Electronic gaming roulette

Field of invention

The invention belongs to the field of electronic gaming machines, or electronic roulettes.

State of the art

Roulette is a gambling game that has been around for many years and is nowadays well known to almost everyone. The classic roulette is played on a roulette table which is usually of oblong shape with a rotating roulette wheel on one side which is mounted in such a way, so that it can spin around its vertical axis, and has equally distributed compartments around its rim. These compartments are separated by low frets, numbered with numbers ranging from 00, or 0 to 36, and of different colours (black, red, green). The remaining space on the table is occupied by a betting layout with betting fields and corresponding numbers besides which there are fields for betting on even and odd numbers, or on numbers of a certain colour only.

There is a cross handle protruding from the centre of the above mentioned roulette wheel which is used by a croupier to spin the wheel and then toss the ball onto the wheel. The ball then falls and stops in a certain numbered compartment while the wheel is still spinning, or at the latest when the wheel had come to a full stop. The bets are realized by means of tokens which are placed onto the betting fields by players standing around the table. The gains are calculated on the basis of the placed bets and numbers corresponding to the numbered compartment in which the ball had come to a stop. The tokens which did not win are then collected by a croupier, and become property of a gambling house.

At least one player is needed to participate in the game, the maximum number of players, however, is determined by the gambling house and depends on the table size, safety conditions and alike.

Whereas the classic roulette is fully mechanical, in recent times various types of electric and electronic roulettes have appeared on the market.

The game rules are basically the same, except for that the game is controlled by a computer, or more accurately a computer program which, upon receiving the token and information about a bet, spins up the roulette wheel and lets go of the ball. When the wheel had stopped spinning, the computer calculates a win. The game usually runs on a screen, where a player is only able to see the spinning of the wheel virtually. Such electronic devices are able to host only one player, or multiple players who then rotate. Such principle of playing is well known from the popular »fiipper« era and, later on, arcade games.

Also known are electronic gaming devices for roulette who, similarly as the classic roulette, enable playing to one or multiple players. The maximum number of players depends on the number of the game consoles that are positioned around the central part of the device, where the roulette wheel is positioned. The known devices are monoblocks which means that the device housing is made of one piece with video screens mounted inside the housing. Accessing the inside of the device is possible from the bottom or from sides, and should one or more game consoles break down, mending them will be straining and time consuming.

A player can start playing upon registering into the game using the game console by means of a token, com, smart card or other suitable means of payment. The common feature of all electronic gambling games is that the device electronically sums up gains, and the sum is always visible to the player. For the next game a player can place a bet using up either this whole value or only a fraction of it which makes the game easier as there is no need for buying tokens, or putting them into the machine all the time. The device makes a payout only upon the player's request.

Due to the fact that not with all electronic gambling games a representative of the gambling house (croupier), who collects all the wins for the gambling house, is present the device has to be periodically emptied, or one has to take out the money or tokens. This is done by the

gambling house representative who unlocks the device and empties a cassette containing money or tokens, and locks it up again.

Description of the technical problem

A classic or electronic device for playing roulette is, in accordance with the state of the art, designed in such a way, so that when there are a lot of people around the table other guest in the gambling house do not know what is going on at the table, and the newcomers don't even realize that there is a roulette table present there.

Despite the long acquaintance with the game above mentioned the goal of every casino is to attract as many actual or potential players as possible. This however, cannot be achieved by a concealed roulette table.

Moreover, it is important that even an empty or a half-empty table is still appealing to customers who have to be encouraged to at least take a look at the device. Furthermore, the elements which give a special appearance to the device must, in addition to the aesthetic component, also ensure the safety and user-friendliness of the device.

The periodical emptying of the device can be a dangerous job as the care-taker who empties the device has to do with cash or its equivalent. For doing that there is a key or similar object needed to unlock and access the device which the care-taker may loose or misplace, and/or it can even end up in hands of an unauthorized personnel.

With the known electronic gambling roulettes the maintenance and keeping the inside of the device clean is also a problem as for accessing the interior of the device a number of bolts have to be released, or a number of locks unlocked.

Moreover, with the known devices that enable multyplayer hosting the mending or repairing of particular game consoles is problematic and it consumes a considerable amount of time.

The gaming device is equipped with a large upper panel which hosts dust, and it even gets untidy during the game as the players and others touch it with their hands. That is why it is important that the upper surface is as smooth as possible which facilitates the cleaning of the upper surface of the device.

Short description of the figures

The subject of invention is hereinafter described by means of the figures enclosed:

Fig. 1 : Frontal view of the electronic roulette in accordance with subject invention. Fig. 2: Electronic roulette in accordance with subject invention, shown in fig 1 without the ornamented segment. Fig. 3 : Electronic roulette in accordance with subject invention, shown in fig. 1 without the gaming module.

Fig. 4: ' Section of the first version of the upper part of the electronic roulette

Fig. 5: Gaming module.

Fig. 6: Gaming module without the upper and face panel, and tray.

Fig. 7: Ground plan of the lower part of the electronic roulette.

Fig. 8: Lower part of the electronic roulette with some upper panels opened.

Fig. 9: Side view of the electronic roulette in accordance with subject invention with shown projection of the roulette wheel on the upper part

(with the first version of the upper part). Fig. 10: View of the lower part of the electronic roulette with the translucent dome opened. Fig. 11 : Side view of the electronic roulette in accordance with subject invention with shown projection of the roulette wheel on the upper part

(with the first version of the upper part). Fig. 12: Frontal upper view of the electronic roulette in accordance with subject invention (with second version of the upper part).

Fig. 13: Side view of the electronic roulette in accordance with subject invention with shown projection of the roulette wheel on the upper part

(with the third version of the upper part). Fig. 14: Frontal upper view of the electronic roulette in accordance with subject invention (with the third version of the upper part).

Description of the invention

Subject invention solves the above mentioned technical problems by presenting a new electronic roulette which ensures visibility of action on the roulette table at all times. This also applies in case when a table is crowded, and the design enables an easy access to the interior of the device which simplifies maintenance operations and at the same time enables easier cleaning of the interior and exterior of the device.

Further, the new electronic roulette, in accordance with subject invention, contains elements that, in addition to the aesthetic effect, also ensure safe and simple usage of the device. Furthermore, with the new electronic roulette the problem of changing and/or repairing of individual game consoles is also solved as the device consists of several identical modules which can be changed easily.

Detailed description of the invention

As shown in fig. 1 the electronic roulette in accordance with subject invention consists of the lower part (1) and upper part (2, 2a or 2b).

The lower part of the device (1) is positioned on the floor, and the upper part (2) is suspended from the ceiling of the room in which the device is installed. In figures enclosed both parts are of a round shape and positioned coaxial to each other.

The lower part (1) consists of the middle part (1 Ia) (fig. 3) on which the roulette wheel (11) is installed which is of round shape and covered with a translucent dome (91) which is mounted

in the upper rim (92) (fig. 9, 10, 11 and 13). The above mentioned upper rim can be made of any material such as wood, metal, glass or synthetic material, but is preferentially made from light wood and leather clad, and the translucent dome (91) can be made from light translucent synthetic material such as plexy-glass, or glass.

As shown in fig. 10 the upper rim (92) is clamped to the round pivotable lifting hinge which allows for lifting and turning of the upper rim (92) together with the translucent dome (91) for any given angle, and at least for 180° which enables accessing the roulette wheel (11) in case of any service operation, cleaning and similar actions. The lifting and turning of the hinge (93) is realized by known means such as an electric motor with reduction gears and eccentric tappet or threaded spindle, and its operation is preferentially carried out by a remote control, with wires or wireless.

hi the lower segment of the middle part (1 Ia) a roulette wheel drive is installed. Also, in this segment the power is supplied to the lower part of the device by means of mains cables coming from the floor of the room in which the device is installed. Further, in the lower part of the middle part (Ha) a computer (not shown in the figure) is installed which controls the game along with the devices which register the. traffic of the whole device as well as of each individual gaming module. Such registration devices are obligatory and regulated by the tax legislation of each country.

Around the above mentioned wheel (11) the gaming modules (12) are installed which are actually identical. The figures enclosed show the device containing 8 identical gaming modules, while a version with any number of gaming modules (12) is also possible.

Between the contact surfaces of two adjacent gaming modules (12) is a lighting element (13) which is shown in figure 2.

As it is evident from the figure 2, the above mentioned lighting element (13) with its shape follows the upper and frontal line of the contact surface of two modules, so that in the

assembled lower part, between the two adjacent modules (12), only a narrow line is visible (figure 1).

The lighting element is manufactured from a material which enables good light conductibility and has a light source (such as OSRAM variable color light emitting diodes) installed underneath (13 a).

The gaming module shown in figures 4, 5 and 6 contains a box-shaped support structure which is hollow and limited on the left and the right side by two vertical side panels (121 and 122), and below with a horizontal bottom panel (123), and at the back with the back panel (124) facing the centre of the lower part of the device (1).

AU the above mentioned panels (121, 122, 123 and 124) have larger cutouts which considerably reduces weight of the support structure and provides space for installing the needed electric wires as well as other connection elements (e.g. screws) needed for joining the gaming modules together.

On the frontal side the box-shapes support structure of the gaming module (12) is mainly covered by a smooth, bent panel (126) which is put in place and fixed onto the two central vertical ribs (125), two frontal edges (127 and 128) of both side panels (121 and 122) and onto the lower rim (126a).

On the upper part of the gaming module support structure there is a frame (130) which is, with its outer handles, hinged on the hinges (131). Between the two inner handles a handle of the lifting mechanism (not shown in the figure) is installed which enables lifting of the frame (130) together with the upper panel (135). The mentioned lifting handle is actuated by known mechanisms such as electric motor with reduction gears and threaded spindle with a nut. The game screen (132) is mounted in the middle section of the frame (130).

On the top the gaining module (12) is mainly covered by the upper panel (135) which is smooth and shaped in such way, so that it has a snug fit with the upper two edges (133 and

134) of the two side panels (121 and 122) and, with a corresponding opening, abuts against the outer edges of the upper surface of the game screen (132) as shown in the figure 8, where some modules with lifted upper panel (135) are depicted.

In the frontal bulged area the gaming module support structure (12) is closed with a garnish moulding (136) which is preferably made of wood and then leather clad, but it can also be made of metal or a synthetic material (figure 5).

On the frontal side of the gaming module there can be a tray (51) attached as well. As shown in the figure 6 the gaming module has built-in two acceptor and payout units (137 and 138) with slots facing upwards which are used either for accepting the means for registering into a game or for payout of gains.

One of the mentioned units (137, 138) is intended for issuance of receipts for the game score or gains, and contains a printer and a driving mechanism which pushes the receipt through the slot on the upper surface, and the second one of the mentioned units (137, 138) is intended for accepting the means for registering into a game such as coins, tokens, bank notes, winnings receipt, smart cards with value stored in an electronic format, and contains an optical and/or magnetic scanner and a box for storing bank-notes and/or receipts and/or tokens.

While in operation the gaming module (12) is fully closed, and the player can access the two slots of both units (137, 138) together with the upper surface of the game screen (132), and optionally the opening for accessing the device (139) for logging-on of authorized personnel.

The upper panel can be made from any material that is sufficiently rigid, shock resistant and at the same time makes the surface look more aesthetic. The upper panel (135) is not translucent, so that viewing the interior of the gaming module (12) is not possible. The panel has three openings: an opening for accessing the game screen (132), openings for the acceptor and payout units (137 and 138), and optionally the opening for accessing the device (139) for logging-on of authorized personnel.

The device (139) can be located anywhere on the upper panel of the gaming module (12), biit is preferentially mounted on the frontal surface of the gaming module (12) whereas it is of much importance that it is accessible, but not too visible at the same time. The log-on is done via thermal finger print scanner (not shown in the figure) which, besides reading the finger print, can also take thermal readings of a finger.

An authorized person logs-on the gaming module (12) by drawing the finger over the finger print scanner of the device for authorized personnel log-on (139). In case of clearance a keyboard will appear on the game screen, enabling the authorized person to enter alphanumeric al identification code. Should the code be correct, the lifting mechanism lifts up the frame (130), together with the upper panel (135), and in doing so enables the authorized person to access the interior of the device should cleaning and maintenance be needed, or for accessing the acceptor and payout units (emptying the bank-notes box, changing the tape for printing out receipt tickets etc.).

The first version of the upper part of the device (2) is shown in the figures 1, 2 and 4, and more detailed in the figure 3.

The upper part of the device (2) contains a spherical or parabolic dish (21) which has in its centre a round opening into which the hollow sphere (22) is centrically inserted, a round upper carrier plate (23) which has a convex mirror (24) installed underneath and which is bulged downwards, and connecting elements (25) that connect the outer rim of the dish (21) with the round upper carrier plate (23) and ensure their mutual centricity and coaxiality as well as sustain the correctly set distance between them.

In the upper section of the hollow sphere a back screen projector (222) is mounted facing vertically downwards, projecting the recording onto a convex mirror (24) from where the projected picture is deflected onto the upper surface of the dish (21).

The above mentioned hollow sphere (22) is made of two equal segments, so that it can be opened at the top or at the bottom, enabling access to the interior of the device for the purpose of cleaning, maintenance or similar actions.

The above mentioned dish (21) is translucent, and preferentially with one or both tarnished surfaces. It is made of a translucent synthetic material, so that the projected picture is also visible from the outside, or from underneath the dish (21). A version with a translucent synthetic dish, where a foil which is used with back screens is glued at its bottom, is also possible. Such foils as well as such translucent synthetic materials are today available on the world's markets. Some of the companies producing such materials are Atoglas, Rohm and Degussa. On the surface of the dish (21) there aren't actually any inscriptions or lines. The lines shown in the figures only illustrate an example of a picture being projected.

The above mentioned dish (21) is made from multiple, preferentially equal parts, at least three, which would ensure self-stability of the dish (21).

Back screen or ,,rear" projectors are projectors that can project a picture onto a projection surface from the back, directly or indirectly. Such projectors are already state of the art, and serving as an example is the SANYO projector with strong luminosity (10.000 lumen) and a high contrast (1100:1).

The use of projectors with not so refined features is also possible, but it will have a negative impact on the quality of the picture shown on the screen, especially if there is strong light present (sunlight or other light source).

With indirect projecting the projectors are usually installed in such a way, so that the rays fall onto the reflection mirror under a certain angle, and are then deflected onto the back side of the projection screen. The projected picture can be observed on the front side of the projection screen, as this is done with a normal TV set. hi such case the projector is installed outside of the projection surface, namely beside it.

As shown in the figure 4 the device according to subject invention has a projector installed in the projection surface, or above it. In the case shown in the figure 4 the projector is installed coaxially to the projection surface which, in this case, is of spherical or parabolic shape.

The picture can be transmitted into the above mentioned projector from any given source such as a VCR, a LCD player or a computer (27) which can be located either inside of the mentioned hollow sphere (22), or somewhere else in the gambling house, and the communications are transmitted either using wires or in a wireless manner.

In the lower segment of the mentioned hollow sphere (22) a camera (221) can be installed facing vertically downwards to record the roulette wheel (11) which is installed in the centre of the lower part (1), and transmits the picture either with delay or in real time to the projector.

Preferential is the version, where the picture is transmitted to the projector from the player device, as described above, which avoids problems due to unexpected reflection of the light from the dome (91) and due to fαzziness of the view in downwards direction caused by a cigarette smoke or similar.

The picture projected onto the dish (21, 21a) may be fixed or movable. The recording is preferentially made in such a way, so that the picture rotates and thus fully simulates the events taking place on the roulette wheel (11).

After the roulette wheel had come to a full stop, the computer controlling the game chooses the proper recording and so the projector can project onto the projection surface a recording of the ball's position which, in fact, corresponds to the real position of the ball on the wheel, or any other recording that has been transmitted to the projector.

During the time when bets are being accepted any desired projection can be projected onto the projection screen.

In the figures 11 and 12 an electronic roulette in accordance with subject invention is shown, using the second version of the upper pait (2a).

This version differs from the first one in having a flat reflective mirror (111) installed on the upper carrier plate (112). The carrying elements (113) which connect the upper carrier plate

(112) to the dish (21) actually run vertically. This version is suitable for middle projection distances.

In the figures 13 and 14 the electronic roulette in accordance with subject invention is shown, using the third version of the upper part (2b).

This version differs from the described two in having no central opening in the dish (21a), the hollow sphere (22a) is mounted above, and the projector inside the sphere faces downwards, projecting the picture directly onto the dish (21a).

The mentioned hollow sphere (22a) is clamped to the carrier ring (134).

Similarly as with the described second version, the carrying elements (133) which connect the carrier ring (134) and the dish (21a) actually run vertically. This version is suitable for longer projection distances as the picture is being projected directly onto the projection screen.

With all three versions of the upper part (2, 2a and 2b) the power supply for the devices inside the sphere is provided by either the main cables from the ceiling or by suitable batteries.

The above described versions of the electronic roulette are described merely for the purpose of making the invention easier to understand, and do not limit the invention in any way. The electronic roulette in accordance with subject invention can therefore also be different, of any shape actually, and not necessarily of spherical shape which can be achieved by a proper transformation of gaming modules which is evident from the figures enclosed. For instance, these shapes could be oval, rectangular, square, number eight-shaped (two circles put together) etc.

In such case the upper part is transformed accordingly, and the projector adequately positioned. Typical of all versions of electronic roulettes in accordance with subject invention is that the projector axis is perpendicular to the projection surface. However, the use of multiple projectors is also possible.