Wagering game with table bonus

• US 7,537,456 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2005
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snow, Roger M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom; Kurt
• Application Number:
  US11/196,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20050269783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 273/274, 273/292, 273/303, 273/309, 463/13
• US Class Current: 434/292
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082

Abstract

A method of playing a casino table wagering game with at least two players comprises wagering on an underlying game where players may receive a bonus for obtaining a player hand of at least a predetermined rank; placing a side bet that at least one player of the at least two players will obtain a player hand of at least a predetermined rank; playing a hand of the casino table wagering game to conclusion; determining if at least one of the at least two players has obtained a player hand of said at least a predetermined rank; if a player has not obtained a player hand of at least a predetermined rank, but that player has placed the side bet that at least one player of the at least two players will obtain a player hand of at least a predetermined rank, and if another player has obtained a player hand of at least a predetermined rank, awarding that player a predetermined proportional share of the bonus for obtaining a player hand of at least a predetermined rank.

Claims

1. A method of playing a wagering game with multiple players, comprising:

at least two players making a wager to participate in a casino card game;

the at least two players making an optional wager to participate in a side bet game;

distributing cards to the at least two players according to the rules of the game;

resolving play of the casino card game; and

resolving play of the side bet game according to rules of the side bet game, wherein all players making the optional wager in the side bet game share a pot with the pot comprising a predetermined payout amount based on a paytable for predetermined winning hands when one player wins according to the rules of the side bet game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the rules of the casino card game include playing for predetermined winning poker hands.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the rules of the side bet game includes playing for a plurality of predetermined winning poker hands.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the rules of the side bet game includes each player who made the second wager receiving an equal portion of the predetermined payout.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a dealer distributes the cards to the at least two players.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the dealer also deals cards to a dealer position for play in the casino card game.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the casino card game comprises player hand rank comparison to a pay table.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the casino card game comprises player hand competition against a dealer'"'"'s hand.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the casino card game comprises player hand competition against other player'"'"'s hands.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the pot is shared only when the player who wins according to the rules of the side bet game has made the optional wager.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the pot is shared whether or not the player who wins according to the rules of the side bet game has made the optional wager.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the pot is a progressive pot.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the share is a proportional share of the pot.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the proportional share includes a first percentage to the one player that wins and an even division of remaining percentage of the pot after payment to the one player that wins of the first percentage.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the proportion share includes a first percentage to the one player that wins, a second percentage to a player with a second highest hand and an even division of remaining percentage of the pot after payment of the first percentage and the second percentage.

13. A method of playing a wagering game with multiple players, comprising:

at least two players making a wager to participate in a casino card game;

the at least two players making a mandatory wager to participate in a side bet game;

distributing cards to the at least two players according to the rules of the game;

resolving play of the casino card game; and

resolving play of the side bet game according to rules of the side bet game, wherein all players making the mandatory wager in the side bet game share a pot with the pot comprising a predetermined payout amount based on a paytable for predetermined winning hands when one player wins according to the rules of the side bet game.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the pot is shared only when the player who wins according to the rules of the side bet game has made the mandatory wager.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the pot is shared whether or not the player who wins according to the rules of the side bet game has made the mandatory wager.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the share is a proportional share of the pot.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the proportional share includes a first percentage to the one player that wins and an even division of remaining percentage of the pot after payment to the one player that wins of the first percentage.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the proportion share includes a first percentage to the one player that wins, a second percentage to a player with a second highest hand and an even division of remaining percentage of the pot after payment of the first percentage and the second percentage.

22. A method of playing a wagering game with multiple players, comprising:

at least two players making a wager to participate in a casino card game;

the at least two players making a wager to participate in a side bet game;

distributing cards to the at least two players according to the rules of the game;

resolving play of the casino card game; and

resolving play of the side bet game according to rules of the side bet game, wherein all players making the wager in the side bet game share a pot based on a paytable payout when one player wins according to the rules of the side bet game.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein each player that made the wager when one player is declared a winner according to the rules of the side bet game shares equally in the paytable payout.