STATIC SEGMENT ROULETTE WHEEL

Abstract

A roulette gaming wheel has at least three concentric components: a) a set of pockets for capturing a roulette ball; b) a set of alphanumerics contiguous to the set of pockets, with one alphanumeric available for each pocket; and c) a track for allowing a roulette ball to spin around and then to drop into one pocket when gravity causes the ball to fall into a pocket; wherein, a wheel supporting the set of pockets spins independently of the set of alphanumerics.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The first form of roulette was devised in 18th century France. Blaise Pascal introduced a primitive form of roulette in the 17th century in his search for a perpetual motion machine. The roulette wheel is believed to be a fusion of the English wheel games Roly-Poly, Reiner, Ace of Hearts, and E.O., the Italian board games of Hoca and Biribi, and “Roulette” from an already existing French board game of that name.

The game has been played in its present form since as early as 1796 in Paris. An early description of the roulette game in its current form is found in a French novel La Roulette, ou le Jour by Jaques Lablee, which describes a roulette wheel in the Palais Royal in Paris in 1796. The description included the house pockets, “There are exactly two slots reserved for the bank, whence it derives its sole mathematical advantage.” It then goes on to describe the layout with, “ . . . two betting spaces containing the bank's two numbers, zero and double zero.” The book was published in 1801. An even earlier reference to a game of this name was published in regulations for New France (Québec) in 1758, which banned the games of “dice, hoca, faro, and roulette.”

FIG. 1 shows a copy of an early drawing of a roulette wheel, asserted to be from the 18^th Century. As can be seen, the wheel is striking similar to that in present use, except for the alphanumerics. The center spinning wheel has concentrically located a) handle for spinning the wheel, followed by the b) canoes, pockets or chambers for receiving the ball, c) the alphanumerics for distinguishing the canoes according to the alphanumerics, and a track surrounding a), b) and c). The canoes and alphanumerics are integrally attached an do not move independently, but consist of a single integrated panel where the canoe and alphanumerics move at the same angular velocity.

The roulette wheels used in the casinos of Paris in the late 1790s had red for the single zero and black for the double zero. To avoid confusion, the color green was selected for the zeros in roulette wheels starting in the 1800s.

Roulette Wheel Number Sequence

The canoes or pockets of the roulette wheel are numbered from 1 to 36.

In number ranges from 1 to 10 and 19 to 28, odd numbers are red and even are black. In ranges from 11 to 18 and 29 to 36, odd numbers are black and even are red.

There is a green pocket numbered 0 (zero). In American roulette, there is a second green pocket marked 00. Pocket number order on the roulette wheel adheres to the following clockwise sequence in most casinos:

Single-Zero Wheel

• • 0-32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33-1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26

Double-Zero Wheel

• • 0-28-9-26-30-11-7-20-32-17-5-22-34-15-3-24-36-13-1-00-27-10-25-29-12-8-19-31-18-6-21-3346-4-23-35-14-2

Roulette Table Layout

The cloth covered betting area on a roulette table is known as the layout. The layout is either single zero or double zero. The European style layout has a single zero, and the American style layout is usually a double zero. The American style roulette table with a wheel at one end is now used in most casinos. The French style table with a wheel in the centre and a layout on either side is rarely found outside of Monte Carlo.

Types of Bets

Inside Bets

Straight (or Single)

• • a single number bet. The chip is placed entirely on the middle of a number square.

Split

• • a bet on two adjoining numbers, either on the vertical or horizontal (as in 14-17 or 8-9). The chip is placed on the line between these numbers.

Street

• • a bet on three numbers on a single horizontal line. The chip is placed on the edge of the line of a number at the end of the line (either the left or the right, depending on the layout).

Corner (or Square)

• • a bet on four numbers in a square layout (as in 11-12-14-15). The chip is placed at the horizontal and vertical intersection of the lines between the four numbers.

Six Line (or Double Street)

• • a bet on two adjoining streets, with the chip placed at the corresponding intersection, as if in between where two street bets would be placed.

Trio

• • a bet on the intersecting point between 0, 1 and 2, or 0, 2 and 3 (single-zero layout only).

Basket (or the First Four)

• • (non-square corner) a bet on 0, 1, 2, and 3 (single-zero layout only).

Basket

• • a bet on 0, 1, and 2; 0, 00, and 2; or 00, 2, and 3 (double-zero layout only). The chip is placed at the intersection of the three desired numbers.

Top Line

• • a bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 (double-zero layout only). The chip is placed either at the corner of 0 and 1, or the corner of 00 and 3.

Outside Bets

• • Outside bets typically have smaller payouts with better odds at winning.
    1 to 18
  • a bet on one of the first low eighteen numbers coming up.
    19 to 36
  • a bet on one of the latter high eighteen numbers coming up.

Red or Black

• • a bet on which color the roulette wheel will show.

Even or Odd

• • a bet on an even or odd nonzero number.

Dozen Bets

• • a bet on the first (1-12), second (13-24), or third group (25-36) of twelve numbers.

Column Bets

• • a bet on all 12 numbers on any of the three vertical lines (such as 1-4-7-10 on down to 34). The chip is placed on the space below the final number in this string.

Snake Bet

• • Essentially a special dozen bet consisting of a bet of the following numbers: 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32, and 34.

In the UK, all bets have the same play to payout ratio; for instance, putting one chip on each number 1-12 will yield the same outcome as 12 chips on the first dozen (assuming the original stake is removed). The exception is the very outside bets (red/black, odd/even, low numbers/high numbers) when zero is the result only half of the original stake is captured by the dealer.

Bet Odds Table

(The initial bet is returned in addition to the mentioned payout.) The payout (for American and European roulette) can be calculated by:

$\mathrm{payout}=\frac{1}{n}\left(36-n\right)$

Where n is the number of squares the player is betting on.

			Odds	Expected
Bet			against	value (on
name	Winning spaces	Payout	winning	a $1 bet)
0	0	35 to 1	37 to 1	−$0.053
00	00	35 to 1	37 to 1	−$0.053
Straight	Any single number	35 to 1	37 to 1	−$0.053
up
Row 00	0, 00	17 to 1	19 to 1	−$0.053
Split	any two adjoining numbers	17 to 1	19 to 1	−$0.053
	vertical or horizontal
Basket	0, 1, 2 or 00, 2, 3 or 0,	11 to 1	11.667 to 1	−$0.053
	00, 2
Street	any three numbers	11 to 1	11.667 to 1	−$0.053
	horizontal (1, 2, 3 or 4,
	5, 6, etc.)
Corner	any four adjoining numbers	8 to 1	8.5 to 1	−$0.053
	in a block (1, 2, 4, 5 or
	17, 18, 20, 21, etc.)
Top line	0, 00, 1, 2, 3	6 to 1	6.6 to 1	−$0.079
Six line	any six numbers from two	5 to 1	5.33 to 1	−$0.053
	horizontal rows (1, 2, 3,
	4, 5, 6 or 28, 29, 30, 31,
	32, 33 etc.)
1st	1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19,	2 to 1	2.167 to 1	−$0.053
column	22, 25, 28, 31, 34
2nd	2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20,	2 to 1	2.167 to 1	−$0.053
column	23, 26, 29, 32, 35
3rd	3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21,	2 to 1	2.167 to 1	−$0.053
column	24, 27, 30, 33, 36
1st	1 through 12	2 to 1	2.167 to 1	−$0.053
dozen
2nd	13 through 24	2 to 1	2.167 to 1	−$0.053
dozen
3rd	25 through 36	2 to 1	2.167 to 1	−$0.053
dozen
Odd	1, 3, 5, . . . , 35	1 to 1	1.111 to 1	−$0.053
Even	2, 4, 6, . . . , 36	1 to 1	1.111 to 1	−$0.053
Red	1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12,	1 to 1	1.111 to 1	−$0.053
	14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23,
	25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36
Black	2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11,	1 to 1	1.111 to 1	−$0.053
	13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24,
	26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 35
1 to 18	1, 2, 3, . . . , 18	1 to 1	1.111 to 1	−$0.053
19 to 36	19, 20, 21, . . . , 36	1 to 1	1.111 to 1	−$0.053
Note also that 0 and 00 are neither odd nor even in this game.

House Edge

The house average or house edge (also called the expected value) is the amount the player loses relative for any bet made, on average. If a player bets on a single number in the American game there is a probability of 1/38 that the player wins 35 times the bet, and a 37/38 chance that the player loses their bet. The expected value is:

• • −1× 37/38+35× 1/38=−0.0526 (5.26% house edge)

For European roulette, a single number wins 1/37 and loses 36/37:

• • −1× 36/37+35× 1/37=0.0270 (2.70% house edge)

The presence of the green squares on the roulette wheel and on the table are technically the only house edge. Outside bets will always lose when a single or double zero come up. However, the house also has an edge on inside bets because the pay outs are always set at 35 to 1 when you mathematically have a 37 to 1 chance at winning a straight bet on a single number. To demonstrate the house edge on inside bets, imagine placing straight $1 wagers on all inside numbers on a roulette table (including 0 and 00) to assure a win. You would only get back 36 times your original bet having spent $38. The only exception are the five numbers bet where the house edge is considerably higher (7.89% on an American wheel), and the ‘even money’ bets in some European games where the house edge is halved because only half the stake is lost when a zero comes up.

The house edge should not be confused with the hold. The hold is the average percentage of the money originally brought to the table that the player loses before he leaves—the actual “win” amount for the casino. The Casino Control Commission in Atlantic City releases a monthly report showing the win/hold amounts for each casino. The average win/hold for double zero wheels is between 21-30%, significantly more than the 5.26% house edge. This reflects the fact that the player is ‘churning’ the same money over and over again. A 23.6% hold, for example, would imply that on average, the player bets the total he brought to the table five times, as 23.6% is approximately equal to 100%−(100%−5.26%)⁵. For example, a player with $100 making $10 bets on red (which has a near 50/50 chance of winning) is highly unlikely to lose all his money after only 10 bets, and will most likely continue to bet until he has lost all of his money or decides to leave. A player making $10 bets on a single number (with only 1/38 chance of success) with a $100 bankroll is far more likely to lose all of his money after only 10 bets. Despite being more likely to lose, the casino's average hold from this type of player would be significantly lower than the even-money bettor, because the single number player will on average bet less money (at 5.26% expected loss per dollar bet).

In the early frontier gambling saloons, the house would set the odds on roulette tables at 27 for 1. This meant that on a $1 bet you would get $27 and the house would keep your initial dollar. Today most casino odds are set by law, and they have to be either 34 to 1 or 35 to 1. This means that the house pays you $34 or $35 and you get to keep your original $1 bet.

Mathematical Model

As an example, we can examine the European roulette model (roulette with one zero). Since this roulette has 37 cells with equal odds of hitting, it is clear that this is a final model of field probability (Ω, 2^Ω; ), where Ω={0, . . . , 36}, (A)=|A|/37 for all Aε2^Ω. We'll call the bet Sa three (A, τ, ξ), where A for a certain random event|event τε+, and ε:Ω→=random size. The event A naturally leads to a winning event, τ to the size of the bet (in dollars, for example), ξ to the bet rule, and the mathematical expectation M[ξ] relates to the bet profitability.

The rules of European roulette have 10 types of bets. First we can examine the ‘Straight Up’ bet. It's clear that in this case, S=({Ω′}, τ, ξ), where Ω′εΩ, and ξ is determined by this law

$\xi \left(\omega \right)=\{\begin{array}{cc}-r,& \omega \ne {\omega }^{\prime }\\ 35·r,& \omega ={\omega }^{\prime },\end{array}$

The bet's probability is equal to

$\begin{array}{c}M\left[\xi \right]=\frac{1}{37}\sum _{\omega \in \Omega }^{}\xi \left(\omega \right)\\ =\frac{1}{37}\left(\xi \left({\omega }^{\prime }\right)+\sum _{\omega \ne {\omega }^{\prime }}^{}\xi \left(\omega \right)\right)\\ =\frac{1}{37}\left(35·r-36·r\right)\\ =-\frac{r}{37}\approx -0.0\end{array}$

Without details, for a bet, red or black, the rule is determined as

$\xi \left(\omega \right)=\{\begin{array}{cc}-r& \omega \mathrm{is}\mathrm{red}\\ -r,& \omega =0\\ r,& \omega \mathrm{is}\mathrm{black};\end{array}$

and the profitability

$\begin{array}{c}M\left[\xi \right]=\frac{1}{37}\left(18·r-18·r-r\right)\\ =-\frac{r}{37}.\end{array}$

For similar reasons it is simple to see that the profitability is also equal for all remaining types of bets.

$-\frac{r}{37}.$

In reality this means that, the more bets a player makes, the more he is going to lose independent of the strategies (combinations of bet types or size of bets) that he employs:

$\begin{array}{c}\sum _{n=1}^{\infty }M\left[{\xi }_n\right]=-\frac{1}{37}\sum _{n=1}^{\infty }r_n\\ =-\infty .\end{array}$

Here, the profit margin for the roulette owner is equal to approximately 2.7%.

It's worth noting that the odds for the player in American roulette are even worse, as the bet profitability is

$-\frac{3}{38}r\approx -0.0789r,$

and the rest are

$-\frac{r}{19}\approx -0.0526r.$

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A roulette gaming wheel has at least three concentric components:

• • a) a set of pockets for capturing a roulette ball;
  • b) a set of alphanumerics contiguous to the set of pockets, with one alphanumeric available for each pocket; and
  • c) a track for allowing a roulette ball to spin around and then to drop into one pocket when gravity causes the ball to fall into a pocket;
    wherein, a wheel supporting the set of pockets spins independently of the set of alphanumerics. A method of play of roulette uses the novel gaming wheel of this technology.

In one method of play, the track and set of alphanumerics are in a single integrated segment and the support for the pockets is motor driven. A random outcome generator (e.g., random number generator) provides a roulette spin outcome, the ball drops into a moving pocket and the pocket with the ball in it is rotated into alignment with the number in the set of alphanumerics so that it appears that random movement of the rotating support alone created the random ball drop outcome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a copy of an old image of PRIOR ART from the 18^th Century regarding roulette wheel design.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a gaming wheel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a wheel system according to the present technology, with the separately rotating alphanumeric section and the wheel supporting pockets shown.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a wheel system according to the present technology, with the separately rotating alphanumeric section and the wheel supporting pockets shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A roulette gaming wheel has at least three concentric components:

• • a. a set of pockets for capturing a roulette ball;
  • b. a set of alphanumerics contiguous to the set of pockets, with one alphanumeric available for each pocket; and
  • c. a track for allowing a roulette ball to spin around and then to drop into one pocket when gravity causes the ball to fall into a pocket;
    wherein, a wheel supporting the set of pockets spins independently of the set of alphanumerics. A method of play of roulette uses the novel gaming wheel of this technology.

One aspect of the present technology that is particularly useful in the play of roulette is the use of a gaming system in which the only moveable elements during play of the game are the drop ball and the central support wheel with the canoes therein. The track and the alphanumerics remain stable (do not rotate) during actual play of a game event. At least one benefit of this system is that it becomes easier to replace individual portions of the gaming system while prior art systems required replacement of the track, the alphanumerics and the pockets any time there was need to replace a single part.

Another aspect of the present technology is that, without adversely affecting the quality of the random outcome, players may have an enhanced expectation by being provided with a more easily viewable set of alphanumerics that are not spinning, and may be perceived more easily as the ball spins and the ball ultimately dropped. It is important to note at this point that moving only one element (the wheel retaining the pockets) versus two elements fixed together (the alphanumerics and the set of pockets on a single wheel) does not affect the randomness of the random event outcome provided by the final ball drop into a single pocket. Moving the numbers/letters/symbols of the alphanumerics in tandem (or even in an unused process of spinning it counter-directional to the movement of the set of pockets) does not adversely impact randomness. At a minimum, chaos theory of the ball dropping would prevent reproducibility of events under manual or even automated initial spinning of the pocket-containing wheel and the initial spinning of the roulette ball in the track. Any substantive variation in randomness between the present invention and the prior art is more illusory than substantive.

The gaming wheel of this technology preferably has alignment stops are provided so that when the wheel supporting the set of pockets stops spinning, each pocket is aligned with an alphanumeric to identify each pocket. The alignment stops are intended to impose alignment of the individual pockets with an individual alphanumeric. The alignment should be only sufficiently specific so as to leave no doubt as to what alphanumeric has resulted from the event. Alignment of at least 75% of the pocket with a single alphanumeric is sufficient, although alignment of at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90% or at least 95% is preferred to reduce the possibility of any debate as to the outcome.

The alignment stops may be magnetic (e.g., parallel or anti-parallel sets of magnets on the pocket wheel and the stable alphanumeric support), friction stops (areas between the alphanumerics and the pocket wheels where the wheel will be stopped at higher friction points, and continue to spin at low or no friction points), and force blocking stops (e.g., such as an elastic post engaging inelastic posts separating the pockets and/or the alphanumeric pattern, pegs with spacing between them on an interior edge of one of the alphanumeric support and the pocket supporting wheel and opposed pegs on the pocket supporting wheel and alphanumeric support, respectively). More complicated systems such as electronically extending pegs that are extended when a sensor determines that the relative speed between the alphanumeric support and the pocket supporting wheel had dropped to or below a predetermined speed. These extending pegs and their receiving space or opening are positioned to assure alignment of the pockets and the alphanumerics as intended.

The gaming wheel may be constructed wherein there is substantially no topography between individual alphanumerics that would deflect a roulette ball or wherein there is substantial topography between individual alphanumerics that would deflect a roulette ball. The gaming wheel may have the track and the alphanumerics are fixed so that neither can rotate relative to the other. The fixing may be permanent or may be adjustable, as when they are fixed by an adjustable lock so that neither the track nor the alphanumerics can rotate relative to the other while the system is locked and may be moved (manually or mechanically) while the locks are disabled.

The gaming wheel is ordinarily set in, attached to, built into or otherwise associated with a gaming table wherein a), b) and c) are fixed to a gaming table having indicia of roulette outcomes distributed on a surface of the gaming table. Where there is a lockable system, it is preferred that the wheel supporting the pockets cannot spin unless the adjustable lock is in a locked position.

The distribution of the numbers (alphanumerics) on the section with the alphanumeric array may be in modern or traditional orientation (as described above and as known in the art, including associated colors) or they may be distributed and aligned in different orders and patterns. As it is the random number generator that decides the results of the game outcome event, the pattern of distribution of the alphanumeric frames on the wheels has no bearing on game event outcomes. The pattern may be an ordered numerical sequence (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . 36, 0 and 00), it may be a distributional pattern (e.g., all even numbers, then all odd numbers, separated by 0 and 00), color patterns (e.g., all or packets of red and all or packets of black, with green 0 and 00 separating at least some packets), three series of twelve numbers (e.g., 1, 2, . . . 12; 13, 14, 15, . . . 24; and 25, 26, 27 . . . 36, two of which are separated by 0 and 00 and the third packets being contiguous or separated by a spurious or active 39^th symbol, or in a European style wheel, a spurious 38^th symbol or a special active symbol). These non-standard distributions are enabled without even a potential alteration of game odds and probabilities of outcomes because the random number generator identifies the outcome and the processor aligns the ball drop position with the RNG generated outcome alphanumeric.

The present technology may also include additional elements that expand the methods that may be practiced within the generic scope of invention enabled herein. The additional components may be selected from the group consisting of a motor, a processor, a random number generator, a sensor, step controls in the motor, a position sensor associated with at least one of the motor, the wheel supporting the pockets or canoes, and the support for the alphanumerics. These additional and preferred components may operate and be configured as further described herein.

In one embodiment of the gaming wheel, the wheel supporting the set of pockets may be started manually or is attached to a motor that moves the wheel supporting the set of pockets upon direction of a processor. The croupier or the motor starts and stops the wheel, or at least starts the wheel and the wheel supporting the pockets then stops by friction or a braking system. The gaming wheel and gaming wheel system may also have a random number generator in communication with or embedded (as software or hardware) with or in the processor. The gaming wheel system may also have at least a sensor that recognizes presence of a roulette ball in a particular pocket. A separate sensor and/or a step motor and step motor control positions the wheel supporting the pockets at an angular position relative to the static alphanumerics as controlled by the processor. One sensor may recognize presence or location of a roulette ball in a particular pocket. The gaming wheel system processor is configured to control movement and position of the wheel supporting the set of pockets. The sensor may recognize an alignment of the particular pocket holding a roulette ball with a particular number in the set of alphanumerics. The particular number in the set of alphanumerics is a specific random number within the set of alphanumerics that has been randomly selected by the random number generator and communicated to the processor that controls the motor. The motor is necessary to at least finally position the pocket with the roulette ball resting therein in alignment with the selected (by the random number generator) alphanumeric, e.g., 0, 00, 1 . . . 36, or 0, 1 . . . 36 in Europe.

The preferred system operates as follows. The wheel supporting the pockets is spun (it may be initiated manually or by command to the motor (e.g., automatic, timed initiation by the processor or button/touchscreen activation by a dealer/croupier or player). Before the wheel is spun, or after the wheel has begun to spin, a random number generator selects a random outcome of a roulette game event outcome (e.g., a single number, including color, within the group of traditional event outcomes of 0 (and 00 in the U.S.), 1, 2, 3, 4 . . . 36). The selected number outcome (the event outcome) is communicated to the processor. The ball is spun in the track and it drops in its traditional manner, except for the fact that it passes over the concentric area where the alphanumerics (e.g., the outcome numbers, or in alternative games symbols, letters, Roman Numerals etc.) are present, which is also separate from the independently rotating wheel supporting the pockets. The roulette ball drops into a pocket, with the wheel supporting the pockets moving with an angular velocity (rotating concentrically within) with respect to the alphanumerics. A sensor (within the rotating wheel or outside the wheel) identifies a specific one of the pocket within which a ball resides. The processor identifies that specific pocket position on the rotating wheel and establishes its location relative to individual numbers on the alphanumeric array. The motor controls the speed of the rotation of the wheel supporting the pockets and adjusts the speed in a natural manner (incrementally, slowly and with steady, smooth and non-jerky deceleration) so as to position the pocket with the ball residing therein in alignment with the position in the set of the alphanumerics where the specific alphanumeric resides that was randomly selected by the random number generator. As the alphanumeric distribution and individual positions of the individual alphanumerics are known, both in individual relative terms and in spatial terms with respect to the sensors on the wheel supporting the pockets. The processor may execute code to calculate or select a single motor process that will decelerate and eventually stop the rotating wheel in the required alphanumeric alignment. There may be one or a set of speed control programs such that when the speed of rotation of the wheel is sensed and determined, and the position of the ball in the pocket is identified and the position of the selected alphanumeric relative to the ball in the pocket is determined, the one program or an identified appropriate program may be executed to decelerate the rotation of the wheel smoothly and align the ball in the pocket with the specifically identified (randomly selected) alphanumeric or specific roulette number. The deceleration should be smooth so as to avoid the appearance of control over the wheel which a player might consider as a fraudulent control.

The speed and position of the wheel supporting the pockets is controlled at some point in the play of the game (e.g., either from the moment the wheel has begun spinning or at a later time when the motor engages and exercises control over the movement of the wheel supporting the pockets). The processor is configured to be able to sense the position of each of the numbers in the set of alphanumerics. The processor is configured to control and identify the position of the ball in the pocket, the specific pocket in which a ball is present, the angular position of the specific pocket with the ball therein and the relative position of the specific pocket with the ball therein relative to the specific alphanumeric that was selected by the random number generator.

The present technology also includes a method of providing a random event outcome using the roulette gaming wheel described herein, wherein the roulette ball is spun along the track with an angular velocity that is the same relative to the track and to the alphanumerics, and the roulette ball drops into a pocket to provide the random outcome, which comprises selection of one alphanumeric from the set of alphanumerics.

In practicing this method with one embodiment of the lockable system, the alphanumerics are on an alphanumeric wheel, the alphanumeric wheel is unlocked from the track, the alphanumeric wheel is rotated relative to the track, and the alphanumeric wheel is then locked against relative rotation between the alphanumeric wheel and the track.

The alphanumerics may be on an alphanumeric wheel, the alphanumeric wheel may be unlocked from the track, the alphanumeric wheel may be rotated relative to the track, and the alphanumeric wheel may then be locked against relative rotation between the alphanumeric wheel and the track. In the method of providing a random event outcome using the roulette gaming wheels described herein, the roulette ball may be spun along the track with an angular velocity that is the same relative to the track and to the alphanumerics, and the roulette ball drops into a pocket to provide the random outcome, the random outcome being selection of one alphanumeric from the set of alphanumerics.

A preferred method embodies a processor that controls a motor that moves the wheel supporting the pockets. The motor may be activated by either initially manually spinning the wheel (as a triggering mechanism for starting the motor) or by a more visible triggering mechanism by a croupier (such as a button or touchscreen) or by timed initiation by the processor, e.g., the processor starting the spin event at specific or nearly regular time intervals of every 2, 3 or 4 (by way of examples) minutes. The processor may further be associated with or have embedded therein a random number generator and the random number generator selects a random number that corresponds to a single alphanumeric within the set of alphanumerics. The set of alphanumerics consists of numbers may represent a complete set of numbers on a roulette wheel.

The processor may control the motor to stop rotation of the wheel supporting the set of pockets. The stopping process may be effected in a number of different and commercially functional ways. The goal of the process is that the processor controls the motor to direct movement and position of the wheel supporting the pockets so that the pocket containing a ball is stopped and positioned in alignment with a single alphanumeric that corresponds with the alphanumeric selected by the random number generator to be an event outcome. For example, the process may use the apparatus described herein in the following manner, with a typical roulette game being exemplified, even though other alphanumerics besides numbers may be used.

After final wagers have been placed on an underlying roulette round of play, a croupier or the processor spins a wheel containing the pockets for capturing a roulette ball. This wheel spins and has angular velocity of the pockets that is a positive angular velocity with respect to a wheel or segment that displays all of the alphanumerics (e.g., the numbers 0, 0 and 00, 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . 36) ordinarily used in the underlying game, especially where the game is standard roulette. The interior dimensions of the frames displaying an individual alphanumeric are approximately the same dimension as the exterior dimension of a pocket to allow alignment of single pockets with a single alphanumeric. As the wheel supporting pockets spins, a roulette ball is mechanically released or put into play by a croupier. The ball is typically spun counter-rotationally (with a negative angular velocity) with respect to the direction of motion of the wheel supporting the canoes. This is desirable but not essential. At some point in the play of the round of roulette (e.g., after conclusion of a previous round and before actual placement of wagers in the next round, while wagers are being placed in the next round, after all wagers have been placed and the wagering has been locked, before the wheel supporting the pockets has been spun, after the wheel supporting the pockets has been spun, before the roulette ball has been released, or after the roulette ball has been released and before it falls into a pocket), the random number generator selects a random outcome for the game of roulette. The alphanumeric outcome selected by the random number generator is known by the processor (stored in some level of memory). The alphanumeric outcome is associated by the processor with a specific equivalent alphanumeric displayed on the wheel system adjacent the wheel supporting the pockets. Sensors and/or execution of code associating known positions of the motor drive shaft orientation and the fixed position of the alphanumerics in the system identify the relative position (even though in a kinetic or moving state) between the pockets (or a single pocket, as explained in greater detail herein) and the specific selected alphanumeric. When the roulette ball drops into a single pocket, a sensor identifies the specific pocket into which a ball has fallen. This sensor may be embedded within or immediately adjacent to the individual pockets, may be distally located, may be a camera, a position sensor, a pressure plate indicator, may be a photo-optic system, infrared sensor, and the like. Once location within a specific pocket is known, the sensed information or signal is electronically transmitted to the processor which then computes the relative position of the already known specific alphanumeric on the array of alphanumerics relative to the position of the specific pocket in which a ball resides.

The processor may begin control of the speed of the rotating wheel supporting canoes immediately after or shortly after the ball drop has been sensed and the position identified. Alternatively, the processor may wait until a specific rotational speed is sensed that results from internal drag, friction and natural deceleration before exercising control over the speed and pocket orientation of the wheel supporting the pockets. The processor may execute programs to determine a specific procedure for slowing rotation so that the pocket with the ball therein is positioned in alignment with the position of the predetermined (by the random number generator) alphanumeric, or may select existing and stored programs. In the latter case, there could be about 37 (with only 0 present) or 38 (with 0 and 00 present) predetermined and stored programs for proper alignment of the pocket with the ball and the predetermined alphanumeric. The processor would determine the position of the ball in a pocket at a determined and preselected angular velocity of the wheel, and select a program that would stop rotation of the wheel at the necessary alignment within a reasonable amount of time. The use of a camera can facilitate the process by identifying the specific pocket containing the ball, sending signals of that pocket position and speed and location of the preselected alphanumeric (or using the processor stored knowledge of that fixed position), and the processor smoothly slowing the rotation within defined parameters so that when the ball in a pocket approaches the alphanumeric at a speed within predetermined parameters (e.g., based on angular velocity measured as frames of individual alphanumerics/second) such as greater than 2 or 3 frames/second and fewer than 8 or 10 frames/second), the processor will smoothly slow down the rotation to place the pocketed ball in alignment with the correct alphanumeric. The range of parameters is selected so that the speed is sufficiently large as the observer would expect the ball in the pocket to be able to have reached the ultimate alphanumeric at that speed (without observable speeding or maintaining of speed by the motor) and the end point of the range is such that the rotational speed is sufficiently slow so that it does not appear that the rotation is abruptly and artificially stopped at the predetermined ultimate alphanumeric. An objective of this preferred method is to avoid any sense by a player that the game is rigged by an unnatural movement resulting in the alignment of the ball and a number. For example, if the angular velocity of the wheel supporting the pockets was 10 frames/second and the motor stopped the rotation of that wheel in 5 frames, the deceleration would appear to be so unnatural as for players to raise concerns about the artificial and imposed selection of that particular number.

On the other hand, by being able to control the speed of deceleration and having the ultimate event outcome already known, the croupier and system may already have determined wager resolution outcomes in advance of the wheel finally stopping. Published US Patent Application Documents Nos. 20020090988; 20040116177; 20070026930; and 20080113706 describe roulette table systems having terminal wagering systems and this technology can be used in combination with the present novel technology. All references cited herein are incorporated in their entirety by reference.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective exploded view of a gaming wheel system according to the present technology. The entire wheel system 100 is shown in an exploded view. The individual elements of the entire wheel system are identified by the legend below:

• 102 is the handle
• 104 is the wheel with pockets
• 106 is the individual pockets
• 108 is a non-functional central area
• 110 is a hole for the handle
• 112 is a sensor panel at the bottom of the array of pockets
• 120 is the array of alphanumerics on a wheel
• 122 is an individual frame for an alphanumeric
• 124 is an opening to engage the wheel of pockets 104
• 130 is the track
• 132 is an opening to engage and surround the wheel with the array of alphanumerics
• 140 is a step motor
• 142 is a post to engage the wheel with pockets
• 148 is a communication link to a processor 150
• 150 is the processor in communication with the motor 140

The communication link 148 may be hardwired or wireless. Similarly communication and signals from the processor 150 to the motor 140 may be hardwired or wireless. The individual frames for the alphanumerics 122 may contain individual alphanumeric symbols or images as explained herein.

The sensor panel 112 is shown as a strip of pressure plates that can sense the weight of a roulette ball thereon. Alternative systems could be any of those described above or a distal camera (not shown). A preferred system would be an optical sensor system embedded in the wheel supporting the pockets. A system or technology such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,884 (Breeding) can be adapted or modified by one skilled in the art to perform as the ball sensor in the present technology.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a wheel system 300 according to the present technology, with the separately rotating alphanumeric section and the wheel supporting pockets shown.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a wheel system 300 according to the present technology, with the separately rotating alphanumeric section and the wheel supporting pockets shown.

Although the present disclosure emphasizes the physical wheel, it may be incorporated into the electronic roulette and wheel games that are presently used, and some of which are described and referenced herein. The use of a virtual display of the wheel with a fixed alphanumeric array is also capable of providing some of the benefits to players contributed in a physical wheel system. The Random Number Generator would provide the game event outcome (the number), but now the virtual alphanumeric array would appear to be static and the virtual ball and virtual pockets in a virtual wheel would rotate.

It is also possible that the physical wheel system can be used as an internet or local network source of event outcomes. The physical wheel can be videoed and on-line wagering transacted using the images captured from the physical wheel of the present technology. Again, the simple, more readily viewable wheels of the present technology adds value even over the internet in the play of roulette.

Other variations in the design and implementation of the present technology can be performed by the skilled artisan while remaining within the scope of the technology enabled herein.

Claims

1. A roulette gaming wheel comprising three concentric components: wherein, the first wheel supporting the set of pockets spins independently of the second wheel supporting the set of alphanumerics and a random number generator in communication with the processor that provides a random roulette spin outcome, wherein the processor is configured to control the motor so that upon the ball dropping into a moving pocket, the pocket with the ball in it is relatively rotated into alignment with a number in the set of alphanumerics provided in the random roulette spin outcome so that the ball is aligned with the processor provided random roulette outcome.

a) a first wheel supporting a set of pockets for capturing a roulette ball;

b) a second wheel supporting a set of alphanumerics contiguous to the set of pockets, with one alphanumeric available for each pocket;

c) a track for allowing a roulette ball to spin around and then to drop into one pocket when gravity causes the ball to fall into a pocket;

d) a motor controlling rotation of at least one of the first wheel supporting the pockets and the second wheel supporting the set of alphanumerics; and

e) a processor configured to control the motor;

2. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein alignment stops are provided so that when the first wheel supporting the set of pockets stops spinning, each pocket is aligned with an alphanumeric to identify each pocket.

3. The gaming wheel of claim 2 wherein the alignment stops provide forces selected from the group consisting of magnetic force, friction force and blocking force.

4. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein there is substantially no topography between individual alphanumerics that would deflect a roulette ball.

5. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein there is substantial topography between individual alphanumerics that would deflect a roulette ball.

6. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein the track and the alphanumerics are fixed so that neither can rotate relative to the other.

7. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein the track and the alphanumerics are fixed by an adjustable lock so that neither the track nor the alphanumerics can rotate relative to the other.

8. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein a), b) and c) are fixed to a gaming table having indicia of roulette outcomes distributed on a surface of the gaming table.

9. The gaming wheel of claim 7 wherein the wheel supporting the pockets cannot spin unless the adjustable lock is in a locked position.

10. The gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein the first wheel supporting the set of pockets is attached to the motor that moves the first wheel supporting the set of pockets upon direction of the processor.

11. The gaming wheel of claim 10 further comprising a random number generator in communication with or embedded in the processor.

12. The gaming wheel of claim 10 further comprising a sensor that recognizes presence of a roulette ball in a particular pocket.

13. The gaming wheel of claim 11 further comprising a sensor that recognizes presence of a roulette ball in a particular pocket.

14. The gaming wheel of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to control movement and position of the first wheel supporting the set of pockets to recognize an alignment of the particular pocket holding a roulette ball with a particular number in the set of alphanumerics, and to align the ball settled in a particular pocket with an alphanumeric randomly selected by operation of the random number generator.

15. The gaming wheel of claim 14 wherein the particular number in the set of alphanumerics is a specific random number within the set of alphanumerics that is randomly selected by the random number generator.

16. A method of providing a random event outcome using the roulette gaming wheel of claim 1 wherein the roulette ball is spun along the track with an angular velocity that is the same relative to the track and to the alphanumerics, and the roulette ball drops into a pocket in a set of pockets supported on a rotatable wheel to provide the random outcome, and the processor controls the motor to align the dropped ball in the pocket with an alphanumeric randomly selected by operation of the random number, which aligning comprises selection of one alphanumeric from the set of alphanumerics.

17. A method of providing a random event outcome using the roulette gaming wheel of claim 14 wherein the roulette ball is spun along the track with an angular velocity that is the same relative to the track and to the alphanumerics, and the roulette ball drops into a pocket in a set of pockets supported on a rotatable wheel to provide the random outcome, and the processor controls the motor to align the dropped ball in the pocket with an alphanumeric randomly selected by operation of the random number, which aligning comprises selection of one alphanumeric from the set of alphanumerics.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the alphanumerics are on the second wheel, the alphanumeric wheel is unlocked from the track, the alphanumeric wheel is rotated relative to the track, and the alphanumeric wheel is then locked against relative rotation between the alphanumeric wheel and the track.

19. (canceled)

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the alphanumerics are on the second wheel, the alphanumeric wheel is unlocked from the track, the alphanumeric wheel is rotated relative to the track, and the alphanumeric wheel is then locked against relative rotation between the alphanumeric wheel and the track.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein a processor controls a motor that moves the first wheel supporting the pockets.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the processor further comprises a random number generator and the random number generator selects a random number that corresponds to a single alphanumeric within the set of alphanumerics.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the set of alphanumerics consists of numbers representing a complete set of numbers on a roulette wheel.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the processor controls the motor to stop rotation of the first wheel supporting the set of pockets.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the processor controls the motor to direct movement and position of the first wheel supporting the pockets so that the pocket containing a ball is stopped and positioned in alignment with an only one alphanumeric of the set of alphanumerics that corresponds to the single alphanumeric selected by the random number generator.