Abstract:
A casino dice game includes the steps of indicating to a plurality of gamers possible outcomes of at least one roll of two or more die. In addition, wagering odds for each outcome are set. Each of the plurality of gamers makes one or more wagers on the outcome of the roll and one gamer jumbles the two or more die. The face-up number on each die is determined, and distributing payouts according to the wagers made and the outcome of the jumbled dice is completed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to the field of gaming, and more specifically to the field of games of chance using dice involving wagering.  
         [0002]     Games of chance, and particularly betting games, must have certain attributes to make them attractive to players. Ideally, such games should have reasonable odds only slightly in favor of the house or bank. Further, such games should be easy to learn, understand, and play. Such games should also be exciting for all of those playing, and ideally pit each player against the house as opposed to against each other. Games with a large potential jackpot or top payout are often more exciting than those with a relatively small maximum payout.  
         [0003]     Such games of chance must also have certain attributes to make them attractive to the house. Such games must have a suitable house advantage, and preferably a relatively small cycle time between rounds of betting so that more rounds of the game can be played in any given period of time. Such games must be easy to administrate, learn, and play. Further, such games should attract a large number of players per table, and allow for excitement to build as a player does progressively better. The equipment for such games must be easy to maintain and is preferably inexpensive to manufacture.  
         [0004]     The most popular casino betting games have all of these attributes to varying degrees. For example, blackjack, or  21 , is a game that can attract up to seven players per table, is relatively simple to administrate, utilizes an inexpensive deck of cards and a screen printed felt tabletop that is easy to maintain or replace, and provides relatively quick cycle time between rounds of betting. The house advantage for blackjack varies with the strategy used by each player, but is always slightly in favor of the house. However, the maximum payout on any particular original bet of $1 is only $1.50, or 1.5 to 1. As such, only so much excitement can be generated by blackjack, and one usually does not observe large excited crowds huddled around the blackjack table.  
         [0005]     In roulette, the maximum payout is 35 to 1, which is over twenty times that of blackjack and therefore more exciting to many people. However, the roulette wheel itself is relatively expensive to purchase and maintain, typically $6,000, and the average cycle time per round is relatively high. Further, roulette only builds excitement for a short time, that is, when the ball is just about to land in the roulette wheel.  
         [0006]     Craps is a game that can generate a tremendous amount of excitement among the players and nearby observers. Such excitement is due, in part, to the fact that other players are betting on the chance outcome of a pair of dice thrown by another of the players. As such, there tends to be a higher degree of supportive vocalization from the players not throwing the dice. Sometimes loud commotion from the players often results in the craps tables being jammed to capacity. Further, the rules in craps allow for the excitement to build as the player continues to roll the dice. On the downside, craps is a somewhat difficult game to learn, understand, and play, and as a result is not appreciated by many gamblers. Further, the maximum payouts for craps are not nearly as high as, for example, roulette.  
         [0007]     Several dice games are taught in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,508 to Wood on Jan. 26, 1982 teaches a die game that is administered by a dealer and allows for a number of players simultaneously. Other dice games are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,938 to Gray on Jan. 13, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,559 to Page on Jul. 28, 1992; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,114 to Carroll on Jan. 27, 1981. While such prior art games have several of the advantages listed above, none have all of the advantages of the present invention.  
         [0008]     Clearly, then, there is a need for a dice game that allows for a continual building of excitement from the players and attracts a large number of players and observers. Such a needed game would have reasonable odds, and would be easy to learn, understand, and play. Such a needed game would also be exciting for all of those playing, and would pit each player against the house as opposed to against each other. Such a game would have a relatively large potential top payout for added excitement. Preferably, such a game would have a relatively small cycle time between rounds so that more rounds of the game can be played in any given period of time. The game would be easy to administrate and require relatively few decisions on the part of the player. Further, the equipment for such a game must be easy to maintain and is preferably inexpensive to manufacture. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a dice game that is easily understood and enjoyable to play.  
         [0010]     It is another advantage of the invention to provide a dice game that is easily learned by those without specialized knowledge.  
         [0011]     It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a dice game that has easily understood rules for wagering.  
         [0012]     It is an additional advantage of the present invention to provide a casino dice game that generates enthusiasm from players, the house and onlookers.  
         [0013]     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a casino dice game comprises the steps of indicating to a plurality of gamers possible outcomes of at least one roll of two or more die, setting wagering odds for each outcome, having each of the plurality of gamers make one or more wagers on the outcome of the roll, having one gamer jumble the two or more die, determining the face-up number on each die, and distributing payouts according to the wagers made and the outcome of the jumbled dice.  
         [0014]     Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is an overhead view of a casino dice gaming table in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of each players betting station.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a separate gaming section available to all players in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a second separate section available to all gamers in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of another separate section available to all gamers in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the pit into which the dice are thrown in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is and enlarged view of a display board in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is an alternate embodiment of a casino dice gaming table in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]     Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Various aspects of the invention may be inverted, or changed in reference to specific part shape and detail, part location, or part composition. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.  
         [0025]     Turning first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an overhead view of a casino dice gaming table  10  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Casino Dice gaming table  10  has a plurality of gaming stations  13 , one each for the maximum number of intended players or gamers. In the illustrated embodiment, there are nine gaming stations  13 , one each for nine players.  FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of each players betting station  13 . As can be seen in connection with gaming station  13  of  FIG. 2 , the outcomes of a jumbled role of two dice is shown along the periphery of the gaming station  13 . That is, each of the outcomes 2 through 12 is shown.  
         [0026]     Gaming table  10  also includes high/low even/odd betting area  20 , where particular bets on groups of dice roll outcomes may be placed, as is described in more detail in connection with  FIG. 3 , below. Further, gaming table  10  includes doubles betting area  30 , where particular bets on specific or groups of dice roll outcomes may be placed, as explained in more detail in connection with  FIG. 4 , below. In addition, gaming table  10  includes combination betting area  40 , where particular bets on groups of dice roll outcomes may be placed, as is explained in more detail in connection with  FIG. 5 , below.  
         [0027]     Gaming table  10  further includes a pit area  50  where the dice are thrown. Pit  50  is described in more detail in connection with  FIG. 6 , below. The dice game in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a display area  60 , as described in more detain in connection with  FIG. 7 , below. Display area  60  may be connected or separate from gaming table  10 .  
         [0028]     Turning in more detail to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an enlarged view of each player&#39;s betting station  13 . As illustrated, each outcome of two thrown dice are shown along the inside periphery of the station  13  at betting locations  15 , i.e., the outcomes 2 through 12. The center number eight indicates that this is betting station  13  for player number  8 , though each player&#39;s betting station  13  is the same, excepting for the center number. During game play, it is anticipated that player eight, for example, would place a chip representing a wager on a particular number or several numbers. After the dice were thrown, which may be done by any player in turn, player eight would win in accordance with the odds set by the gaming house if the dice showed the number that player bet upon. Otherwise, it is anticipated that player eight would lose his wager. It is anticipated in the illustrated embodiment that a wager must be placed at each betting station  13  and that the minimum wager would be $5.00, though the particular betting rules may be modified and not depart from the present invention. At the beginning of player eight&#39;s turn, each player places their wager in their betting station  13  and in accordance with additional bets as described below. It is noted that not all nine betting stations  13  need be occupied, as the players are not playing against each other.  
         [0029]     As an example, the payoff odds of the outcomes 2 and 12 may be set at 30 to 1; the payoff odds of the outcomes 3 and 11 may be set at 15 to 1; the payoff odds of outcomes 4 and 10 may be set at 10 to 1; the payoff odds of outcomes 5 and 9 may be set at 7 to 1; the payoff odds of outcomes 6 and 8 may be set at 5 to 1; and the payoff odds of outcome 7 may be set at 4 to 1.  
         [0030]     It is contemplated in the illustrated embodiment of the present casino dice game that each player takes a turn in succession. Each player&#39;s turn continues with dice rolls until the player no longer rolls a seven. Bets are placed before each roll.  
         [0031]     Continuing attention to  FIG. 2 , betting station  13  has shown a jackpot wager location  17 . In the present embodiment, each of the players may place a jackpot wager  17  of $1.00. The jackpot wagers of all players are collected and a percentage of the total jackpot wagers are separated as a jackpot. When any player has a succession of rolls, such as a succession of rolls of seven in the preferred embodiment, during the player&#39;s turn at throwing the dice, a predetermined amount of the jackpot is paid to each player that placed the jackpot wager  17  prior to the player&#39;s turn. In the anticipated embodiment, about 76 percent of the jackpot wager bets are placed in the jackpot. Players place the jackpot wager  17  before the turn of any player. If that player rolls three sevens in a row, each player that placed a jackpot wager  17  before the rolling player&#39;s first roll receive $25.00 from the jackpot amount. In the player rolls four sevens, each player that placed a jackpot wager  17  before the rolling player&#39;s first roll would receive $100.00. For five sevens, each jackpot wager  17  player would receive $500.00. For six sevens, each jackpot wager  17  player would receive $2,500.00. For seven sevens, each jackpot wager  17  player would split the jackpot in equal amounts. It is also contemplated that in the preferred embodiment, the jackpot would be artificially set to not fall below a pre-determined amount, e.g., $15,000.00.  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a separate gaming section available to all players in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this betting section  20 , each player may bet on the outcome of high  21 , low  23 , even  25  and/or odd  27 , with each of these outcomes having payoff odds of 1 to 1 in the illustrated embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the bet of high  21  is a bet that the dice thrown show one of the numbers 8 through 12; the bet of low  23  is a bet that the dice thrown show one of the numbers 2 through 6; the bet of even  25  is a bet that the dice thrown show one of the numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12; and a bet of odd  27  is a bet that the dice thrown show one of the numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11. Each of bet high  21 , low  23 , even  25  and odd  27  have nine betting places, one for each of the nine players of gaming table  10 .  
         [0033]     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown an enlarged view of a separate doubles betting section  30  available to all players in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this section, each player may wager on particular outcomes of the dice having the same number showing, or doubles, i.e., 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, etc. In the doubles betting section  30 , each player may bet on the outcome of double 1&#39;s  31 , double 2&#39;s  32 , double 3&#39;s  33 , double 4&#39;s  34 , double 5&#39;s  35 , and/or double 6&#39;s  37 , each with a payoff odds of 30 to 1, or any double  37  with a payoff odds of 4 to 1. in the illustrated embodiment, though payoff odds may be changed without departing from the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the bet of double 1&#39;s  31  is a bet that the dice thrown both show a 1; the bet of double 2&#39;s  32  is a bet that the dice thrown both show a 2; the bet of double 3&#39;s  33  is a bet that the dice thrown both show a 3; the bet of double 4&#39;s  34  is a bet that the dice thrown both show a 4; the bet of double 5&#39;s  35  is a bet that the dice thrown both show a 5; the bet of double 6&#39;s  36  is a bet that the dice thrown both show a 6; and the bet of any doubles  37  is a bet that the dice thrown show 2&#39;s, 3&#39;s, 4&#39;s, 5&#39;s, or 6&#39;s. Each doubles bet  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 , and  37  have nine betting places, one for each of the nine players of gaming table  10 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of combination betting area  40 , another separate section available to all gamers in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this combination betting section  40 , each player may bet on the outcome of combination C 1  at  43  and/or C 2  at  45 , with each of these outcomes having payoff odds of 1 to 1 in the illustrated embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the bet of C 1  at  43  is a bet that the dice thrown show one of the numbers 2, 4, 6, 9, or 11; and the bet of C 2  at  45  is a bet that the dice thrown show one of the numbers 3, 5, 8, 10, or 12. Each of bet C 1  at  43  and C 2  at  45  have nine betting places, one for each of the nine players of gaming table  10 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of pit  50  into which the dice are thrown in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pit  50  may be of any particular circumference, and in the embodiment shown is approximately 3 feet in diameter and has a downward sloping conical portion shaped edge  51 , sloping into a holding area  53  to retain the thrown dice to urge the dice onto holding area  53 . In the illustrated form, pit  20  has along edge  51  the payoff odds of a particular outcome of the two thrown dice, as well as the payoffs for each of three, four, five, six and seven consecutively thrown sevens. It will be appreciated that the size, shape, written indicia, etc. are of no consequence to the present invention, though the preferred embodiments includes such features. In addition, camera  55  may be positioned to facilitate viewing and recording of the dice throws in pit  50 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of display board  60  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Display board  60  may have any of a variety of information shown thereon. In the preferred embodiment, there is displayed the last several rolls of the dice  63 , for example the last 10 rolls. In the illustrated embodiment, the rolls are shown as dice depicting the number of dots on the face of each thrown die, and the total of the two dice. In addition, display  60  shows the jackpot amount  65  and depicts at  67  the payoff odds for throwing each of the outcomes 2 through 12, as well as the payoff amounts for the several successive rolls of seven, as explained above. In addition, display  60  will show the current roll  69  in real-time, i.e., a live depiction of the current roller&#39;s roll of the dice by way of camera  55 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is an alternate embodiment of a casino dice gaming table in accordance with the present invention.  FIG. 8  shows a gaming table for 14 players, rather than the table of  FIG. 1  showing a table for nine players. In other respects, the table, though differing in layout, is in playing respects the same as described above.  
         [0038]     It will be appreciated that many things may change and not depart for the present invention, such as the number of players, the payoff odds, the number of dice used and therefore the outcomes of rolls, and the available outcome wager selections, among others.  
         [0039]     While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.