Methods and apparatus for a casino game

• US 20020163122A1
• Filed: 06/20/2002
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Olaf Vancura
• Inventors: Vancura, Olaf
• Granted Patent: US 6,726,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/138.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/04 Dice dice tops A63F5/04 D; Dice-boxes; Mechanical dice-throwing devices casino or betting games played on boards A63F3/00157

Abstract

A method for playing a game has the steps of establishing a plurality of paths, each of which have a plurality of squares including a start square, an end square, and a plurality of value squares. Randomly traversing the paths to afford the possibility of two or more moves to reach the end square. Allowing a player to select one of the paths. Moving along the player selected path randomly, while awarding the player the values associated with squares landed upon. The randomness is by the steps of spinning a spinner, rolling a die or dice, employing a wheel, flipping a coin, or the use of a random number generator. The step of establishing a plurality of paths, each having a plurality of squares includes using a stop square, squares which cause additional movement. The steps of establishing intersecting paths or establishing one or more squares having a game associated with them are practiced. The method is in a casino game and a bonus game for a base game.

Claims

33. A method for playing a casino game of chance for a bet with random entry from an underlying slot machine to a bonus game of the casino game of chance, the method for playing a casino game comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a plurality of paths in the play of the bonus game of the casino game of chance, each of which path is comprised of a plurality of positions;

b) establishing a random means of traversing the paths in the play of the bonus game of the casino game of chance;

c) presenting with the random means the possibility of two or more moves being required to complete the bonus game;

d) allowing a player to select one of the paths in the play of the bonus game of the casino game of chance;

e) moving according to the random means along a selected path by the player;

f) providing at least one position having an outcome;

g) awarding the player values based upon the outcome associated with positions landed upon, and

h) relating a random frequency of the bonus game to the probability of landing on each position and to the value of each position so a predetermined range for a house advantage is maintained in the casino.

34. The method of claim 33 with the step of including one or more value positions along the paths in the play of the bonus game of the casino game of chance.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the random means is performed by one of the following steps, spinning a spinner, rotating a wheel, rolling at least one die, flipping a coin, using a random number generator.

36. The method of claim 33 with the step of establishing a plurality of paths, each of which paths is comprised of a plurality of positions and with the step of having one of the positions as a stop position on one of the paths in the play of the bonus game of the casino game of chance.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein landing on certain positions along the selected path in the play of the bonus game of the casino game of chance causes additional movement.

38. The method of claim 33 by establishing intersecting paths in the play of the bonus game of the casino game of chance.

39. The method of claim 33 with the step of establishing one or more positions along the selected path in the play of the bonus game of the casino game of chance having an associated game.

40. The method of claim 33 wherein the awarding the player values step includes the step of selecting one of the following values:

money, credits, privileges, items, another game, other events, other paths.

58. The method of claim 33 wherein the awarding the player values step includes the step of selecting one of the following values:

money, credits, privileges, items, another game, other events, other paths.

41. A method for playing a casino bonus game for a casino base game, comprising the steps of:

a) establishing in the play of the casino bonus game a plurality of paths, each of which paths includes a plurality of positions with at least one value position there between;

b) moving along a player selected path provided with a random selection;

c) providing at least one position having an outcome;

d) awarding the player values based upon the outcome associated with positions landed upon, and

e) relating a random frequency of the bonus game to the probability of landing on each position and to the value of each position so a predetermined range for a house advantage is maintained in the casino.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of moving includes a stop position.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of moving includes random selection of positions that cause additional movement.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of establishing plural paths includes at least one position common to the plural paths whereat the paths intersect.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein the establishing step includes one or more value positions having an associated game.

46. The method of claim 41 wherein the awarding the player values step includes the step of selecting one of the following values:

money, credits, privileges, items, another game, other events, other paths.

48. The method of claim 47 for playing a casino game of chance by playing a base game and a bonus game in the play of the base game and the bonus game of the casino game of chance.

49. The method of claim 48 for playing a casino game wherein the step of controlling the house advantage provides a total range thereof of about twenty percent.

50. The method of claim 48 for playing a casino game wherein the step of controlling the house advantage includes a range for the player selected best path to the player selected mean path of about fifteen percent in the play of the base game and the bonus game of the casino game of chance.

51. The method of claim 47 wherein the step of moving according to chance is selected from these steps, spinning a spinner, rotating a wheel, rolling at least one die, flipping a coin, using a random number generator.

52. The method of claim 47 wherein the step of establishing a plurality of paths in the play of the casino game of chance, each of which is comprised of a plurality of positions includes using a stop position.

53. The method of claim 47 wherein landing on certain positions causes additional movement.

54. The method of claim 47 wherein the paths intersect.

55. The method of claim 47 with the step of establishing one or more positions having an associated game.

56. The method of claim 47 with the step of allowing the player to acquire items.

57. The method of claim 47 with the step of allowing the player to acquire privileges.

47. A method for playing a casino game of chance, comprising the steps of:

a) establishing in the play of the casino game a plurality of paths, each having at least two positions;

b) allowing a player to select one of the plurality of paths in the play of the casino game of chance;

c) moving along one of the plurality of paths selected by the player in step b) according to chance;

d) providing at least one position having an outcome;

e) awarding the player values based upon the outcome associated with the selected path in the play of casino game of chance, and

f) relating a random frequency of the bonus game to the probability of landing on each position and to the value of each position so a predetermined range for a house advantage is maintained in the casino.

59. A casino game of chance for at least one player comprising:

a) a game surface accessible and visible to the player in the casino;

b) a plurality of paths on the game surface arranged for player selection of one path, each path having at least two positions beginning at start position, and finishing at end position;

c) at least one position having an outcome;

d) movable indicia on the game surface, the movable indicia for showing the position on a selected path of the player;

e) a mechanism of chance carried on the game surface and available to the player in the casino, the mechanism of chance for determining movement along the player selected path and awarding the player values associated as the outcome with positions along the selected path, and

f) structure in the casino game of chance to relate a random frequency of a bonus game to the probability of landing on each position and to a value of each position so that an expected value of each of the paths is approximately identical for a house advantage is in a predetermined range.