System and method for managing calculated odds bets in a blackjack game

• US 8,474,819 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2006
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cantor Index LLC
• Original Assignee: Cantor Index LLC
• Inventors: Asher, Joseph M., Findlay, Lewis C., Riches, Guy Iain Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, WILLIAM M
• Application Number:
  US11/561,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20070085274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,416 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292, 273/274, 273/309, 463/12, 463/25
• US Class Current: 273/274
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A method of managing a blackjack game is provided. A blackjack game bet comprising a bet against a house entity on a blackjack hand is received from a player. A pair of cards is determined for a hand for the house entity, and another pair of cards is determined for a hand for the player. The odds of the occurrence of one or more subsequent events are determined based at least in part on one or more of the pair of cards selected for the house entity'"'"'s hand and one or more of the pair of cards selected for the player'"'"'s hand. The odds for an additional bet are determined based at least on the determined odds for the one or more subsequent events, and the additional bet is offered to the player at the determined odds for the additional bet.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving by a computing platform from a player via a client computing device in use by the player a first bet against a house entity on a blackjack hand, wherein the computing platform and the client computing device are communicatively coupled via a wireless communications network;

determining by the computing platform at least a pair of cards for the house entity for the blackjack hand;

determining by the computing platform at least a pair of cards for the player for the blackjack hand;

displaying by the computing platform to the player via the client computing device at least one of the cards determined for the house entity and the cards determined for the player;

subsequent to displaying to the player the at least one card determined for the house entity and the cards determined for the player, offering by the computing platform to the player via the client computing device a plurality of additional bets, at respective offered odds, that the player may place on the blackjack hand,

wherein each respective additional bet is based on at least one underlying event that may subsequently occur in the blackjack hand, and comprises a bet that the respective underlying event will subsequently occur in the blackjack hand;

wherein the plurality of additional bets offered to the player comprise at least;

a bet that the house entity will bust, and

a bet that the player will win the blackjack hand;

wherein the offered odds for each respective additional bet indicates a payout when the respective additional bet is a winning bet; and

wherein offering to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises;

determining by the computing platform, for each event underlying the additional bets, odds of the event occurring in the blackjack hand, including determining odds that the house entity will bust and determining odds that the player will win the blackjack hand, and wherein the computing platform determines the respective odds based at least in part on at least one of;

(a) at least one of the cards determined for the house entity, and

(b) at least one of the cards determined for the player; and

determining by the computing platform the offered odds for each respective additional bet based at least in part on the determined odds of the respective underlying event occurring in the blackjack hand; and

receiving by the computing platform from the player via the client computing device a selection of at least one of the plurality of additional bets offered to the player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining by the computing platform that the event underlying the at least one additional bet selected by the player occurred and that the at least one additional bet selected by the player is therefore a winning bet; and

based at least in part on determining that the at least one additional bet selected by the player is a winning bet, determining by the computing platform a payment owed to the player, wherein an amount of the payment is based at least in part on the offered odds for the at least one additional bet selected by the player and a unit stake wagered by the player on the at least one additional bet.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the method further comprises determining by the computing platform a range of unit stakes that the player may wager on any of the additional bets;

and

wherein offering to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises communicating by the computing platform to the player via the client computing device the range of unit stakes that the player may wager on any of the additional bets.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises the bet that the house entity will bust.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining by the computing platform that the house entity has busted and that the at least one additional bet selected by the player is therefore a winning bet; and

based at least in part on determining that the at least one additional bet selected by the player is a winning bet, determining by the computing platform a payment owed to the player, wherein an amount of the payment is based at least in part on the offered odds for the at least one additional bet selected by the player and a unit stake wagered by the player on the at least one additional bet.

6. The method of claim 4,

wherein determining the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises determining for the house entity an initial two cards and at least one hit card;

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises a bet that the house entity will bust on a next hit card determined for the house entity; and

wherein determining the odds that the house entity will bust comprises determining odds that the house entity will bust on the next hit card determined for the house entity.

7. The method of claim 4,

wherein determining the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises determining for the house entity an initial two cards;

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises a bet that the house entity will bust on a first hit card determined for the house entity; and

wherein determining the odds that the house entity will bust comprises determining odds that the house entity will bust on the first hit card determined for the house entity.

8. The method of claim 4,

wherein determining the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises determining at least a face-up card and a face-down card for the house entity;

and

wherein determining the odds that the house entity will bust comprises determining the odds that the house entity will bust based at least in part on (a) at least the face-up card determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player, (c) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

accessing by the computing platform a set of optimal player strategies defining an optimal playing strategy, for each of a plurality of potential situations in the blackjack hand, that will optimize the player'"'"'s odds of winning the blackjack hand;

identifying by the computing platform a situation in the blackjack hand, from the plurality of potential situations, based at least in part on the face-up card determined for the house entity and the cards determined for the player; and

identifying by the computing platform an optimal playing strategy for the player for the identified situation from the set of optimal player strategies; and

wherein determining the odds that the house entity will bust comprises determining the odds that the house entity will bust based at least in part on (a) at least the face-up card determined for the house entity, (b) the cards determined for the player, and (c) the identified optimal playing strategy, (d) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the odds that the house entity will bust comprises assuming that the player will not bust.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein offering to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises communicating by the computing platform to the player via the client computing device the determined odds that the house entity will bust.

12. The method of claim 1,

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises the bet that the player will win the blackjack hand.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining by the computing platform that the player has won the blackjack hand and that the at least one additional bet selected by the player is therefore a winning bet; and

based at least in part on determining that the at least one additional bet selected by the player is a winning bet, determining by the computing device a payment owed to the player, wherein an amount of the payment is based at least in part on the offered odds for the at least one additional bet selected by the player and a unit stake wagered by the player on the at least one additional bet.

14. The method of claim 12,

wherein determining the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises determining for the house entity a face-up card, a face-down card, and at least one hit card;

and

wherein determining the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises determining the odds the player will win the blackjack hand based at least in part on (a) the face-up card and the at least one hit card determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player, (c) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

15. The method of claim 12,

wherein determining the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises determining a face-up card and a face-down card for the house entity;

and

wherein determining the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises determining the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand based at least in part on (a) the face-up card determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player, (c) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

16. The method of claim 12,

wherein determining the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises determining a face-up card and a face-down card for the house entity;

wherein determining the at least pair of cards for the player comprises determining an initial two cards and at least one hit card for the player; and

wherein determining the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises determining the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand based at least in part on (a) the face-up card determined for the house entity and (b) the initial two cards and the at least one hit card determined for the player, (c) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

17. The method of claim 12,

wherein determining the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises determining at least a face-up card and a face-down card for the house entity;

and

wherein determining the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises determining maximum possible odds that the player will win the blackjack hand based at least in part on (a) at least the face-up card determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player, (c) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

accessing by the computing platform a set of optimal player strategies defining an optimal playing strategy, for each of a plurality of potential situations in the blackjack hand, that will optimize the player'"'"'s odds of winning the blackjack hand;

identifying by the computing platform a situation in the blackjack hand, from the plurality of potential situations, based at least in part on the face-up card determined for the house entity and the cards determined for the player; and

identifying by the computing platform the optimal playing strategy for the player for the identified situation from the set of optimal player strategies; and

wherein determining the maximum possible odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises determining the maximum possible odds that the player will win the blackjack hand based at least in part on (a) at least the face-up card determined for the house entity, (b) the cards determined for the player, and (c) the identified optimal playing strategy, (d) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein offering to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises communicating by the computing platform to the player via the client computing device the determined odds that the player will win the blackjack hand.

20. The method of claim 1,

wherein at least a further one of the plurality of additional bets offered to the player comprises a bet that a next hit card determined for the player will improve a hand of the player, without busting, more than a first hit card determined for the house entity will improve a hand of the house entity, without busting;

wherein determining, for each event underlying the additional bets, the odds of the event occurring in the blackjack hand includes determining the odds that the next hit card determined for the player will improve the hand of the player, without busting, more than the first hit card determined for the house entity will improve the hand of the house entity, without busting; and

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises the bet that the next hit card determined for the player will improve the hand of the player, without busting, more than the first hit card determined for the house entity will improve the hand of the house entity, without busting.

21. The method of claim 20,

wherein determining the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises determining at least a face-up card and a face-down card for the house entity;

and

wherein determining the odds that the next hit card determined for the player will improve the hand of the player, without busting, more than the first hit card determined for the house entity will improve the hand of the house entity, without busting, comprises determining such odds based at least in part on (a) at least the face-up card determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player, (c) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

22. The method of claim 1,

wherein at least a further one of the plurality of additional bets offered to the player comprises a bet that a sum of all cards determined for the player in the blackjack hand will achieve a particular total, wherein the particular total is a value other than 21;

wherein determining, for each event underlying the additional bets, the odds of the event occurring in the blackjack hand includes determining the odds that the sum of all cards determined for the player in the blackjack hand will achieve the particular total; and

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises the bet that the sum of all cards determined for the player in the blackjack hand will achieve the particular total.

23. The method of claim 1,

wherein at least a further one of the plurality of additional bets offered to the player comprises a bet that a sum of all cards determined for the house entity in the blackjack hand will achieve a particular total, wherein the particular total is a value other than 21;

wherein determining, for each event underlying the additional bets, the odds of the event occurring in the blackjack hand includes determining the odds that the sum of all cards determined for the house entity in the blackjack hand will achieve the particular total; and

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises the bet that the sum of all cards determined for the house entity in the blackjack hand will achieve the particular total.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the offered odds for each respective additional bet comprises determining the offered odds for at least one given additional bet such that the offered odds for the one given additional bet and the determined odds for the event underlying the one given additional bet differ by a predetermined amount.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined amount is a predetermined percentage.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving by the computing platform from the player via the client computing device a selection of a unit stake wagered by the player on the at least one additional bet selected by the player.

27. The method of claim 3, wherein the determined range of unit stakes is predetermined.

28. The method of claim 3,

wherein the determined range of unit stakes is based at least in part on a unit stake wagered by the player on the first bet;

and

wherein a top end of the determined range of unit stakes is a percentage less than the unit stake wagered by the player on the first bet.

51. The method of claim 1, wherein the bet that the house entity will bust comprises at least one of:

a bet that the house entity will bust at any point in the blackjack hand;

a bet that the house entity will bust on a next hit card determined for the house entity; and

a bet that the house entity will bust on a first hit card determined for the house entity.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein at least a further one of the plurality of additional bets offered to the player comprises at least one of:

a bet that a next hit card determined for the player will improve a hand of the player, without busting, more than a first hit card determined for the house entity will improve a hand of the house entity, without busting;

a bet that a sum of all cards determined for the player in the blackjack hand will achieve a particular total other than 21; and

a bet that a sum of all cards determined for the house entity in the blackjack hand will achieve a particular total other than 21.

53. The method of claim 1,

wherein determining the least pair of cards for the house entity comprises determining for the house entity an initial two cards;

wherein determining the least pair of cards for the player comprises determining for the player an initial two cards; and

wherein offering to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises offering to the player the plurality of additional bets subsequent to determining the initial two cards for the house entity and the initial two cards for the player, and prior to determining hit cards for either the house entity or the player.

54. The method of claim 1,

wherein determining the least pair of cards for the house entity comprises determining for the house entity an initial two cards and at least one hit card;

and

wherein offering to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises offering to the player the plurality of additional bets subsequent to determining the initial two cards and the at least one hit card for the house entity.

55. The method of claim 1,

wherein determining the least pair of cards for the house entity comprises determining for the house entity an initial two cards;

wherein determining the least pair of cards for the player comprises determining for the player an initial two cards and at least one hit card; and

wherein offering to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises offering to the player the plurality of additional bets subsequent to determining the initial two cards for the house entity and the initial two cards and the at least one hit card for the player, and prior to determining a hit card for the house entity.

56. The method of claim 1, wherein offering to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises communicating to the player for each of the additional bets, the determined odds of the underlying event occurring in the blackjack hand.

57. The method of claim 1,

wherein the determined odds that the house entity will bust comprises first determined odds;

wherein the offered odds for the bet that the house entity will bust comprises first offered odds;

wherein the determined odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises second determined odds;

wherein the offered odds for the bet that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises second offered odds; and

wherein the method further comprises;

subsequent to offering to the player the plurality of additional bets, determining by the computing platform at least one hit card for at least one of the house entity and the player; and

subsequent to determining the at least one hit card, offering by the computing platform to the player via the client computing device a further plurality of additional bets, at offered odds, that the player may place on the blackjack hand,

wherein the further plurality of additional bets comprise at least;

a bet that the house entity will bust, and

a bet that the player will win the blackjack hand;

wherein offering to the player the further plurality of additional bets comprises;

based at least in part on the at least one hit card, determining by the computing platform third odds that the house entity will bust and fourth odds that the player will win the blackjack hand;

based at least in part on the determined third odds, determining by the computing platform third offered odds for the further additional bet that the house entity will bust; and

based at least in part on the determined fourth odds, determining by the computing platform fourth offered odds for the further additional bet that the player will win the blackjack hand;

wherein the third determined odds are different from the first determined odds, and wherein the third offered odds are different from the first offered odds; and

wherein the fourth determined odds are different from the second determined odds, and wherein the fourth offered odds are different from the second offered odds.

58. The method of claim 1,

wherein determining the odds that the house entity will bust and the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises determining at least one of such odds based at least in part on (a) at least one of the cards determined for the house entity (b) but not on the cards determined for the player.

59. The method of claim 1,

wherein determining the odds that the house entity will bust and the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises determining at least one of such odds based at least in part on (a) at least one of the cards determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player.

60. The method of claim 1,

wherein determining the least pair of cards for the player comprises determining for the player an initial two cards and at least one hit card;

and

wherein determining the odds that the house entity will bust and the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises determining at least one of such odds based at least in part on (a) at least one of the cards determined for the house entity and (b) the initial two cards and the at least one hit card determined for the player.

61. The method of claim 1,

wherein determining the least pair of cards for the house entity comprises determining for the house entity an initial two cards and at least one hit card;

and

wherein determining the odds that the house entity will bust and the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises determining at least one of such odds based at least in part on (a) at least one of the initial two cards and the at least one hit card determined for the house entity (b) but not on the cards determined for the player.

62. The method of claim 1,

wherein determining the least pair of cards for the house entity comprises determining for the house entity an initial two cards and at least one hit card;

and

wherein determining the odds that the house entity will bust and the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises determining at least one of such odds that based at least in part on (a) at least one of the initial two cards and the at least one hit card determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player.

63. The method of claim 4,

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises a bet that the house entity will bust at any point in the blackjack hand;

and

wherein determining the odds that the house entity will bust comprises determining odds that the house entity will bust at any point in the blackjack hand.

29. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one computer-readable memory electronically coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one computer-readable memory stores computer instructions that when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to;

receive from a player a first bet against a house entity on a blackjack hand;

determine at least a pair of cards for the house entity for the blackjack hand;

determine at least a pair of cards for the player for the blackjack hand;

display to the player via a computing interface at least one of the cards determined for the house entity and the cards determined for the player;

subsequent to displaying to the player the at least one card determined for the house entity and the cards determined for the player, offer to the player via the computing interface a plurality of additional bets, at respective offered odds, that the player may place on the blackjack hand,

wherein each respective additional bet is based on at least one underlying event that may subsequently occur in the blackjack hand, and comprises a bet that the respective underlying event will subsequently occur in the blackjack hand;

wherein the plurality of additional bets offered to the player comprises at least;

a bet that the house entity will bust, and

a bet that the player will win the blackjack hand;

wherein the offered odds for each respective additional bet indicates a payout when the respective additional bet is a winning bet; and

wherein to offer to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises to;

determine, for each event underlying the additional bets, odds of the event occurring in the blackjack hand, including determining odds that the house entity will bust and determining odds that the player will win the blackjack hand, and wherein the respective odds are determined based at least in part on at least one of;

 

(a) at least one of the cards determined for the house entity, and

 

(b) at least one of the cards determined for the player; and

determine the offered odds for each respective additional bet based at least in part on the determined odds of the respective underlying event occurring in the blackjack hand; and

receive from the player a selection of at least one of the plurality of additional bets offered to the player.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the computer instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:

determine that the event underlying the at least one additional bet selected by the player occurred and that the at least one additional bet selected by the player is therefore a winning bet; and

based at least in part on determining that the at least one additional bet selected by the player is a winning bet, determine a payment owed to the player, wherein an amount of the payment is based at least in part on the offered odds for the at least one additional bet selected by the player and a unit stake wagered by the player on the at least one additional bet.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises the bet that the house entity will bust.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the computer instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:

determine that the house entity has busted and that the at least one additional bet selected by the player is therefore a winning bet; and

based at least in part on determining that the at least one additional bet selected by the player is a winning bet, determine a payment owed to the player, wherein an amount of the payment is based at least in part on the offered odds for the at least one additional bet selected by the player and a unit stake wagered by the player on the at least one additional bet.

33. The apparatus of claim 31,

wherein to determine the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises to determine for the house entity an initial two cards and at least one hit card;

and

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises a bet that the house entity will bust on a next hit card determined for the house entity; and

wherein to determine the odds that the house entity will bust comprises to determine odds that the house entity will bust on the next hit card determined for the house entity.

34. The apparatus of claim 31,

wherein to determine the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises to determine for the house entity an initial two cards;

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises a bet that the house entity will bust on a first hit card determined for the house entity; and

wherein to determine the odds that the house entity will bust comprises to determine odds that the house entity will bust on the first hit card determined for the house entity.

35. The apparatus of claim 31,

wherein to determine the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises to determine at least a face-up card and a face-down card for the house entity;

and

wherein to determine the odds that the house entity will bust comprises to determine the odds that the house entity will bust based at least in part on (a) at least the face-up card determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player, (c) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

36. The apparatus of claim 35,

wherein the at least one computer-readable memory further stores a set of optimal player strategies defining an optimal playing strategy, for each of a plurality of potential situations in the blackjack hand, that will optimize the player'"'"'s odds of winning the blackjack hand;

wherein the computer instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to;

identify a situation in the blackjack hand, from the plurality of stored potential situations, based at least in part on the face-up card determined for the house entity and the cards determined for the player; and

identify an optimal playing strategy for the player for the identified situation from the set of optimal player strategies; and

wherein to determine the odds that the house entity will bust comprises to determine the odds that the house entity will bust based at least in part on (a) at least the face-up card determined for the house entity, (b) the cards determined for the player, and (c) the identified optimal playing strategy, (d) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein to determine the odds that the house entity will bust comprises to determine the odds that the house entity will bust based on an assumption that the player will not bust.

38. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein to offer to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises to communicate to the player via the computing interface the determined odds that the house entity will bust.

39. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprising the bet that the player will win the blackjack hand.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the computer instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:

determine that the player has won the blackjack hand and that the at least one additional bet selected by the player is therefore a winning bet; and

based at least in part on determining that the at least one additional bet selected by the player is a winning bet, determine a payment owed to the player, wherein an amount of the payment is based at least in part on the offered odds for the at least one additional bet selected by the player and a unit stake wagered by the player on the at least one additional bet.

41. The apparatus of claim 39,

wherein to determine the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises to determine for the house entity a face-up card, a face-down card, and at least one hit card;

and

wherein to determine the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises to determine the odds the player will win the blackjack hand based at least in part on (a) the face-up card and the at least one hit card determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player, (c) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

42. The apparatus of claim 39,

wherein to determine the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises to determine a face-up card and a face-down card for the house entity;

and

wherein to determine the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises to determine the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand based at least in part on (a) the face-up card determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player, (c) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

43. The apparatus of claim 39,

wherein to determine the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises to determine a face-up card and a face-down card for the house entity;

wherein to determine the at least pair of cards for the player comprises to determine an initial two cards and at least one hit card for the player; and

wherein to determine the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises to determine the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand based at least in part on (a) the face-up card determined for the house entity and (b) the initial two cards and the at least one hit card determined for the player, (c) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

44. The apparatus of claim 39,

wherein to determine the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises to determine at least a face-up card and a face-down card for the house entity;

and

wherein to determine the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises to determine maximum possible odds that the player will win the blackjack hand based at least in part on (a) at least the face-up card determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player, (c) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

45. The apparatus of claim 44,

wherein the at least one computer-readable memory further stores a set of optimal player strategies defining an optimal playing strategy, for each of a plurality of potential situations in the blackjack hand, that will optimize the player'"'"'s odds of winning the blackjack hand;

wherein the computer instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to;

identify a situation in the blackjack hand, from the plurality of stored potential situations, based at least in part on the face-up card determined for the house entity and the cards determined for the player; and

identify an optimal playing strategy for the player for the identified situation from the set of optimal player strategies; and

wherein to determine the maximum possible odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises to determine the maximum possible odds that the player will win the blackjack hand based at least in part on (a) at least the face-up card determined for the house entity, (b) the cards determined for the player, and (c) the identified optimal playing strategy, (d) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

46. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein to offer to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises to communicate to the player via the computing interface the determined odds that the player will win the blackjack hand.

47. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein at least a further one of the plurality of additional bets offered to the player comprises a bet that a next hit card determined for the player will improve a hand of the player, without busting, more than a first hit card determined for the house entity will improve a hand of the house entity, without busting;

wherein to determine, for each event underlying the additional bets, the odds of the event occurring in the blackjack hand includes to determine the odds that the next hit card determined for the player will improve the hand of the player, without busting, more than the first hit card determined for the house entity will improve the hand of the house entity, without busting; and

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises the bet that the next hit card determined for the player will improve the hand of the player, without busting, more than the first hit card determined for the house entity will improve the hand of the house entity, without busting.

48. The apparatus of claim 47,

wherein to determine the at least pair of cards for the house entity comprises to determine at least a face-up card and a face-down card for the house entity;

and

wherein to determine the odds that the next hit card determined for the player will improve the hand of the player, without busting, more than the first hit card determined for the house entity will improve the hand of the house entity, without busting, comprises to determine such odds based at least in part on (a) at least the face-up card determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player, (c) but not on the face-down card determined for the house entity.

49. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein at least a further one of the plurality of additional bets offered to the player comprises a bet that a sum of all cards determined for the player in the blackjack hand will achieve a particular total, wherein the particular total is a value other than 21;

wherein to determine, for each event underlying the additional bets, the odds of the event occurring in the blackjack hand includes to determine the odds that the sum of all cards determined for the player in the blackjack hand will achieve the particular total; and

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises the bet that the sum of all cards determined for the player in the blackjack hand will achieve the particular total.

50. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein at least a further one of the plurality of additional bets offered to the player comprises a bet that a sum of all cards determined for the house entity in the blackjack hand will achieve a particular total, wherein the particular total is a value other than 21;

wherein to determine, for each event underlying the additional bets, the odds of the event occurring in the blackjack hand includes to determine the odds that the sum of all cards determined for the house entity in the blackjack hand will achieve the particular total; and

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises the bet that the sum of all cards determined for the house entity in the blackjack hand will achieve the particular total.

64. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein the computing interface is part of a client computing device in use by the player;

and

wherein the apparatus is operable to communicate with the client computing device via a wireless communications network.

65. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the apparatus comprises the computing interface.

66. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the bet that the house entity will bust comprises at least one of:

a bet that the house entity will bust at any point in the blackjack hand;

a bet that the house entity will bust on a next hit card determined for the house entity; and

a bet that the house entity will bust on a first hit card determined for the house entity.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein at least a further one of the plurality of additional bets offered to the player comprises at least one of:

a bet that a next hit card determined for the player will improve a hand of the player, without busting, more than a first hit card determined for the house entity will improve a hand of the house entity, without busting;

a bet that a sum of all cards determined for the player in the blackjack hand will achieve a particular total other than 21; and

a bet that a sum of all cards determined for the house entity in the blackjack hand will achieve a particular total other than 21.

68. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein to determine the least pair of cards for the house entity comprises to determine for the house entity an initial two cards;

wherein to determine the least pair of cards for the player comprises to determine for the player an initial two cards; and

wherein to offer to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises to offer to the player the plurality of additional bets subsequent to determining the initial two cards for the house entity and the initial two cards for the player, and prior to determining hit cards for either the house entity or the player.

69. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein to determine the least pair of cards for the house entity comprises to determine for the house entity an initial two cards and at least one hit card;

and

wherein to offer to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises to offer to the player the plurality of additional bets subsequent to determining the initial two cards and the at least one hit card for the house entity.

70. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein to determine the least pair of cards for the house entity comprises to determine for the house entity an initial two cards;

wherein to determine the least pair of cards for the player comprises to determine for the player an initial two cards and at least one hit card; and

wherein to offer to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises to offer to the player the plurality of additional bets subsequent to determining the initial two cards for the house entity and the initial two cards and the at least one hit card for the player, and prior to determining a hit card for the house entity.

71. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein the computer instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to determine a range of unit stakes that the player may wager on any of the additional bets,

wherein the determined range of unit stakes is based at least in part on a unit stake wagered by the player on the first bet;

and

wherein a top end of the determined range of unit stakes is a percentage less than the unit stake wagered by the player on the first bet; and

wherein to offer to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises to communicate to the player via the computing interface the range of unit stakes that the player may wager on any of the additional bets.

72. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein to offer to the player the plurality of additional bets comprises to communicate to the player for each of the additional bets, the determined odds of the underlying event occurring in the blackjack hand.

73. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein the determined odds that the house entity will bust comprises first determined odds;

wherein the offered odds for the bet that the house entity will bust comprises first offered odds;

wherein the determined odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises second determined odds;

wherein the offered odds for the bet that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises second offered odds; and

wherein the computer instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to;

subsequent to offering to the player the plurality of additional bets, determine at least one hit card for at least one of the house entity and the player; and

subsequent to determining the at least one hit card, offer to the player via the computing interface a further plurality of additional bets, at offered odds, that the player may place on the blackjack hand,

wherein the further plurality of additional bets comprise at least;

a bet that the house entity will bust, and

a bet that the player will win the blackjack hand;

wherein to offer to the player the further plurality of additional bets comprises to;

based at least in part on the at least one hit card, determine third odds that the house entity will bust and fourth odds that the player will win the blackjack hand;

based at least in part on the determined third odds, determine third offered odds for the further additional bet that the house entity will bust; and

based at least in part on the determined fourth odds, determine fourth offered odds for the further additional bet that the player will win the blackjack hand;

wherein the third determined odds are different from the first determined odds, and wherein the third offered odds are different from the first offered odds; and

wherein the fourth determined odds are different from the second determined odds, and wherein the fourth offered odds are different from the second offered odds.

74. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein to determine the odds that the house entity will bust and the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises to determine at least one of such odds based at least in part on (a) at least one of the cards determined for the house entity (b) but not on the cards determined for the player.

75. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein to determine the odds that the house entity will bust and the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises to determine at least one of such odds based at least in part on (a) at least one of the cards determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player.

76. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein to determine the least pair of cards for the player comprises to determine for the player an initial two cards and at least one hit card;

and

wherein to determine the odds that the house entity will bust and the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises to determine at least one of such odds based at least in part on (a) at least one of the cards determined for the house entity and (b) the initial two cards and the at least one hit card determined for the player.

77. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein to determine the least pair of cards for the house entity comprises to determine for the house entity an initial two cards and at least one hit card;

and

wherein to determine the odds that the house entity will bust and the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises to determine at least one of such odds based at least in part on (a) at least one of the initial two cards and the at least one hit card determined for the house entity (b) but not on the cards determined for the player.

78. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein to determine the least pair of cards for the house entity comprises to determine for the house entity an initial two cards and at least one hit card;

and

wherein to determine the odds that the house entity will bust and the odds that the player will win the blackjack hand comprises to determine at least one of such odds based at least in part on (a) at least one of the initial two cards and the at least one hit card determined for the house entity and (b) the cards determined for the player.

79. The apparatus of claim 31,

wherein the at least one additional bet selected by the player comprises a bet that the house entity will bust at any point in the blackjack hand;

and

wherein to determine the odds that the house entity will bust comprises to determine odds that the house entity will bust at any point in the blackjack hand.