Patent Publication Number: US-6209874-B1

Title: Method of playing a game with three dice

Description:
This patent application is a continuation-in-part of a patent application having Ser. No. 09/274192 filed on Mar. 22, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention is in the general field of gaming and, more particularly, is a game where a player wagers upon the outcome of a roll of three dice. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     In prehistoric times, a witch doctor engaged in rituals that included throwing knucklebones of sheep upon the ground to read the future. Over many centuries, the knucklebones evolved into dice and the rituals evolved into dice games. 
     Chuck-a-Luck is an early type of dice game that preferably utilizes a wire cage wherein three captive dice are tossed. The cage is shaped like an hour glass with covered ends. The cage has a narrow waist connected to an encircling metal band. The band is rotatably connected to a shaft. 
     The dice are tossed by rotating the cage about the shaft. Thereafter, the dice are allowed to come to rest on an end of the cage. Alternatively, the dice can be tossed in a dice cup and cast upon a playing surface which is a feature of Chuck-a-Luck. 
     The playing surface carries an image of six squares that are aligned side by side. Within the six squares is lettering of the numbers one through six, respectively. Accordingly, each of the squares corresponds to the face of a die. Alternatively, the six squares includes a showing of the six sides of a die. 
     A player places a wager within any of the six squares. Thereafter, the three dice are tossed. When the cage comes to rest with a face-up side of one of the dice corresponding to a square where the wager is placed, the player wins a one to one payout. When two of the dice each have a face-up side that corresponds, the player wins a two to one payout. When the three dice each have a face-up side that corresponds, the player wins a three to one payout. 
     From the explanation given hereinbefore, Chuck-a-Luck is a simple game of a type played at a county fair where the player makes one type of wager. Moreover, Chuck-Luck is not a game where large payouts-are made to a winning player. Because the player makes only one type of wager and there are no large payouts, Chuck-a-Luck could not, for example, maintain the interest of players in a casino. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is a casino game where a player wagers on the outcome of a roll of three dice. 
     Another object of the invention is a casino game where a player wagers on the outcome of a representation of a roll of three dice as displayed by a gaming machine. 
     Another object of the invention is a dice game which can maintain the interest of players in a casino. 
     Another object of the invention is a dice game that provides large payouts to a winning player. 
     According to the present invention, three dice, or a representation thereof displayed by a gaming machine, are colored red, blue and white, respectively. A player wagers on the outcome of a roll of three dice or a representation thereof displayed by a gaming machine. 
     A first type of wager is on the rolling of the dice resulting in the face-up sides of a selected two thereof indicating a number selected by the player. 
     A second type of wager is on the rolling of the dice resulting in the face-up side of a selected one thereof indicating a number selected by the player. 
     A third type of wager is on the rolling of the dice resulting in the face-up side of a selected one thereof indicating a number that is alternatively higher or lower than numbers indicated by the face-up sides of the other two dice. 
     A fourth type of wager is on the rolling of the dice resulting in the face-up sides thereof all indicating a number selected by the player. 
     A fifth type of wager is on the rolling of the dice resulting in the face-up sides thereof indicating numbers having a sum which is a total number selected by the player. 
     A sixth type of wager is on the sum of numbers indicated by the face-up sides of the dice being alternatively an odd number or an even number. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention should be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The sole FIGURE herein is a plan view of a surface of a gaming machine whereon a game is played with three dice. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In this embodiment, a player of a dice game may make any of six types of wagers relating to the face-up sides of three dice after the dice are rolled. Preferably, the game is played in a casino. 
     As shown in the drawing, a representation of face-up sides of dice  10 ,  11 ,  12  is provided on a video display  13  mounted upon a control panel  14  of a gaming machine. The dice  10 - 12  are colored red, blue and white, respectively. Because of the colors, the dice  10 - 12  are distinguishable from each other. 
     Additionally mounted on the control panel  14  is a pushbutton switch  16  with a lens cover that carries lettering of the word, push. After the player makes a wager, the player depresses the switch  16 . 
     In response to a depression of the switch  16 , the display  13  provides a representation of the face-up sides of the dice  10 - 12  as having been randomly changed. The random changing of the face-up sides of dice is commonly referred to as rolling the dice. 
     The currency of a wager is a unit of credit. A visual indication of the player&#39;s available units of credit is displayed on a readout  18  of any suitable type that is mounted on the control panel  14 . Units of credit are explained more fully hereinafter. 
     A first type of wager is on the rolling of the dice  10 - 12  resulting in the face-up sides of a selected two thereof indicating a number in the range of one through six. A pushbutton switch matrix  20  is used in connection with the first type of wager. The matrix  20  includes switches with lens covers that respectively carry lettered entries which are given as: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 RB1 
                 RB2 
                 RB3 
                 RB4 
                 RB5 
                 RB6 
               
               
                   
                 RW1 
                 RW2 
                 RW3 
                 RW4 
                 RW5 
                 RW6 
               
               
                   
                 WB1 
                 WB2 
                 WB3 
                 WB4 
                 WB5 
                 WB6 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The player makes the first type of wager by depressing a switch of the matrix  20 . A lettered portion of an exemplary entry on the lens cover of the depressed matrix  20  switch is representative of the colors of two of the dice  10 - 12 . A numeric suffix of the exemplary matrix  20  entry is a number in the range of one through six. The player wins the first type of wager when the dice  10 - 12  are rolled and the two of the dice  10 - 12  represented by the lettered portion of the exemplary matrix  20  entry indicates its numeric suffix. 
     A wager on the face-up sides of the dice  10 ,  11  both indicating the number, three, for example, is made by the player depressing a switch  22  of the matrix  20  as indicated by the lens cover of the switch  22  carrying the lettering of the entry, RB3. 
     The lens cover of the switch  22  additionally has a rectangle  22 A marked thereon. The marking of the rectangle  22 A is exemplary of rectangles marked on lens covers of all switches of the matrix  20 . 
     The lens cover of the switch  22  becomes illuminated in response to the switch  22  being depressed. Pushbutton switches with lens covers that become illuminated in response to being depressed are well known to those skilled in the art. 
     Depressing the switch  22  causes a display of lettering of the number, one, within the rectangle  22 A. Pushbutton switches that provide a display of lettering in response to being depressed are well known to those skilled in the art. 
     In further response to depressing the switch  22 , the number of available units of credit is decremented by one. In other words, by depressing the switch  22  once, the player wagers one unit of credit on the rolling of the dice  10 - 12  resulting in the face-up sides of the dice  10 ,  11  to both indicating the number, three. 
     When the switch  22  is depressed more than once, lettering of the number of times it is depressed is displayed within the rectangle  22 A and the number of available units of credit is correspondingly decremented. Therefore, the wager on the rolling of the dice  10 - 12  resulting in the face-up sides of the dice  10 ,  11  both indicating the number, three, is successively increased by successively depressing the switch  22 . After a desired number of units of credit are wagered, the player depresses the switch  16 , thereby causing a rolling of the dice  10 - 12 . 
     It should be understood that a game maintains a favorable competitive position in a gaming environment when the casino makes as large a payout as practical to a winning player while providing a reasonable profit margin to the casino. The probability of the rolling of the dice  10 - 12  resulting in the face-up sides of the selected two thereof indicating a given number is 1 in 36. Preferably, the casino pays a thirty to one payout to a player who wins the wager on the face-up sides of a selected two of the dice  10 - 12  indicating the number, thereby making a substantial payout to a winning player and providing a reasonable profit margin to the casino. 
     A second-type of wager is on the rolling of the dice  10 - 12  resulting in the face-up side of a selected one thereof indicating a number selected by the player. A pushbutton switch matrix  24  is used in connection with the second type of wager. The matrix  24  includes switches with lens covers that respectively carry lettered entries which are given as: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 R1 
                 R2 
                 R3 
                 R4 
                 R5 
                 R6 
               
               
                   
                 B1 
                 B2 
                 B3 
                 B4 
                 B5 
                 B6 
               
               
                   
                 W1 
                 W2 
                 W3 
                 W4 
                 W5 
                 W6 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The player makes the second type of wager by depressing a switch of the matrix  24 . A letter included in an exemplary entry on the lens cover of the depressed matrix  24  switch is representative of the color of the selected one of the dice  10 - 12 . A numeric suffix of the exemplary matrix  24  entry is a number in the range of one through six. The player wins the second type of wager when the dice  10 - 12  are rolled and the one of the dice  10 - 12  represented by the lettered portion of the exemplary matrix  24  entry indicates its numeric suffix. 
     A wager on the face-up side of the die  10  indicating the number, three, for example, is made by the player depressing a switch  26  of the matrix  24  as indicated by the lens cover of the switch  26  carrying the lettering of the entry, R3. 
     The lens cover of the switch  26  additionally has a rectangle  26 A marked thereon which is similar in function to the rectangle  22 A described hereinbefore. Moreover, the matrix  24  switches are illuminated in a manner similar to the illumination of the matrix  20  switches. 
     The probability of the rolling of the dice  10 - 12  resulting in the face-up side of a selected one thereof indicating a given number, is 1 in 6. Preferably, the casino pays a 4 to one payout to a player who wins the second type of wager, thereby making a substantial payout to a winning player and providing a reasonable profit margin to the casino. 
     A third type of wager is on the rolling of the dice  10 - 12  resulting in the face-up side of a selected one thereof indicating a number that is alternatively higher or lower than numbers indicated by the face-up sides of the other two of the dice  10 - 12 . A group of pushbutton switches  28 - 32 , mounted on the control panel  14 , are used in connection with the third type of wager. 
     Depressing the switch  29 , for example, results in a high blue wager whereby one credit unit is wagered that the rolling of the dice  10 - 12  results in the face-up side of the die  11  (the blue die) indicating a number that is higher than numbers indicated by the dice  10 ,  12  (the red and the white dice). Additionally, the player can make high red and high white wagers as well as low red, low blue and low white wagers. 
     Depressing the switch  31 , for example, results in a low red wager whereby one credit unit is wagered that the rolling of the dice  10 - 12  results in the face-up side of the die  10  (the red die) indicating a number that is lower than numbers indicated by the dice  11 ,  12  (the blue and the white dice). 
     Lens covers of the switches  28 - 33  have rectangles  28 A- 33 A, respectively, marked thereon which are similar in function to the rectangle  22 A described hereinbefore. Moreover, the lens covers of the switches  28 - 33  are illuminated in a manner similar to the illumination of the lens covers of the matrix  20  switches. 
     When any of the switches  28 - 33  is depressed more than once, lettering of the number of times it is depressed is displayed in rectangles  28 A- 33 A, respectively, of the switches  28 - 33 . Displays within the rectangles  28 A- 33 A are similar to the display within the rectangle  22 A described hereinbefore. Preferably, the casino makes a four to one payout to a winner of a high wager and to a winner of a low wager. 
     A fourth type of wager is on the rolling of the dice  10 - 12  resulting in the face-up sides thereof indicating a number in the range of one through six. Pushbutton switches  34 - 39 , mounted on the control panel  14 , are used in connection with the fourth type of wager. The switches  34 - 39  have lens covers that respectively carry lettered entries which are given as: 
     RBW1 RBW2 RBW3 RBW4 RBW5 RBW6 
     A wager on the rolling of the dice  10 - 12  causing the face-up sides thereof to all indicate the number three, for example, is selected by the player depressing the switch  36  which has the lens cover that carries the lettering of a numeric suffix, three. The probability of the dice  10 - 12  all indicating the number three (or any other number), is 1 in 216. 
     In this embodiment, the casino pays a one hundred fifty to one payout to a player who wins the wager on the face-up sides of the dice  10 - 12  all indicating the number, three, thereby making a substantial payout to a winning player and providing a reasonable profit margin to the casino. 
     Lens covers of the switches  34 - 39  have rectangles  34 A- 39 A, respectively, marked thereon which are similar in function to the rectangle  22 A described hereinbefore. Moreover, the lens covers of the switches  34 - 39  are illuminated in a manner similar to the illumination of the lens covers of the matrix  20  switches. 
     A fifth type of wager is on the rolling of the dice  10 - 12  resulting in face-up sides thereof indicating numbers having a sum which is a total number selected by the player. A group of pushbutton switches  40 - 53 , mounted side by side on the control panel  14 , are used in connection with the fifth type of wager. 
     Each of the switches  40 - 53  has a lens cover that carries lettering of a total number. The range of the total numbers is four through seventeen. The player selects a total number by depressing one of the switches  40 - 53 . The total number fifteen, for example, is selected by the player depressing the switch  45 . 
     The probability of the rolling of the dice  10 - 12  resulting in the total number, fifteen, is 10 in 216. In this embodiment, the casino pays a fifteen to one payout to a player who wins the wager on the total number, fifteen, thereby making a substantial payout to a winning player and providing a reasonable profit margin to the casino. In a manner similar to that described hereinbefore, others of the switches  40 - 53  may be depressed to make a wager on a total number other than fifteen. 
     The probability of a roll of the dice resulting in a total number and payouts to the winning player are in accordance with a table which is given as: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Total Number 
                 Probability 
                 Payout 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 4, 17 
                  3/216 
                 60:1 
               
               
                 5, 16 
                  6/216 
                 25:1 
               
               
                 6, 15 
                 10/216 
                 15:1 
               
               
                 7, 14 
                 15/216 
                 12:1 
               
               
                 8, 13 
                 21/216 
                  9:1 
               
               
                 9, 12 
                 25/216 
                  7:1 
               
               
                 10, 11  
                 27/216 
                  6:1 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Lens covers of the switches  40 - 53  have rectangles  40 A- 53 A, respectively, marked thereon which are similar in function to the rectangle  22 A described hereinbefore. Moreover, the lens covers of the switches  40 - 53  are illuminated in a manner similar to the illumination of the lens covers of matrix  20  switches. 
     A sixth type of wager is on the sum of numbers indicated by the face-up sides of the dice  10 - 12  being alternatively an odd number or an even number. Pushbutton switches  54 ,  56 , mounted on the control panel  14  are used in connection with the sixth type of wager. More particularly, the player wagers that the sum is odd by depressing the switch  54 . The wager that the sum is even is made by depressing the switch  56 . 
     The sum being odd and the sum being even are equally probable events. In this embodiment, the casino pays a one to one payout when the player wins a wager on these events. The casino is provided a margin of profit and a winning player is provided a substantial payout by having the player lose the wager on these events when the sum is either the number, three, or the number, eighteen. 
     Lens covers of the switches  54 ,  56  have rectangles  54 ,  56 , respectively, marked thereon which are similar in function to the rectangle  22 A described hereinbefore. Moreover, the lens covers of the switches  54 ,  56  are illuminated in a manner similar to the illumination of the lens covers of matrix  20  switches. 
     The gaming machine additionally includes a coin slot  60  where a player may insert coins. In response to the insertion of the coins, the number of available units of credit are correspondingly incremented. 
     The gaming machine further includes a return tray  62 . The gaming machine makes a payout by disgorging coins into the return tray  60 . 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.