Method and apparatus for simulating games of chance with cards

Abstract

A method and system for simulating games of chance using cards are disclosed using a shuffler to shuffle a set of cards and dispensing one or more cards. Current regulations prohibit certain game operators from using certain games such as traditional craps and roulette. By simulating those games with cards, operators can still provide players with games they recognize and thereby develop excitement and new gaming alternatives for their players, as well as draw players new players to such games through their familiarity with the indicia on the cards.

1 . A method of simulating a game of roulette using cards, comprising: 
 using at least one shuffler to shuffle a set of cards comprising a joker;    dispensing at least one card from said set of cards to represent a roulette ball landing on a roulette wheel;    selecting which of said at least one card will represent said roulette ball landing on said roulette wheel when more than one card is dispensed; and    determining an outcome from said selected at least one card.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one card shuffler is an automatic card shuffler adapted to continuously shuffle cards and further adapted to dispense at least one card when directed to do so.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one card shuffler is further adapted to accept said dispensed cards and shuffle them with a plurality of remaining cards still contained in said at least one shuffler.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one card shuffler is further adapted to indicate when a complete set of cards is present and contained in said card shuffler.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one card shuffler is adapted to dispense from 4 to 6 cards at a time.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said set of cards comprises images appearing on a video screen, and wherein said at least one card shuffler is a module adapted to randomize an order that said images representing cards appear on said video screen.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said video screen is operably linked to a video slot machine.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said video screen is operably linked to a video game system.  
   
   
       9 . A game that uses cards to simulate a game of roulette, comprising: 
 a set of cards having numbers and other indicia thereon;    at least one card shuffler adapted to dispense at least one of said set of cards that represents a roulette ball landing on a roulette wheel;    a table for placing at least one bet; and    a selector for selecting which of the dispensed at least one of said cards is to determine an outcome when more than one card is dispensed.    
   
   
       10 . The game of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one card shuffler is an automatic card shuffler adapted to continuously shuffle cards and further adapted to dispense at least one card when directed to do so.  
   
   
       11 . The game of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one card shuffler is further adapted to accept said dispensed cards and shuffle them with a plurality of remaining cards still contained in said at least one shuffler.  
   
   
       12 . The game of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one card shuffler is further adapted to indicate when a complete set of cards is present and contained in said card shuffler.  
   
   
       13 . The game of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one card shuffler is adapted to dispense from 4 to 6 cards at a time.  
   
   
       14 . The game of  claim 9 , wherein said set of cards comprises images appearing on a video screen, and wherein said at least one card shuffler is a module adapted to randomize an order that said images representing cards appear on said video screen.  
   
   
       15 . The game of  claim 14 , wherein said video screen is operably linked to a video slot machine.  
   
   
       16 . The game of  claim 14 , wherein said video screen is operably linked to a video game system.  
   
   
       17 . A gaming apparatus for simulating a game of roulette using cards comprising: 
 a surface comprising a plurality of betting areas, wherein said plurality of betting areas comprises at least one suit betting area.    
   
   
       18 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one suit betting area comprises four suit betting areas, wherein the suits of said four suit betting areas are club, diamond, heart, and spade.  
   
   
       19 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of betting areas further comprises at least one joker betting area.  
   
   
       20 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of betting areas further comprises at least one top card betting area.  
   
   
       21 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of betting areas further comprises thirty six number betting areas, at least one zero betting area, a red betting area, a black betting area, an even betting area, and odd betting area, a 1 to 18 betting area, a 19 to 36 betting area, a first twelve betting area, a second twelve betting area, a third twelve betting area, a first column betting area, a second column betting area, a third column betting area, and a joker betting area.  
   
   
       22 . A method of simulating the game of roulette using cards, comprising: 
 shuffling a set of cards wherein at least one card of said set of cards is a joker;    selecting a first card from said set of cards to represent a roulette ball landing on a roulette wheel on a first spin;    determining an outcome from said selected first card.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising, assigning to said joker, a value of said first card, wherein said joker corrects a probability of selecting a second card having said value; 
 selecting a second card from said set of cards to represent the result of a roulette ball landing on a roulette wheel on a second spin;    determining an outcome from said selected second card.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said shuffling comprises shuffling with an automatic shuffler.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said probability of selecting is one out of thirty-eight.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said probability of selecting is one out of seventy-six.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said set of cards comprises images appearing on a video screen, and wherein said shuffling comprises using a module adapted to randomize an order that said images representing cards appear on said video screen.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said video screen is operably linked to a video slot machine.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said video screen is operably linked to a video game system.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said set of cards comprises 77 cards.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said set of cards comprises: 
 two of each card numbered 1 to 36, wherein each card numbered 1 to 36 also comprises a suit designation of club, diamond, heart, or spade;    two cards numbered 0;    two cards numbered 00; and    one joker.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said set of cards consists of 77 cards.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said set of cards consists of: 
 two of each card numbered 1 to 36, wherein each card numbered 1 to 36 also comprises a suit designation of club, diamond, heart, or spade;    two cards numbered 0;    two cards numbered 00; and    one joker.    
   
   
       34 . A deck of cards for simulating a game of roulette using cards comprising: 
 cards numbered 1 to 36, wherein each card numbered 1 to 36 also comprises a suit designation of club, diamond, heart, or spade;    a card numbered 0;    a card numbered 00.    
   
   
       35 . The deck of  claim 34 , further comprising a joker.  
   
   
       36 . The deck of  claim 34 , comprising: 
 two of each card numbered 1 to 36, wherein each card numbered 1 to 36 also comprises a suit designation of club, diamond, heart, or spade;    two cards numbered 0;    two cards numbered 00; and    one joker.    
   
   
       37 . The deck of  claim 36 , consisting of: 
 two of each card numbered 1 to 36, wherein each card numbered 1 to 36 also comprises a suit designation of club, diamond, heart, or spade;    two cards numbered 0;    two cards numbered 00; and    one joker.