Prior art

Here is an analysis of the most relevant prior art for US Patent 11756371, identified from its patent citations and related search results. The core inventive concept of US11756371B1, as defined by its independent claims, involves a hardware processor configured to randomly or pseudo-randomly select one or more positions on a roulette wheel to have an increased payout for a spin prior to the ball landing in any position, and subsequently determining that the ball landed in such a selected position and applying the increased payout [cite: Claim 1, 11, 21].

Most Relevant Prior Art:

1. "Roulette Xtra" by TCSJOHNHUXLEY

   • Full Citation: Roulette Xtra | Casino Table Games | TCSJOHNHUXLEY.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Not a patent, but a publicly available product/game. Assumed to be available prior to the priority date of US11756371B1 (February 5, 2018).
   • Brief Description: This game randomly selects four "Roulette Xtra" numbers and assigns them random multiplier amounts (ranging from 50:1 to 500:1) for the current spin. This selection occurs after players place their bets but "once 'No More Bets' is called," which is prior to the ball landing. These selected numbers and their multipliers are displayed, and if the ball lands on one of them, the increased payout is applied.
   • Potential Anticipation: This directly anticipates the core elements of independent claims 1, 11, and 21 of US11756371B1. It explicitly discloses randomly selecting positions (Roulette Xtra numbers) on a roulette wheel to have increased payouts (random multiplier amounts) prior to the ball landing, and then applying these payouts if the ball lands on a selected position.

2. "Jackpot Roulette" by Vivo Gaming

   • Full Citation: Jackpot Roulette - Vivo Gaming.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Not a patent, but a publicly available product/game. Assumed to be available prior to the priority date of US11756371B1 (February 5, 2018).
   • Brief Description: This game enhances standard roulette by adding multipliers to certain numbers each round. After player bets are placed, the system "will generate random jackpot lucky numbers and a modifier value of each of those numbers." Each round features 1 to 5 jackpot numbers with payouts ranging from 50x to 500x the bet.
   • Potential Anticipation: This also directly anticipates the core elements of independent claims 1, 11, and 21 of US11756371B1. It describes the random selection of "jackpot lucky numbers" with increased payouts ("modifier value," "50 times your bet to 500 times") after bets are placed and prior to the outcome of the spin.

3. US9327186B1

   • Full Citation: US9327186B1, "Roulette system with side bet and random multiplier event," granted to Interblock D.D. on May 3, 2016.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Granted May 3, 2016; priority date May 16, 2015. This predates the priority date of US11756371B1 (February 5, 2018).
   • Brief Description: The title, "Roulette system with side bet and random multiplier event," strongly indicates a system that introduces random multipliers (increased payouts) to a roulette game. While the full patent text would be needed for a detailed comparison, the concept of a "random multiplier event" in roulette suggests that certain numbers are randomly chosen to have enhanced payouts.
   • Potential Anticipation: Based on its title and keywords, this patent likely anticipates the random selection of positions on a roulette wheel to receive increased payouts through a "random multiplier event," potentially occurring prior to the ball landing. This would anticipate independent claims 1, 11, and 21.

4. "Sidebet FortunaTwo" by BHS Böhm

   • Full Citation: ROULETTE SIDEBETS - BHS Böhm (Sidebet FortunaTwo).
   • Publication/Filing Date: Not a patent, but a publicly available product/game. Assumed to be available prior to the priority date of US11756371B1 (February 5, 2018).
   • Brief Description: This side bet system allows players to "place bets on seven additional winning numbers, which are drawn using a random number generator." It specifies varying payout rates, such as "15:1" for two matching symbols and "150:1" for three, and these winning symbols are displayed. The random numbers are drawn "at the same time as the roulette winning number", implying their determination before the final outcome is known to players.
   • Potential Anticipation: This product description discloses randomly selecting additional winning numbers with associated increased payout rates. This mechanism directly aligns with the elements of randomly selecting positions and determining increased payouts, thus potentially anticipating independent claims 1, 11, and 21 of US11756371B1.

5. US20160328905A1

   • Full Citation: US20160328905A1, "Roulette Gaming Method, System And Apparatus," published November 10, 2016.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published November 10, 2016. This predates the priority date of US11756371B1 (February 5, 2018).
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a computer system that generates two separate random numbers within the range of roulette wheel numbers and displays them. It also refers to "first and second side bet areas." For a "number match" side bet, players don't select a specific number, but win if the traditional wheel result matches a randomly generated number.
   • Potential Anticipation: This patent anticipates the aspect of randomly selecting positions (numbers) on a roulette wheel and displaying them prior to the ball landing. The critical distinction for full anticipation of US11756371B1 lies in whether the randomly selected numbers in US20160328905A1 lead to an increased payout on the primary roulette bet if the ball lands on that number, or if it only constitutes a win for a separate side bet. If the former, it would anticipate independent claims 1, 11, and 21.

Related Patent Family Members (Not Prior Art):

The following patents are noted as being related continuation applications to US11756371B1, sharing the same priority date of February 5, 2018, and are therefore not considered anticipatory prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102 for this specific patent:

• US10629024B1 ("Systems, methods, and media for implementing internet-based wagering," published April 21, 2020)
• US11011014B1 ("Systems, methods, and media for implementing internet-based wagering," published May 18, 2021)
• US11024125B1 ("Systems, methods, and media for implementing internet-based wagering," published June 1, 2021)