Abstract: A card wagering game wherein a complete dealer hand is dealt face up before players are given an election to fold or to place a play wager, wherein increasing payouts are awarded for beating dealer hands of increasingly higher rank, or both.

Abstract: Methods of administering wagering games comprise accepting from a player a primary wager on a primary wagering game and, optionally, a secondary wager on a secondary wagering game. Cards are dealt to a player hand and a banker hand. The secondary wager is resolved, and payouts on the secondary wagering game are allocated to one of the player, the primary wager, and another primary wager in accordance with an instruction directing the allocation. Thus, payouts from one game in a round of wagering may be applied toward another wager in the same round of wagering. The primary wager can then be resolved. Games of the present invention may be implemented as live card games, EGM games, multi-player EGM games, on-line games, scratch ticket games, and on live card games with electronic betting interfaces.

Abstract: Methods of administering wagering games comprise accepting a first wager to participate in a first wagering game according to a first set of game rules. A second wager to participate in a second, different wagering game according to a second, different set of game rules is accepted. The second wager is resolved according to the second set of game rules. An instruction is accepted from each player who won the second wager to award at least a portion of winnings from the second wager directly to the player or to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager. The first wager is resolved according to the first set of game rules. Games of the present invention may be implemented as live card games, EGM games, multi-player EGM games, on-line games, scratch ticket games and live card games with electronic betting interfaces.

Abstract: Methods of administering wagering games comprise accepting a first wager to participate in a first wagering game according to a first set of game rules. A second wager to participate in a second, different wagering game according to a second, different set of game rules is accepted and resolved according to the second set of game rules. An instruction is accepted from each player in whose favor the second wager is resolved to award at least a portion of winnings from the second wager directly to the player or to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager. The first wager is resolved according to the first set of game rules. Games of the present invention may be implemented as live card games, EGM games, multi-player EGM games, on-line games, scratch ticket games and on live card games with electronic betting interfaces.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling play of a casino table card game. Multiple randomized sets of playing cards of known composition are formed and delivered, and are set by following automatically generated house way instructions. An automatic card shuffler is configured to deliver randomized sets of physical cards, the shuffler equipped with a playing card reading system that reads at least one of a rank and suit of markings on each of the playing cards. A processor receives the read card information from the playing card reading system and determines a composition of each individual set of playing cards dispensed. At least one display is in communication with a processor programmed with house way rules for displaying instructions on how to set hands from a distributed set of cards a house way. Processors of the present invention may also cause a display of a house commission amount.

Abstract: A playing card gaming system provides a player with an opportunity to withdraw a game play decision that is less advantageous to the player than at least one other play decision. The system includes a player interface that displays a prompt when a less advantageous decision is made. The display may include an area that provides a dealer with a visual indication that the player is being asked to confirm an election. A card delivery system with a playing card information reader provides card information to the system. A game processor determines if player elections are disadvantageous.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying unexpected cards in a card-handling device are disclosed. The method comprises providing a card-handling device, wherein the card-handling device comprises a card storage area, an output end for the manual removal of cards, a processor with associated memory, and a card recognition system capable of reading at least a rank of a card, wherein the associated memory has a data file of a set of expected card values, reading a value of a card, comparing the read card value to the set of expected card values, and when the card value is not an expected card value, generating an error signal indicative of a card not belonging to the set.

Abstract: An automatic multiple player gaming machine includes a central game processor and multiple player terminals, wherein each player terminal includes a player input and a player display. The gaming machine also includes a common game display and a game program residing in the processor, wherein the game program executes an interactive multiple player game. The processor further displays individual hands of cards on each player display, wherein each hand of cards is randomly selected from its own set of cards. The operation of such a machine may be effected in a computer-based method as well.

Abstract: An electromechanical card-handling apparatus and method creates or generates a plurality of sets of cards from a group of unshuffled cards wherein each set contains a predetermined number of randomly selected or arranged cards. Sets of cards are provided in a step-wise fashion, with first initial cards provided and then subsequent cards provided in a single step or in multiple steps in a preprogrammed mariner. The apparatus is controlled by a programmable microprocessor and may be monitored by a plurality of sensors and limit switches. The apparatus can be programmed for the number of players, the number of cards to be provided in each segment of play, and the dealing intervals among the various segments of card delivery and play.

Abstract: A card wagering game wherein availability of at least one card for inclusion in a player hand for resolution of the wagering game is dependent upon winning of a wager. In some embodiments, a player wagers that a second unrevealed player card is higher or lower in rank than a first already revealed card. If the player wins, the wager remains in play and the second player card is available for inclusion in the player hand. In some embodiments, a player further wagers that a third unrevealed player card is higher or lower in rank than the second already revealed card. If the player wins, the wager remains in play and the third player card is available for inclusion in the player hand.

Abstract: A method of playing a Pai Gow poker wagering card game is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: a player placing a wager on a Pai Gow poker game; players placing a second wager against a pay table on a separate poker-type game that uses each player's best five-card hands; dealing seven-card hands from a set of cards to six player positions and to one dealer position; resolving the Pai Gow game and awarding bonuses to players who made the second wager and that have a best five-card hand that exceeds a predetermined rank; and awarding an additional bonus to players with hands that exceed the predetermined rank if the dealer's best five-card hand is equal to or less than a predetermined rank. An optional envy hand event may be included with the second wager or a special qualifying second or third wager.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing hands of playing cards includes a playing card moving system for moving a number of playing cards defining a hand of playing cards from a container to a delivery tray, and a processor with software to direct the playing card moving system to randomly select how many playing cards will form the hand in the delivery tray. The apparatus is capable of randomly selecting numbers of cards to be delivered in a hand of cards to players and a dealer during a round of a casino table card game.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling play of a casino table card game. Multiple randomized sets of playing cards of known composition are formed and delivered, and are set by following automatically generated house way instructions. An automatic card shuffler is configured to deliver randomized sets of physical cards, the shuffler equipped with a playing card reading system that reads at least one of a rank and suit of markings on each of the playing cards. A processor that receives the read card information from the playing card reading system and determines a composition of each individual set of playing cards dispensed. At least one display is in communication with a processor programmed with house way rules for displaying instructions on how to set hands from a distributed set of cards a house way. Processors of the present invention may also cause a display of a house commission amount.

Abstract: A casino game utilizes at least one deck of playing cards, the game comprising: each player placing at least one wager to participate in the casino game; dealing a first number of cards to a dealer, the first number of cards being greater than the number of cards to be used in determination of a poker rank hand for the dealer; dealing a second number of cards to each player, the second number of cards being greater than the number of cards to be used in determination of a poker rank hand for each player; the dealer discarding at least one card to form a resulting single dealer hand; each player discarding at least one card to form a resulting player's hand for each player, wherein the number of cards in resulting player's hands and the resulting dealer's hand are equal; and resolving each player hand against the dealer's hand according to predetermined game rules. The initial player's wagers must be at least matched with a Game Bet (or play bet) to remain in the game after players have received their cards.

Abstract: A playing card gaming system provides a player with an opportunity to withdraw a game play decision that is less advantageous to the player than at least one other play decision. The system includes a player interface that displays a prompt when a less advantageous decision is made. The display may include an area that provides a dealer with a visual indication that the player is being asked to confirm an election. A card delivery system with a playing card information reader provides card information to the system. A game processor determines if player elections are disadvantageous.

Abstract: A casino game utilizes at least one deck of playing cards, the game comprising: each player placing at least one wager to participate in the casino game; dealing a first number of cards to a dealer, the first number of cards being greater than the number of cards to be used in determination of a poker rank hand for the dealer; dealing a second number of cards to each player, the second number of cards being greater than the number of cards to be used in determination of a poker rank hand for each player; the dealer discarding at least one card to form a resulting single dealer hand; each player discarding at least one card to form a resulting player's hand for each player, wherein the number of cards in resulting player's hands and the resulting dealer's hand are equal; and resolving each player hand against the dealer's hand according to predetermined game rules. The initial player's wagers must be at least matched with a Game Bet (or play bet) to remain in the game after players have received their cards.

Abstract: A variant game of Hold 'Em poker allows for rules of play of one or all of players being allowed to remain in game with an option of checking or making specific wagering amounts in first play wagers, being limited in the size of subsequent available play wagers or prohibited from making additional play wagers if a first play wager has been made, being limited in the size of available later play wagers if a first or earlier play wager has been made, and having the opportunity for at least two and as many as three or four distinct opportunities in the stages in the play of a hand to be able to make one or more play wagers.

Abstract: A system for enabling play of a casino table card game is disclosed. At least one of a rank and suit of a set of playing cards is automatically determined. Multiple randomized sets of playing cards of known composition are formed and delivered to a game, and are set by following automatically generated house way instructions. The components of the system include an automatic card shuffler configured to deliver randomized sets of physical cards, the shuffler equipped with a playing card reading system that reads at least one of a rank and suit of markings on each of the playing cards. The automatic card shuffler has a processor that receives the read card information from the playing card reading system and determines a composition of each individual set of playing cards dispensed.

Abstract: A physical playing card gaming system includes a gaming table including at least one dealer position and at least one player position. The system includes a physical playing card handling device that is configured to read at least one of a card rank and card suit of physical playing cards. The system also includes at least one processor in communication with the physical playing card handling device and a video monitor. The at least one processor is programmed to determine the composition of at least one dealer hand and at least one player hand based on the at least one of card rank and card suit read. The at least one processor is programmed to cause game information based on the determined hands to be displayed in response to dealer input. Methods of operating such a physical playing card gaming system include displaying the game information upon dealer request.

Abstract: A variant game of Hold 'Em poker allows for rules of play of one or all of players being allowed to remain in game with an option of checking or making specific wagering amounts in first play wagers, being limited in the size of subsequent available play wagers or prohibited from making additional play wagers if a first play wager has been made, being limited in the size of available later play wagers if a first or earlier play wager has been made, and having the opportunity for at least two and as many as three or four distinct opportunities in the stages in the play of a hand to be able to make one or more play wagers.