Method and apparatus for simulating games of chance with the use of a set of cards, including a wildcard, to replace use of dice

• US 7,201,656 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: California Indian Legal Services
• Original Assignee: California Indian Legal Services
• Inventors: Darder, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski; Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARPER, TRAMAR YONG
• Application Number:
  US10/202,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20030032471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 273/138.1, 273/292, 273/148.R, 273/274, 273/149.R
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00996 Board games available as video games
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

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 new players to such games through their familiarity with the indicia on the cards.

Claims

1. A method of simulating a game of craps using cards, comprising:

using at least one card shuffler to shuffle a set of cards that includes a wildcard;

dispensing a first card from said shuffler to represent the result of a first die that is thrown in craps;

assigning to said wildcard, a value of said first card dispensed from said shuffler, wherein said wildcard corrects a probability of selecting a second card having said value;

dispensing a second card from said shuffler to represent the result of a second die that is thrown in craps;

and determining an outcome from said first and second cards.

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 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.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said video screen further comprises a video slot machine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one card shuffler is adapted to dispense from 4 to 6 cards at a time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said video screen further comprises a video game system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said probability after being corrected is one in six.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein exactly one card shuffler is used.

11. A game apparatus that uses cards to simulate a game of craps, comprising:

a set of cards comprising a wildcard, wherein said wildcard takes a value of a first card selected from said set of cards, wherein said wildcard corrects a probability of selecting a second card having said value;

at least one card shuffler adapted to dispense at least one of said cards representing the face of a die rolled in craps;

a table for placing at least one bet; and

a selector adapted to select which of said at least one card is to determine an outcome when more than one card is dispensed.

12. The game apparatus of claim 11, 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.

13. The game apparatus of claim 12, 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.

14. The game apparatus of claim 12, 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.

15. The game apparatus of claim 11, wherein said set of cards comprise 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.

16. The game apparatus of claim 15, wherein said video screen further comprises a video slot machine.

17. The game apparatus of claim 11, wherein said at least one card shuffler is adapted to dispense from 4 to 6 cards at a time.

18. The game apparatus of claim 11, wherein video screen further comprises a video game system.

19. The game of claim 11, wherein said probability after being corrected is one in six.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein exactly one card shuffler is used.

21. A method of simulating a game of craps using cards, comprising:

shuffling a set of cards comprising a wildcard;

dispensing a first card from said set of cards to represent the result of a first die that is thrown in craps;

assigning to said wildcard, a value of said first card, wherein said wildcard corrects a probability of selecting a second card having said value;

dispensing a second card from said set of cards to represent the result of a second die that is thrown in craps.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said shuffling comprises using an automatic shuffler.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said set of cards comprises images on a video screen and said shuffling is performed by a computer module adapted to randomize an order that said images representing cards appear on said video screen.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said probability after being corrected is one in six.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein exactly one card shuffler is used.