IMPROVED ELECTRONIC ROULETTE GAME

This invention relates to improvements in electronic games particularly roulette games. Background to the invention

Roulette is a popular casino game and there have been many proposed

improvements to the physical game and apparatus.

Most electronic versions of the game simulate the physical game with a wheel and are programmed to display random winning numbers in the same fashion as produced on a spinning roulette wheel.

Australian patent 2003300891 discloses an electronic game having multiple roulette wheels so that multiple games may be played at the same time.

Australian patent application 2007294515 discloses an electronic game where betting on a roulette wheel is based on selection of a geometric pattern.

USA patent 2008/0076507 discloses the concepot of using multiple balls in a virtual roulette game.

USA Patent 8444470 discloses a video multi ball roulette game with a multiplier wheel.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved electronic roulette game that both enhances the gaming experience and allows for the winning of higher prizes than conventional roulette.

Brief description of the invention

To this end the present invention provides an electronic roulette game in which more than one ball is used so that multiple games may be played at the same time. By using more than one ball each ball may be a different colour and represent a particular character.

This invention takes advantage of the electronic nature of the game to simulate the playing of multiple balls on a screen display of a roulette table. This provides a gaming experience more complex than the physical game.

In another aspect the present invention provides An electronic roulette game in which the game controller allows for more than one ball to be used so that multiple games may be played at the same time wherein the game controller uses a random number generator to select the positions that each ball lands on

the roulette wheel includes additional positions that have higher odds than other positions and the game controller includes these additional positions if selected when using the random number generator

and which multiplier functions apply where multiple balls land in a nominated slot on the roulette wheel.

A further advantage of using multiple balls is to provide multiplier functions where Multiple balls land in a nominated slot on the roulette wheel.

Detailed description of the invention

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings in which :

figure 1 which illustrate a game screen according to a preferred embodiment.

The electronic roulette game of this invention is played on a Modified roulette layout displayed on the screen with 40 Positions to wager on.

The Roulette Wheel of this invention has 5 balls and 40 slots

□ Numbers 1-36.

□ Number 0.

□ 3 special token slots (in this embodiment characterised as sheriffs Badge slots, (one Yellow , one Blue and one Green )

As with Normal Roulette Numbers 1-36 are either Red or Black (18 of

each) , 0 is Green And the three sheriffs badges are (YELLOW, BLUE,

ORANGE)

The modified layout of this invention is slightly different to a usual roulette

Layout, in the following respects.

The following are NOT AVAILABLE in this embodiment of the invention.

1-18, 19-36

1st 12 , 2 ^nd 12, 3 ^rd 12

Also it should be noted that no Split, Street, Corner, or Six Line Bets are

permitted to include any special token (sheriffs badge). EXAMPLE

□ The player may select 1 - 5 of the balls to play.

□ Bets will be applied equally to all balls in play (I.e. if you place a bet on

Number 17 and have 5 balls selected then the total bet is the value of the bet placed on the number x 5)

□ If the Sheriffs Badge is Played and Hit by any ACTIVE ball then the prize for the Badge is paid according to the pays as stated.

□If A Sheriffs Badge slot is hit but no Bet is placed on it then all bets for that ball loose.

The Sheriffs Badge

There are 3 Sheriff Badge slots on the wheel.

□ If the player wishes to play wager on a sheriffs Badge then a wager must be placed to activate it.

□ The cost of the wager is the same as betting on any other number on the wheel (ie if 5 balls are active then whatever the wager it is multiplied by the amount of active balls. )

□ The Sheriffs badges can only be wagered Straight UP.

Sheriffs badge multiplier feature

If 1 or more sheriffs Badges are played -:

To win anything one of the players Active Balls MUST land in the slot, if additional Balls,( Active or not) also land in the same slot then the win is multiplied according to the table below.

Each active ball lading in the players selected badge Slot are paid according these rules and each active ball is examined separately.

For example If the player plays 2 balls only and elects to play any 1 of the badge Slots and Both of the players selected balls and one of the remaining 3 balls lands in the badge slot chosen by the player, Then the Payout will be as shown below

Active ball 1Paid as (35 x the wager on that ball) x 5 (because there are 3 balls in the slot) Plus

Active ball 2Paid as (35 x the wager on that ball) x 5 (because there are 3 balls in the slot)

Roulette Multiplier Table.

Bets and Pays

If there is a zero in the screen game table then the Zero may be selected in a line of 6 .

Odd or even may also be played in some embodiments and the payout will be 2x wager. The zero is neither odd or even.

If a Sheriffs badge rolls then All other Wagers for that

ball Loose. Wagers l-M also loses if 0 rolls. Figure 1 illustrates the betting positions.

The 3 Sheriffs badges will be 3 different colours Orange Yellow and Blue. vEach of the 5 balls is independent of the others and can be

selected to be played or not. Only active (Selected by the

player) balls are paid.

Although of the purposes of each spin all 5 balls will always be shown in the animation.

The pay table may be varied to suit the venue and the desired return to the player.

Game Mechanics

At the start of each game all the Hit number for each of the five balls is determined by programming the game controller as follows.

FOR EACH of the 5 Balls-:

Field 1 = numbers 1 to 37 (number 0 =1 )

Each of the Slots on the wheel numbered numbers 1-37 has an

equal chance of being selected any as 1 of -:

1 in 37 (No sheriffs badges available)

1 in 38 (1 of the sheriffs badges available)

1 in 39 (2 of the sheriffs badges available in the field) 1 in 40 (All 3 Sheriffs badges are in the field)

Each of the 3 Sheriffs badges will be allocated to the conventional positions for Numbers 38,39,40 (but not noted on the Artwork)) and will be added to the Field of numbers available to be selected for each Spin regardless of whether or not a wager is placed on them.

Each of the Sheriffs badges will be available in the field as follows

The Blue Badge (1 OOx) will be available 30%

of the time The Yellow badge (75x) will be

available 38% of the time The Orange Badge

(50x) will be available 48% of the time.

For each spin the electronic game controller is programmed to: a) Determine which {if any) of the Sheriff Badge slots is in Play b) Make A Random Selection from the Field of numbers in use for this ball and then repeat the process for all 5 balls.

c) At the end of the animation which sees the balls land in the selected slots on the wheel ;The wins if any are paid.

Multiplier mechanics.

The use of multiple balls provides the opportunity to provide the Multiplier functions where Multiple balls land in the Badge slot (the played ball and any other ball).

1. In order to win anything on the Badge's

a. The Particular Badge must be Played by the player {ie the player must Wager on it)

b. The Players Selected ball (or balls) Must be 1 of the balls that land in the

particular Badge slot.

2. If the conditions of point 1 are met AND any additional balls , {Played by the player OR Not ) also land in the Same Slot

Then a Multiplier is applied to any win as detailed in the Table below. Multiplier Table

Balls in Slot Multiplier

X

Players Selected Ball only 1

Players Selected Ball and any 2

other 1

Players Selected Ball and any 5

other 2

Players Selected Ball and any 10

other 3

Players Selected Ball and any 20

other 4 NB: any other means any of the other 4 balls in addition to the played ball , with no regard to whether or not a player has elected to play the additional balls.

All Mathematical modelling may be best carried out with only 1 ball in play and an evaluation of each of the wagers available and then the net cumulative result of the game.

The Sheriffs badge Feature is a separate game which must be purchased by the player; its only impact on the normal game of roulette is that there are in effect 40 positions on the wheel and only 37 of them can be wagered on in the normal roulette game.

So for Some Percentage of the time the Sheriffs badge will be selected and if it's

NOT Active then all wagers on any ball that hits it will lose.

This game is preferably evaluated in dollars and cents rather than credits.

Inputs are required for the Pay table; Sheriffs badge Feature Cost & availability Determination %

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this invention provides an electronic game that improves the gaming experience and also provides the player with the attraction of higher prize payouts .

Those skilled in the art will realise that this invention may be implemented in embodiments other than those described without departing from the core teachings of the invention.