarat are not able to meet all requirements; also other known dice games like Craps and Sic Bo are not able to do so. And therefore, this concept will attract a large range of players, including new players. Even though the above cited casino dice games address some of the needs of the market, a new three dice casino game using dice of different colors and new and independent set of rules is still desired.
Therefore, a need existed to provide a system and method to overcome the above problem. The system and method would provide a reliable way of showing if a semiconductor device with a conformal shielding has minimal and or no shield defects.
A method of playing a dice game comprising: providing a set of dice, wherein each dice has at least one marking on a face of the dice; placing at least one wager on a specific marking on a specific die being face up; rolling the set of dice; and paying a payout amount if the at least one wager occurs.
The present invention is best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:
Tables 1-12 show different probabilities based on different embodiments of the present invention.
Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and detailed description to indicate like elements.
Shown throughout the Figures, the invention is directed to a casino dice game comprising a set of three six-face cubic dice 10-20-30 of three different colors. The first dice 10 comprises six faces 11-12-13-14-15 and 16 and includes on face 12 a mark 17. In the illustrated embodiment, the mark is a letter “M” but any type of mark may be used, including letters, images, symbols, logo's, colors, shapes, numbers etc.
The second dice (
The third dice 30 of the set also comprises six faces 31-32-33-34-35 and 36 and includes on face 32 a mark 37, on face 33 a mark 38 and on face 31 a mark 39. All the marks 37-38-39 are identical. In preferred embodiment these marks are not only identical between each other but also identical with the mark 17 of dice 10 and marks 27-28 on dice 20.
The colors used are typically red, yellow and green. This choice of colors is based on the Chinese culture, where those colors are mentioned as colors related to luck. Since it might be difficult to distinguish between common red and yellow precision dice another set of preferred colors might be red, blue and green. The dice 10-20-30 do not have the traditional dots on the faces ranging from one to six. The marks 17-27-28-37-38 and 39 on the dice 10-20 and 30 respectively typically consists of a casino logo, a game symbol or a trademark logo.
Another important element of the present invention is the table 100 illustrated in
Another important element of the dice game in accordance with the present invention is the display device 200 illustrated in
The game play is as follows: The first game step consists of throwing the dice 10-20-30 in one or three closed dice tumbler 116, so that the game result is determined in advance. However, the game result is not yet revealed. In case only one tumbler 116 is used, it should contain all three dice. In case three tumblers 116 are used, each tumbler 116 should have one of the three dice 10-20-30. Typically, the dice are thrown by the casino guests themselves and handed over to a casino employer, who places the tumbler(s) 116 closed on the casino table 100 or alternatively the rolling of the dice inside a closed electronic tumbler is initiated by the casino guests using a push button or other electronic means.
At the second game step, the players can bet on each three separate dice 10-20-30. So they could bet on the first dice 10, betting that the marked face will show up, or they could bet on the second or third dice 20-30 that one of the marks 27-28-37-38-39 will show up. A fourth betting option is that a mark 17-27-28-37-38-39 will show up on all dice 10-20-30 together. The bets are made on the casino table 100, which does have for each betting option at least one betting field. Each player can do as many bets as he/she wants. In case a player wants to bet on that the mark 17 shows up on the first die 10 he would need to place a bet on ring with the same color 110. To place a bet that a mark 27 or 28 shows up on the second die 20, the player would need to placed the bet on ring 111 and to place a bet on a mark 37-38-39 showing up on the third die 30, the player would need to place the bet on ring 112. The combined bet is placed on ring 113 and the bet that no mark/indicia will show up is placed on ring 114.
During the third game step, the game result is revealed. In practice the tumbler 116 is lifted, in case three tumblers 116 are used all three tumblers 16 are lifted.
At the fourth game step, the player is paid according to the game-outcome and losing bets will be removed. In case he bets on the first dice and the mark on this dice shows up, but the mark does not show up on all dice, he would be paid 5 to 1. In case he bets on the mark on the second dice this would pay 2:1 and in the case where he bet on the mark on the third dice this will pay 1:1. In case all the three dice the game mark is facing up, a special game-event will take place. Typically, this game element will be called the same as the name of the game itself. During this game-event, all four betting options will have a special payment or a special game rule will apply.
In accordance with one embodiment, there may be two options to continue with the special game-event.
Option 1 would imply a direct payment of all involved bets. At this point the payments will be lower than the regular payments, so that the house will have a game advantage. Thus, in case the bets made on the first die would typically pay 4:1, the bets made on the second die will be typically paid 1:1; the bet on third die will be typically a stand-off (the bet is returned to the player). The bet on all three dice together will typically pay 34:1. Of course, variations on the payments will result in another house advantage.
Option 2 would imply that all bets will be kept on the table to make a second decisive dice roll. If, after the second roll, the player wins the bet again, he would be paid even higher than the first roll. Typically the bet on rolling a mark on the first die would be paid 30:1. On rolling a mark on the second and third die these payments typically would be 6:1 and 2:1 respectively. Payments on the combined bet on all three dice could go up to 1295:1. Payments after the second roll imply that non-winning combinations after the second roll will lose, even when they were winning the first round. The lost of the non-winning bets in the second roll, however, is not strictly necessary. In a special game configuration, it is possible to get an additional payment on a second roll if the first roll gets a small payment.
It should be understood that the two options mentioned above can be combined as well. While, for instance, a direct payment will take place on the bet on all three dice, a payment on a second roll could be made on the bets on the separate dice only.
In case the second option is used, the second roll could be an additional roll, in which the dice are rolled in full view of everyone, or it could be an opportunity for additional bets on a new game using the tumbler again.
Another possible game order would be:
The game itself is not changed, but this order could result in a quicker game play. It should be noted that this changed order is not the preferred order of the game play. Craps-alike gaming table can be used for this game order.
In most casino games, displays are used. Such displays show to the player the results of prior games. In the present invention, the display is shown in detail in
Other players could argue that since red has shown up often, the probability of red might be relatively high and these players have an extra impulse to play on the red color die. Of course, from a mathematical point of view, this kind of information does not give any reliable argument of betting on any color whatsoever, but for players this information is crucial to work out their betting strategies. Some players believe that when a certain color appears relatively less often in previous games, that to compensate for earlier games there is a good probability that it will appear in the next round. Other people believe that when a certain color relatively turns up more often than one would expect, that this color just might a higher probability form its own nature, and that it is wise to just to bet on that color. From statistical point of view both approaches are incorrect, since dice do not have a memory for previous rounds, and the probability to win will keep the same at the beginning of each game. Hence the display 200 just gives an incentive to make the next bet, which decision just is based on what people believe to happen next.
Variations on the number of dice: In principle, the game with two or four dice. However, three may be the preferable number as there are three lucky colors, and three is accepted to be a lucky number. Using four dice, where the number of marked fields is four or more, are less likely since the chance of winning is higher than 50%. A payout on a probability higher than 50% is more difficult to work out. Furthermore, having two or more dices representing the same probabilities would make the game less interesting.
Variations on the colors used: For visually distinguishing between dice, instead of color another property may be used. In fact it is not strictly necessary enhance the difference of the three dice, since each of the three dice holds a different number of marks, resulting in different dice. Nevertheless for the understanding of the game it is practical to enhance this difference and to use this difference to mark for instance the betting fields. Instead of using differently colored dice, this is possible when a different mark is used for each dice. This, however, will result in dice which cannot be distinguished right away. Only by studying the game result or the marks would be possible to differentiate between the dice. It is obvious that changing the color is easier than other alternatives. For example, it would also be possible to change the size of the dice instead of its color. However, changing the size is less attractive that changing its color. Players may argue that the randomness of dice with different size could be different. This could affect the credibility of the game.
Variations on the objects/shapes: Instead of using cubic dice, different shapes could be used to create comparable probabilities. For example, a coin could be used for a 50/50 probabilities, a tetrameter for a 25/75 probabilities or even an octahedron or a dodecahedron could be used for creating the desired probabilities. However, it is generally accepted that a dice is used in a game of chance, and therefore it is more understandable and acceptable for casino players to gamble with cubic dice. Everybody knows that a cubic dice has six faces while for other shapes it will not be the same.
From the above it is now obvious that the basic game described is a unique concept for a game of chance, which has limited parameters to be changed.
Typically the colors would be green for the first die, yellow for the second die and red for the third die. Mathematically it does not matter which color is chosen for an each die.
It has been calculated what the probabilities are for the different game results and the overall house advantage. For Option 1 of the special game-event the results are listed in Table 1 and for Option 2 the results are listed in Table 2.
The probability of having twice in a row all marks on all dice correct is very small. This can be observed in the line with strict calculated probabilities, where the first roll does not give a payout when all marks are correct. It is more interesting give the player an award for having all marks correct on the first roll, and to give an additional reward when having all marks correct on the second roll as well. This is done on the modified line for having all marks correct. It should be noted, that even for Option 2 it is possible to reward this probability directly with a payout of 34:1, whilst for the other three bet types an additional roll of dice is requested.
In table 2 it has been assumed, that in the second decisive role when all marks show up again the player will win on all described betting fields. However, like in all games, it is possible to change the rules so that in a case like that the player will lose all bets on a single die, resulting in a slightly higher house advantage.
There are faces of the dice which remain unused. It is possible and necessary to give a function to these unused dice faces, without changing the principle game rules. But also the principle dice faces allows to extend the principle game with additional betting opportunities.
The simplest way to use the unmarked fields is to leave them unmarked or to give them a uniform different mark or symbol. Table 3 presents three different betting possibilities, from which the first one is the most important. The fourth listedbettingposition is equal to the earlier described situation, where the mark appears on all dice.
In a special game version only the “all empty” or “blank” betting field is offered additionally. For this bet two options are feasible, when the regular payout avoiding complicated chip handling is reduced to 2:1.
It is possible to use other color combinations as well. In principle, this would be the combinations of red/yellow, red/green and yellow/green. These combinations will offer three extra betting opportunities. The regular payout for these three events can be calculated as 5:1, 11:1 and 17:1 respectively. Like in the principal game, there are two options for the payment of these bets during the special game-event when all three colors show up.
Table 4 below presents the mathematics for Option 1, in which a different payment is done whilst the special game-event takes place.
Table 5 shows the results for Option 2. In this case, no payments were done in the first roll during the special game-event, and the dice are rolling again for a second decisive roll.
Extra betting options are added where a payout takes place when the selected color combination appears exactly as it is described on the betting field. This means that, for example, when betting on a red die the bet would only win when except the mark on the red die no other marks show up. This way of identical bets can also be done for double or triple color combinations. In fact, it is possible to bet on all possible dice outcomes. Table 6 below shows all these possibilities.
There is enough space on the dice to offer the principal game twice by two different types of marks or symbols. Table 7 shows the way in which the dice faces can be designed.
In the doubling set each die has the same probability for either mark type 1 or mark type 2. This, however, results in an unequal number of unmarked faces. In the mirror set the marks are placed the other way around, so that on all dice there are two faces without marks.
It has been calculated and verified that both sets allow players to bet on both types of marks independently at the same time. Basically, the set of betting fields can be doubled by offering the player to bet on two types of marks.
The gameplay of both sets can be extended, by using the empty faces. In Table 8, four different betting fields are presented, using the number of existing empty faces. One of this betting fields, which is offering to bet on all dice showing empty faces cannot be used with the doubling set, since one die of the doubling set does not have an empty face.
Instead of adding a second set of marks it is possible to add numbers on the blank faces of the dice. As an example a symmetric and a mixed number game is discussed in this document. It should be understood, that the possibilities for choosing numbers or values in a number game are almost unlimited.
An example for a possible number distribution is given in the Table 9 using a certain amount of symmetry, by allowing only one number on each die. Table 10 shows the different betting fields and the payout schema for a given face distribution of Table 9.
Table 10 shows two different payout schemas for the same game principle. In both cases, all values must be added up on the dice facing up a mark. For a cross symbol or a mark the value zero will be added, meaning that those symbols representing no value at all. Using the symmetric number game 1, the house advantage is homogeneously distributed on all possible game outcomes, but this game will needs the usage half chips values. The symmetric number game 2 as an alternative avoids halve chip values by making a difference on the zero by a mark and a zero by a cross on the second die.
The above betting schema is symmetric by assuming that each die can only representing one value. This however must not necessarily be the case. A dice combination can also be composed, where a die have different values, and where for instance the value zero is represented by a mark only, implicitly meaning that all so fare unused faces on a dies is representing a certain value. An example thereof referred as mixed number game is shown in Table 11.
The value zero is not offered as a separate bet because a zero value can only be achieved by having all dice showing up the mark. This however is a bet offered as special game-event by the principle game as described earlier. As shown in Table 12 for all total values different payouts can be offered. Payouts vary between 3:1, up to over 100:1, whilst the house advantage stays acceptable low on all betting fields.
While the different games have been described as being played on a table on a casino floor, the game may be played in an electronic version as well. Thus, the dice games may be played using a main computer system. The computer system may have a processor unit and a display. Input devices may be coupled to the processor unit. The input devices may be a keyboard, a mouse and the like. The processor unit may further have an I/O port for downloading data to the processor unit. The I/O port may be a USB port, a FireWire port or the like. The listing of the above is given as an example and should not be seen as to limit the scope of the present invention.
Through the execution of program instructions forming a computer program product within the computer system, the computer system will provide a means for playing the dice games described above. The program instructions may be located within a memory of the processor unit and executed by a central processing unit (CPU).
Finally, the Tables below show different game play's of the new dice game. All these game plays referring to the description in the application. Below different betting layouts of the various gameplay's are presented to make the description of the different gameplay's easier to understand.
This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in payouts, game layouts, colors, numbers, structure, dimension, type of material and manufacturing process may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.
34:1
34:1
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/320,520 filed Apr. 2, 2010, in the name of the same inventor, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61320520 | Apr 2010 | US |
