Systems, methods and articles to enhance play at gaming tables with bonuses

• US 20080113781A1
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Soltys, Richard, Huizinga, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,192,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/28
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

Table games are enhanced by awarding chances at a bonus. The changes may be awarded based on one or more factors, for example amount wagered, time spent wagering, average wager, and/or skill level. Bonus related information may be provided to the players as a group, or individually, for example via one or more displays. A bonus pool may be formed from all or part of a separate bonus wager and/or part of a conventional wager on the outcome of a game being played at the gaming table.

Claims

1. A system to enhance table gaming, the system comprising:

means for determining a respective value for each of a plurality of a players playing at one or more gaming tables, the values indicative of at least an approximation of at least an amount wagered by the respective player;

means for providing a number of chances at a bonus to each of at least some of the plurality of players, the number of chances based at least in part on the respective value; and

means for determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the chances having a same probability of winning the bonus as each of the other chances.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for determining a respective value determines the respective values based at least in part on a time spent by each of the players at the gaming table and an average amount wagered by each of the players during the respective time.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for determining a respective value determines the values based at least in part on a respective skill level of each of the players.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for determining a respective value includes a reader operable to read player identity media.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for determining a respective value includes a playing card reader operable to read information from playing cards used in a card game played at the gaming table.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for determining a respective value includes a wager recognition system operable to read information from a number of chips placed at wagers in a game played at the gaming table.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for determining a respective value includes a chip tray contents reader operable to read information from a number of chips in a chip tray at the gaming table.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for determining a respective value includes a computing system executing a value determining set of instructions.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for providing a number of chances at a bonus includes a database that stores count values, each of the count values indicative of the number of chances provided to the respective player.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for determining a respective value includes a computing system executing a chance providing set of instructions.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for notifying the players of a time remaining to qualify for the bonus.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for notifying the players of an amount of the bonus.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for notifying at least one of the players of information indicative of the chances of the at least one of the players.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for notifying includes a computing system executing a notification providing set of instructions.

16. A method of enhancing table gaming, the method comprising:

for each of a plurality of players, determining at least approximately an amount of time spent by the player at a gaming table;

for each of at least some of the plurality of players, providing a number of chances at a bonus, the number of chances based at least in part on the amount of time spent by the player at the gaming table; and

from time-to-time, determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein determining at least approximately an amount of time spent by the player at a gaming table includes automatically determining at least approximately the amount of time spent by the player at the gaming table.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein determining at least approximately an amount of time spent by the player at a gaming table includes determining at least approximately the amount of time spent by the player at a gaming table based at least in part on manual observations.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein providing a number of chances at a bonus is based at least in part on at least an approximation of an amount wagered by the respective player.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein providing a number of chances at a bonus is based at least in part on at least an approximation of an average amount wagered by the respective player.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein providing a number of chances at a bonus is based at least in part on a respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining at least approximately the respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein determining at least approximately a respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player includes manually observing play by the player at the gaming table.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein determining at least approximately a respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player includes automatically tracking play by the player at the gaming table.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein the number of chances at a bonus is provided from a fixed set of chances.

26. The method of claim 16 wherein the number of chances at a bonus is provided automatically.

27. The method of claim 16 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances occurs periodically.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances occurs when a bonus pool reaches a determined value.

29. The method of claim 16 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances occurs when a bonus pool reaches a determined value or periodically if the bonus pool does not reach the determined value before an end of a period.

30. The method of claim 16 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances includes randomly selecting at least one of the chances.

31. The method of claim 16 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances includes automatically selecting at least one of the chances.

32. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

displaying an amount of time to the players, the amount of time indicative of when the bonus will be determined.

33. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing a notification to the players, the notification indicative of an amount of time when the providing of chances for the bonus will be curtailed.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein providing a notification to the players includes displaying an amount of time to the players, the amount of time indicative of when the providing of chances for the bonus will be curtailed.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein displaying an amount of time to the players includes displaying a count down clock.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein displaying an amount of time to the players includes displaying a count up clock.

37. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

displaying a value to at least some of the players indicative of a number of chances that have currently been provided to at least one of the players.

38. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

for each of the players, displaying a value to the respective player indicative of a number of chances that have currently been provided to the respective player.

39. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of a game being played by the player at the gaming table.

40. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables on a casino premises.

41. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables located at a plurality of premises.

42. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of a game being played by the player at the gaming table.

43. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables on a casino premises.

44. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables located at a plurality of premises.

45. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a contribution provided by at least one casino.

46. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing a notification to the players, the notification indicative of an amount of a bonus pool.

47. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

updating the notification indicative of the amount of the bonus pool, from time-to-time.

48. A method of enhancing table gaming, the method comprising:

for each of a plurality of players, determining at least approximately an amount of wagered by the player at a gaming table;

for each of at least some of the plurality of players, providing a number of chances at a bonus, the number of chances based at least in part on the amount wagered by the player at the gaming table; and

from time-to-time, determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein determining at least approximately an amount of wagered by the player at a gaming table includes determining at least approximately an amount of time spent wagering by the player at the gaming table.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein determining at least approximately an amount of wagered by the player at a gaming table further includes determining at least approximately an average amount wagered by the respective players.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein at least one of the determining at least approximately an amount of time spent by the player at a gaming table or determining at least approximately an average amount wagered by the respective players includes manually observing play at the gaming table.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein at least one of the determining at least approximately an amount of time spent by the player at a gaming table or determining at least approximately an average amount wagered by the respective players includes automatically tracking play at the gaming table.

53. The method of claim 48 wherein providing a number of chances at a bonus is based at least in part on a respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player.

54. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

determining at least approximately the respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein determining at least approximately a respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player includes manually observing play by the player at the gaming table.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein determining at least approximately a respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player includes automatically tracking play by the player at the gaming table.

57. The method of claim 48 wherein the number of chances at a bonus is provided from a fixed set of chances.

58. The method of claim 48 wherein the number of chances at a bonus is provided automatically.

59. The method of claim 48 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances occurs periodically.

60. The method of claim 48 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances occurs when a bonus pool reaches a determined value.

61. The method of claim 48 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances occurs when a bonus pool reaches a determined value or periodically if the bonus pool does not reach the determined value before an end of a period.

62. The method of claim 48 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances includes randomly selecting at least one of the chances.

63. The method of claim 48 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances includes automatically selecting at least one of the chances.

64. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

displaying an amount of time to the players, the amount of time indicative of when the bonus will be determined.

65. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

providing a notification to the players, the notification indicative of an amount of time when the providing of chances for the bonus will be curtailed.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein providing a notification to the players includes displaying an amount of time to the players, the amount of time indicative of when the providing of chances for the bonus will be curtailed.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein displaying an amount of time to the players includes displaying a count down clock.

68. The method of claim 66 wherein displaying an amount of time to the players includes displaying a count up clock.

69. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

displaying a value to at least some of the players indicative of a number of chances that have currently been provided to at least one of the players.

70. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

for each of the players, displaying a value to the respective player indicative of a number of chances that have currently been provided to the respective player.

71. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of a game being played by the player at the gaming table.

72. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables on a casino premises.

73. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables located at a plurality of premises.

74. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of a game being played by the player at the gaming table.

75. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables on a casino premises.

76. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables located at a plurality of premises.

77. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a contribution provided by at least one casino.

78. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

providing a notification to the players, the notification indicative of an amount of a bonus pool.

79. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

updating the notification indicative of the amount of the bonus pool, from time-to-time.

80. A method of enhancing table gaming, the method comprising:

for each of a plurality of players, determining at least approximately an average amount wagered by the player at a gaming table and at least approximately an amount of time spent wagering by the player at the gaming table;

for each of at least some of the plurality of players, providing a number of chances at a bonus, the number of chances based at least in part on the amount wagered and time spent wagering by the player at the gaming table; and

from time-to-time, determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein at least one of the determining at least approximately an amount of time spent by the player at a gaming table or determining at least approximately an average amount wagered by the respective players includes manually observing play at the gaming table.

82. The method of claim 80 wherein at least one of the determining at least approximately an amount of time spent by the player at a gaming table or determining at least approximately an average amount wagered by the respective players includes automatically tracking play at the gaming table.

83. The method of claim 80 wherein providing a number of chances at a bonus is based at least in part on a respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player.

84. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

determining at least approximately the respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player.

85. The method of claim 84 wherein determining at least approximately a respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player includes manually observing play by the player at the gaming table.

86. The method of claim 84 wherein determining at least approximately a respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player includes automatically tracking play by the player at the gaming table.

87. The method of claim 80 wherein the number of chances at a bonus is provided from a fixed set of chances.

88. The method of claim 80 wherein the number of chances at a bonus is provided automatically.

89. The method of claim 80 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances occurs periodically.

90. The method of claim 80 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances occurs when a bonus pool reaches a determined value.

91. The method of claim 80 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances occurs when a bonus pool reaches a determined value or periodically if the bonus pool does not reach the determined value before an end of a period.

92. The method of claim 80 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances includes randomly selecting at least one of the chances.

93. The method of claim 80 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances includes automatically selecting at least one of the chances.

94. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

displaying an amount of time to the players, the amount of time indicative of when the bonus will be determined.

95. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

providing a notification to the players, the notification indicative of an amount of time when the providing of chances for the bonus will be curtailed.

96. The method of claim 95 wherein providing a notification to the players includes displaying an amount of time to the players, the amount of time indicative of when the providing of chances for the bonus will be curtailed.

97. The method of claim 96 wherein displaying an amount of time to the players includes displaying a count down clock.

98. The method of claim 96 wherein displaying an amount of time to the players includes displaying a count up clock.

99. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

displaying a value to at least some of the players indicative of a number of chances that have currently been provided to at least one of the players.

100. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

for each of the players, displaying a value to the respective player indicative of a number of chances that have currently been provided to the respective player.

101. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of a game being played by the player at the gaming table.

102. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables on a casino premises.

103. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables located at a plurality of premises.

104. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of a game being played by the player at the gaming table.

105. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables on a casino premises.

106. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables located at a plurality of premises.

107. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a contribution provided by at least one casino.

108. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

providing a notification to the players, the notification indicative of an amount of a bonus pool.

109. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

updating the notification indicative of the amount of the bonus pool, from time-to-time.

110. A method of enhancing table gaming, the method comprising:

for each of a plurality of players playing at a gaming table, determining at least approximately a respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player;

for each of at least some of the plurality of players, providing a number of chances at a bonus, the number of chances based at least in part on the respective theoretical advantage of the player; and

from time-to-time, determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances.

111. The method of claim 110 wherein determining at least approximately a respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player includes manually observing play by the player at the gaming table.

112. The method of claim 110 wherein determining at least approximately a respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player includes automatically tracking play by the player at the gaming table.

113. The method of claim 112 wherein automatically tracking play by the player at the gaming table includes automatically tracking wagers at the gaming table.

114. The method of claim 112 wherein automatically tracking play by the player at the gaming table includes automatically tracking game outcomes at the gaming table.

115. The method of claim 112 wherein automatically tracking play by the player at the gaming table includes automatically tracking decisions by the player.

116. The method of claim 112 wherein automatically tracking play by the player at the gaming table includes automatically tracking an amount won relative to an amount wagered by the player.

117. The method of claim 110 wherein the number of chances at a bonus is provided from a fixed set of chances.

118. The method of claim 110 wherein the number of chances at a bonus is provided automatically.

119. The method of claim 110 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances occurs periodically.

120. The method of claim 110 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances occurs when a bonus pool reaches a determined value.

121. The method of claim 110 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances occurs when a bonus pool reaches a determined value or periodically if the bonus pool does not reach the determined value before an end of a period.

122. The method of claim 110 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances includes randomly selecting at least one of the chances.

123. The method of claim 110 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus from the chances includes automatically selecting at least one of the chances.

124. The method of claim 110, further comprising:

displaying an amount of time to the players, the amount of time indicative of when the bonus will be determined.

125. The method of claim 110, further comprising:

providing a notification to the players, the notification indicative of an amount of time when the providing of chances for the bonus will be curtailed.

126. The method of claim 125 wherein providing a notification to the players includes displaying an amount of time to the players, the amount of time indicative of when the providing of chances for the bonus will be curtailed.

127. The method of claim 126 wherein displaying an amount of time to the players includes displaying a count down clock.

128. The method of claim 126 wherein displaying an amount of time to the players includes displaying a count up clock.

129. The method of claim 110, further comprising:

displaying a value to at least some of the players indicative of a number of chances that have currently been provided to at least one of the players.

130. The method of claim 110, further comprising:

for each of the players, displaying a value to the respective player indicative of a number of chances that have currently been provided to the respective player.

131. The method of claim 110, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of a game being played by the player at the gaming table.

132. The method of claim 110, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables on a casino premises.

133. The method of claim 110, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables located at a plurality of premises.

134. The method of claim 110, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of a game being played by the player at the gaming table.

135. The method of claim 110, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables on a casino premises.

136. The method of claim 110, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables located at a plurality of premises.

137. The method of claim 110, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a contribution provided by at least one casino.

138. The method of claim 110, further comprising:

providing a notification to the players, the notification indicative of an amount of a bonus pool.

139. The method of claim 110, further comprising:

updating the notification indicative of the amount of the bonus pool, from time-to-time.

155. The method of claim 125, further comprising:

displaying an amount of time to the players, the amount of time indicative of when the providing of chances for the bonus will be curtailed.

156. The method of claim 155 wherein displaying an amount of time to the players includes displaying a count down clock.

157. The method of claim 155 wherein displaying an amount of time to the players includes displaying a count up clock.

140. A method of enhancing table gaming, the method comprising:

for each of a plurality of players playing a table game at a gaming table, providing a number of chances at a bonus, each of the chances having the same probability of being selected as a winner as each of the other chances;

at a first time, displaying an indication of at least a first player'"'"'s chances with respect to a bonus pool; and

from time-to-time, determining at least one winner of the bonus based at least in part on the chances.

141. The method of claim 140 wherein for each of a plurality of players playing a table game at a gaming table, providing a number of chances at a bonus includes providing a number of chances based at least in part on an amount of time spent by the player at the gaming table.

142. The method of claim 140 wherein for each of a plurality of players playing a table game at a gaming table, providing a number of chances at a bonus includes providing a number of chances based at least in part on an approximation of an amount wagered by the respective player.

143. The method of claim 140 wherein for each of a plurality of players playing a table game at a gaming table, providing a number of chances at a bonus includes providing a number of chances based at least in part on an amount of time spent by the player at the gaming table and an approximation of an average amount wagered by the respective player.

144. The method of claim 140 wherein for each of a plurality of players playing a table game at a gaming table, providing a number of chances at a bonus includes providing a number of chances based at least in part on a respective theoretical advantage of the player representative of a skill level of the respective player.

145. The method of claim 140 wherein displaying an indication of at least a first player'"'"'s chances with respect to a bonus pool includes displaying a respective indication of the chances for each of a plurality of players visible to all of the players.

146. The method of claim 140 wherein displaying an indication of at least a first player'"'"'s chances with respect to a bonus pool includes displaying the a respective indication of the chances for each of a plurality of players visible only to the respective ones of the players.

147. The method of claim 140 wherein displaying an indication of at least a first player'"'"'s chances with respect to a bonus pool includes displaying an indication via a user interface of a wireless communications device.

148. The method of claim 140 wherein displaying an indication of at least a first player'"'"'s chances with respect to a bonus pool includes displaying the first player'"'"'s chances in relation to a number of chances of at least one other player.

149. The method of claim 148 wherein displaying the first player'"'"'s chances in relation to a number of chances of at least one other player includes displaying a graphical illustration of the first players chances positioned with respect to the chances of all other players.

150. The method of claim 140 wherein displaying an indication of at least a first player'"'"'s chances with respect to a bonus pool includes displaying the first player'"'"'s chances relative to an average chance.

151. The method of claim 140 wherein determining at least one winner of the bonus based at least in part on the chances includes randomly selecting at least one of the chances.

152. The method of claim 140 wherein displaying an indication of at least a first player'"'"'s chances with respect to a bonus pool includes automatically selecting at least one of the chances.

153. The method of claim 140, further comprising:

displaying an amount of time to the players, the amount of time indicative of when the bonus will be determined.

154. The method of claim 140, further comprising:

providing a notification to the players, the notification indicative of an amount of time when the providing of chances for the bonus will be curtailed.

158. The method of claim 140, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of a game being played by the player at the gaming table.

159. The method of claim 140, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables on a casino premises.

160. The method of claim 140, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a portion of each of a number of wagers placed by one or more of the players on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables located at a plurality of premises.

161. The method of claim 140, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of a game being played by the player at the gaming table.

162. The method of claim 140, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables on a casino premises.

163. The method of claim 140, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from an additional wager placed by one or more of the players in addition a primary wager placed on an outcome of each of a plurality of games being played by the players at a plurality of gaming tables located at a plurality of premises.

164. The method of claim 140, further comprising:

forming a bonus pool from a contribution provided by at least one casino.

165. The method of claim 140, further comprising:

providing a notification to the players, the notification indicative of an amount of a bonus pool.