Casino style game of chance apparatus

Abstract

A casino style game apparatus preferably having a table layout for playing a roulette or roulette-like game without a roulette wheel. The preferred embodiment uses a ball blower to select a numbered ball from a set of thirty-eight numbered balls. A monitor displays the selected ball as viewed from a video camera mounted above the ball blower. The number displayed constitutes the random number decision generation replacing the use of a roulette wheel. An additional embodiment uses a random number generator to select a number from one to thirty-eight for random number decision generation. Another embodiment uses a shuffled thirty-eight card deck from which a numbered card is selected constituting the random number decision generation. An additional embodiment uses a remote control activated by a player to initiate the random number generator for selection of a number from one to thirty-eight to constitute the random number decision generation.

1 . A game of chance comprising:
 a table having number indicia for placing bets thereupon,   a number selector which when actuated for a game, produces a randomly selected number, the number being determinative of the game's winning indicia, wherein the number selector comprises at least one ball selector which, when actuated, randomly singulates one of a plurality of numbered, agitated balls contained within a chamber, the number on at least one singulated ball being the selected number, wherein each ball selected is blown to the top of the chamber and into a singulating chute communicating with the chamber; and   a live motion camera affixed to the structure proximate the singulated ball for capturing a live motion image of the number on the ball, and a display screen affixed to the structure for displaying to participants and observers of the game the camera's live motion view of the singulated ball.   
   
   
       2 . A method for playing a game of chance, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one defined set of balls, the defined set consisting of thirty-seven or thirty-eight individual and substantially identical balls, each ball in the defined set representing a different chance outcome in the game of chance;   marking each ball in the defined set with a distinctive indicium, thirty-six of the balls being marked with indicium selected from the group consisting of the whole numbers 1 to 36, and the remaining one or two balls in the defined set being marked with other distinctive indicium, whereby every ball in the defined set is uniquely marked;   placing the at least one defined set of balls in a transparent chamber;   providing a transparent chute in communication with the chamber;   providing a table top having a layout region corresponding to the distinctive indicium marked on the balls;   wagering upon the game outcome by positioning an acceptable instrument within the layout region on the table top to select from any of the distinctive indicium;   randomly moving the at least one defined set of balls about the chamber under the influence of an air current;   singulating a random one ball from the at least one defined set of balls during said step of randomly moving the balls in the chamber, said step of singulating a random one of the balls including selectively admitting the one singulated ball into the chute;   providing a motion picture camera affixed relative to the transparent chute;   determining a decision for the game of chance by publicizing the distinct indicia marked on the one singulated ball, whereby the game decision is based on said step of singulating a random one ball and the probability that any one distinct indicium will be publicized is equivalent to 1 divided by the total number of balls in the defined set is equivalent to the conventional game of roulette but without using a roulette wheel to establish the game decision;   capturing a live motion visual image of the one singulated ball within the transparent chute with the camera; and   projecting the captured live motion image on a display screen.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said step of providing a table top having a layout region includes the step of creating a layout matrix comprising thirty-six cells arranged in three columns and twelve rows, and further including the step of marking each cell with a distinctive indicium selected from the group consisting of the whole numbers 1 to 36. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of marking each ball with a distinctive indicium includes the step of marking at least two of the thirty-eight balls with distinctive indicium selected from the group consisting of the whole numbers 37 and 38. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of marking each cell includes marking the cell in the first column and the first row with the number “1”, marking the cell in the second column and the first row with the number “2”, and marking the cell in the third column and the first row with the number “3”, and further including the step of sequentially marking each successive cell in each column with the number determined by the formula “n+3” where “n” is the number in the immediately preceding cell of the same column. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for playing a game of chance, said apparatus comprising:
 a table top for placing bets thereupon, said table top having a layout region including a layout matrix comprising thirty-six cells arranged in three columns and twelve rows, each said cell containing a distinctive indicium selected from the group consisting of the whole numbers 1 to 36;   at least one defined set of balls, each said defined set consisting of thirty-seven or thirty-eight individual and substantially identical balls, thirty-six of said balls marked with a distinctive indicium selected from the group consisting of the whole numbers 1 to 36, and the remaining one or two balls in said defined set marked with other distinctive indicium, whereby every ball in said defined set is uniquely marked;   a transparent chamber for containing said balls;   a blower for moving said balls randomly within said chamber under the influence of an air current;   a ball selector operatively associated with said chamber for singulating a random one of said balls to establish a game decision corresponding to the distinct indicia marked on said one singulated ball, whereby the game of chance played upon said apparatus produces a game decision that has a probability factor for each possible outcome equivalent to one divided by the total number of said balls in said defined set;   said ball selector including a transparent chute in communication with said chamber for receiving and displaying said one singulated ball; and   a live motion camera fixedly disposed relative to said transparent chute and directed toward said transparent chute for capturing a live motion visual image of said one singulated ball, and a video display for displaying the live motion visual image of said one singulated ball captured in real time by said live motion camera.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein one of said balls is marked with indicium number 37. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said cell in said first column and said first row of said layout matrix includes the number “1”, said cell in said second column and said first row includes the number “2”, and said cell in said third column and said first row includes the number “3”, and wherein each successive cell in each said column includes the number determined by the formula “n+3” where “n” is the number in the immediately preceding cell of the same column.