Dynamic interface for multiball roulette systems

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for gaming operations, interfaces, and variations for multi-ball roulette games. In various embodiments, systems and methods may include a roulette wheel, a ball launcher, a pocket sensor, and a controller to manage a round of play. The controller may generate an animation on an interactive graphical user interface of a player station and receive bet information during a betting window. A first roulette ball and a second roulette ball may be launched on the roulette wheel. The pocket sensor may provide information related to a position of the first roulette ball, which triggers a game modification based on a first symbol associated with the position. The pocket sensor may then provide information related to the second roulette ball. Animations related to the gameplay and wager resolution may be provided on the interactive graphical user interface.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A gaming communication system, comprising:
 a roulette wheel comprising an inner rim provided on a top surface of the roulette wheel, and an outer rim, wherein the inner rim comprises a first set of symbols respectively corresponding to a plurality of pockets, and wherein the outer rim comprises a second set of symbols respectively corresponding to the plurality of pockets;   a ball launcher configured to launch one or more balls onto the roulette wheel;   a player station comprising an interactive graphical user interface to place bets associated with the roulette wheel;   a pocket sensor determining a position of a roulette ball within any pocket of the plurality of pockets; and   a controller managing a round of play on the roulette wheel, wherein the controller is in communication with the ball launcher, the player station, and the pocket sensor, wherein the controller comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory comprising computer-readable instructions that upon execution by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
 generating, on the interactive graphical user interface, a first animation comprising a betting layout and a timed betting window; 
 receiving, during the timed betting window, bet information from user input entered at the interactive graphical user interface, wherein the bet information comprises a wager on a round of play on the roulette wheel; 
 after closing the timed betting window, initiating the ball launcher to launch a first roulette ball and a second roulette ball onto the roulette wheel; 
 determining, based on a first signal received from the pocket sensor, a first pocket associated with a final position of the first roulette ball, and a first symbol, from the first set of symbols, associated with the first pocket; 
 updating the betting layout to indicate a game modification associated with the first symbol, wherein the game modification adjusts a payout value of one or more symbols in the second set of symbols; 
 determining, based on a second signal received from the pocket sensor, a second pocket associated with a final position of the second roulette ball, and a second symbol, from the second set of symbols, associated with the second pocket; 
 resolving the wager based on the first symbol and the second symbol; and 
 generating a second animation, on the interactive graphical user interface, indicative of a payout associated with the wager. 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the first ball and the second ball are launched substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner rim rotates independently of the outer rim and locks upon a closure of the timed betting window, and wherein the controller determines a position of the inner rim to generate a mapping between the first set of symbols and the plurality of pockets. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming communication system of  claim 3 , wherein the mapping randomly assigns each symbol from the first set of symbols to a pocket of the plurality of pockets. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming communication system of  claim 1 , further comprising a lighting system projecting the first set of symbols on the inner rim of the roulette wheel. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming communication system of  claim 5 , wherein the lighting system projects the second set of symbols on the outer rim. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming communication system of  claim 1 , wherein when the bet information comprises a side wager associated with the first set of symbols, and the controller determines, based on a randomly generated paytable, the betting layout to indicate the game modification. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the game modification applies a multiplier value to a winning bet associated with the second symbol. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the roulette wheel further comprises a movable central cone, and a set of sub-pockets respectively associated with the plurality of pockets, and wherein the controller is configured to raise the movable central cone to receive the first roulette ball in a sub-pocket prior to the second roulette ball coming to rest in a same or different pocket of the roulette wheel. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming communication system of  claim 9 , wherein the first roulette ball remains visible in the sub-pocket and does not interfere with the final position of the second roulette ball. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the first symbol indicates a multiplier value to be applied to winning bets associated with the second symbol. 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed cause:
 generating, on an interactive graphical user interface provided on a player station, a first animation comprising a betting layout and a timed betting window;   receiving, during the timed betting window, bet information from user input entered at the interactive graphical user interface, wherein the bet information comprises a wager on a round of play on a roulette wheel;   after closing a timed betting window, initiating a ball launcher to launch a first roulette ball and a second roulette ball onto the roulette wheel;   determining, based on a first signal received from a pocket sensor, a first pocket associated with a final position of the first roulette ball, and a first symbol, from a first set of symbols, associated with the first pocket, wherein the pocket sensor determines a position of a roulette ball within any pocket of a plurality of pockets of the roulette wheel;   updating the betting layout to indicate a game modification associated with the first symbol, wherein the game modification adjusts a payout value of one or more symbols in a second set of symbols;   determining, based on a second signal received from the pocket sensor, a second pocket associated with a final position of the second roulette ball, and a second symbol, from the second set of symbols, associated with the second pocket;   resolving the wager based on the first symbol and the second symbol; and   generating a second animation, on the interactive graphical user interface, indicative of a payout associated with the wager.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , further comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed cause: projecting, by a lighting system, the first set of symbols on an inner rim of the roulette wheel. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , further comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed cause: raising a central cone associated with the roulette wheel; and receiving the first roulette ball to be received in a sub-pocket beneath the central cone, wherein the first ball is received in the sub-pocket prior to the second roulette ball coming to rest in a same or different pocket of the roulette wheel, and wherein the first roulette ball remains visible in the sub-pocket and does not interfere with the final position of the second roulette ball. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 generating, on an interactive graphical user interface provided on a player station, a first animation comprising a betting layout and a timed betting window;   receiving, during the timed betting window, bet information from user input entered at the interactive graphical user interface, wherein the bet information comprises a wager on a round of play on a roulette wheel;   after closing a timed betting window, initiating a ball launcher to launch a first roulette ball and a second roulette ball onto the roulette wheel;   determining, based on a first signal received from a pocket sensor, a first pocket associated with a final position of the first roulette ball, and a first symbol, from a first set of symbols, associated with the first pocket, wherein the pocket sensor determines a position of a roulette ball within any pocket of the plurality of pockets of the roulette wheel;   updating the betting layout to indicate a game modification associated with the first symbol, wherein the game modification adjusts a payout value of one or more symbols in a second set of symbols;   determining, based on a second signal received from the pocket sensor, a second pocket associated with a final position of the second roulette ball, and a second symbol, from the second set of symbols, associated with the second pocket;   resolving the wager based on the first symbol and the second symbol; and   generating a second animation, on the interactive graphical user interface, indicative of a payout associated with the wager.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: applying a multiplier value to winning bets associated with the second symbol. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 . further comprising: launching the first ball and the second ball substantially simultaneously.