DE69326049T2 - Electronic system for roulette and table games - Google Patents

Abstract

Electronic system for the game of roulette and gambling table usable with said system. The game is played automatically in its traditional form under the control of a CPU and a logic programme of operation. Chips representing money are avoided and the game clothes (6) are graphic displays on a screen (3). The charges and payments of bets are recorded on an electronic card individualised for each player at the gambling table. The selection of bets is made through command means individualised (4,5) for each player at the gambling table or at distant game terminals. The system allows for the specification of other rules of the game, emission of audiovisual messages in several languages and the printing of data and events of the game. Aplication in casinos and other gambling premises. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a system for controlled gaming and for the realization of a roulette game using mainly electronic means, as well as to the machine or roulette table usable with the system.

As is well known, roulette is a game of chance in which players bet amounts of money against the company (casino) that organizes it. The receipt of a win depends on the final position of a ball that moves irregularly on a rotating disc divided into usually 37 compartments or recesses marked with numbers from 0 to 36, half colored red and half black. The game is played on a large, long table on which numbers from 0 to 36 are printed on a cloth cover in a grid pattern, as are other areas adjacent to this series of numbers, forming a graphic group called a game board. A roulette device is positioned at one end of the table if there is only one game board, or in the middle if there are two or more game boards. Bets are made by placing chips representing a certain economic value on the grid, which also serves to identify the type of bet placed. Common bets are straight (one number), split (two numbers), square (four numbers), douze (12 numbers), rouge (red) and noir (black), pair (even) and impair (odd), "passe" (19-36) and "manque" (1-18), and in some countries and under other rules there are other bet types such as "sixaine", line, column, straight, etc. Each bet represents a win that is dependent on its own probability.

The game of roulette, despite its simplicity of concept, presents a certain complexity in its implementation, all the more so as it involves several players around each board or cloth, each player with identical or similar chips, which have the meaning of a type of bet depending on their position on the board. In addition, at the end of each round, it is necessary to remove the chips from the lost bets, pay out the winnings from the bets won, change and exchange chips, arrange them in order of value and color, and at the end of each game session, carry out an inventory and recount of each table. Consequently, the casino must employ a number of people (two or more per board or cloth) in different shifts, dedicated to controlling and managing the game on each table or board. This makes the game often slow and there is always a risk of errors in its management and control. Furthermore, the game requires that the player be placed close to the board, often standing, and with a sufficient degree of memory and attention to the bets he has placed.

In the state of the art, there are electronic or electromechanical machines of the slot machine type that simulate to a greater or lesser extent the rules or mechanism of the game of roulette, and they operate on a "player versus machine" basis with a limited risk since they must pay out winnings at a predetermined frequency. However, devices or machines for playing the real or classic game of roulette are unknown.

The object of the present invention is to find technical solutions to the disadvantages of the roulette game. Therefore, tasks to achieve this are: reducing the casino staff dedicated to each table or game plan, increasing the game speed and Eliminating the risk of error, both for the player placing the bets and for the casino paying out the winnings.

Other tasks include increasing the control of the game, as well as the speed and reliability of the administration of the casino, and also offering players the opportunity to play the games from a location away from the gaming table.

A system as defined in the preambles of claims 1 and 6 is known from DE-A-29 12 193.

According to the invention, a system is proposed which mainly comprises electronic means. The system according to the invention retains the traditional rules of the game of roulette, while modifying and increasing its physical and technical elements. Consequently, the roulette as a mechanical device in which the impetus for spinning and throwing a ball is carried out by a casino employee (croupier) can be replaced by an electromechanical device which stimulates the rotation of the disc, throws the ball and determines the final position (compartment) of the ball, even if the latter operation can also be carried out by optical means.

In another embodiment, the roulette device is replaced by an electronic random number generator.

The traditional game board or boards are replaced by one or more CRT and/or LCD screens that display with the greatest accuracy the usual color and graphic layout of the game boards: numerical grid and areas of single and multiple bets.

Furthermore, the traditional chips with different colors and values are omitted and the placing of bets by the Players' placement of chips is carried out by command devices such as a directional keyboard or analogue movement simulators (joystick) that move chips displayed on the screen. The task of the casino employees to take away the losing bets and pay out the winning ones is carried out automatically at the end of each round or by command devices.

The economic, monetary exchange of the game is carried out by means of a magnetic carrier (card) on which the amount of money that each player wishes to bet in one or more rounds has been previously stored and on which winnings and losses are added or subtracted, thus avoiding the tedious processes of collecting, recounting and exchanging chips.

The coordination of the elements that make up the system of the invention is carried out by one or more CPUs, provided with their own microprocessors, controllers, interfaces and storage media, which operate in response to the commands of a logical operating program (computer program).

The system according to the invention is advantageously applied to an electronic machine forming a roulette table and also allows the presence of gaming terminals placed in other places in the casino in order to avoid the possible accumulation of players and the need for the players to be close to the gaming table.

According to the invention, an electronic system for the game of roulette contains:

- at least one CPU equipped with its own microprocessors, image, sound and communication controllers and data input/output boards,

- ROM and/or RAM storage means containing at least the data relating to the official or voluntary rules of the game, the current statistical and historical data of each round or series of rounds and a logical or computer program for the operation and control of the system elements,

- one or more CRT and/or LCD screens for displaying the game plan and other data, images or messages relating to the game,

- a magnetic carrier or magnetic storage medium individualised for each player, which allows the recording of debits and payments of money,

- a reading/recording device for the magnetic carrier,

- at least one control keyboard of the system for the casino,

- at least one keyboard or control device individualised for each player, which allows the selection and control of bets and the movement of chips displayed on the screen,

- acoustic means for transmitting messages,

- speech synthesis devices for transmitting messages by the above-mentioned acoustic means,

- means for translating acoustic and/or visual messages into different languages,

- one or more printers suitable for printing statistical, historical or current data and messages on the progress or evolution of the runs, and

- an independent emergency power supply device for the system elements.

In a more complex embodiment, the system comprises one or more gaming terminal machines, each of which is provided with at least one or more CRT and/or LCD screens for displaying the game plan and other data, images or messages relating to the game, a keyboard or control element individualised for each player, which or which enables the selection and control of bets and the movement of chips displayed on the screen, acoustic means for transmitting messages, a reader/recorder for the magnetic media, individualised for each player and at least one control keyboard of the casino gaming terminal.

In other embodiments, the system comprises a roulette device with electromechanical control in connection with a number reading device for the pocket last occupied by the ball or an automatic electronic random number generator as a replacement for the roulette device, a wave transmitter/receiver for the remote control of the system for the casino and for the connection and remote control of the gaming terminals and means for connecting to a public or private audiovisual communication system.

According to the invention, a machine or a roulette table, in particular usable with the system according to the invention, has the following:

- at least one CPU equipped with its own microprocessors, image and communication controllers and data input/output boards,

- ROM and/or RAM storage means containing at least the data relating to the official or voluntary rules of the game, the current, statistical and historical data of each round or series of rounds and a logical or computer program for the operation and control of the elements of the table,

- one or more CRT and/or LCD screens for displaying the game plan and other data, images or messages related to the game,

- a magnetic carrier individualized for each player, which allows the recording of debits and payments of money,

- a reading/recording device for the magnetic carrier,

- at least one control keyboard of the table for the casino,

- at least one keyboard or control element individualised for each player, which allows the selection and control of the bets and the movement of the chips displayed on the screen,

- acoustic means for the transmission of messages,

- a speech synthesizer device for transmitting messages by acoustic means.

- means for translating the acoustic and/or visual messages into different languages,

- means for connection to one or more printers suitable for printing statistical, historical or current data and messages on the progress of the passages and

- an independent emergency power supply device for the elements of the table.

In a further complex embodiment, the gaming table additionally comprises means for connection to one or more gaming terminal machines, each of which is provided with at least one or more CRT and/or LCD screens for displaying the game plan and other data, images and messages relating to the game, a keyboard or control element individualized for each player allowing the selection and control of the bets and the movement of the chips displayed on the screen, acoustic means for the transmission of messages, a reading/recording device for the magnetic carriers individualized for each player and at least one control keyboard of the gaming terminal for the casino.

In other embodiments, a roulette table according to the invention comprises a roulette device with electromechanical control in connection with a number reading device for the pocket last occupied by the ball or an automatic electronic random number generator displayed on the CRT or LCD screen as a replacement for the roulette device, a wave transmitter/receiver for the remote control of the machine by the casino and for connecting and remotely controlling the gaming terminals and means for connecting to a public or private audiovisual communication system.

In addition, according to the invention, a terminal machine for the roulette game, in particular usable with the aforementioned system and/or dependent on the gaming table, has at least the following:

- one or more CRT and/or LCD screens for displaying the game plan and other data, images or messages related to the game,

- a keyboard or control unit individualised for each player, allowing the selection and control of bets and the movement of chips displayed on the screen,

- acoustic means for the transmission of messages,

- a reading/recording device for magnetic carriers individualized for each player,

- at least one control keyboard of the gaming terminal for the casino and

- an independent emergency power supply device.

In other specific embodiments, the terminal machine comprises the display of a roulette device, a wave transmitter/receiver for remote control of the machine by the casino and for connection to the gaming table, and means for connection to a public or private audiovisual communication system.

The drawings show:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an example of a gaming table according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an example of a game terminal according to the invention.

The system, gaming table and gaming terminals according to the invention as well as other additional advantages will be better understood from the following description of an example of the application of the system in a gaming table and gaming terminal with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

According to the system of the invention, the player is placed at a gaming station at a table (16 stations are shown in Fig. 1) or at a gaming terminal (three stations are shown in Fig. 2). The player inserts into a reader/recorder (1) the magnetic card previously obtained, for example at the casino cash desk, which is automatically checked for authenticity and the presence of a credit rating. The player is assigned a color or other chip identification, displayed, for example, in an area or window (2) of the preferred CRT/LCD screen (3), and starting from the moment when it is his turn to bet, the player can allocate/withdraw/repeat/consider/end his bets using the keys (4) and move them to the desired place on the game board (6) displayed on the screen (3) using the joystick (5). When the time for placing bets is over, the roulette machine or number generator (7) is operated, either manually or automatically in response to a wait of the logic operating program of the CPU or by tapping a keyboard (8) depending on the casino, and the setting of the winning number and color is awaited. By blinking, flashing By means of a button, a vote, etc., the winning number is automatically marked and the winning bets are displayed on the screen (3) and on the area (2) of each player his possible winnings. The winnings, which can also be announced by a vote, are then paid out and the corresponding note of payout or credit on the player's magnetic card is made in the reader/recorder (1), so that a new round or round can be started. The player can then leave the game by means of the keyboard (4) while recovering his card, either to come back later or to go to another table or gaming terminal, or even to exchange the surplus recorded on his card for money, for example at the casino cash desk.

Fig. 2 shows a gaming terminal whose operation is essentially the same as that described above for the gaming table. The main difference lies in its distributed or possible arrangement in the casino, which makes it possible to play from different places in the casino and which avoids the crowding of people playing or waiting around the gaming tables. These gaming terminals, which can be of very different sizes or even be portable, are connected to the gaming table by cables or a wave transmitter/receiver. In the example shown, in addition to the screen (3) displaying the game board (6), there is another CRT/LCD screen (9) for displaying the roulette device or the number generator (7) of the gaming table, so that the player follows the game as directly as if he were at the gaming table, although the information about the winning number and other audio and visual messages related to the game can also be displayed in the areas or windows (2) of the screen (3), so that the gaming terminal can be smaller.

All these cases have been coordinated and stored by the CPU so that at any time and in particular at the end of each gaming session there is complete historical, statistical and accounting information on the operation of each gaming table or gaming terminal, which can be printed out as a legal or immediately available accounting document.

The system according to the invention is to be understood as being easily adaptable to different rules of the game of roulette, for example 24-number roulette, and the types of bets can be varied. It is also understood that all communications between machine and player can be displayed on the screen or transmitted by a speech synthesizer, both with the possibility of translation into different languages. It is also understood that part of the historical or statistical information of each table is available to each player and that the screens, and in particular the screens of the gaming table and the gaming terminals, are suitable for transmitting information or entertainment from a public or private audiovisual communication system.

Claims (13)

1. Electronic system for the game of roulette comprising: - at least one CPU equipped with its own microprocessors, image and communication controllers and data input/output boards, - ROM and/or RAM storage means containing at least the data relating to the official or voluntary rules of the game, the current, statistical and historical data of each round or series of rounds and a logic program for the operation and control of the system elements, - one or more CRT and/or LCD screens for displaying the game board or cloth and other data, images or messages related to the game, - a magnetic carrier individualized for each player, which allows the recording of debits and payments of money, - a reading/recording device for the magnetic carrier, - at least one control keyboard of the system for the casino, - at least one keyboard or control device individualized for each player, which allows the selection and control of bets and the movement of chips displayed on the screen, - one or more printers suitable for printing statistical, historical or current data and messages on the progress of the passages, characterized in that the CPU contains a sound controller and that it - acoustic means for the transmission of messages, - Speech synthesizer means for transmitting messages by acoustic means. - Means for translating the acoustic and/or visual messages into different languages and - has an independent emergency power supply device for the elements of the system. 2. Electronic system for the game of roulette according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises one or more gaming terminal machines, each of which is provided with at least one or more CRT and/or LCD screens for displaying the game plan and other data, images or messages related to the game, a keyboard or control element individualized for each player, which allows the selection and control of the bets and the movement of the chips displayed on the screen, acoustic means for the transmission of messages, a reading/recording device for magnetic media individualized for each player and at least one control keyboard of the gaming terminal for the casino. 3. Electronic system for the roulette game according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a roulette device with electromechanical control in connection with a number reading device for the pocket occupied last by the ball or an automatic, electronic random number generator as a replacement for the roulette device. 4. Electronic system for the roulette game according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a wave transmitter/receiver for the remote control of the system by the casino or for the connection and remote control of the gaming terminal. 5. Electronic system for the game of roulette according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it contains means for connecting to a public or private audiovisual communication system. 6. Electronic roulette table, in particular for use with the system according to the preceding claims, comprising: - at least one CPU, which is equipped with its own microprocessors, image and communication controllers and data input/output boards, - ROM and/or RAM storage means containing at least the data relating to the official or voluntary rules of the game, the current, statistical and historical data of each round or series of rounds and a logic program for the operation and control of the elements of the table. - one or more CRT and/or LCD screens (3) for displaying the game plan (3) and other data, images or messages (2) relating to the game, - a magnetic carrier individualized for each player, which allows the recording of debits and payments of money, - a reading/recording device (1) for the magnetic carrier, - at least one control keyboard (8) of the table for the casino, - at least one keyboard or control element (4, 5), individualized for each player, which allows the selection and control of the bets and movements of the chips displayed on the screen, - means for connecting one or more printers suitable for printing statistical, historical or current data and messages on the progress of the passes, characterized in that the CPU contains a sound controller and in that it - acoustic means for transmitting messages, - speech synthesizer means for transmitting messages by acoustic means, - Means for translating the acoustic and/or visual messages into different languages and - has an independent emergency power supply device for the elements of the table. 7. Electronic roulette table according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises means for connecting one or more terminal machines, each provided with at least one or more CRT and/or LCD screens (3) for displaying the game plan (6) and other data, images or messages (2) relating to the game, a keyboard or control element (4, 5) individualized for each player, which indicates the selection and control of the bets and the movement of the chips displayed on the screen, acoustic means for transmitting messages, a reading/recording device (1) for the magnetic supports individualized for each player, and at least one control keyboard of the gaming terminal for the casino. 8. Electronic roulette table according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it contains a roulette device with electromechanical control in connection with a number reading device for the pocket last occupied by the ball, or an automatic, electronic random number generator which on a CRT or LCD screen, as a replacement for the roulette device (7). 9. Electronic roulette table according to claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it contains a wave transmitter/receiver for remote control of the machine by the casino and for connecting and remote control of the gaming terminal. 10. Electronic roulette table according to claims 6 to 9, characterized in that it contains means for connection to public or private audiovisual communication systems. 11. Electronic terminal machine for the game of roulette, in combination with the system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least: - one or more CRT and/or LCD screens (3, 9) for displaying the game plan and other data, images or messages (2) relating to the game, - a keyboard or control element (4, 5), individualised for each player, which allows the selection and control of the bets and the movement of the chips displayed on the screen, - acoustic means for the transmission of messages, - a reading/recording device (1) for the magnetic carriers individualised for each player, - at least one control keyboard of the gaming terminal for the casino and - an independent emergency power supply device. 12. Electronic terminal machine for the game of roulette according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a wave transmitter/receiver for the remote control of the machine by the casino and for the connection to the gaming table. 13. Electronic terminal machine for playing roulette according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that it comprises means for connecting to a public or private audiovisual communication system.