CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 10/764,072.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of entertainment and games, and more particularly, to the field of games of chance. The present invention is relevant more specifically to the field of casino games and parlor games.

2. Background of the Related Art

Games incorporating elements of chance are well known. These games are known both in the context of casino games as well as parlor games. Games of chance generally revolve around the outcome or outcomes of some random or quasi-random event or events. These events have a limited set of possible outcomes, although the set of possible outcomes may be very large. Generally, game players attempt to predict the outcome of one or more events prior to their occurrence. Game winners may be determined by correctly predicting all or part of the outcome of the event or events.

Games of chance have particular application in the field of casino gaming. Casino gaming as used herein is understood to include gambling applications outside of actual casinos, for example, in locations such as bars, airports and the like which may have gambling. It is understood that casino gaming may include both table-based gaming, as well as machine-based gaming, including, for example, mechanical slot machine gaming and computer controlled machine gaming.

Well known casino games include craps, roulette, blackjack, pai gow poker, pai gow, the wheel of fortune, slot machines, video poker, keno, baccarat, mini-baccarat, Spanish-21, casino war, and poker. Also well know are games such as state lotteries and daily numbers drawings

The principal goal of games of chance are to provide entertainment. In the casino and gambling context, successful games attract and maintain the interest of players, thereby generating income for the casino or other game host. These games of chance ideally provide action and excitement for players, have relatively easy to learn rules which do not use complicated rankings of various outcomes (e.g., poker hand valuations), and permit a variety of different wagers to keep players' interest.

In order to create a sense of competition, and therefore excitement and interest, certain presently known games of chance determine winners by comparing the outcome of a player's event (such as the roll of one or more dice) against the results of a similar event of a â€œdealerâ€ or other player.

One example of such a game of chance applicable in the casino setting is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,351, which discloses a dice game involving wagering on the outcome of a roll of three dice. One or more players place wagers and then roll dice against a dealer. Game results depend on the occurrence of a predefined set of outcomes and/or the relative values of the player's and dealer's outcomes.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,850 discloses a game in which a player and a dealer develop â€œhandsâ€ based on the outcome of one or more rolls of several dice by both the dealer and player. Game results depend on the value of the dealer's hand relative to the player's hand according to a predefined set of relatively complex rules.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,563 discloses a game in which a player and a dealer each rolls a set of dice. Wagers are made on the relative outcome of the two rolls. The player's dice ad dealer's dice may be differentiated from one another by color so as to avoid confusion upon each rolling his respective dice.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,193 discloses a game in which players play against one another or against a dealer. Game results are based on predefined combinations of dice outcomes Outcome combinations are compared to that of each player in turn and the combination with the highest value according to a pre-defined point values assigned to each possible outcome is deemed the winner.

Many players, however, seek to avoid confrontation and so disfavor games involving such inter-personal competition, even when such competition is against a casino as personified by a dealer.

Other presently known games attempt to create excitement by providing multiple wagering stages during the course of a single game. U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,85 1, for example, discloses a dice-based game requiring players to place at least one additional wager on at least one additional roll of several dice after successfully wagering on the outcome of a first roll of the several dice.

Still other presently known games attempt to attract players by providing a limited set of wagers which players may learn quickly. One such game is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,948, which discloses a dice-based game having a small set of available wagers. The outcome of the game is dependent on no more than two rolls of a pair of dice. The game may be terminated upon the occurrence of a pre-defined outcome during a first roll of dice, or upon the occurrence of certain outcomes of a second roll of dice relative to the outcome of the first roll the dice.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,482 discloses a multiple dice game wherein players' wager relate to the outcome of a roll of three dice without differentiation of three dice. Wagers are limited to wagers regarding the total of the three dice and/or the existence of two or three identical numbers being rolled.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,469 discloses a multiple-dice game wherein players wager on the sum of the outcome of two rolls of three dice each and/or on poker-like outcomes (e.g., three-of-a-kind, straights, etc.) without differentiation of the dice. Wagers may be made before the first roll and/or between the first and second rolls.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,874 discloses a three-dice game having dice of three different colors. Players are limited to six types of wagers on the result of rolling three dice. A first type of wager is on the face-up sides of a selected two of the dice being equal both to each other and to a number selected by the player. A second type of wager is on the face-up side of a selected one of the dice indicating a selected number. A third type of wager is on the face-up side of a selected one of the dice indicating a number that is alternatively higher or lower than numbers indicated by the other two dice. A fourth type of wager is on the face up sides of the dice each being equal to each other and to a number selected by the player. A fifth type of wager is on the face-up sides of the dice indicating numbers having a sum which is a selected total number. A sixth type of wager is on the sum of numbers indicated by the face-up sides of the three dice being alternatively an odd number or an even number.

Due to the limited scope of available wagers, however, these games may not adequately maintain the interest of players. Certain presently known games address this issue by providing more complicated rules. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,175, which discloses a dice-based game wherein players wager on the outcomes of successive rolls of several dice. The game terminates upon the happening of certain pre-defined combinations of outcomes of the several rolls of the dice. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,872 discloses a combination card and dice-based game which proceeds through three distinct phases of random card and dice events. These games, however, may present rules which are too complicated for a number of typical players to comfortably learn or understand.

Finally, several currently known games involve game play which does not adequately develop excitement for players.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,847 discloses a game wherein players wager on the outcome of a single event such as the roll of a pair of dice. Several pre-defined wagers are disclosed, such as the outcome of the event being included in one or more predefined sets of outcomes. The single event results in a final and unequivocal outcome of all wagers, and so players are required to re-wager after each event, and no wager relies on the outcome of more than a single event.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,869 discloses a dice-based game wherein players wager on the outcome of rolls of two dice followed by the roll of a third die. Disclosed wagers include individual wagers for each possible sum of the dice values as rolled, hi/lo outcome sets (i.e., wagers that the sum of the values rolled will fall within 4 to 10 inclusive or 11 to 17 inclusive) and odd/even outcomes.

Games of chance in the parlor game context may include simulations of casino gaming, as well as point driven and other games not directly related to gambling.

With these considerations in mind, it is desirable to have a game which provides action and excitement for players, has relatively easy to learn rules which do not use complicated rankings of various outcomes, permits a variety of wagers to keep players' interest and builds excitement throughout each game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention is directed to a new and useful game of chance particularly well suited for casino and parlor play. The present invention has the advantages of providing a variety of different wagers to players, both easy to learn as well as more complicated. Additionally, the present invention includes multi-staged play which builds excitement for players without forcing players to make multi-tiered wagers.

A method of playing a game of chance is disclosed, one preferred embodiment having the steps of defining a set of wagers on the outcome of a plurality of differentiable random events, the random events defining an aggregate event; defining a set of payout odds associated with the wagers, accepting at least one player wager for at least one wager in the set of wagers, generating the plurality of differentiable random events, and paying winning wagers according to the payout odds.

Also disclosed is a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a method of playing a game of chance having the steps of: selecting a wager from a pre-defined set of wagers on the outcome of a plurality of differentiable random events, the random events defining an aggregate event and the pre-defined set of wagers having a pre-defined set of payout odds associated therewith, awaiting the outcome of the plurality of differentiable random events, and collecting payment for winning wagers according to the payout odds.

Finally, a preferred embodiment is disclosed in the form of a game of chance having a wager area for accepting wagers, the wager area having set of wagers on the outcome of a plurality of differentiable random events, the random events defining an aggregate event, a set of payout odds associated with the wagers and a random event generator for generating the plurality of differentiable random events, wherein winning wagers accepted in the wager area are paid in accordance with the payout odds.

The set of wagers may include a plurality of wager groups, the wager groups including a first wager group having single, double and trifecta wagers and a second wager group having wagers on the aggregate event. The plurality of differentiable random events may include a first, second, third and fourth random event, and the first wager group may include a single wager on the first random event, a double wager on the first and second random events, and a trifecta wager on the first, second and third random events.

The aforementioned first wager group further may include a single wager on the second random event, a double wager on the second and third random event, and a trifecta wager on the second, third and fourth random events.

The further step of generating a bonus random event may be included and the wager groups may then include a third wager group having wagers on the bonus random event.

The third wager group may include a single wager on the third random event, a double wager on the third and fourth random events, and a trifecta wager on the third, fourth and bonus random events. Additionally, the third wager group may include a single wager on the fourth random event and a double wager on the fourth and bonus random events.

The plurality of differentiable random events may include a first, second, third and fourth random event and the second wager group may include a plurality of wagers on aggregate values of the first, second, third and fourth random events. The second wager group may include an over-under wager.

The further step of generating a bonus random event may be included, and the wager groups may then include a third wager group having wagers on the bonus random event.

The third wager group may include a wager on a combination of an over-under and the bonus random event. Additionally, the second wager group may include one or more block wagers.

The aforementioned block wagers may have at least one of the group of: (a) wagers on blocks of two aggregate values of the first, second, third and fourth random events, (b) wagers on blocks of three aggregate values of the first, second, third and fourth random events, (c) wagers on blocks of four aggregate values of the first, second, third and fourth random events, (d) wagers on blocks of five aggregate values of the first, second, third and fourth random events, and (e) wagers on blocks of six aggregate values of the first, second, third and fourth random events.

In the foregoing embodiments, the second wager group may have at least one wager selected from the group of: four deuces, aces over any pair, any three of a kind, any four of a kind, 4-or-24, triple threes, big 6, any result over 20, all odd, all even, any straight, any two pair, and any result under 10.

The plurality of differentiable random events may be generated by random event generators having at least one of the group of: (a) one or more dice, (b) one or more prize wheels, (c) one or more roulette type wheels, (d) one or more air mix type random number generators, (e) one or more gravity fed random number generators, and (f) one or more pseudo random number generators.

These and other aspects of the subject invention will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawings described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those having ordinary skill in the art to which the subject invention pertains will more readily understand how to make and use the subject invention, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a depiction of dice utilized in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a playing board having several wager groups in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a wager group of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is another wager group of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another wager group of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is another wager group of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is another wager group of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the steps of game play in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 depicts random event generators in the form of prize wheels.

FIG. 10 is a schematic depiction of a computer based machine embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features of the several embodiments of the subject invention, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a set of dice for use in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Each of the numbered dice, 1-4, includes six faces with representations of the numbers 1 through 6, although other symbols may be used for each face of a die, for example, horse names, shapes, letters or other symbols. In such cases, certain wagers based on mathematical calculations of results may not be directly applicable. If such calculation based wagers were desired in such cases, numeric values may be assigned to the various shapes, symbols, etc.

The numbered dice are color coded so as to differentiate themselves from one another. In one preferred embodiment, die 1 is colored red, die 2 is colored white, die 3 is colored blue and die 4 is colored white with red and blue stripes. Other differentiation schemes may be utilized to differentiate the dice, for example, dice may be of differing sizes, contained in color coded, named, or otherwise differentiable containers and the like.

The numbered dice 1-4 are rolled during game play to generate random events, and players may place one or more wagers on the outcome of the rolls of the numbered dice 1-4, alone or in combination, as discussed in further detail below.

â€œBonus dieâ€ 5 is a six-sided die having only three different indicia; that is, each indicia is repeated on two different faces of the die. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the indicia of the bonus die are colors; that is, two sides are red, two sides are white, and two sides are blue. Any other distinguishable indicia may also be utilized. The bonus die is rolled during game play to generate a bonus event and players may place one or more wagers on the outcome of the roll of the bonus die either alone or in combination with other dice.

Players may place wagers by placing money, chips, chits or other indicators on a wagering surface demarcated with wager areas. A preferred embodiment of a playing surface of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. Wager areas 14 are delineated by lines 11 drawn on the wagering surface. Wager indicators 12 contained within each wager area indicate the wager associated with the particular wager area. Payout indicators 13 may be placed on the wagering surface to indicated payout odds for the various wagers, thereby permitting players to readily determine what payouts they will receive for placing winning wagers. For example, payout odds of 4-1 means that for every one dollar placed on a winning wager (i.e., for every one dollar player wager), a player will receive four dollars payout. The wagering surface may be divided into two or more wager groups 10 containing similar or related wagers, for example, grouping one-roll wagers, red-white-blue wagers, white-blue-red wagers, blue-striped-bonus wagers, striped-bonus wagers, aggregate wagers, and the like, as discussed in further detail below.

FIG. 3 illustrates a wager group of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Wager areas 14 included in this wager group include wagers dependent on the total rolled values of dice 1-4, as well as the value of bonus die 5, and may be called â€œaggregate wagersâ€ , â€œfinal roll wagersâ€ or â€œfinal roll betsâ€ . These final roll wagers are wagers on an aggregate event defined by combining the outcomes of the individual events; that is, the aggregate event may defined by combining the values of the outcome of the rolls of dice 14, 1-4 plus bonus die 5, or combinations thereof. Examples of aggregate events may therefore include â€œtotal of 17 for dice 1-4â€ and â€œtotal of 17 for dice 1-4 and red for dice 5â€ , among others.

Wager areas in this wager group include wagers on the total of the rolled values of dice 1-4, 21, wagers that the total of the rolled values of dice 1-4 are over or under 14 (â€œover-underâ€ wagers), 22, and block wagers, that is, wagers that the total of the rolled values of dice 1-4 will be one of a predefined block of several values, 23. For example, block wagers may be on: blocks of two aggregate values (e.g., that the total will be one of 18 or 22), blocks of three aggregate values (e.g., that the total will be one of 7, 14 or 21), blocks of four aggregate values (e.g., that the total will be one of 6, 11, 17 or 22), blocks of five aggregate values (e.g., that the total will be one of 4, 9, 13, 18 or 22), or blocks of six aggregate values (e.g., that the total will be one of 4, 9, 13, 18, 21 or 22).

Also included in this wager group are â€œspecialty wagersâ€ , 24, such as â€œfour deucesâ€ (i.e., that each die, excluding the bonus die, will show a two), any two pair (i.e., that the dice, excluding the bonus die, will show two numbers each repeated on two dice), all even (i.e., that the value of each die, excluding the bonus die, will be an even value), three of a kind (i.e., that the dice, excluding the bonus die, will show the same number repeated on three dice), four of a kind (i.e., that the dice, excluding the bonus die, will show the same number repeated on all four dice), and the like.

The over-under wagers just discussed are best implemented in embodiments having an even number of dice or other random event generators such as prize wheels so that the set of all possible outcomes includes a â€œpivot numberâ€ ; that is, a single median value within the set of all possible outcomes. Other embodiments may include sets of all possible outcomes which have more than a single pivot number; that is, two or more median values within the set of all possible outcomes. In such embodiments, over or under wagers may be adjusted to be over the highest of pivot numbers and below the lowest of pivot numbers. The pivot number may also be referred to as the â€œhouse numberâ€ .

Tables 1 and 2 provide a complete list of wagers illustrated in FIG. 2, including odds of winning and payout odds of the present preferred embodiment.

TABLE 1Single Aggregate ValueWagerOddsPayout4, 241296-1â€‰1000-1â€ƒ5, 23â€‰324-1250-1â€‚6, 22129.6-1â€‚100-1â€‚7, 2164.8-150-18, 20â€‚â€‰37-128-19, 1923.1-118-110, 18â€‚16.2-112-111, 17â€‚12.5-110-112, 16â€‚10.4-1â€‚8-113, 15â€‚â€‚9.3-1â€‚7-114â€‚8.9-1â€‚6-1

TABLE 2WagerOddsPayoutAny Five-Result Block Wager (e.g., total3.5-13-1equaling any of 4, 9, 13, 18 or 22, etc.)Four-Result Block Wagers 4-10-12-21, 6-11-4.7-14-117-22 and 7-16-18-24Four-Result Block Wagers 5-9-13-20 and 8-4.5-14-115-19-23Any Three-Result Block Wager (e.g., totalâ€‚â€‰6-15-1equaling any of 4, 11 or 18, etc.)Over/Under (i.e., over 14 or under 14)1.3-11-1Over/Under plus Bonus Die (e.g., over 14 plus5.8-15-1red)Any Triple10.1-1â€‚8-1Under 109.3-19-1Any Two Pair12.5-1â€‚12-1â€‚All Even/Odd (i.e., each die even or each dieâ€‰15-114-1â€‚odd)Any Straight (e.g., 2-3-4-5, etc.)â€‰26-118-1â€‚Over 20 (i.e., the total of the dice beingâ€‰36-135-1â€‚greater than 20)Big 6 (i.e., total equaling any of 4, 5, 6, 22, 2342.2-1â€‚40-1â€‚or 24)Triple 3's (i.e., three dice each showing 3)60.7-1â€‚50-1â€‚Aces Over Any Pair (i.e., a pair of aces andâ€‰80-175-1â€‚any other pair)Any Four of a Kind215-1â€‰200-1â€ƒ4 or 24 (i.e., the total equaling 4 or 24)647-1â€‰500-1â€ƒFour Deuces (i.e., each die showing 2)1295-1â€‰â€‚1000-1â€ƒâ€‚Any Four of a Kind Plus White647-1â€‰600-1â€ƒ4 or 24 Plus Blue1943-1â€‚â€‰1500-1â€ƒâ€‚Four Deuces Plus Red3887-1â€‚â€‰3000-1â€‚â€ƒ

FIG. 4 illustrates another wager group of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Wager areas 14 included in this wager group include wagers on the outcome of the roll of the red die (â€œsingleâ€ or â€œsingle wagerâ€ ), red and white dice (â€œdoubleâ€ or â€œdouble wagerâ€ ), or red, white and blue dice (â€œtrifectaâ€ or â€œtrifecta wagerâ€ ). For example, a single wager made in wager area 31 wins when the number 3 is rolled on the red die. A double wager made in wager area 32 wins when the number 3 is rolled on the red die and the number 6 is rolled on the white die (that is, both conditions must be met for the wager to be successful). In a similar fashion, a trifecta wager made in wager area 33 wins when the number 3 is rolled on the red die and the number 6 is rolled on the white die and the number 2 is rolled on the blue die (that is, all three conditions must be met for the wager to be successful). The payout odds for winning single wagers are shown in box 34, for winning double wagers in box 35, and for winning trifecta wagers in box 36. Table 3 provides a complete list of wagers illustrated in FIG. 4, including odds of winning and payout odds of the present preferred embodiment.

TABLE 3WagerOddsPayoutAny Single (e.g., 1, 2, etc.)â€ƒ5-1â€‰4.5-1Any Double (e.g., 1-1, 1-2, etc.)â€‚35-1â€‚33-1Any Trifecta (e.g., 1-1-1, 1-1-2, etc.)215-1200-1

FIG. 5 illustrates another wager group of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Wager areas 14 included in this wager group include wagers on the outcome of the roll of the white die (single), white and blue dice (double), or white, blue and striped dice (trifecta). These wagers operate in the same manner as the wagers disclosed in connection with FIG. 4, with the white die substituted for the red die of the previous wager group, the blue die substituted for white die of the previous wager group, and the striped die substituted for the blue die of the previous wager group. The odds of winning and payout odds are the same as those tabulated in Table 3.

FIG. 6 illustrates an additional wager group of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Wager areas 14 included in this wager group include wagers on the outcome of the roll of the blue die (single), blue and striped dice (double), or blue, striped and bonus dice (trifecta). The odds of winning an payout odds for the wagers of this wager group are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4WagerOddsPayoutAny Single (e.g., 1, 2, etc.)â€ƒ5-1â€‰4.5-1Any Double (e.g., 1-1, 1-2, etc.)â€‚35-1â€‚33-1Any Trifecta (e.g., 1-1-red, 1-1-blue, etc.)107-1100-1

Finally, FIG. 7 illustrates another wager group of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Wager areas 14 included in this wager group include wagers on the outcome of the roll of the striped die (single) or striped and bonus dice (double). The odds of winning and payout odds for the wagers of this wager group are shown in Table 5.

TABLE 5WagerOddsPayoutAny Single (e.g., 1, 2, etc.)â€‚5-14.5-1â€‰Any Double (e.g., 1-red, 1-blue, etc.)18-115-1

From the foregoing, it may be seen that wager groups having wagers on the bonus random event may include wagers which are determined in whole or in part by the outcome of the bonus event.

The steps of the present preferred embodiment may be summarized by the flow chart of FIG. 8. The game begins with the one or more wagers being made in step 1. Following step 1, the random events are generated in step 2. Next, in step 3, the aggregate results are determined, for example, by summing the resulting values of dice 1-4. Finally winning wagers are paid in step 4 according the payout odds defined for them. Of course, other sequences may be employed without departing from the present invention. For example, each random event may be generated individually, with all wagers capable of being determined upon the completion of such event being paid at that point (as opposed to being paid only upon the completion of all events).

While the preceding preferred embodiments utilize dice, other random or pseudo-random event generators may be utilized. These include, among others, carnival, â€œwheel of chanceâ€ , or prize-wheel type wheels, such as those manufactured by Kardwell International, Inc., P.O. Box 33, Mattituck, N.Y. 11952 and as illustrated in FIG. 9, multiple roulette type wheels, air mix type random number generators such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,920 and those manufactured by Smartplay International Inc., One Linda Lane, Suite B, Southampton, N.J. 08088, gravity fed random number generators such as those manufactured by Smartplay International Inc., bingo cages, such as those manufactured by Kardwell International, Inc., and the like.

Similarly, the entirety of the present invention may be implemented as an electronic or computer based game. In such embodiments, a computer consisting of a display device, 91, central processing unit, 92, input device such as a keyboard, touchscreen or dedicated mechanical buttons, 93, volatile and non-volatile memory, 94, central processing unit, 95, pseudo-random number generator, 96 (which may be in the form of a computer routine executed by central processing unit 95), may be utilized to implement the game of chance of the present invention. Alternatively, dedicated logic may be utilized in place of a programmed computer. Such devices, which may be in a form similar to video poker type machines currently well known to those of skill in the art, may be programmed to present applicable wagers to players, accept wagers from players, generate the necessary random or pseudo-random events, and pay winning wagers in accordance with payout odds associated with the winning wagers.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the pertinent art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects.