Racing table game

Abstract

The present invention comprises a racing table game and method for playing. Game components include, but are not limited to: a table gaming surface having a plurality of lanes with start and finish lines; a plurality of racers; at least two dice; and a plurality of race tickets each corresponding to a racer. In one embodiment of a method of play, game setup and dealer selection occurs. The dealer then randomizes and distributes the race tickets. A player rolls the dice and acts either by paying chip(s) into a purse or moving a racer, as instructed by the dice. Play continues with each player rolling the dice and acting, until a winner is determined with a racer crossing the finish line. That race is over and the purse is divided into shares and distributed to winning ticket holders. When the role of the dealer is transferred, the next race commences.

1 . A method of playing a racing table game, the racing table game being played by a plurality of players, the method comprising:
 setting up a game table, wherein the game table comprises a plurality of lanes and each lane has a plurality of race positions, the game table further comprises a start line and a finish line, and a plurality of racers;   randomizing and distributing a plurality of race tickets;   determining an active player from among the plurality of players;   rolling a plurality of dice, wherein a first die is a dodecahedron having faces corresponding to the plurality of racers plus a wild-card face, and a second die has at least a first face displaying a 1, a second face displaying a 2, a third face displaying a 3, a fourth face representing a single chip, and a fifth face representing a double chip;   acting on the dice roll by either placing a plurality of chips into a purse if the second die displays the single chip or the double chip, or if the second die displays a number, moving one of the plurality of racers, a particular racer being determined by the result of the first die or by a player's choice if the first die results in the wild-card face, forward the number of race positions displayed by the second die within one of the plurality of lanes;   determining at least one winner;   determining shares into which the purse will be divided;   distributing shares to the at least one winner; and   ending a race.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the “setting up a game table” step comprises at least arranging the plurality of racers within the plurality of lanes on the game table with each racer being placed in an associated lane, determining who will be the plurality of players, determining a dealer from among the plurality of players, and deciding how many of the race tickets to use. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the “randomizing and distributing a plurality of race tickets” step comprises the dealer randomizing the plurality of race tickets and distributing the plurality of race tickets to the plurality of players. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the “determining an active player from among the plurality of players” step comprises determining that the active player is a player immediately left of the dealer if no player has yet rolled the plurality of dice, and the active player is a player immediately left of the previous active player otherwise. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the “determining a winner” step comprises determining if a first racer from among the plurality of racers has crossed the finish line and declaring that first racer as the winner, and if none of the plurality of racers has crossed the finish line then calling the “determining an active player from among the plurality of players” step and continuing game play in a loop until the “determining a winner” step declares that a racer is the winner. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the “determining a winner” step comprises determining if a first racer and a second racer from among the plurality of racers have crossed the finish line and declaring that first racer as first place and that second racer as second place, and if there has not been at least two of the plurality of racers that have crossed the finish line then calling the “determining an active player from among the plurality of players” step and continuing game play in a loop until the “determining a winner step” declares at least first place and second place. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the “determining shares into which the purse will be divided” step comprises:
 adding up all of the chips in the purse to get a purse total; 
 adding up all of the race tickets that correspond to the racer that has been declared the winner from among the plurality of race tickets distributed to the plurality of players to get a ticket total; 
 dividing the purse total by the ticket total to get a number that is called the purse share; and 
 if the purse share is not already a whole number, the purse share is rounded down to a whole number, the purse share is then declared the share amount. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the “distributing shares” step comprises distributing one share amount of chips from the purse to each player for each race ticket corresponding to the racer that has been declared the winner that a player holds. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the “ending a race” step comprises the dealer declaring that all shares have been paid and placing any remaining chips back in the purse for the next race. 
     
     
         10 . A method of playing a racing table game, the racing table game being played by a plurality of players, the method comprising:
 setting up a game table, wherein the game table comprises a plurality of lanes and each lane has a plurality of race positions, the game table further comprises a start line and a finish line, and a plurality of racers;   randomizing and distributing a plurality of race tickets, wherein a dealer randomizes the plurality of race tickets and distributes the plurality of race tickets to the plurality of players;   determining an active player from among the plurality of players, wherein the dealer determines that the active player is a player immediately left of the dealer if no player has yet rolled the plurality of dice, and the active player is a player immediately left of the previous active player otherwise;   rolling a plurality of dice, wherein a first die is a dodecahedron having faces corresponding to the plurality of racers plus a wild-card face, and a second die has at least a first face displaying a 1, a second face displaying a 2, a third face displaying a 3, a fourth face representing a single chip, and a fifth face representing a double chip;   acting on the dice roll by either placing a plurality of chips into a purse if the second die displays the single chip or the double chip, or if the second die displays a number, moving one of the plurality of racers, a particular racer being determined by the result of the first die or by a player's choice if the first die results in the wild-card face, forward the number of racer positions displayed by the second die within one of the plurality of lanes;   determining at least one winner;   determining shares into which the purse will be divided;   distributing shares; and   ending a race.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the “setting up a game table” step comprises at least arranging the plurality of racers within the plurality of lanes on the game table with each racer being placed in an associated lane, determining who will be the plurality of players, determining a dealer from among the plurality of players, and deciding how many of the race tickets to use. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the “determining a winner” step comprises determining if a first racer from among the plurality of racers has crossed the finish line and declaring that first racer as the winner, and if none of the plurality of racers has crossed the finish line then calling the “determining an active player from among the plurality of players” step and continuing game play in a loop until the “determining a winner” step declares that a racer is the winner. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the “determining a winner” step comprises determining if a first racer and a second racer from among the plurality of racers have crossed the finish line and declaring that first racer as first place and that second racer as second place, and if there has not been at least two of the plurality of racers that have crossed the finish line then calling the “determining an active player from among the plurality of players” step and continuing game play in a loop until the “determining a winner step” declares at least first place and second place. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the “determining shares into which the purse will be divided” step comprises:
 adding up all of the chips in the purse to get a purse total; 
 adding up all of the race tickets that correspond to the racer that has been declared the winner from among the plurality of race tickets distributed to the plurality of players to get a ticket total; 
 dividing the purse total by the ticket total to get a number that is called the purse share; and 
 if the purse share is not already a whole number, the purse share is rounded down to a whole number, the purse share is then declared the share amount. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the “distributing shares” step comprises distributing one share amount of chips from the purse to each player for each race ticket corresponding to the racer that has been declared the winner that a player holds. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the “ending a race” step comprises the dealer declaring that all shares have been paid and placing any remaining chips back in the purse for the next race. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for playing a racing table game, the racing table game being played by a plurality of players, the apparatus comprising:
 a game table, wherein the game table comprises eleven lanes and each lane has a plurality of race positions, the game table further comprises a start line and a finish line, and eleven racers each positioned within one of the eleven lanes;   a plurality of race tickets randomized and distributed to the plurality of players, wherein each race ticket depicts one of the eleven racers;   a plurality of dice, wherein a first die is a dodecahedron having faces corresponding to the eleven racers plus a wild-card face, and a second die has at least a first face displaying a 1, a second face displaying a 2, a third face displaying a 3, a fourth face representing a single chip, and a fifth face representing a double chip;   a purse configured to receive a first plurality of chips from an active player when the active player rolls the dice and the second die results in the single chip and configured to receive a second plurality of chips from the active player when the active player rolls the dice and the second die results in the double chip;   an active racer determined from the eleven racers when the first die results in a number from one to eleven or by the active player's choice when the first die results in the wild-card face, and wherein the active racer is moved forward within its lane the number of racer positions displayed by the second die.   
     
     
         18 . The racing table game apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein a first racer to cross the finish line is the winner and each race ticket depicting the winner is a winning race ticket. 
     
     
         19 . The racing table game apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a winning race ticket share is determined by dividing the purse into whole number portions equal to a number of winning race tickets held by the players and reserving any remaining purse amount for a next race. 
     
     
         20 . The number of winning race ticket shares to be paid to a given player is equal to the number of winning race tickets held by the given player.