The present invention relates to a novel Roulette Gaming Layout that permits bets to be placed on combinations of numbers which are not possible on a conventional Roulette Gaming Layout.

A conventional Roulette Gaming Layout, for example as disclosed in US-B1-6352260 and as illustrated in figure 1 comprises a matrix of boxes 12 in three columns of twelve rows, which are numbered 1 to 36 consecutively across the rows. An additional box 14 which spans the three boxes 12 of the top row is numbered 0. Boxes 16 are also provided at the bottom of each column. Further boxes 18, 20, 22 and 24 are provided at the side of the main matrix.

Traditionally the method of laying Roulette bets is to place real or virtual chips on an individual numbered square 12 or on a combination of numbers by placing a chip on a line or corner common the numbers. With a conventional layout, the combination of numbers is limited by the physical proximity of the numbers which allow the bet to be indicated by placing a chip on a line or corner common to a plurality of numbers. A limited number of additional combinations may be covered by placing a chip in one of the boxes 18 to 24, for example box 16 to cover a full column (12 numbers), box 18 to cover 1 to 12; 13 to 24; or 25 to 36, box 20 to cover 1 to 18 or 19 to 36, box 22 to cover odd/even numbers or box 24 to cover black/red numbers.

Thus a Player may thus make the following bets: Description Numbers Covered Odds Examples Straight Up One 35 to 1 Zero; 12; or 28; Split Two 17 to 1 Zero and 2; 25 and 28; or 14 and 15; Street Three 11 to 1 4,5 and 6; 31,32 and 33; Corner Four 8 to 1 25, 26, 28 and 29; or 7, 8, 10 and 11; Line Six 5 to 1 4 to 9; for 25 to 30: Dozen Twelve 2 to 1 1 to 12; 13 to 24; or 25 to 36inclusive Column Twelve 2 to 1 Middle Column - 2, 5,8, etc. Even Chances Eighteen Evens Black or Red; odd or even; 1 to 18; or 19 to 36 Note: The US wheel has a double zero in addition to the single zero featured in the French and European wheels. Although the US gaming cloth displays the two zero betting areas adjacent to each other a single chip bet as a split to cover both zeros is not normally permitted. The two zeros are sited opposite each other on the US wheel. The design of the traditional French and European Roulette Cloth (see fig (i)) displays three columns of the integers one to thirty-six with (the single) zero based behind the betting squares for one, two and three.

Chips intended to cover more than one number may only cover the numbered betting squares which are physically adjacent thus seven-eight (as a split) is permitted, severn-nine is not.

According to one aspect of the present invention a Roulette Gaming Layout includes a matrix of boxes having three adjacent columns of twelve rows, the boxes in three adjacent columns being numbered 1 to 36 consecutively across the rows, characterised in that a fourth column of twelve boxes is provided down one side of the matrix of boxes, the boxes in the fourth column being numbered to repeat the numbers in the column on the opposite side of the matrix of boxes.

The present invention permits bets to be placed on combinations not hitherto possible, for example a bet may be placed on a split seven-nine or a corner seven-nine-ten-twelve, which were not hitherto possible.

The Roulette Gaming Layout of the present invention may also include additional boxes similar to those of the conventional layout, in which bets may be placed on zero, double zero, a column, 1 to 12, 13 to 24, 25 to 36, 1 to 18, 19 to 36, 1 to 18, 19 to 36, odd, even, black or red or other combinations of numbers which are not in physical proximity.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a box marked with the number zero a further row of three boxes being provided along the top of the zero box, the further row of boxes being numbered 34, 35, 36.

In accordance with this embodiment bets may be combinations of zero with numbers 34, 35, 36, which are not possible with the conventional layout.

The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

• Figure 1 illustrates a conventional Roulette Layout; and
• Figure 2 illustrates a Roulette Layout in accordance with the present invention;
• Figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 1 shows a conventional Roulette Layout as described above.

With this Layout bets may be placed:

1. a) on a single number (Straight up) by placing a chip 30 in one of the boxes marked zero to 36;
2. b) on a pair of adjacent numbers (Split) by placing a chip 32 on a line between the two numbers;
3. c) on a row of three numbers (Street) by placing a chip 34 on the line at the end of a row;
4. d) on four adjacent numbers (Comer) by placing a chip 36 on the corner common to the four numbers;
5. e) on six numbers on two adjacent rows (Line) by placing a chip 38 on the corner at the end of two rows;
6. f) on twelve numbers on one column (Column) by placing a chip 40 in one of the boxes 16;
7. g) on numbers 1 to 12; 13 to 24 or 25 to 36 (Dozen) by placing a chip 42 in one of the boxes 18;
8. h) on numbers 1 to 18 or 19 to 36 by placing a chip 44 in one of the boxes 20;
9. i) on odd or even by placing a chip 46 in one of the boxes 22; and
10. j) on black or red by placing a chip 48 in one of the boxes 24.

In accordance with the present invention, as illustrated in figure 2 an additional column of twelve boxes 50 are provided down one side of the matrix of boxes 12 of the conventional Layout, the boxes 50 being aligned with the rows of the matrix of boxes 12. These boxes 50 are numbered with the same number as that of the box 12 at the opposite end of the respective row. In addition to the conventional bets, the boxes 50 allow bets to be placed on pairs of numbers at opposite ends of the rows of the conventional layout (Link Split), for example 1 and 3 or 22 and 24, by placing a chip 52 on a line between a box 50 and box 12 in the adjacent column. Boxes 50 also allow bets to be placed on two pairs of numbers at opposite ends of adjacent rows of the conventional layout (Split Corner), for example 4, 7, 6, 9 or 28, 31, 30 and 33, by placing a chip 54 at the corner common to two boxes 50 and two boxes 12 in the adjacent row of the matrix.

A further row of three boxes 60 are provided along the top edge of box 14 of the conventional layout, the boxes 60 corresponding to the columns of the conventional layout. The boxes 60 are numbered 34, 35 and 36. The boxes 60 allow additional bets to be placed on 0 and 34; 0 and 35; or 0 and 36 (Link Split) by placing a chip 62 on the line adjoining box 14 and the appropriate box 60. Boxes 60 also allow bets to be placed on 0, 34 and 35; or 0 ,35 and 36 (Link Corner) by placing a chip 62 on a corner common to the corresponding boxes 14 and 60. Boxes 60 also allow bets to be placed on 0, 34, 35 and 36 (Link Line) by placing a chip 66 on the corner between box 14 and boxes 60 at the end of the row.

Six further boxes, two boxes 70, 72 corresponding to the first set of four rows, numbers 1 to 12 of the conventional layout, two boxes 70, 72 corresponding to the second set of four rows, numbers 13 to 24 of the conventional layout and two boxes 70 to 72 corresponding to the third set of four rows, numbers 26 to 36 of the conventional layout. A chip 74 may be placed in one of the boxes 70, for example that corresponding to the first set of four rows of the conventional layout, to place a bet on the corner boxes 12 of the relevant four rows (Comer Foursome), that is the first and third boxes of the first row and first and third boxes of the fourth row, i.e. numbers 1, 3, 10 and 12. A chip 76 may be placed in one of the boxes 72, for example that corresponding to the third set of four rows, to place a bet on the middle four boxes 12 of the corresponding rows, i.e. 26, 29, 32 and 35.

The Roulette Layout described with reference to figure 2 will thus permit numerous additional bets on combinations not hitherto possible, in particular: Description Numbers Covered Odds Examples Link-Splits: A number in column one combined with its lateral partner in column three. (Boxes 50) Two 17 to 1 1 and 3; 4 and 6; 7 and 9; 10 and 12; 13 and 15; 16 and 18; 19 and 21; 22 and 24; 25 and 27; 28 and 30; 31 and 33; 34 and 36. Link-Corners: Two numbers in adjacent rows in column one combined with their lateral partners in column three (Boxes 50) Four 8 to 1 zero, 1 and 3; 1, 3, 4 and 6; 4, 6, 7 and 9; 7, 9, 10 and 12; 10, 12, 13 and 15; 13, 15, 16 and 18; 16, 18, 19 and 21; 19, 21, 22 and 24; 22, 24, 25 and 27; 25, 27, 28 and 30; 28, 30, 31 and 33; 31, 33, 34 and 36. Zero combinations: Link-Split (Boxes 60) Two 17 to 1 Zero and 34; Zero and 35; or Zero and 36. Link-Corner (Boxes 60) Three 11 to 1 Zero, 34 and 35; Zero, 35 and 36. Link-Line (Boxes 60) Four 8 to 1 Zero, 34, 35 and 36. Corner Foursomes (Boxes 70) Four 8 to 1 1, 3, 10 and 12; 13, 15, 22 and 24; or 27, 27, 34 and 36. Centre Foursomes (Boxes 72) Four 8 to 1 2, 5, 8 and 11; 14, 17, 20, 23; or 26, 29, 32 and 35.

With this embodiment thirty six new single-chip betting opportunities are available.

In an alternative embodiments other combinations of numbered betting squares may be permitted dependent on the physical space available and the comfort of the Casino staff and players.

In an alternative embodiment any or all other combinations of numbered betting squares effected by a single-chip bet may be made available on a virtual or electronic cloth.
In an alternative embodiment the cloth or any variation thereof may be used or depicted in electronic form, by remote broadcast, on the world wide web, on the internet, on a local area network or remote network or by way of scratch-card or lottery or as an accessory for a family or fun game.

While in the above embodiment the additional column of boxes is located on the left of the matrix of boxes 12 and are numbered 3, 6, 9, etc., the boxes 50 may alternatively be located on the right hand side of the matrix of boxes 12 and numbered 1, 4, 7, etc., as illustrated in figure 3. Moreover the boxes 18, 20, 22, 24, 70 and 72 may be placed on either side of the matrix of boxes 12, 50, as illustrated in figure 4. The box 14 may also span all four of the columns of the matrix of boxes 12, 50 as illustrated in figure 4.