U.S. patent application number 13/547261 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-16 for static segment roulette wheel.
This patent application is currently assigned to ELEKTRONCEK D.D.. The applicant listed for this patent is Joze Pececnik. Invention is credited to Joze Pececnik.
Application Number | 20140015194 13/547261 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49913329 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140015194 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pececnik; Joze |
January 16, 2014 |
STATIC SEGMENT ROULETTE WHEEL
Abstract
A roulette gaming wheel has at least three concentric
components: a) a set of pockets for capturing a roulette ball; b) a
set of alphanumerics contiguous to the set of pockets, with one
alphanumeric available for each pocket; and c) a track for allowing
a roulette ball to spin around and then to drop into one pocket
when gravity causes the ball to fall into a pocket; wherein, a
wheel supporting the set of pockets spins independently of the set
of alphanumerics.
Inventors: |
Pececnik; Joze; (Kamnik,
SI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pececnik; Joze |
Kamnik |
|
SI |
|
|
Assignee: |
ELEKTRONCEK D.D.
Menges
SI
|
Family ID: |
49913329 |
Appl. No.: |
13/547261 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/142E |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 5/0005 20130101;
A63F 5/0082 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/142.E |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00 |
Claims
1. A roulette gaming wheel comprising three concentric components:
a) a first wheel supporting a set of pockets for capturing a
roulette ball; b) a second wheel supporting a set of alphanumerics
contiguous to the set of pockets, with one alphanumeric available
for each pocket; c) a track for allowing a roulette ball to spin
around and then to drop into one pocket when gravity causes the
ball to fall into a pocket; d) a motor controlling rotation of at
least one of the first wheel supporting the pockets and the second
wheel supporting the set of alphanumerics; and e) a processor
configured to control the motor; wherein, the first wheel
supporting the set of pockets spins independently of the second
wheel supporting the set of alphanumerics and a random number
generator in communication with the processor that provides a
random roulette spin outcome, wherein the processor is configured
to control the motor so that upon the ball dropping into a moving
pocket, the pocket with the ball in it is relatively rotated into
alignment with a number in the set of alphanumerics provided in the
random roulette spin outcome so that the ball is aligned with the
processor provided random roulette outcome.
2. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein alignment stops are provided
so that when the first wheel supporting the set of pockets stops
spinning, each pocket is aligned with an alphanumeric to identify
each pocket.
3. The gaming wheel of claim 2 wherein the alignment stops provide
forces selected from the group consisting of magnetic force,
friction force and blocking force.
4. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein there is substantially no
topography between individual alphanumerics that would deflect a
roulette ball.
5. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein there is substantial
topography between individual alphanumerics that would deflect a
roulette ball.
6. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein the track and the
alphanumerics are fixed so that neither can rotate relative to the
other.
7. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein the track and the
alphanumerics are fixed by an adjustable lock so that neither the
track nor the alphanumerics can rotate relative to the other.
8. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein a), b) and c) are fixed to a
gaming table having indicia of roulette outcomes distributed on a
surface of the gaming table.
9. The gaming wheel of claim 7 wherein the wheel supporting the
pockets cannot spin unless the adjustable lock is in a locked
position.
10. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein the first wheel supporting
the set of pockets is attached to the motor that moves the first
wheel supporting the set of pockets upon direction of the
processor.
11. The gaming wheel of claim 10 further comprising a random number
generator in communication with or embedded in the processor.
12. The gaming wheel of claim 10 further comprising a sensor that
recognizes presence of a roulette ball in a particular pocket.
13. The gaming wheel of claim 11 further comprising a sensor that
recognizes presence of a roulette ball in a particular pocket.
14. The gaming wheel of claim 13 wherein the processor is
configured to control movement and position of the first wheel
supporting the set of pockets to recognize an alignment of the
particular pocket holding a roulette ball with a particular number
in the set of alphanumerics, and to align the ball settled in a
particular pocket with an alphanumeric randomly selected by
operation of the random number generator.
15. The gaming wheel of claim 14 wherein the particular number in
the set of alphanumerics is a specific random number within the set
of alphanumerics that is randomly selected by the random number
generator.
16. A method of providing a random event outcome using the roulette
gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein the roulette ball is spun along the
track with an angular velocity that is the same relative to the
track and to the alphanumerics, and the roulette ball drops into a
pocket in a set of pockets supported on a rotatable wheel to
provide the random outcome, and the processor controls the motor to
align the dropped ball in the pocket with an alphanumeric randomly
selected by operation of the random number, which aligning
comprises selection of one alphanumeric from the set of
alphanumerics.
17. A method of providing a random event outcome using the roulette
gaming wheel of claim 14 wherein the roulette ball is spun along
the track with an angular velocity that is the same relative to the
track and to the alphanumerics, and the roulette ball drops into a
pocket in a set of pockets supported on a rotatable wheel to
provide the random outcome, and the processor controls the motor to
align the dropped ball in the pocket with an alphanumeric randomly
selected by operation of the random number, which aligning
comprises selection of one alphanumeric from the set of
alphanumerics.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the alphanumerics are on the
second wheel, the alphanumeric wheel is unlocked from the track,
the alphanumeric wheel is rotated relative to the track, and the
alphanumeric wheel is then locked against relative rotation between
the alphanumeric wheel and the track.
19. (canceled)
20. The method of claim 16 wherein the alphanumerics are on the
second wheel, the alphanumeric wheel is unlocked from the track,
the alphanumeric wheel is rotated relative to the track, and the
alphanumeric wheel is then locked against relative rotation between
the alphanumeric wheel and the track.
21. The method of claim 16 wherein a processor controls a motor
that moves the first wheel supporting the pockets.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the processor further comprises
a random number generator and the random number generator selects a
random number that corresponds to a single alphanumeric within the
set of alphanumerics.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the set of alphanumerics
consists of numbers representing a complete set of numbers on a
roulette wheel.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the processor controls the motor
to stop rotation of the first wheel supporting the set of
pockets.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the processor controls the motor
to direct movement and position of the first wheel supporting the
pockets so that the pocket containing a ball is stopped and
positioned in alignment with an only one alphanumeric of the set of
alphanumerics that corresponds to the single alphanumeric selected
by the random number generator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The first form of roulette was devised in 18th century
France. Blaise Pascal introduced a primitive form of roulette in
the 17th century in his search for a perpetual motion machine. The
roulette wheel is believed to be a fusion of the English wheel
games Roly-Poly, Reiner, Ace of Hearts, and E.O., the Italian board
games of Hoca and Biribi, and "Roulette" from an already existing
French board game of that name.
[0002] The game has been played in its present form since as early
as 1796 in Paris. An early description of the roulette game in its
current form is found in a French novel La Roulette, ou le Jour by
Jaques Lablee, which describes a roulette wheel in the Palais Royal
in Paris in 1796. The description included the house pockets,
"There are exactly two slots reserved for the bank, whence it
derives its sole mathematical advantage." It then goes on to
describe the layout with, " . . . two betting spaces containing the
bank's two numbers, zero and double zero." The book was published
in 1801. An even earlier reference to a game of this name was
published in regulations for New France (Quebec) in 1758, which
banned the games of "dice, hoca, faro, and roulette."
[0003] FIG. 1 shows a copy of an early drawing of a roulette wheel,
asserted to be from the 18.sup.th Century. As can be seen, the
wheel is striking similar to that in present use, except for the
alphanumerics. The center spinning wheel has concentrically located
a) handle for spinning the wheel, followed by the b) canoes,
pockets or chambers for receiving the ball, c) the alphanumerics
for distinguishing the canoes according to the alphanumerics, and a
track surrounding a), b) and c). The canoes and alphanumerics are
integrally attached an do not move independently, but consist of a
single integrated panel where the canoe and alphanumerics move at
the same angular velocity.
[0004] The roulette wheels used in the casinos of Paris in the late
1790s had red for the single zero and black for the double zero. To
avoid confusion, the color green was selected for the zeros in
roulette wheels starting in the 1800s.
Roulette Wheel Number Sequence
[0005] The canoes or pockets of the roulette wheel are numbered
from 1 to 36.
[0006] In number ranges from 1 to 10 and 19 to 28, odd numbers are
red and even are black. In ranges from 11 to 18 and 29 to 36, odd
numbers are black and even are red.
[0007] There is a green pocket numbered 0 (zero). In American
roulette, there is a second green pocket marked 00. Pocket number
order on the roulette wheel adheres to the following clockwise
sequence in most casinos:
Single-Zero Wheel
[0008]
0-32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33--
1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26
Double-Zero Wheel
[0008] [0009]
0-28-9-26-30-11-7-20-32-17-5-22-34-15-3-24-36-13-1-00-27-10-25-29-12-8-19-
-31-18-6-21-3346-4-23-35-14-2
Roulette Table Layout
[0010] The cloth covered betting area on a roulette table is known
as the layout. The layout is either single zero or double zero. The
European style layout has a single zero, and the American style
layout is usually a double zero. The American style roulette table
with a wheel at one end is now used in most casinos. The French
style table with a wheel in the centre and a layout on either side
is rarely found outside of Monte Carlo.
Types of Bets
Inside Bets
Straight (or Single)
[0011] a single number bet. The chip is placed entirely on the
middle of a number square.
Split
[0011] [0012] a bet on two adjoining numbers, either on the
vertical or horizontal (as in 14-17 or 8-9). The chip is placed on
the line between these numbers.
Street
[0012] [0013] a bet on three numbers on a single horizontal line.
The chip is placed on the edge of the line of a number at the end
of the line (either the left or the right, depending on the
layout).
Corner (or Square)
[0013] [0014] a bet on four numbers in a square layout (as in
11-12-14-15). The chip is placed at the horizontal and vertical
intersection of the lines between the four numbers.
Six Line (or Double Street)
[0014] [0015] a bet on two adjoining streets, with the chip placed
at the corresponding intersection, as if in between where two
street bets would be placed.
Trio
[0015] [0016] a bet on the intersecting point between 0, 1 and 2,
or 0, 2 and 3 (single-zero layout only).
Basket (or the First Four)
[0016] [0017] (non-square corner) a bet on 0, 1, 2, and 3
(single-zero layout only).
Basket
[0017] [0018] a bet on 0, 1, and 2; 0, 00, and 2; or 00, 2, and 3
(double-zero layout only). The chip is placed at the intersection
of the three desired numbers.
Top Line
[0018] [0019] a bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 (double-zero layout
only). The chip is placed either at the corner of 0 and 1, or the
corner of 00 and 3.
Outside Bets
[0019] [0020] Outside bets typically have smaller payouts with
better odds at winning. 1 to 18 [0021] a bet on one of the first
low eighteen numbers coming up. 19 to 36 [0022] a bet on one of the
latter high eighteen numbers coming up.
Red or Black
[0022] [0023] a bet on which color the roulette wheel will
show.
Even or Odd
[0023] [0024] a bet on an even or odd nonzero number.
Dozen Bets
[0024] [0025] a bet on the first (1-12), second (13-24), or third
group (25-36) of twelve numbers.
Column Bets
[0025] [0026] a bet on all 12 numbers on any of the three vertical
lines (such as 1-4-7-10 on down to 34). The chip is placed on the
space below the final number in this string.
Snake Bet
[0026] [0027] Essentially a special dozen bet consisting of a bet
of the following numbers: 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32,
and 34.
[0028] In the UK, all bets have the same play to payout ratio; for
instance, putting one chip on each number 1-12 will yield the same
outcome as 12 chips on the first dozen (assuming the original stake
is removed). The exception is the very outside bets (red/black,
odd/even, low numbers/high numbers) when zero is the result only
half of the original stake is captured by the dealer.
Bet Odds Table
[0029] (The initial bet is returned in addition to the mentioned
payout.) The payout (for American and European roulette) can be
calculated by:
payout = 1 n ( 36 - n ) ##EQU00001##
[0030] Where n is the number of squares the player is betting
on.
TABLE-US-00001 Odds Expected Bet against value (on name Winning
spaces Payout winning a $1 bet) 0 0 35 to 1 37 to 1 -$0.053 00 00
35 to 1 37 to 1 -$0.053 Straight Any single number 35 to 1 37 to 1
-$0.053 up Row 00 0, 00 17 to 1 19 to 1 -$0.053 Split any two
adjoining numbers 17 to 1 19 to 1 -$0.053 vertical or horizontal
Basket 0, 1, 2 or 00, 2, 3 or 0, 11 to 1 11.667 to 1 -$0.053 00, 2
Street any three numbers 11 to 1 11.667 to 1 -$0.053 horizontal (1,
2, 3 or 4, 5, 6, etc.) Corner any four adjoining numbers 8 to 1 8.5
to 1 -$0.053 in a block (1, 2, 4, 5 or 17, 18, 20, 21, etc.) Top
line 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 6 to 1 6.6 to 1 -$0.079 Six line any six
numbers from two 5 to 1 5.33 to 1 -$0.053 horizontal rows (1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6 or 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 etc.) 1st 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16,
19, 2 to 1 2.167 to 1 -$0.053 column 22, 25, 28, 31, 34 2nd 2, 5,
8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 2 to 1 2.167 to 1 -$0.053 column 23, 26, 29, 32,
35 3rd 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 2 to 1 2.167 to 1 -$0.053 column
24, 27, 30, 33, 36 1st 1 through 12 2 to 1 2.167 to 1 -$0.053 dozen
2nd 13 through 24 2 to 1 2.167 to 1 -$0.053 dozen 3rd 25 through 36
2 to 1 2.167 to 1 -$0.053 dozen Odd 1, 3, 5, . . . , 35 1 to 1
1.111 to 1 -$0.053 Even 2, 4, 6, . . . , 36 1 to 1 1.111 to 1
-$0.053 Red 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 1 to 1 1.111 to 1 -$0.053 14, 16,
18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36 Black 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 1
to 1 1.111 to 1 -$0.053 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33,
35 1 to 18 1, 2, 3, . . . , 18 1 to 1 1.111 to 1 -$0.053 19 to 36
19, 20, 21, . . . , 36 1 to 1 1.111 to 1 -$0.053 Note also that 0
and 00 are neither odd nor even in this game.
House Edge
[0031] The house average or house edge (also called the expected
value) is the amount the player loses relative for any bet made, on
average. If a player bets on a single number in the American game
there is a probability of 1/38 that the player wins 35 times the
bet, and a 37/38 chance that the player loses their bet. The
expected value is: [0032] -1.times. 37/38+35.times. 1/38=-0.0526
(5.26% house edge)
[0033] For European roulette, a single number wins 1/37 and loses
36/37: [0034] -1.times. 36/37+35.times. 1/37=0.0270 (2.70% house
edge)
[0035] The presence of the green squares on the roulette wheel and
on the table are technically the only house edge. Outside bets will
always lose when a single or double zero come up. However, the
house also has an edge on inside bets because the pay outs are
always set at 35 to 1 when you mathematically have a 37 to 1 chance
at winning a straight bet on a single number. To demonstrate the
house edge on inside bets, imagine placing straight $1 wagers on
all inside numbers on a roulette table (including 0 and 00) to
assure a win. You would only get back 36 times your original bet
having spent $38. The only exception are the five numbers bet where
the house edge is considerably higher (7.89% on an American wheel),
and the `even money` bets in some European games where the house
edge is halved because only half the stake is lost when a zero
comes up.
[0036] The house edge should not be confused with the hold. The
hold is the average percentage of the money originally brought to
the table that the player loses before he leaves--the actual "win"
amount for the casino. The Casino Control Commission in Atlantic
City releases a monthly report showing the win/hold amounts for
each casino. The average win/hold for double zero wheels is between
21-30%, significantly more than the 5.26% house edge. This reflects
the fact that the player is `churning` the same money over and over
again. A 23.6% hold, for example, would imply that on average, the
player bets the total he brought to the table five times, as 23.6%
is approximately equal to 100%-(100%-5.26%).sup.5. For example, a
player with $100 making $10 bets on red (which has a near 50/50
chance of winning) is highly unlikely to lose all his money after
only 10 bets, and will most likely continue to bet until he has
lost all of his money or decides to leave. A player making $10 bets
on a single number (with only 1/38 chance of success) with a $100
bankroll is far more likely to lose all of his money after only 10
bets. Despite being more likely to lose, the casino's average hold
from this type of player would be significantly lower than the
even-money bettor, because the single number player will on average
bet less money (at 5.26% expected loss per dollar bet).
[0037] In the early frontier gambling saloons, the house would set
the odds on roulette tables at 27 for 1. This meant that on a $1
bet you would get $27 and the house would keep your initial dollar.
Today most casino odds are set by law, and they have to be either
34 to 1 or 35 to 1. This means that the house pays you $34 or $35
and you get to keep your original $1 bet.
Mathematical Model
[0038] As an example, we can examine the European roulette model
(roulette with one zero). Since this roulette has 37 cells with
equal odds of hitting, it is clear that this is a final model of
field probability (.OMEGA., 2.sup..OMEGA.; ), where .OMEGA.={0, . .
. , 36}, (A)=|A|/37 for all A.epsilon.2.sup..OMEGA.. We'll call the
bet Sa three (A, .tau., .xi.), where A for a certain random
event|event .tau..epsilon.+, and .epsilon.:.OMEGA..fwdarw.=random
size. The event A naturally leads to a winning event, .tau. to the
size of the bet (in dollars, for example), .xi. to the bet rule,
and the mathematical expectation M[.xi.] relates to the bet
profitability.
[0039] The rules of European roulette have 10 types of bets. First
we can examine the `Straight Up` bet. It's clear that in this case,
S=({.OMEGA.'}, .tau., .xi.), where .OMEGA.'.epsilon..OMEGA., and
.xi. is determined by this law
.xi. ( .omega. ) = { - r , .omega. .noteq. .omega. ' 35 r , .omega.
= .omega. ' , ##EQU00002##
[0040] The bet's probability is equal to
M [ .xi. ] = 1 37 .omega. .di-elect cons. .OMEGA. .xi. ( .omega. )
= 1 37 ( .xi. ( .omega. ' ) + .omega. .noteq. .omega. ' .xi. (
.omega. ) ) = 1 37 ( 35 r - 36 r ) = - r 37 .apprxeq. - 0.0
##EQU00003##
[0041] Without details, for a bet, red or black, the rule is
determined as
.xi. ( .omega. ) = { - r .omega. is red - r , .omega. = 0 r ,
.omega. is black ; ##EQU00004##
and the profitability
M [ .xi. ] = 1 37 ( 18 r - 18 r - r ) = - r 37 . ##EQU00005##
For similar reasons it is simple to see that the profitability is
also equal for all remaining types of bets.
- r 37 . ##EQU00006##
[0042] In reality this means that, the more bets a player makes,
the more he is going to lose independent of the strategies
(combinations of bet types or size of bets) that he employs:
n = 1 .infin. M [ .xi. n ] = - 1 37 n = 1 .infin. r n = - .infin. .
##EQU00007##
[0043] Here, the profit margin for the roulette owner is equal to
approximately 2.7%.
[0044] It's worth noting that the odds for the player in American
roulette are even worse, as the bet profitability is
- 3 38 r .apprxeq. - 0.0789 r , ##EQU00008##
and the rest are
- r 19 .apprxeq. - 0.0526 r . ##EQU00009##
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0045] A roulette gaming wheel has at least three concentric
components: [0046] a) a set of pockets for capturing a roulette
ball; [0047] b) a set of alphanumerics contiguous to the set of
pockets, with one alphanumeric available for each pocket; and
[0048] c) a track for allowing a roulette ball to spin around and
then to drop into one pocket when gravity causes the ball to fall
into a pocket; wherein, a wheel supporting the set of pockets spins
independently of the set of alphanumerics. A method of play of
roulette uses the novel gaming wheel of this technology.
[0049] In one method of play, the track and set of alphanumerics
are in a single integrated segment and the support for the pockets
is motor driven. A random outcome generator (e.g., random number
generator) provides a roulette spin outcome, the ball drops into a
moving pocket and the pocket with the ball in it is rotated into
alignment with the number in the set of alphanumerics so that it
appears that random movement of the rotating support alone created
the random ball drop outcome.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0050] FIG. 1 is a copy of an old image of PRIOR ART from the
18.sup.th Century regarding roulette wheel design.
[0051] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a gaming wheel
system according to the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 3 is a top view of a wheel system according to the
present technology, with the separately rotating alphanumeric
section and the wheel supporting pockets shown.
[0053] FIG. 4 is a side view of a wheel system according to the
present technology, with the separately rotating alphanumeric
section and the wheel supporting pockets shown.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0054] A roulette gaming wheel has at least three concentric
components: [0055] a. a set of pockets for capturing a roulette
ball; [0056] b. a set of alphanumerics contiguous to the set of
pockets, with one alphanumeric available for each pocket; and
[0057] c. a track for allowing a roulette ball to spin around and
then to drop into one pocket when gravity causes the ball to fall
into a pocket; wherein, a wheel supporting the set of pockets spins
independently of the set of alphanumerics. A method of play of
roulette uses the novel gaming wheel of this technology.
[0058] One aspect of the present technology that is particularly
useful in the play of roulette is the use of a gaming system in
which the only moveable elements during play of the game are the
drop ball and the central support wheel with the canoes therein.
The track and the alphanumerics remain stable (do not rotate)
during actual play of a game event. At least one benefit of this
system is that it becomes easier to replace individual portions of
the gaming system while prior art systems required replacement of
the track, the alphanumerics and the pockets any time there was
need to replace a single part.
[0059] Another aspect of the present technology is that, without
adversely affecting the quality of the random outcome, players may
have an enhanced expectation by being provided with a more easily
viewable set of alphanumerics that are not spinning, and may be
perceived more easily as the ball spins and the ball ultimately
dropped. It is important to note at this point that moving only one
element (the wheel retaining the pockets) versus two elements fixed
together (the alphanumerics and the set of pockets on a single
wheel) does not affect the randomness of the random event outcome
provided by the final ball drop into a single pocket. Moving the
numbers/letters/symbols of the alphanumerics in tandem (or even in
an unused process of spinning it counter-directional to the
movement of the set of pockets) does not adversely impact
randomness. At a minimum, chaos theory of the ball dropping would
prevent reproducibility of events under manual or even automated
initial spinning of the pocket-containing wheel and the initial
spinning of the roulette ball in the track. Any substantive
variation in randomness between the present invention and the prior
art is more illusory than substantive.
[0060] The gaming wheel of this technology preferably has alignment
stops are provided so that when the wheel supporting the set of
pockets stops spinning, each pocket is aligned with an alphanumeric
to identify each pocket. The alignment stops are intended to impose
alignment of the individual pockets with an individual
alphanumeric. The alignment should be only sufficiently specific so
as to leave no doubt as to what alphanumeric has resulted from the
event. Alignment of at least 75% of the pocket with a single
alphanumeric is sufficient, although alignment of at least 80%, at
least 85%, at least 90% or at least 95% is preferred to reduce the
possibility of any debate as to the outcome.
[0061] The alignment stops may be magnetic (e.g., parallel or
anti-parallel sets of magnets on the pocket wheel and the stable
alphanumeric support), friction stops (areas between the
alphanumerics and the pocket wheels where the wheel will be stopped
at higher friction points, and continue to spin at low or no
friction points), and force blocking stops (e.g., such as an
elastic post engaging inelastic posts separating the pockets and/or
the alphanumeric pattern, pegs with spacing between them on an
interior edge of one of the alphanumeric support and the pocket
supporting wheel and opposed pegs on the pocket supporting wheel
and alphanumeric support, respectively). More complicated systems
such as electronically extending pegs that are extended when a
sensor determines that the relative speed between the alphanumeric
support and the pocket supporting wheel had dropped to or below a
predetermined speed. These extending pegs and their receiving space
or opening are positioned to assure alignment of the pockets and
the alphanumerics as intended.
[0062] The gaming wheel may be constructed wherein there is
substantially no topography between individual alphanumerics that
would deflect a roulette ball or wherein there is substantial
topography between individual alphanumerics that would deflect a
roulette ball. The gaming wheel may have the track and the
alphanumerics are fixed so that neither can rotate relative to the
other. The fixing may be permanent or may be adjustable, as when
they are fixed by an adjustable lock so that neither the track nor
the alphanumerics can rotate relative to the other while the system
is locked and may be moved (manually or mechanically) while the
locks are disabled.
[0063] The gaming wheel is ordinarily set in, attached to, built
into or otherwise associated with a gaming table wherein a), b) and
c) are fixed to a gaming table having indicia of roulette outcomes
distributed on a surface of the gaming table. Where there is a
lockable system, it is preferred that the wheel supporting the
pockets cannot spin unless the adjustable lock is in a locked
position.
[0064] The distribution of the numbers (alphanumerics) on the
section with the alphanumeric array may be in modern or traditional
orientation (as described above and as known in the art, including
associated colors) or they may be distributed and aligned in
different orders and patterns. As it is the random number generator
that decides the results of the game outcome event, the pattern of
distribution of the alphanumeric frames on the wheels has no
bearing on game event outcomes. The pattern may be an ordered
numerical sequence (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . 36, 0 and 00), it may
be a distributional pattern (e.g., all even numbers, then all odd
numbers, separated by 0 and 00), color patterns (e.g., all or
packets of red and all or packets of black, with green 0 and 00
separating at least some packets), three series of twelve numbers
(e.g., 1, 2, . . . 12; 13, 14, 15, . . . 24; and 25, 26, 27 . . .
36, two of which are separated by 0 and 00 and the third packets
being contiguous or separated by a spurious or active 39.sup.th
symbol, or in a European style wheel, a spurious 38.sup.th symbol
or a special active symbol). These non-standard distributions are
enabled without even a potential alteration of game odds and
probabilities of outcomes because the random number generator
identifies the outcome and the processor aligns the ball drop
position with the RNG generated outcome alphanumeric.
[0065] The present technology may also include additional elements
that expand the methods that may be practiced within the generic
scope of invention enabled herein. The additional components may be
selected from the group consisting of a motor, a processor, a
random number generator, a sensor, step controls in the motor, a
position sensor associated with at least one of the motor, the
wheel supporting the pockets or canoes, and the support for the
alphanumerics. These additional and preferred components may
operate and be configured as further described herein.
[0066] In one embodiment of the gaming wheel, the wheel supporting
the set of pockets may be started manually or is attached to a
motor that moves the wheel supporting the set of pockets upon
direction of a processor. The croupier or the motor starts and
stops the wheel, or at least starts the wheel and the wheel
supporting the pockets then stops by friction or a braking system.
The gaming wheel and gaming wheel system may also have a random
number generator in communication with or embedded (as software or
hardware) with or in the processor. The gaming wheel system may
also have at least a sensor that recognizes presence of a roulette
ball in a particular pocket. A separate sensor and/or a step motor
and step motor control positions the wheel supporting the pockets
at an angular position relative to the static alphanumerics as
controlled by the processor. One sensor may recognize presence or
location of a roulette ball in a particular pocket. The gaming
wheel system processor is configured to control movement and
position of the wheel supporting the set of pockets. The sensor may
recognize an alignment of the particular pocket holding a roulette
ball with a particular number in the set of alphanumerics. The
particular number in the set of alphanumerics is a specific random
number within the set of alphanumerics that has been randomly
selected by the random number generator and communicated to the
processor that controls the motor. The motor is necessary to at
least finally position the pocket with the roulette ball resting
therein in alignment with the selected (by the random number
generator) alphanumeric, e.g., 0, 00, 1 . . . 36, or 0, 1 . . . 36
in Europe.
[0067] The preferred system operates as follows. The wheel
supporting the pockets is spun (it may be initiated manually or by
command to the motor (e.g., automatic, timed initiation by the
processor or button/touchscreen activation by a dealer/croupier or
player). Before the wheel is spun, or after the wheel has begun to
spin, a random number generator selects a random outcome of a
roulette game event outcome (e.g., a single number, including
color, within the group of traditional event outcomes of 0 (and 00
in the U.S.), 1, 2, 3, 4 . . . 36). The selected number outcome
(the event outcome) is communicated to the processor. The ball is
spun in the track and it drops in its traditional manner, except
for the fact that it passes over the concentric area where the
alphanumerics (e.g., the outcome numbers, or in alternative games
symbols, letters, Roman Numerals etc.) are present, which is also
separate from the independently rotating wheel supporting the
pockets. The roulette ball drops into a pocket, with the wheel
supporting the pockets moving with an angular velocity (rotating
concentrically within) with respect to the alphanumerics. A sensor
(within the rotating wheel or outside the wheel) identifies a
specific one of the pocket within which a ball resides. The
processor identifies that specific pocket position on the rotating
wheel and establishes its location relative to individual numbers
on the alphanumeric array. The motor controls the speed of the
rotation of the wheel supporting the pockets and adjusts the speed
in a natural manner (incrementally, slowly and with steady, smooth
and non-jerky deceleration) so as to position the pocket with the
ball residing therein in alignment with the position in the set of
the alphanumerics where the specific alphanumeric resides that was
randomly selected by the random number generator. As the
alphanumeric distribution and individual positions of the
individual alphanumerics are known, both in individual relative
terms and in spatial terms with respect to the sensors on the wheel
supporting the pockets. The processor may execute code to calculate
or select a single motor process that will decelerate and
eventually stop the rotating wheel in the required alphanumeric
alignment. There may be one or a set of speed control programs such
that when the speed of rotation of the wheel is sensed and
determined, and the position of the ball in the pocket is
identified and the position of the selected alphanumeric relative
to the ball in the pocket is determined, the one program or an
identified appropriate program may be executed to decelerate the
rotation of the wheel smoothly and align the ball in the pocket
with the specifically identified (randomly selected) alphanumeric
or specific roulette number. The deceleration should be smooth so
as to avoid the appearance of control over the wheel which a player
might consider as a fraudulent control.
[0068] The speed and position of the wheel supporting the pockets
is controlled at some point in the play of the game (e.g., either
from the moment the wheel has begun spinning or at a later time
when the motor engages and exercises control over the movement of
the wheel supporting the pockets). The processor is configured to
be able to sense the position of each of the numbers in the set of
alphanumerics. The processor is configured to control and identify
the position of the ball in the pocket, the specific pocket in
which a ball is present, the angular position of the specific
pocket with the ball therein and the relative position of the
specific pocket with the ball therein relative to the specific
alphanumeric that was selected by the random number generator.
[0069] The present technology also includes a method of providing a
random event outcome using the roulette gaming wheel described
herein, wherein the roulette ball is spun along the track with an
angular velocity that is the same relative to the track and to the
alphanumerics, and the roulette ball drops into a pocket to provide
the random outcome, which comprises selection of one alphanumeric
from the set of alphanumerics.
[0070] In practicing this method with one embodiment of the
lockable system, the alphanumerics are on an alphanumeric wheel,
the alphanumeric wheel is unlocked from the track, the alphanumeric
wheel is rotated relative to the track, and the alphanumeric wheel
is then locked against relative rotation between the alphanumeric
wheel and the track.
[0071] The alphanumerics may be on an alphanumeric wheel, the
alphanumeric wheel may be unlocked from the track, the alphanumeric
wheel may be rotated relative to the track, and the alphanumeric
wheel may then be locked against relative rotation between the
alphanumeric wheel and the track. In the method of providing a
random event outcome using the roulette gaming wheels described
herein, the roulette ball may be spun along the track with an
angular velocity that is the same relative to the track and to the
alphanumerics, and the roulette ball drops into a pocket to provide
the random outcome, the random outcome being selection of one
alphanumeric from the set of alphanumerics.
[0072] A preferred method embodies a processor that controls a
motor that moves the wheel supporting the pockets. The motor may be
activated by either initially manually spinning the wheel (as a
triggering mechanism for starting the motor) or by a more visible
triggering mechanism by a croupier (such as a button or
touchscreen) or by timed initiation by the processor, e.g., the
processor starting the spin event at specific or nearly regular
time intervals of every 2, 3 or 4 (by way of examples) minutes. The
processor may further be associated with or have embedded therein a
random number generator and the random number generator selects a
random number that corresponds to a single alphanumeric within the
set of alphanumerics. The set of alphanumerics consists of numbers
may represent a complete set of numbers on a roulette wheel.
[0073] The processor may control the motor to stop rotation of the
wheel supporting the set of pockets. The stopping process may be
effected in a number of different and commercially functional ways.
The goal of the process is that the processor controls the motor to
direct movement and position of the wheel supporting the pockets so
that the pocket containing a ball is stopped and positioned in
alignment with a single alphanumeric that corresponds with the
alphanumeric selected by the random number generator to be an event
outcome. For example, the process may use the apparatus described
herein in the following manner, with a typical roulette game being
exemplified, even though other alphanumerics besides numbers may be
used.
[0074] After final wagers have been placed on an underlying
roulette round of play, a croupier or the processor spins a wheel
containing the pockets for capturing a roulette ball. This wheel
spins and has angular velocity of the pockets that is a positive
angular velocity with respect to a wheel or segment that displays
all of the alphanumerics (e.g., the numbers 0, 0 and 00, 1, 2, 3,
4, . . . 36) ordinarily used in the underlying game, especially
where the game is standard roulette. The interior dimensions of the
frames displaying an individual alphanumeric are approximately the
same dimension as the exterior dimension of a pocket to allow
alignment of single pockets with a single alphanumeric. As the
wheel supporting pockets spins, a roulette ball is mechanically
released or put into play by a croupier. The ball is typically spun
counter-rotationally (with a negative angular velocity) with
respect to the direction of motion of the wheel supporting the
canoes. This is desirable but not essential. At some point in the
play of the round of roulette (e.g., after conclusion of a previous
round and before actual placement of wagers in the next round,
while wagers are being placed in the next round, after all wagers
have been placed and the wagering has been locked, before the wheel
supporting the pockets has been spun, after the wheel supporting
the pockets has been spun, before the roulette ball has been
released, or after the roulette ball has been released and before
it falls into a pocket), the random number generator selects a
random outcome for the game of roulette. The alphanumeric outcome
selected by the random number generator is known by the processor
(stored in some level of memory). The alphanumeric outcome is
associated by the processor with a specific equivalent alphanumeric
displayed on the wheel system adjacent the wheel supporting the
pockets. Sensors and/or execution of code associating known
positions of the motor drive shaft orientation and the fixed
position of the alphanumerics in the system identify the relative
position (even though in a kinetic or moving state) between the
pockets (or a single pocket, as explained in greater detail herein)
and the specific selected alphanumeric. When the roulette ball
drops into a single pocket, a sensor identifies the specific pocket
into which a ball has fallen. This sensor may be embedded within or
immediately adjacent to the individual pockets, may be distally
located, may be a camera, a position sensor, a pressure plate
indicator, may be a photo-optic system, infrared sensor, and the
like. Once location within a specific pocket is known, the sensed
information or signal is electronically transmitted to the
processor which then computes the relative position of the already
known specific alphanumeric on the array of alphanumerics relative
to the position of the specific pocket in which a ball resides.
[0075] The processor may begin control of the speed of the rotating
wheel supporting canoes immediately after or shortly after the ball
drop has been sensed and the position identified. Alternatively,
the processor may wait until a specific rotational speed is sensed
that results from internal drag, friction and natural deceleration
before exercising control over the speed and pocket orientation of
the wheel supporting the pockets. The processor may execute
programs to determine a specific procedure for slowing rotation so
that the pocket with the ball therein is positioned in alignment
with the position of the predetermined (by the random number
generator) alphanumeric, or may select existing and stored
programs. In the latter case, there could be about 37 (with only 0
present) or 38 (with 0 and 00 present) predetermined and stored
programs for proper alignment of the pocket with the ball and the
predetermined alphanumeric. The processor would determine the
position of the ball in a pocket at a determined and preselected
angular velocity of the wheel, and select a program that would stop
rotation of the wheel at the necessary alignment within a
reasonable amount of time. The use of a camera can facilitate the
process by identifying the specific pocket containing the ball,
sending signals of that pocket position and speed and location of
the preselected alphanumeric (or using the processor stored
knowledge of that fixed position), and the processor smoothly
slowing the rotation within defined parameters so that when the
ball in a pocket approaches the alphanumeric at a speed within
predetermined parameters (e.g., based on angular velocity measured
as frames of individual alphanumerics/second) such as greater than
2 or 3 frames/second and fewer than 8 or 10 frames/second), the
processor will smoothly slow down the rotation to place the
pocketed ball in alignment with the correct alphanumeric. The range
of parameters is selected so that the speed is sufficiently large
as the observer would expect the ball in the pocket to be able to
have reached the ultimate alphanumeric at that speed (without
observable speeding or maintaining of speed by the motor) and the
end point of the range is such that the rotational speed is
sufficiently slow so that it does not appear that the rotation is
abruptly and artificially stopped at the predetermined ultimate
alphanumeric. An objective of this preferred method is to avoid any
sense by a player that the game is rigged by an unnatural movement
resulting in the alignment of the ball and a number. For example,
if the angular velocity of the wheel supporting the pockets was 10
frames/second and the motor stopped the rotation of that wheel in 5
frames, the deceleration would appear to be so unnatural as for
players to raise concerns about the artificial and imposed
selection of that particular number.
[0076] On the other hand, by being able to control the speed of
deceleration and having the ultimate event outcome already known,
the croupier and system may already have determined wager
resolution outcomes in advance of the wheel finally stopping.
Published US Patent Application Documents Nos. 20020090988;
20040116177; 20070026930; and 20080113706 describe roulette table
systems having terminal wagering systems and this technology can be
used in combination with the present novel technology. All
references cited herein are incorporated in their entirety by
reference.
[0077] FIG. 2 shows a perspective exploded view of a gaming wheel
system according to the present technology. The entire wheel system
100 is shown in an exploded view. The individual elements of the
entire wheel system are identified by the legend below: [0078] 102
is the handle [0079] 104 is the wheel with pockets [0080] 106 is
the individual pockets [0081] 108 is a non-functional central area
[0082] 110 is a hole for the handle [0083] 112 is a sensor panel at
the bottom of the array of pockets [0084] 120 is the array of
alphanumerics on a wheel [0085] 122 is an individual frame for an
alphanumeric [0086] 124 is an opening to engage the wheel of
pockets 104 [0087] 130 is the track [0088] 132 is an opening to
engage and surround the wheel with the array of alphanumerics
[0089] 140 is a step motor [0090] 142 is a post to engage the wheel
with pockets [0091] 148 is a communication link to a processor 150
[0092] 150 is the processor in communication with the motor 140
[0093] The communication link 148 may be hardwired or wireless.
Similarly communication and signals from the processor 150 to the
motor 140 may be hardwired or wireless. The individual frames for
the alphanumerics 122 may contain individual alphanumeric symbols
or images as explained herein.
[0094] The sensor panel 112 is shown as a strip of pressure plates
that can sense the weight of a roulette ball thereon. Alternative
systems could be any of those described above or a distal camera
(not shown). A preferred system would be an optical sensor system
embedded in the wheel supporting the pockets. A system or
technology such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,884 (Breeding)
can be adapted or modified by one skilled in the art to perform as
the ball sensor in the present technology.
[0095] FIG. 3 is a top view of a wheel system 300 according to the
present technology, with the separately rotating alphanumeric
section and the wheel supporting pockets shown.
[0096] FIG. 4 is a side view of a wheel system 300 according to the
present technology, with the separately rotating alphanumeric
section and the wheel supporting pockets shown.
[0097] Although the present disclosure emphasizes the physical
wheel, it may be incorporated into the electronic roulette and
wheel games that are presently used, and some of which are
described and referenced herein. The use of a virtual display of
the wheel with a fixed alphanumeric array is also capable of
providing some of the benefits to players contributed in a physical
wheel system. The Random Number Generator would provide the game
event outcome (the number), but now the virtual alphanumeric array
would appear to be static and the virtual ball and virtual pockets
in a virtual wheel would rotate.
[0098] It is also possible that the physical wheel system can be
used as an internet or local network source of event outcomes. The
physical wheel can be videoed and on-line wagering transacted using
the images captured from the physical wheel of the present
technology. Again, the simple, more readily viewable wheels of the
present technology adds value even over the internet in the play of
roulette.
[0099] Other variations in the design and implementation of the
present technology can be performed by the skilled artisan while
remaining within the scope of the technology enabled herein.
* * * * *