GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A gaming system is described comprising a playing surface having a game wager placement area having markings thereon for identification and placement of wagers entered by a player, the game wager placement area defining a plurality of locations, each such location indicating one of a set of standard available wagers associated with an outcome of the game outcome generator; a game outcome area including a game outcome generator configured to determine and show one of a plurality of chance game outcomes; a plurality of tokens each having a nominal value, each such token being placeable onto a selected location on the game wager placement area, thereby to constitute placement one of the set of standard available wagers; whereby wagers may be placed according to a set of predefined wagering rules associated with the said plurality of locations; a feature entry outcome generator configured to determine, for each game event having a pre-determined wagered amount, a choice between at least a first outcome with a feature entry probability and a second outcome. The gaming system is set up such that in the event of the first outcome the game outcome generator is caused to determine and show one of the plurality of chance game outcomes and wagers placed by a player are settled based on the nominal value of each placed token in accordance with the set of predefined wagering rules; in the event of the second outcome the pre-determined wagered amount is lost; the feature entry probability is determined by a calculation that takes account of the ratio of the pre-determined wagered amount to the total nominal value of each placed token. A gaming method is also described. The game is for example roulette.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising: a playing surface having: a game wager placement area having markings thereon for identification and placement of wagers entered by a player, the game wager placement area defining a plurality of locations, each such location indicating one of a set of standard available wagers associated with an outcome of the game outcome generator; a game outcome area including a game outcome generator configured to determine and show one of a plurality of chance game outcomes; a plurality of tokens each having a nominal value, each such token being placeable onto a selected location on the game wager placement area, thereby to constitute placement one of the set of standard available wagers; whereby wagers may be placed according to a set of predefined wagering rules associated with the said plurality of locations; a feature entry outcome generator configured to determine, for each game event having a pre-determined wagered amount, a choice between at least a first outcome with a feature entry probability and a second outcome, wherein: in the event of the first outcome the game outcome generator is caused to determine and show one of the plurality of chance game outcomes and wagers placed by a player are settled based on the nominal value of each placed token in accordance with the set of predefined wagering rules; in the event of the second outcome the pre-determined wagered amount is lost; the feature entry probability is determined by a calculation that takes account of the ratio of the pre-determined wagered amount to the total nominal value of each placed token.

2. A gaming system according to claim 1 wherein the feature entry outcome generator is configured to determine a binary choice between only the said two outcomes, and the feature entry probability is determined as the ratio of the pre-determined wagered amount to the total nominal value of each placed token.

3. A gaming system according to claim 1 wherein the feature entry outcome generator is configured to determine a choice between the said two outcomes, and at least one third outcome, the at least one third outcome for example being to return the pre-determined wagered amount.

4. A gaming system according to claim 1 comprising a system for a casino table game, wherein the playing surface comprises a table game playing surface that includes a traditional wagering layout defining a plurality of locations on which a token can be placed, each such placement thereby constituting one of the set of standard available bets.

5. A gaming system according to claim 4 further comprising a table game outcome generator to determine a chance game outcome.

6. A gaming system according to claim 4 wherein the game is roulette and the playing surface comprises a roulette table playing surface that includes a roulette wagering layout defining a plurality of locations on which a standard available bet may be placed and further includes a roulette wheel or other means of presenting a number.

7. A gaming system according to claim 1 wherein the playing surface is a physical surface, and for example is the surface of a physical table at a casino or like location.

8. A gaming system according to claim 1 comprising a virtual gaming system having a virtual game playing surface generation module for generating a virtual playing surface having a game wager placement area and a game outcome area.

9. A gaming system according to claim 8 further comprising one or more of: a virtual game outcome generation module configured to determine one of a plurality of chance game outcomes; a virtual game wager placement module configured to permit a user to place wagers in the form of virtual tokens each having a predetermined nominal value on the virtual game wager placement area, thereby to constitute placement of one of the set of standard available wagers; a virtual game wager settlement module to settle each wager according to a set of predefined wagering rules based on the outcome generated by the game outcome generator; a virtual feature entry outcome generator module configured to determine the choice between at least the first and the second feature entry outcomes; a virtual game wagered amount setting module enabling user to set a pre-determined fixed wagered amount for each game event.

10. A roulette game comprising: a playing surface having: a roulette wheel or other means of presenting a number; a roulette wagering layout area having markings thereon for identification and placement of wagers entered by a player, a defining a plurality of locations, each such location indicating one of a set of standard available wagers associated with an outcome of the roulette wheel or other means of presenting a number; a plurality of tokens each having a predetermined nominal value, each such token being placeable onto a selected location on the roulette wagering layout area, thereby to constitute placement one of the set of standard available wagers; whereby wagers may be placed according to a set of predefined wagering rules associated with the said plurality of locations; a roulette feature entry outcome generator configured to determine a choice between at least a first outcome with a roulette feature entry probability and a second outcome, wherein: in the event of the first outcome the roulette wheel or other means of presenting a number is caused to determine and show a number and wagers placed by a player are settled based on the nominal value of each placed token in accordance with the set of predefined wagering rules; in the event of the second outcome the pre-determined wagered amount is lost; the roulette feature entry probability is determined by a calculation that takes account of the ratio of the pre-determined wagered amount to the total nominal value of each placed token.

11. A method for the placement and settlement of wagers on a game outcome comprising: providing a game outcome generator to determine and show one of a plurality of chance game outcomes; predetermining a set of wagering rules and fixed odds for each of a plurality of standard available wagers associated with an outcome of the game outcome generator; during a game event: facilitating the placement by a player of a plurality of wagers from the set of standard available wagers each with a nominal value determined by the player; setting a predetermined wagered amount; calculating a feature entry probability that takes account of the ratio of the pre-determined wagered amount to the total nominal value of each placed token; determining a feature entry outcome as a choice between at least a first outcome with the feature entry probability and a second outcome; in the event of the first outcome causing the game outcome generator to determine and show one of the plurality of chance game outcomes and settling wagers placed on the nominal value of each placed token in accordance with the set of predefined wagering rules; in the event of the second outcome treating the pre-determined wagered amount as lost.

12. A method according to claim 11 comprising: calculating a feature entry probability as the ratio of the pre-determined wagered amount to the total nominal value of each placed wager; determining a feature entry outcome as a binary choice between a first outcome with the feature entry probability and a second outcome; in the event of the first outcome causing the game outcome generator to determine and show one of the plurality of chance game outcomes and settling wagers placed on the nominal value of each placed token in accordance with the set of predefined wagering rules; in the event of the second outcome treating the pre-determined wagered amount as lost.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the facilitating the placement by a player of a plurality of wagers from the set of standard available wagers each with a nominal value determined by the player comprises: providing a game wager placement area having markings thereon for identification and placement of wagers entered by a player, the game wager placement area defining a plurality of locations, each such location indicating one of a set of standard available wagers associated with an outcome of the game outcome generator; facilitating the placement by a player of a plurality of tokens each having a predetermined nominal value, each such token being placeable onto a selected location on the game wager placement area, thereby to constitute placement one of the set of standard available wagers.

14. A program for a computer comprising a set of instructions carried on a computer readable medium, executable when loaded onto a processor, to cause the processor to perform the method of: providing a game outcome generator to determine and show one of a plurality of chance game outcomes; predetermining a set of wagering rules and fixed odds for each of a plurality of standard available wagers associated with an outcome of the game outcome generator; during a game event: facilitating the placement by a player of a plurality of wagers from the set of standard available wagers each with a nominal value determined by the player; setting a predetermined wagered amount; calculating a feature entry probability that takes account of the ratio of the pre-determined wagered amount to the total nominal value of each placed token; determining a feature entry outcome as a choice between at least a first outcome with the feature entry probability and a second outcome; in the event of the first outcome causing the game outcome generator to determine and show one of the plurality of chance game outcomes and settling wagers placed on the nominal value of each placed token in accordance with the set of predefined wagering rules; in the event of the second outcome treating the pre-determined wagered amount as lost.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0095] The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to example screen presentations from a virtual roulette game embodying the principles of the invention, in which;

[0096] FIG. 1 represents the pre-game cycle as bets are placed;

[0097] FIG. 2 represents the commencement of the game, and the playing of the entry feature;

[0098] FIG. 3 represents the playing of the roulette feature as a bonus feature in the event of a successful outcome from the entry feature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0099] Each of FIGS. 1 to 3 represents the visual display of the wager placement area of a virtual roulette game during various stages of game play, together with certain other information. The betting layout is of an essentially standard design, carrying numbers 1 to 36 conventionally coloured either red or black, and allowing placement of bets, by the placement of virtual chips, on each number and the usual additional bets on groups of numbers, columns of numbers, red/black, high/low, odd/even.

[0100] FIG. 1 shows the pre-game cycle commencement as bets are placed.

[0101] The game is played with a pre-determined total stake for each game play event, which in the illustrated embodiment is set as £2 (or 200 points), and is displayed on the menu bar at the bottom of the screen.

[0102] However, the player is free to distribute chips across the betting layout to any value desired. In the illustrated embodiment the player has distributed chips to the value of 680 points across the layout in various combination bets.

[0103] The invention is distinctly characterised in the way in which this betting total of 680 is reconciled with the maximum stake of £2 (200 points). In contrast to prior art systems, which have employed an odds multiplier principle, the odds on the main game are left unchanged and the bets are left to stand with their nominal chip values. Instead, the invention provides for that game to constitute a bonus feature, with the player's chance of gaining entry to the bonus feature being determined by how many chips are placed on the layout. In this case, the player's chance of gaining entry constitutes a probability of 200/680.

[0104] A visual representation of this probability of gaining entry is presented in the thermometer bar at the right hand side of the screen. The thermometer bar comprises a green coloured portion and a red coloured portion. The respective lengths of these two portions are in direct proportion to the respective probabilities of success and failure (respectively green and red) at the entry feature stage.

[0105] Once the player is satisfied with the placement of bets, the game commences. A virtual start button may be provided for activation by the player.

[0106] FIG. 2 shows a first phase of game play in which the entry feature is active. The entry feature is displayed by a moving virtual pointer which moves up and down the thermometer bar on the right of the displayed screen, and whose final position is representative of the entry outcome. If the pointer is displayed as landing in the green part of the thermometer, the bonus feature is triggered and a virtual roulette wheel (not shown) spins. If the pointer lands in the red, all bets are deemed lost, and the £2 stake is lost.

[0107] FIG. 3 represents the triggering of the bonus feature. At this point, the virtual roulette wheel (not shown) spins and a game outcome in the form of a roulette number is presented. At this point, all bets are settled based on the standard odds for each bet in respect of a chip placed in a winning position and to the full nominal amounts represented on the chips.

[0108] If a number is produced which results in a no win award, then the feature is ended and the game cycle is over.

[0109] If a number is produced on which a win is due, then the win is awarded based on the nominal value and the standard fixed odds. For example, in the example displayed in FIG. 3, it is represented that number 16 has resulted. The player has two winning bets. There is a bet of 20 on the number itself and a bet of 200 on red. The award to the player is (36×20)+(2×200)=1120 points.

[0110] The player is now “in feature” and may elect to collect the points as a return of £11.20, and end the game, or recycle them by replaying some or all of the points on the roulette layout.

[0111] Thus, the player is effectively enabled to set their own bonus entry frequency and to play the bonus game in an entirely standard way whilst still complying with the pre-set fixed stake, for example making the game particularly adaptable to jurisdictions operating relatively low fixed staking requirements.