Amusement devices: games – Board games – pieces – or boards therefor – Betting or wagering board
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-28
2004-06-29
Harrison, Jessica (Department: 3714)
Amusement devices: games
Board games, pieces, or boards therefor
Betting or wagering board
C273S146000, C273S259000, C273S244000, C463S016000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06755420
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of wagering style casino games. More particularly, this invention relates to a dice game and betting layout designed to simulate a baseball game.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Since its inception some 150 years ago, baseball has been considered America's Pastime. Fans flock to baseball games during the spring and summer months to relax and escape everyday worries. More recently, professional baseball games have become popular with the gambling public. While not generating the gambling take of professional football games, the gambling take on baseball games continues to increase.
The traditional sports book located in nearly every Las Vegas casino are routinely packed with sports enthusiasts cheering and jeering the performance of a particular team that they have wagered to win. Unfortunately, for the casinos the majority of people visiting Las Vegas desire to play table games such as blackjack, roulette and craps. Therefore, the need exists to combine the action of sports wagering in a table game.
The casinos of the 21
st
century are proliferated by slot machines which account for a majority of the casinos' revenue. Technology and huge jackpots have increased the popularity of slot machines causing fewer people to play live table games. Casinos are constantly seeking new and exciting table games to level the playing field.
Craps is hands-down the most popular dice game present in any casino. Craps is played with two dice and the game is characterized by betting options and pay outs depicted on a gaming table. In a similar manner, the present invention utilizes three dice on a gaming table depicting betting options and pay outs. The combined total of three dice account for all outcomes associated with a baseball at-bat and afford the most realistic simulation of a professional baseball game.
Patents issued to wagering games continue to rise as the popularity and proliferation of legalized gambling increases. Patents have also attempted to combine sports with table games including the use of dice. However, the wagering games protected by patents have failed to promulgate the casinos.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,714 (the '714 Patent) discloses a “Methods and Apparatus For Playing Baseball Gambling Games.” The '714 Patent employs a computer processor to dictate the results of each at-bat. The invention protected by the '714 Patent is a video baseball game enhanced by player wagers. Individual players play against other players in an effort to score the most runs in an allotted number of innings. However, there is no significant player participation other than placing bets. Games controlled entirely by computers will not attract the traditional table game player but rather will be more appealing to a slot machine player.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,320,315 (the '315 Patent) discloses a “Game Apparatus” including game pieces such as dice suitable for playing the game of parlor baseball. The dice disclosed in the '315 Patent are typical six-sided dice with various symbols depicted on the dice face. The dice recite “Ball”, “Out” and “Hit” corresponding to certain baseball outcomes. The '315 Patent was issued in 1919 and therefore fails to simulate a realistic baseball game of this era. In order to place bets, the wagering public demands a realistic baseball wagering game.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,081 (the '081 Patent) discloses a “Method of Playing a Three Dice Betting Game.”
FIG. 1
of the '081 Patent depicts a gaming table corresponding to a three dice baseball game. Nonetheless, the gaming table fails to treat many traditional baseball outcomes such as the double-play, home run or strikeout. Although, three dice are used, each dice is rolled individually permitting players to place bets on each roll. The game fails to simulate a professional baseball game in any fashion other than to borrow certain obvious baseball terms.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,457 (the '457 Patent) discloses a “Method of Playing a Dice Wagering Game Simulating Bowling.” The issued patent suggests that the game may provide a basis for a similar game such as baseball. Once again, the '457 Patent discloses a simple game incapable of simulating the numerous outcomes present in a professional baseball game.
The present invention overcomes the referenced deficiencies existing in the prior art, namely the lack of realism inherent in the prior art games of chance. The wagering public is knowledgeable of odds and requires that a sports related wagering game simulate as closely as possible the live version of the game. The present invention closely simulates a professional baseball game, more particularly a Major League Baseball® game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide the a realistic simulation of a live Major League Baseball® game.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a gaming table complete with payout information for all baseball outcomes.
Another object of the present invention is to attract wagering sports enthusiasts to a casino table game.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for sports bettors to enjoy sports wagers (e.g. Over/Under, Win/Lose, Parlays or Proposition) in a table game environment.
Another object of the present invention is to permit player interaction during play of the wagering game.
Another object of the present invention is to provide accurate odds based on Major League Baseball's® statistics while maintaining an attractive game to both the wagering public and the house.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the casino or operator the ability to select the most popular wagers from an infinite selection of different baseball related wagers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the casino or operator the ability to select progressive wagers dependent on rare baseball occurrences including, but not limited to, a no-hitter or perfect game.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a gaming table that simulates a baseball park including a baseball diamond with accurate color schemes (e.g. green grass, brown infield dirt, white bases, etc.), foul-poles, scoreboard with inning-by-inning results and chip holding means staggered to depict a stadium seating configuration.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus and method of playing a wagering game that simulates a Major League Baseball® game. The present invention provides apparatus including a playing surface (cloth, table top or game board) depicting outcomes, betting areas, pay outs associated with each outcome, three dice and game indicia to track the inning, score, base runners, etc. Further embellishments including a lighted scoreboard and game marquis are provided. The playing surface is similar to that associated with the game of craps except the markings are directed to baseball outcomes. The three dice are rolled simultaneously to provide the random results desired in all casino wagering games.
In playing the game termed DICE BASEBALL™ or DIAMOND DICE™ players can form teams to play against other teams, one player can play another individual player or team, or a player can play the house directly. In all scenarios, players place bets in designated areas on the playing surface corresponding to different anticipated baseball outcomes. The players are permitted to wager on at-bat, half-inning, or game results. Each roll of the three dice corresponds to an at-bat. Common dice comprising six sides each side having a different depiction of one to six dots are utilized in the present invention. The summation of the three dice determines the outcome of that particular roll or at-bat.
As with Major League Baseball® the present invention will consist of nine innings with the possibility of extra innings should the game be tied after nine innings have been played. With team play, it is envisioned that players can pass the roll to other team players for each at-bat or one member of the team can rol
Harrison Jessica
Phillips Rob L.
Quirk & Tratos
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