Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-26
2002-05-28
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C273S146000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06394901
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates, generally, to the play of the dice game known as “craps”. More specifically, the invention provides a device for the play of craps housed in and played substantially as a conventional slot machine.
In the conventional game of craps, two standard, matched dice are used. The players start the game by rolling for “high dice” and the player who rolls the highest total on the two dice plays the game first, becoming the “shooter” (or the “roller” or “caster”). Variations on the casino play of the game are discussed more fully below.
Initially, the shooter may bet any desired amount. He announces his bet and places it on the playing surface, generally in the center of the surface being played upon. The shooter's bet may be accepted, or “faded”, in whole or in part, by any other player. Each player, in turn to the caster's left, may take (fade) as much of the shooter's bet as he wishes, with precedence accorded to a player willing to fade the entire bet.
When the bet is faded, the shooter rolls the dice from his bare hand, no cup ever being used, shaking them before rolling, generally producing clicking to assure the other players that he is not casting them in a preset position or mode.
Under the rules of the game, if the faces of the two dice add up to 7 or 11 on the first roll, that is termed a “natural”, and the shooter wins immediately. He collects the bets and keeps the dice, and the betting and fading proceed to the next roll of dice.
However, if the total on the dice at the first cast is 2, 3 or 12, that outcome event is termed “craps” or “crapping out”, and the shooter loses, but he keeps the dice.
If the total shown on the first roll is any other of the possible numbers—4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10—the number shown on the dice becomes the shooter's “point”. At this stage of play, the shooter has neither won nor lost. He continues to roll until either: (a) the dice repeat the same number, that is, he makes his point, in which case he wins, or (b) the dice rolled total 7, in which case he loses and the dice pass to the next player on his left, who becomes the new shooter.
A winning roll, whether from a natural or from making a point, is called a “pass”. After each pass, the shooter may change his bet.
In usual play, side bets are permitted. That is, having rolled a point, the shooter bets additionally on whether or not he will make his point, and other players may bet on the same question among themselves. To win consistently, a player must be cognizant of the odds available at each throw of the dice.
In most games, there is continual action in betting. If the shooter rolls a point, he may additionally bet on the series of rolls beginning with his next roll, which are called “come” or “don't come” bets. He may bet that he is “right” or “wrong”, meaning that he will shoot a winning number or crap out, respectively, in the next roll. These designations may have different meanings in different localities, so the player should ascertain the meaning of these terms at the location of play.
In commercial casinos, crap shooting is a favorite game. The players group around a large, felt-covered table. One or more dealers control the game, pay and collect bets, etc. Usually there are two, including a stick man who handles the dice and a cashier. Players do not bet among themselves, but against the house, at odds determined by the house. The standard layout of a craps table may be found in any comprehensive book on gaming and/or on the internet gaming sites which have recently proliferated.
The players take turns casting the dice as in any crap game. Any player may bet upon himself as the shooter, or upon whoever is shooting, the latter termed a “line” or “pass line” bet. The house covers all such bets, up to a determined and certain limit per player.
When a player wishes to fade, a term not normally used in casino games, it is called betting “wrong”. The result of this bet is altered to restore to the house the advantage, whereby, if the shooter craps out by throwing a 2 or 3 on the first roll, or he throws a point and then fails to make that point, the house pays. If, however, the shooter's first roll is 12 (double “6's”), the bettor does not win, but the bet is called off entirely (a tie) and he keeps his money. Different houses may bar different numbers, i.e.,
1-1
, and again local rules should be determined.
Once a player has selected a bet amount, he places that bet on the craps table in the designated area. Once all bets are placed, the dice are rolled.
The most popular bet at the table is the “pass line” bet, also called the “front line”. A wager on the pass line wins if the first roll of the dice, called the “come out” roll, when no point is established, is either a 7 or 11, i.e., a “natural”. The player loses on the come out roll with a pass line bet if 2, 3 or 12 is rolled.
If any other number is rolled on the come out roll, e.g., 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, that number becomes the “point”. Once the point has been established, the player (or shooter) in successive rolls must repeat the point before a 7 is rolled. If the shooter rolls a 7 before the point is repeated, the pass line bet loses. A winning bet is paid even money.
A “don't pass” bet, also called a “back line” bet, is the opposite of the pass line bet. It can only be placed on a come out roll with no point established. This bet wins if the shooter rolls either a 2 or 3 on the come out roll and loses immediately if a 7 or 11 is rolled on the come out roll. When the point has been established, this bet wins if the shooter rolls a 7 before the point is repeated.
The “come” or (“right”) bet is an extension of the pass line bet and may be wagered after the point has been established on the come out roll. The rules for this bet are the same as the pass line bet. The come bet wins if a 7 or 11 is next rolled and loses if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled. Any other number becomes the come point and must be repeated before a 7 rolls in order to win even money. If the shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 after a come bet has been placed, the dealer will move the come bet from the come area to the corresponding box for that particular number. Just as with the pass line bet, this wager may not be reduced or removed until play is completed. A winning wager is paid even money.
The “don't come” (or “wrong”) bet is the opposite of the come bet. It may be wagered any time after the point has been established on the come out roll. A first roll of 7 or 11 loses, 2 or 3 wins, and 12 is a standoff. If a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is rolled after a don't come bet has been placed, the dealer will move the wager from the don't come area to the corresponding box for that particular number. The player wins even money if 7 is rolled before the point is repeated.
Whenever a shooter rolls doubles and the outcome is a 4, 6, 8 or 10, the shooter is said to have hit the number the “hard way”, that is, by rolling doubles. If any of these same numbers are rolled and the outcome is not doubles, the shooter is said to have hit the number the “easy way”. A hard way bet wins when the shooter rolls a number the hard way. A hard way bet loses if the shooter rolls a number the easy way or if the shooter rolls a 7. Usually hard way 4 and 10 pay 7 to 1 and hard way 6 and 8 pay 9 to 1.
A “field” bet is a wager that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. The 2 and the 12 pay double in most houses.
The present invention provides, in slot-machine format, all of the thrills associated with the play of the game of craps and is similar, in every respect, to the play of the game at a casino craps table. Eliminated in the device of the invention are all biases in favor of the house such as those arising from biased dice or an overly skilled croupier. In fact, in the play of the game according to the invention, human intervention is eliminated completely.
Other casino games, and even pari-mutuel horse racing, have been adapted so as to be played in slot-machine-like devices. For exampl
Cheng Joe H.
Nguyen Kim T.
Uebler, PA E. Alan
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