Apparatus for Playing a Game

Abstract

The present invention, with reference to FIG. ( 1 ), is concerned with apparatus for playing a game. A plurality of randomisers are provided, each for generating one or more random indicia from a predefined set of indicia in a turn of play. One or more playfields are provided for play in each turn of play, the one or more playfields each being associated with at least one of the plurality of randomisers and offering for play via that playfield the same redefined set of indicia as the associated randomiser or randomisers.

1 . Apparatus for playing a game comprising:
 a plurality of randomisers each for generating one or more random indicia from a predefined set of indicia in a turn of play;   one or more playfields for play in each turn of play, the one or more playfields each being associated with at least one of the plurality of randomisers and offering for play via that playfield the same predefined set of indicia as the associated randomiser or randomisers; and   evaluation means for:
 determining which of the plurality of randomisers has or have been selected for play by a player in a turn of play; 
 determining if the one or more random indicia generated by the selected randomiser or randomisers in a turn of play has or have been validly selected for play via a playfield or playfields associated with that randomiser or randomisers and is a winning game entry; and 
 awarding a winning payment or credit to the player of a winning game entry; 
   wherein, in each turn of play:   each player of the game selects one or more of the plurality of randomisers for play in that turn of play and for each randomiser selected uses at least one of the associated playfields by placing a stake or stakes to select one or more indicia on that playfield for play in that turn of play, whereafter:   at least the selected one or selected ones of the plurality of randomisers each generate one or more random indicia from the predefined set of indicia for that turn of play; and   the evaluation means determines if there are any winning game entries and awards a winning payment or credit to each player of a winning game entry.   
   
   
       2 . Apparatus for playing a game comprising:
 a plurality of randomisers each for generating one or more random indicia from a predefined set of indicia in a turn of play;   a plurality of playfields for play in each turn of play, the plurality of playfields each being associated with at least one of the plurality of randomisers and offering for play via that playfield the same predefined set of indicia as the associated randomiser or randomisers; and   evaluation means for:
 determining which of the plurality of randomisers has or have been selected for play by a player in a turn of play; 
 determining if the one or more random indicia generated by the selected randomiser or randomisers in a turn of play has or have been validly selected for play via a playfield or playfields associated with that randomiser or randomisers and is a winning game entry; and 
 awarding a winning payment or credit to the player of a winning game entry; 
   wherein, in each turn of play:   each player of the game selects one or more of the plurality of randomisers for play in that turn of play and for each randomiser selected uses at least one of the associated playfields by placing a stake or stakes to select one or more indicia on that playfield for play in that turn of play, whereafter:   at least the selected one or selected ones of the plurality of randomisers each generate one or more random indicia from the predefined set of indicia for that turn of play; and   the evaluation means determines if there are any winning game entries and awards a winning payment or credit to each player of a winning game entry.   
   
   
       3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a central control unit comprising the plurality of randomisers. 
   
   
       4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  further comprising one or more terminals each connectable to the central control unit for communication therebetween, each terminal being provided for use by a player to play the game and offering that player one or more of the playfields for play in each turn of play, wherein each player of the game uses a terminal to select one or more of the plurality of randomisers for play in that turn of play and for each randomiser selected uses at least one of the associated playfields by placing a stake or stakes to select one or more indicia on that playfield for play in that turn of play. 
   
   
       5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the one or more terminals is/are located in close proximity to the central control unit and hard wired together for communication therebetween. 
   
   
       6 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the one or more terminals is/are located in close proximity to the central control unit and communication therebetween is wireless using infra-red, radio, cellular, blue tooth or other wire free communication medium. 
   
   
       7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the one or more terminals is/are located remotely from the central control unit and/or from each other and communication therebetween is effected via a network such as an intranet or the Internet. 
   
   
       8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more of the plurality of randomisers is effected using electrical and/or electronic components. 
   
   
       9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more of the playfields is effected using electrical and/or electronic components. 
   
   
       10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the electrical and/or electronic components comprise any one or more of a computer means, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a television, or a visual display unit. 
   
   
       11 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the electrical and/or electronic components comprise processing means, data storage means and are programmable. 
   
   
       12 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more of the plurality of randomisers is traditional physical apparatus. 
   
   
       13 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more of the playfields is effected using traditional physical apparatus. 
   
   
       14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  for use in the game of roulette. 
   
   
       15 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more of the plurality of randomisers is a roulette wheel. 
   
   
       16 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the one or more roulette wheels is a standard single zero or double zero wheel. 
   
   
       17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the one or more roulette wheels is of bespoke design. 
   
   
       18 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the one or more roulette wheels comprises bespoke indicia. 
   
   
       19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more of the playfields is a roulette playfield. 
   
   
       20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the one or more playfields is a standard single zero or double zero playfield. 
   
   
       21 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the one or more playfields comprises bespoke indicia. 
   
   
       22 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  for use in a dice game. 
   
   
       23 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein one or more of the plurality of randomisers is a die or set of dice. 
   
   
       24 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22  wherein each die or each set of dice is a standard die or set of dice. 
   
   
       25 . Apparatus as claimed  claim 22  wherein each die or each set of dice comprises standard indicia. 
   
   
       26 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22  wherein each die or each set of dice comprises bespoke indicia. 
   
   
       27 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22  wherein one or more of the playfields is a roulette playfield. 
   
   
       28 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22  wherein one or more of the playfields is a bespoke playfield. 
   
   
       29 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the one or more playfields comprises standard dice indicia. 
   
   
       30 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the one or more playfields comprises bespoke dice indicia. 
   
   
       31 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  for use in a card game. 
   
   
       32 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein one or more of the plurality of randomisers comprises playing cards. 
   
   
       33 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein one or more of the playfields comprises playing card indicia. 
   
   
       34 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  for use in the game of bingo. 
   
   
       35 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 34  wherein one or more of the plurality of randomisers comprises bingo balls. 
   
   
       36 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 34  wherein one or more of the playfields comprises bingo indicia. 
   
   
       37 . Apparatus for playing a game comprising:
 a central control unit comprising a plurality of randomisers each generating one or more random indicia from a predefined set of indicia in each turn of play;   one or more terminals each connectable to the central control unit for communication therebetween, each terminal being provided for use by a player to play the game and offering that player one or more playfields for play in each turn of play, the one or more playfields each being associated with at least one randomiser of the central control unit and offering for play via that playfield the same predefined set of indicia as the associated randomiser;   evaluation means for determining if the one or more random indicia generated by each of the plurality of randomisers in each turn of play has or have been validly selected for play via a playfield on a terminal in any turn of play and is a winning game entry and for awarding a winning payment or credit to the player of a winning game entry, wherein in each turn of play:   each player of the game uses a terminal to select one or more of the plurality of randomisers for play in that turn of play and for each randomiser selected uses at least one of the associated playfields by placing a stake or stakes to select one or more indicia on that playfield for play in that turn of play, whereafter:   the plurality of randomisers of the central control unit each generate one or more random indicia from the predefined set of indicia for that turn of play; and the evaluation means determines if there are any winning game entries and awards a winning payment or credit to each player of a winning game entry.   
   
   
       38 . Apparatus for playing a game comprising:
 a central control unit comprising a randomiser for generating one or more random indicia from a predefined set of indicia in each turn of play;   one or more terminals each connectable to the central control unit for communication therebetween, each terminal being provided for use by a player to play the game and offering that player a plurality of playfields for play in each turn of play, the plurality of playfields each offering for play via that playfield the same predefined set of indicia as the randomiser;   
     evaluation means for determining if the one or more random indicia generated by the randomiser in each turn of play has or have been validly selected for play via a playfield on a terminal in any turn of play and is a winning game entry and for awarding a winning payment or credit to the player of a winning game entry, wherein in each turn of play:
 each player of the game uses a terminal to select one or more of the plurality of playfields for play in that turn of play and for each playfield selected places a stake or stakes to select one or more indicia on that playfield for play in that turn of play, whereafter: 
 the randomiser of the central control unit generates one or more random indicia from the predefined set of indicia for that turn of play; and 
 the evaluation means determines if there are any winning game entries and awards a winning payment or credit to each player of a winning game entry. 
 
   
   
       39 . Apparatus for playing a game comprising:
 a central control unit comprising one or more randomisers each generating one or more random indicia from a predefined set of indicia in each turn of play;   one or more terminals each connectable to the central control unit for communication therebetween, each terminal being provided for use by a player to play the game and offering that player one or more playfields for play in each turn of play, the one or more playfields each being associated with at least one randomiser of the central control unit and offering for play via that playfield the same predefined set of indicia as the associated randomiser;   evaluation means for determining if the one or more random indicia generated by each of the one or more randomisers in each turn of play has or have been validly selected for play via a playfield on a terminal in any turn of play and is a winning game entry and for awarding a winning payment or credit to the player of a winning game entry, wherein in each turn of play:   each player of the game uses a terminal to select one or more of the randomisers for play in that turn of play and for each randomiser selected uses at least one of the associated playfields by placing a stake or stakes to select one or more indicia on that playfield for play in that turn of play, whereafter:   the one or more randomisers of the central control unit each generate one or more random indicia from the predefined set of indicia for that turn of play; and   the evaluation means determines if there are any winning game entries and awards a winning payment or credit to each player of a winning game entry.   
   
   
       40 . Apparatus for playing a game comprising:
 a central control unit comprising a randomiser for generating one or more random indicia from a predefined set of indicia in each turn of play;   one or more terminals each connectable to the central control unit for communication therebetween, each terminal being provided for use by a player to play the game and offering that player a playfield for play in each turn of play, the playfield offering for play the same predefined set of indicia as the randomiser;   evaluation means for determining if the one or more random indicia generated by the randomiser in each turn of play has or have been validly selected for play via the playfield on a terminal in any turn of play and is a winning game entry and for awarding a winning payment or credit to the player of a winning game entry, wherein in each turn of play:   each player of the game uses a terminal to place a stake or stakes to select one or more indicia on that playfield for play in that turn of play, whereafter:   the randomiser of the central control unit generates one or more random indicia from the predefined set of indicia for that turn of play; and   the evaluation means determines if there are any winning game entries and awards a winning payment or credit to each player of a winning game entry.   
   
   
       41 . Apparatus for playing a game comprising:
 a central control unit comprising one or more randomisers for generating one or more random indicia from a set of available indicia in each turn of play;   a plurality of terminals each connectable to the central control unit for communication therebetween, each terminal being provided for use by a player of the game and offering that player a plurality of independent game entries for play in each turn of play, each terminal comprising a payment acceptor means for receiving payment or credit of one or more stakes from a player of the game, and a selector means for selecting one or more of the independent game entries for play in a turn of play;   comparator means for determining when the one or more random indicia generated by one or more randomisers in each turn of play has been validly selected for play on a terminal in a game entry by a player and is a winning game entry; and payment means for awarding a winning credit or payment to the player of a winning game entry, wherein in each turn of play:   each player of the game selects a terminal for play, deposits one or more stakes via the payment acceptor or uses banked or credited stakes to provide credit for that turn of play, selects one or more of the independent game entries for play in that turn of play and, for each independent game entry, selects one or more indicia from the set of available indicia for play in that turn of play; and   the one or more randomisers each generate one or more random indicia from the set of available indicia for that turn of play, whereupon:   the comparator means determines if there are any winning game entries; and the payment means awards a winning credit or payment to the player of a winning game entry.   
   
   
       42 . Apparatus for playing a game as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the comparator means and the payment means are integrated. 
   
   
       43 . Apparatus for playing a game comprising:
 a central control unit comprising one or more randomisers each generating one or more random indicia from a predefined set of indicia in each turn of play;   one or more terminals each connectable to the central control unit for communication therebetween, each terminal being provided for use by a player to play the game and offering that player a plurality of independent game entries for play in each turn of play, each terminal comprising payment acceptor means for receiving payment from or accessing credit for that player of one or more stakes, and selector means for use by that player to select one or more of the independent game entries for play in a turn of play and to place one or more stakes by selecting one or more indicia from the predefined set of indicia for play in each independent game entry selected for play;   evaluation means for determining if the one or more random indicia generated by the one or more randomisers in each turn of play has or have been validly selected for play on a terminal in any game entry by a player and is a winning game entry and awarding a winning payment or credit to the player of a winning game entry, wherein in each turn of play:   each player of the game uses a terminal to select one or more of the plurality of independent game entries for play in that turn of play and, for each independent game entry selected for play, places one or more stakes by selecting one or more indicia from the predefined set of indicia for play in that turn of play; and   the one or more randomisers each generate one or more random indicia from the predefined set of indicia for that turn of play, whereupon the evaluation means determines if there are any winning game entries and awards a winning payment or credit to each player of a winning game entry.   
   
   
       44 . Apparatus for playing a game comprising:
 a central control unit comprising a plurality of randomisers each generating one or more random indicia from a predefined set of indicia in each turn of play;   one or more terminals each connectable to the central control unit for communication therebetween, each terminal being provided for use by a player to play the game and offering that player a plurality of independent game entries for play in each turn of play, each terminal comprising payment acceptor means for receiving payment from or accessing credit for that player of one or more stakes, and selector means for use by that player to select one or more of the independent game entries for play in a turn of play and to place one or more stakes by selecting one or more indicia from the predefined set of indicia for play in each independent game entry selected for play;   evaluation means for determining if the one or more random indicia generated by the plurality of randomisers in each turn of play has or have been validly selected for play on a terminal in any game entry by a player and is a winning game entry and awarding a winning payment or credit to the player of a winning game entry, wherein in each turn of play:   each player of the game uses a terminal to select one or more of the plurality of independent game entries for play in that turn of play and, for each independent game entry selected for play, places one or more stakes by selecting one or more indicia from the predefined set of indicia for play in that turn of play; and   the plurality of randomisers each generate one or more random indicia from the predefined set of indicia for that turn of play, whereupon the evaluation means determines if there are any winning game entries and awards a winning payment or credit to each player of a winning game entry.   
   
   
       45 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the electrical and/or electronic components comprise any one or more of a computer means, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a television, or a visual display unit. 
   
   
       46 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the electrical and/or electronic components comprise processing means, data storage means and are programmable. 
   
   
       47 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the one or more playfields is of bespoke design.