Gaming apparatus and systems

Abstract

Gaming apparatus, e.g. an Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) ( 1 ), includes a controller ( 2 ) for implementing a Sic Bo game. The controller ( 2 ) includes a display ( 5 ) on which is displayed a first dice tumbler ( 9 ) including a set of dice and betting board ( 10 ), as well as further dice tumblers ( 11 ) each including a further set of dice that can be bet on and played at the same time as betting on and playing the set of dice in the first dice tumbler ( 9 ). The apparatus may also allow multiple sets of dice betting using a plurality of physical sets of dice and an electronic betting terminal.

1 . Gaming apparatus for playing Sic Bo, the apparatus including: 
 a plurality of setsof dice; input means for allowing a user to place a bet or bets on the plurality of sets of dice during a round of betting;    means for determining the win statuses of the plurality of sets of dice after a round of rolls; and    means for displaying the bet outcome, the bet outcome being based on the input bet or bets and on the win statuses of the sets of dice.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sets of dice include a virtual set of dice.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sets of dice include a physical set of dice.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the apparatus includes means for inputting the results of a roll of the physical set of dice.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , including electronic betting terminals that provide the input and display means.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , including a physical set of dice remote from the betting terminals.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the display means displays an image or representation of the physical set of dice.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , including a camera for providing an image of the physical set of dice.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , including means for automatically setting the number of sets of dice to be bet upon in a round.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , including means for allowing a user to select the number of sets of dice to be bet upon in a round.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , including means for allowing a user to select the plurality of sets of dice from a group of possible sets of dice.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes bet allocation means for automatically placing a bet on each of the plurality of sets of dice based on a main bet input by the user.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the bet allocation means repeats the amount of the main bet across each of the sets of dice.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the bet allocation means places a bet amount on each of the sets of dice that is a percentage or increment of the main bet amount.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , where the bet allocation means places a bet on each of the sets of dice that is of the same type as that of the main bet.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the bet allocation means places a number of bets on each of the sets of dice based on a number of main bets.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes means for allowing a user to place bets manually on each of the plurality of sets of dice.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a win event is triggered based on the win status of any one of the sets of dice.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a win event is triggered based on the combined win status of two or more of the sets of dice.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sets of dice are rolled in an overlapping manner.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sets of dice are rolled such that the results are revealed successively.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is an electronic gaming machine.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a central control and a plurality of remote devices for receiving bets and displaying results that are in communication with the central control.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a network of electronic devices.  
   
   
       25 . A gaming system for playing Sic Bo, the system including: 
 a plurality of sets of dice;    input means for allowing a user to place a bet or bets on the plurality of sets of dice during a round of betting;    means for determining the win statuses of the plurality of sets of dice after the dice are rolled; and    means for displaying the bet outcome, the bet outcome being based on the input bet or bets and on the win statuses of the sets of dice.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the system includes a central control for running a gaming algorithm, and a plurality of remote clients in communication with the central control over a communications network, the remote clients including means for inputting bets and displaying the results of bets.  
   
   
       27 . A method of operating a gaming machine for playing Sic Bo, the method including the steps of: 
 obtaining a bet or bets from a user;    placing the bet or bets on a plurality of sets of dice in a single betting round;    rolling the sets of dice;    determining the statuses of the plurality of sets of dice after the rolling; and    displaying the betting results based on the input bet or bets and on the statuses of the sets of dice.    
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein the step of rolling the sets of dice occurs before obtaining the bet or bets from the user.  
   
   
       29 . Gaming software including: 
 a component for obtaining a bet or bets from a user;    a component for placing the bet or bets on a plurality of sets of dice in a single betting round;    a component for determining the statuses of the plurality of sets of dice after a roll of the dice; and    a component for displaying the betting results based on the input bet or bets and on the statuses of the sets of dice.    
   
   
       30 . Electronic gaming apparatus including: 
 means for generating a plurality of virtual sets of dice;    means for receiving a bet or bets from a user in relation to the plurality of virtual sets of dice;    means for rolling the sets of dice; and    means for determining a user's winnings based on the results of the sets of dice and on the user bet or bets.    
   
   
       31 . A Sic Bo game playing system, including: 
 a plurality of physical sets of dice; and    a betting terminal;    wherein the betting terminal allows a player to bet on the plurality of sets of dice at the same time.    
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein bets are placed on the plurality of sets of dice automatically based on a bet input by a player.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein bets are placed on the plurality of sets of dice manually by the player.  
   
   
       34 . Electronic gaming apparatus including: 
 a plurality of sets of dice;    means for inputting a bet or bets, including means for generating a single electronic Sic Bo betting board through which one or more Sic Bo bets may be placed on the plurality of sets of dice;    means for automatically placing bets on the plurality of sets of dice based on an input bet or bets;    means for determining the win statuses of the plurality of sets of dice after the sets of dice are rolled; and    means for determining a win based on the win statuses of the plurality of sets of dice and on the bet or bets placed.    
   
   
       35 . An electronic Sic Bo game in which the game includes a plurality of sets of dice that a user is able to bet on centrally in a single betting round.  
   
   
       36 . The electronic Sic Bo game of  claim 35 , wherein the game includes a plurality of virtual sets of dice that a user is able to bet on.  
   
   
       37 . The electronic Sic Bo game of  claim 35 , including an electronic betting terminal and a plurality of physical sets of dice, the terminal allowing a user to bet centrally on the physical sets of dice.  
   
   
       38 . The electronic Sic Bo game of  claim 35 , including a bet allocation means for automatically allocating bets across the sets of dice.  
   
   
       39 . Gaming apparatus for playing Sic Bo, including: 
 a plurality of sets of dice;    input means for allowing a user to place one or more bets on the plurality of sets of dice;    bet allocation means for placing a separate bet on each of the sets of dice based upon at least one bet input by a user;    means for determining the statuses of the plurality of sets of dice after the dice have been rolled; and    means for displaying the bet outcome, the bet outcome being based on the input bet and on the statuses of the sets of dice.    
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the bet allocation means repeats the user input bet across the plurality of sets of dice.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the bet allocation means places a user input bet on one set of dice, and places different bets on other sets of dice, the bets on the other sets of dice being different in amount and/or type.