Abstract:
A gaming system for games, including roulette, wherein a projection system, preferably with a laser, is utilized for illuminating selected areas of the roulette game table in order to highlight the winning bets, enhance security, provide for a consistent signal for closing of the betting period, provide advertising, and/or display messages at selected time during or between play of the game determined by sensing the motion of the wheel and/or ball and table activity.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of roulette and other casino oriented table games where wagering occurs. Roulette is one of the most popular and well-known casino games steeped in tradition and excitement. In such game, a wheel with colored and numbered areas, e.g., depressions, delineated cages, etc., is spun on its vertical axis after which a ball is introduced upon the moving rotating wheel surface until the ball ultimately comes to rest upon one of such numbered areas. 
     It is well recognized that as the wheel slows in speed and the movement of the ball moving and/or bouncing along the wheel&#39;s surface slows as well, observers, e.g., those bettors playing the game, have a better idea, that is, heightened odds, of choosing which of the numbered or colored areas the ball will ultimately come to rest upon thus determining the winner. The casino employee, dealer or croupier overseeing the table normally controls the movement when no more bets may be placed on the outcome of where the ball will rest and this call or decision is made on the basis of experience and judgment and preferably before the wheel slows to a point where the players can see where or which area of the wheel the ball is going to ultimately rest upon. In other words, the dealer or croupier that is overseeing the table has to not only judge when to terminate further betting based on the speed of the rotating wheel and to some extent the speed and other ball movement, but the croupier must also rule as to whether or not any of the players, i.e., bettors, have improperly placed or withdrawn bets after the “No More Bets” verbal announcement is made. The croupier thus has to observe the ball, the wheel, their relative speeds and movements as well as simultaneously observe whether any bets were made, withdrawn or modified after the “No More Bets” announcement was made. 
     Although croupiers are skilled, the above duties are demanding and should be carried out in a professional but exciting manner that lends enjoyment to the overall wagering experience. It would, accordingly, be advantageous to provide a system which assists the croupier in his or her duties, e.g., one that would match the wheel&#39;s speed to a predetermined speed based on prior experience to a programmed “No More Bets” announcement by a recorded voice or other signal and/or an audible or visual cue to the croupier to make the No More Bets” announcement. Such a system would reduce the croupier&#39;s work load, and the casino management could better control the odds by selecting the predetermined wheel speed level at which the “No More Bets” announcement would be made, e.g., the higher the wheel speed, the less likely players could get any feel for where the ball was going thus increasing the odds or at least moving the odds to a point of pure change and vice versa by lowering the predetermined wheel speed. 
     Another feature of a casino style roulette table is that there is a designated betting area generally rectangular in shape and with a defined perimeter and divided with generally square or rectangular betting areas corresponding to the roulette wheel&#39;s numbers and colors and on which betting areas the players place chips in order to register their bets on the outcome of the wheel spin. The players sit adjacent this betting area while the croupier generally sits or stands across from the players and the wheel at the other tableside. Players may place, modify or remove chips at any time prior to the “No More Bets” call by either having the croupier do so or by actually moving their hands across the periphery of the betting area and manipulating the chips into or away from the individual betting areas. Obviously, the croupier has to closely monitor these player actions and be sure no betting takes place after the “No More Bets” call. Thus, anything that would help the croupier perform this duty would be beneficial. 
     As previously indicated, roulette is a traditional game and actual physical changes to the wheel, the ball or the manner the game is played probably would not be well received; however, features which could add excitement, inform the players about current or upcoming casino events or simply pure advertising that does not interfere with the playing of each wheel spin would generally be welcomed by the players and beneficial to the casino especially if such included paid advertisements. Thus, devising an information and advertisement roulette feature would be advantageous to both the players and the casino as well. 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a hardware and operational system that addresses the above-indicated concerns to improve the croupier&#39;s consistency and monitoring performance and add excitement to the game without detracting from its tradition. 
     It is also another object of the present invention to incorporate means for determining the ball and/or wheel speed in roulette gaming and to utilize such means in a system for announcing the “No More Bets” cut off. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to correlate the traditional oral “No More Bets” announcement with a visible announcement display on the betting table itself. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention: 
         FIG. 1  is a stylized top plan view of a roulette table and wheel incorporating the features of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the roulette table and wheel of  FIG. 1  as well as a portion of the game room in which such roulette table is housed and showing in particular the laser control unit of the present invention installed in the casino room ceiling and preferably visible to the players at such table. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Players choose or select with number/numbers to place their wager upon the roulette table&#39;s betting area. As the dealer or croupier D spins the roulette ball  2   a  and the roulette wheel  2 , sensors  3  either positioned within the wheel or outside the wheel detect the ball speed. As the ball revolves around the wheel, players located proximal to the table, e.g., at positions  10  through  16  are placing their bets. Also while bets are being placed, the laser control unit  5  is producing a visible laser display  6  onto a designated area  8  on the roulette table  1 . Low power diode laser systems are commercially available and are suitable for the present purpose, e.g., lasers in the 400 to 700 nanometer range are safe and reliable for the casino&#39;s indoor environment. 
     When the ball slows down to a predetermined speed, the sensor  3  will send a command via a wired connection to the display control computer  4  preferably mounted under the table  1 . The display control computer will send via radio frequency or infrared wireless technology a command for “No More Bets” to the laser control unit  5 . The laser control will outline via a visible beam  6  to the roulette table&#39;s betting area  7  a visible message that “No More Bets” are allowed. This message continues to be displayed until the ball permanently falls onto and rests upon the receiving cup or depression of the wheel or cage on the roulette wheel  2 . When the ball falls on such a number on the wheel, the sensors  3  within said wheel sends the ball&#39;s position to the display control computer  4  within fractions of a second. The command or ball&#39;s position is then sent instantly via infrared or wireless technology to the laser control unit  5 . The laser control unit then produces a visible laser beam to the game table betting area and highlights the winning number as well as all other possible winning combinations. The winning number and combinations can remain highlighted until the ball is removed or by a manual switch device. 
     The computer  4  may incorporate a sensor for determining the wheel&#39;s speed and the ball&#39;s position and speed relative to the wheel such that the predetermined speed at which the “No More Bets” signal should be displayed can be determined and repeated during play. Such a sensor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,583 to Towers and assigned to Technical Casino Services Ltd. of the United Kingdom and the disclosure thereof is hereby incorporated into the present Specification by such specific reference thereto. It should be apparent that the speed of the wheel and/or the speed and motion of the ball or any combination thereof can be used to determine the “predetermined speed” which triggers the above sequences. The casino management by empirical studies can make such predetermined speed and such can be varied dependent on the circumstances of the playing environment, e.g., under normal casino rules, the predetermined speed would be higher than at perhaps a charity event—the important consideration being that the predetermined speed can be varied. 
     A further feature that is preferably incorporated into the system of the present invention is that the laser upon the “No More Bets” announcement will illuminate the periphery  7   a , of the betting area  7  either by a broadband-shaped circumferential beam which may pulse or by a single light beam which quickly and repeatedly circumambulates the periphery  7   a  of the betting area  7  or at least that portion thereof adjacent the players and may alternatively move back and forth along the betting area adjacent the players. This laser lighting beam effect will better enable the croupier to sense motion across the betting area periphery, e.g., caused by bettors improperly adjusting their bets by moving their hands or objects into the betting area. 
     The preceding system may also be accompanied by a manual system whereby all functions of operating and controlling the laser display are managed by the dealer. As the dealer places the ball on the roulette wheel, the dealer will press the display button on a custom designed keypad. The display computer will then send the message to the laser control unit. The laser control unit then, in turn, presents the display message on the gaming table. When the ball revolving around the wheel slows to the predetermined speed, the dealer will then select the “No More Bets” button on the custom keypad. This will send a command to the laser control unit to highlight the gaming area with the “No More Bets” laser display. When the ball has fallen onto a number within the roulette wheel, the dealer will select the corresponding number on the custom keypad. The laser control unit will then highlight the winning number as well as all other possible winning combinations. The laser will continue to display the winning number and combinations while the dealer is collecting the wagers and makes the payouts to the winning players. The custom keypad also has been designed with calibration and lock buttons to enable the dealer to calibrate the laser to the table layout area at anytime when necessary. 
     by introducing this technology, the invention will provide for a safer, fairer and add an exciting element to the age old Roulette game. The system does not introduce any physical elements that will hinder play in any way. In fact, there are no moving parts introduced to the game at all. The game remains virtually untouched. The system can also be expanded to include other table games should the casino wish to protect a specific area or zone on a gaming table. 
     Laser Roulette will add a new element of excitement to the Roulette gaming experience. Laser Roulette will provide for a higher level of security thus making for a more fair and honest game for both the casino and the patron. Laser Roulette will bring more new players to the roulette experience due to the system&#39;s ability to show all players the additional winning possibilities they may otherwise not be aware of. The casino is in business to provide customers with a fair and exciting gaming experience. Customers enjoying the excitement that Laser Roulette provides may stay longer at the Roulette table thereby possibly earning more winnings for themselves or the casino. Laser Roulette will provide a more positive effect on the way Roulette is played for many years to come. 
     While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying this invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.