GB2503087A

GB2503087A - Game apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: GB2503087A
Application number: GB201307009A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward James Mellors
Original assignee: JEM LEISURE Ltd
Current assignee: JEM LEISURE Ltd
Priority date: 2012-04-19
Filing date: 2013-04-17
Publication date: 2013-12-18
Also published as: GB201206957D0; GB201307009D0

Abstract

A game apparatus 101 for use in playing a number matching game and a method of playing a number matching game with the said apparatus; comprises a random number generator 102 in the form of a roulette wheel and ball, a number display 103 in the form of a bingo card, and a prize identifier 104. In the game, numbers are generated by the roulette wheel and ball for matching against the numbers displayed by the bingo card, in pursuit of a bingo prize, and a player is provided with an opportunity to nominate the next roulette number to be generated, in pursuit of a roulette prize.

Description

GAME APPARATUS & METHOD

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to game apparatus and a method of playing a game, in particular to game apparatus for use in, and a method of, playing a number matching game.

Background of the Invention

Games may be provided for entertainment value only, for example for playing in a domestic environment, or in a gambling format, for example for playing in a casino or amusement arcada Number matching games include bingo, raffle and lottery games. Other games involving number matching include roulette, in which a player may place a bet on a single number, one of a range of numbers, or an odd or an even number being selected through a spin of a roulette wheel and ball.

Although some games have enduring appeal, players are also attracted to trying new games.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect there is provided game apparatus for use in playing a number matching game, said game apparatus comprising: a random number generator for randomly generating a number N from a plurality Ni-N of selectable numbers N, a number display for displaying a plurality NDI-NDX of said selectable numbers Ns; the plurality of selectable numbers displayed by said *: 25 number display NSDT being less than the plurality of selectable numbers selectable by said random number generator NST, and a prize indicator for indicating a prize P of a plurality of winnable prizes Pi-Px; wherein said random number generator is provided in the form of a roulette wheel and ball, and said number display is provided in the form of a bingo card.

*...,: 30 The roulette wheel may present one of: a standard single-zero number sequence, a standard double-zero number sequence.

The bingo card may present: an n x m display matrix of number regions only, an n x n display matrix of number regions only, an n x m display matrix with number regions and blank regions, an n x n display matrix with number regions and blank regions.

According to a second aspect there is provided a method of playing a number matching game using game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, said method comprising the steps of: generating a roulette number using said roulette wheel and ball; determining whether the roulette number generated at step a) matches a number displayed by the bingo card; and determining whether a bingo prize has been won using said prize identifier.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: determining whether a player has placed a bet on the next roulette number to be generated determining whether the roulette number generated matches the next roulette number on which the player placed a bet and determining whether a roulette prize has been won using said prize identifier.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic of game apparatus; Figure 2 shows features of the game apparatus in further detail; Figure 3 shows steps in playing a game using the game apparatus; Figure 4 shows a gaming terminal; and Figure 5 shows a gaming station. * * . . * ..

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

There will now be described by way of example a specific mode contemplated by the inventor(s). In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures are not described in detail so as not to

unnecessarily obscure the description.

Figure 1 Game apparatus 101 is shown in Figure 1. The game apparatus is suitable for playing a number matching game as will be described in further detail.

Game apparatus 101 comprises a random number generator 102, a number display 103 and a prize indicator 104. The random number generator 102 is configured to randomly generate a number N from a plurality N1-N of selectable numbers N. The number display 103 is configured to display a plurality NDI-NDX of said plurality Ni-N of selectable numbers N The plurality of selectable numbers displayed by the number display N30-1 is less than the plurality of selectable numbers selectable by the random number generator NaT.

The prize indicator 104 is configured to indicate a prize P of a plurality of winnable prizes P-P.

Figure 2 Figure 2 shows features of game apparatus 101 in further detail. The random number generator 102 takes the form of a roulette wheel and ball. The r 25 number display 103 takes the form of a bingo card.

A roulette wheel comprises a rotatable wheel which presents a circular series of pockets thereon, each of which is associated with a number. A circular track is located around the circumference of the rotatable wheel, at a level higher than the circular series of pockets, in which the ball is arranged to travel. In use, the rotatable wheel is spun in one direction and the ball is spun in the opposite direction. When the ball loses momentum, it falls onto the rotatable wheel and into one of the numbered pockets. In this way, a random number is selected. A roulette wheel typically comprises numbers 1 to 36 (half black1 half red) a single zero (green) and optionally also double zero (green).

The roulette wheel may present a standard single-zero number sequence, as shown at 201, or may present a standard double-zero number sequence, as shown at 202.

A bingo card presents a plurality of numbers in a matrix, so that a plurality of lines of numbers is displayed. A line of numbers may incorporate one or more blanks therein.

The bingo card may present an n x m display matrix as shown at 203, or may present an n x n display matrix, as shown at 204. The display matrix presented by the bingo card may display both number regions 205 and one or more blank regions 206. In the example shown at 203, the n x m display matrix is a 9 x 3 matrix (9 columns x 3 rows) and each row contains the same number of number regions 205 and the same number of blank regions 206 as each other row. In the example shown at 204, the n x n display matrix is a 5 x 5 matrix (5 columns x 5 rows and 2 diagonals) with a central single blank region 206 surrounded by number regions 205. The numbers displayed by the example bingo cards shown at 203 and 204 are illustrative only. It can be seen however that the example bingo cards shown at 203 and 204 display only a selection of numbers displayed by one or both of the example roulette wheel number sequences shown at 201 and 203.

An n x n display matrix and an n x m display matrix may be any suitable size matrix, with any suitable arrangement of number regions and without any or with at least one blank region. Each number displayed by the bingo card may be different from each other number displayed by the bingo card or an individual may be displayed more than once on the bingo card.

The game apparatus is suitable for playing a game in which the roulette wheel and ball randomly generates numbers for matching against the matrix of : 30 numbers displayed by the bingo card, with the prize indicator indicating a winnable prize associated with each of at least one game event. For example, the prize indicator may indicate that a player wins a prize for one or more of the following game events: that the player matches all of the numbers displayed by the bingo card within a predetermined number of spins of the roulette wheel, that the player is the first of a plurality of players to match all of the numbers on a single line of numbers displayed on their bingo card, that the player is the first of a plurality of players to match all of the numbers on all of the lines displayed on their bingo card.

The game apparatus is thus suitable for playing a game in which a roulette wheel is used to generate random numbers for use in a bingo game. It is to be appreciated that either or both of the roulette wheel and ball, and the bingo card, may be physical in form or may be computer simulated and displayed on a visual display screen.

Figure 3 Figure 3 shows steps in playing a number matching game 301 using the game apparatus 101.

In number matching game 301, numbers are generated by the roulette wheel and ball for matching against the numbers displayed by the bingo card, in pursuit of a bingo prize. In the number matching game 3Olalso, a player is provided with an opportunity to nominate the next roulette number to be generated, in pursuit of a roulette priza A prize indicator may indicate a plurality of game events, each with an associated prize.

The player indicates that a game is to begin at step 302, and then step 303 is entered. At step 303, the bet the player has placed on the bingo game is determined, and then step 304 is entered.

At step 304, it is determined whether a player has placed a bet on the next roulette number to be selected, before the roulette wheel and ball are spun to randomly generate a roulette number. If the player has not placed a bet on the *: *"* next roulette number to be generated, then step 305 is entered. At step 305, the roulette wheel and ball are spun to randomly generate a roulette number, and step 306 is then entered.

At step 306, it is determined whether the roulette number generated at step 305 matches a number displayed by the bingo card in play. If the generated roulette number does not match a number displayed by the bingo card in play, then step 307 is entered, at which it is determined whether another spin of the roulette wheel and ball is to be performed to randomly generate another roulette number. If no more spins are to be made, then this indicates the end of the bingo game and step 308 is then entered. At step 308, it is determined whether the player wishes to play another bingo game. If the player does wish to play another bingo game, then step 302 is entered.

If at step 306 it is determined that a roulette number generated at step 305 does match a number displayed by the bingo card in play,then step 309 is entered, at which it is determined whether a bingo prize has been won. At this step, a comparison is made between the roulette number generated at 305, numbers displayed by a bingo card in play that have not been matched during the is bingo game in play and numbers displayed by a bingo card in play that have already been matched during the bingo game in play. At this step also, a comparison may be made between patterns of matched numbers displayed by a bingo card in play forming a game event associated with a prize, and the pattern of numbers displayed by a bingo card in play that have been matched during the bingo game in play. If it is determined at step 309 that a bingo prize has been won, step 310 is then entered at which the bingo prize won is identified. The amount of the prize won at step 309 may depend on the particular game event with which the prize is associated.

If it is determined at step 309 that a prize has not been won, then step 307 *r": 25 is entered at which it is determined whether another spin of the roulette wheel *r and ball is to be performed to randomly generate another roulette number. If it is determined at step 307 that another roulette number is to be generated, then step 304 is entered, at which it is determined whether the player has placed a bet on the next roulette number to be generated, before the next spin. If it is *....: 30 determined that at step 304 that player has placed a bet on the next roulette number to be generated, then step 311 is entered.

At step 311, the roulette wheel and ball are spun to randomly generate a roulette number, and step 312 is then entered, at which it is determined whether the player has a won a roulette prize on the roulette number generated. At this step, a comparison is made between the roulette number on which the player placed at bet at step 304, and the roulette number generated randomly at step 311. If the roulette number on which the player placed at bet at step 304 matches the roulette number generated at step 311, then a roulette prize is won at step 312. If a roulette prize is won at step 312, then step 313 is entered, at which the roulette prize won is identified. The amount of the prize won at step 313 may depend on the amount staked by the player at step 304. Step 306 is then entered, at which it is determined whether the roulette number generated at step 311 matches a number displayed by the bingo card in play. If the player has placed a bet on the next roulette number at step 304, but a roulette prize is not won at step 312, then step 306 is entered, at which it is determined whether the roulette number generated at step 311 matches a number displayed by the bingo card in play.

The number matching game allows a player to place a stake on achieving a particular game event relating to numbers displayed by the bingo card that are matched during a particular game play. The number matching game may allow a player to choose one or more of: the size of a matrix of numbers displayed by the bingo card for a particular game play, the total numbers displayed by the bingo card for a particular game play, the total numbers generated by the roulette wheel and ball for a particular game play. The number matching game also allows a :: player to place a bet on matching the next roulette number generated during a r": 25 particular game play.

Figure 4 A gaming terminal 401 is shown in Figure 4. The gaming terminal comprises a data processing unit having access to memory, and a visual display *:*** 30 screen, and is configured to receive user inputs and to identify a prize won during game play.

Gaming terminal 401 comprises an gaming machine 402 housing a data processing unit 403 having access to memory 404. Thedata processing unit 403 is connected to a signal processing unit 405 configured to output signals to a visual display screen 406. The data processing unit 403 is also connected to a signal processing unit 406 configured to receive signals from a user input device 407. In this illustrated embodiment the user input device 407 comprises a panel of manually operable buttons 408. Additionally, or alternatively, the user input device 407 comprises a visual display screen having touch screen functionality.

It is to be appreciated that a gaming terminal may be provided with any suitable device or devices for enabling user selection inputs. The data processing unit 403 is further connected to a signal processing unit 409 configured to receive signals from a credit receiving device 410. The credit receiving device 410 may be a coin and/or token receiving mechanism, a debit and/or credit and/or pre-payment card reading device or any other suitable type of apparatus for enabling a transfer of funds.

Play of a number matching game using the roulette and ball and bingo card game play elements as described with reference to Figure 2, with a gaming terminal as shown in Figure 4 will now be describecL To start, a player inputs a selection to indicate that a new game is to begin.

The visual display screen of the gaming machine displays a bingo card showing a matrix of numbers for play. Each line of the bingo card has an associated stake, which may differ between the lines (for example, columns, rows and diagonals may have different associated stakes or each individual line may have a different associated stake). The player places a bet on the game of bingo by inputting a selection of a line of the bingo card (and thereby selecting a stake for play). The player may be provided with the opportunity to select multiple lines of the bingo card. The player inputs a selection to confirm that betting on the bingo is complete, and the visual display screen of the gaming machine then changes to ** display a plan view of a roulette table. The player inputs a selection to spin the roulette wheel. The roulette wheel is then spun to generate a number, and the roulette number generated is displayed. If the generated roulette number matches any of the numbers on the bingo card, then that number on the bingo card is marked as being matched. The roulette wheel is then spun a further allotted number of times (a predetermined number of allotted spins may vary between specific applications, and may vary according to factors of the game, such as the size of the bingo card) to generate further roulette numbers. If all of the numbers of the selected line of the bingo card bet on by the player have been matched during the period of play, then the player wins the bingo prize associated with that line win. If not, and the player has not won any bingo prize, then the player is provided with an opportunity to start another game.

Preferably, and in this example, the game also provides the player with an opportunity, before each spin of the roulette wheel, to bet on the number generated from the next spin of the roulette wheel. If the player bets on an individual number, and that same number is generated by the next spin of the roulette wheel, then the player wins a roulette prize based on the odds for the bet placed. If the roulette number generated also matches a number of the bingo card, then that number of the bingo card is marked as being matched. Thus, this method of play allows the player to play bingo and, during the period of play of bingo, to also place bets on the next number to be generated by the roulette wheel. The games of roulette and bingo are combined such that a player can play bingo using a roulette wheel, and can also bet on the roulette wheel (on as many of the available occasions as desired by the player) during play. Credit is received from the player at an appropriate stage or stages of the game play.

Thus, as described above, the game apparatus allows a player to play bingo using a roulette wheel, and can also allow the player to bet on the roulette wheel during the bingo play.

Figure 5 Figure 5 shows a gaming station 501. The gaming station 501 allows a cc. single player or multiple players to play a roulette-bingo combination game as : 30 described above.

Gaming station 501 comprises a roulette table 502, with roulette wheel and ball 503. Around the roulette table 502 are a plurality of player stations, such as player station 504. A touch screen device 505 is located at the player station 504. The touch screen device 505 provides a user interface for allowing a player at the player station 504 to play a bingo game as described with reference to Figure 3. As shown in this Figure, the touch screen device 505 displays a bingo card 506. Thus, in the shown arrangement, the roulette wheel and ball 503 are physical apparatus and the bingo card 506 is computer simulated. A wired or wireless communication system may be provided between the roulette table 502 and player station 504.

The gaming station 501 illustrated in Figure 5 comprises four player stations 504, 507, 508 and 509; however the gaming station may comprise any number of player stations. The gaming station 501 allows a single player at a single player station to play a bingo game as described with reference to Figure 3, and also allows a plurality of players, each at a different player station, to collectively play a bingo game as described with reference to Figure 3.

During a bingo game with multiple players, roulette prizes are determined on an individual player basis. For example, each player may individually choose whether to place a bet on the next roulette number to be selected, and may individually place a bet on any roulette number (which may be the same as or different from a roulette number on which another player has placed a bet).

During a bingo game with multiple players, bingo prizes may be determined on a collective player basis only. For example, a bingo prize may be won in the game event of: the first of the multiple players to match a line of numbers of their *:**i 25 bingo card, the first of the multiple players to match all the numbers of their bingo card. During a bingo game with multiple players, bingo prizes may alternatively be determined on a collective player basis and also on an individual player basis.

For example, a bingo prize may be won in the game event of the first of the multiple players to match a line of numbers of their bingo card and thereafter an : 30 alternative prize may be won by each player in the game event of matching a line of numbers of their bingo card before the first of the multiple players matches all the numbers of their bingo card.

It is to be appreciated that the game apparatus as described herein, comprising a roulette wheel and ball and bingo card may vary between applications. It is also to be appreciated that a method of playing a number matching game using the game apparatus as described herein, comprising the steps of: generating a roulette number using the roulette wheel and ball, determining whether the roulette number generated matches a number displayed by the bingo card, and determining whether a bingo prize has been won using the prize identifier may vary between applications. It is further to be appreciated that the games events for which prizes are available during game play may vary between applications. * * * * . * * $0. S... * * * . * .4

Claims

CLAIMS1. Game apparatus for use in playing a number matching game, said game apparatus comprising: a random number generator for randomly generating a number N from a plurality Ni-N of selectable numbers N, a number display for displaying a plurality NDI-NoX of said selectable numbers N5; the plurality of selectable numbers displayed by said number display NSDT being less than the plurality of selectable numbers selectable by said random number generator NST, and a prize indicator for indicating a prize P of a plurality of winnable prizes P1-Px; wherein said random number generator is provided in the form of a roulette wheel and ball, and is said number display is provided in the form of a bingo card.
2. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said roulette wheel presents one of: a standard single-zero number sequence, a standard double-zero number sequence.
3. Game apparatus as claimed in claim I or claim 2, wherein said bingo card presents one of: an n x m display matrix of number regions only, an n x n display matrix of number regions only, an n x m display matrix with number regions and blank regions, an n x n display matrix with number regions and blank :": 25 regions. S."S Se S.
4. Game apparatus as claimed in any of claims I to 3, comprising a gaming terminal, said gaming terminal comprising a data processing unit having access to memory, and a visual display screen, said gaming terminal configured to receive user inputs and to identify a prize won during game play.
5. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said gaming terminal is configured to generate and display a visual simulation of said roulette wheel and ball and of said bingo card.
6. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said gaming terminal comprises a touch screen user interface.
7. Game apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, bomprising a gaming station, said gaming station comprising a roulette table and a plurality of player stations each comprising a touch screen device providing a user interlace and configured to generate and display a visual simulation of said bingo card.
8. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a winnable prize is associate with at least one of the following game events: a nominated next roulette number is generated by the roulette wheel and ball, a number displayed by a bingo card in play is matched by a roulette number generated by the roulette wheel and ball, each of a plurality of numbers displayed by a bingo card in play in a predetermined pattern is matched by roulette numbers generated by the roulette wheel and ball within a predetermined number of spins of the roulette wheel and ball.
9. A method of playing a number matching game using game :arntL15 as claimed in any preceding claim, said method comprising the steps r": 25 a) generating a roulette number using said roulette wheel and ball; b) determining whether the roulette number generated at step a) matches a number displayed by the bingo card; and c) determining whether a bingo prize has been won using said prize *: :: identifier.

*;.. 30
10. A method of playing a number matching game as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the steps of: d) determining whether a player has placed a bet on a roulette number to be generated at step a); e) deterniining whether the roulette number generated at step a) matches the roulette number on which the player placed a bet at step d); and f) determining whether a roulette prize has been won using said prize identifier.
11. Game apparatus for playing a number matching game, substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying Figures.
12. A method of playing a number matching game, substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying Figures. * * . * S ***** * ** S.S *** * ** * . . * * * S