Abstract: In accordance with a game method, game information regarding one or more player selectable elements and awards associated with those elements is generated and stored. The player selectable elements are displayed and a player is permitted to select one or more of those elements. Each selected element is destroyed, unmasking or triggering an associated award. The award may be a monetary or credit value, symbol or secondary event. A secondary event may comprise an explosion or chain reaction destruction of other un-selected elements, which elements are unmasked to reveal associated awards or trigger additional secondary events. The game may be presented on a gaming machine, and may comprise a primary game or bonus round of another game.

Abstract: A detectable identification device (DID) comprising a communication device, a power converter device, memory, and a processor and/or read-write logic and counter logic is disclosed. The counter logic of the DID may selectively increment a counter value stored in the memory ever time the DID has been accessed by a reader. Furthermore, a method for detecting and monitoring the number of times the DID has been accessed is disclosed. This may comprise comparing a reader access count to the DID counter values to determine if unauthorized access is occurring.

Abstract: A game phase detector for detecting or receiving input regarding different phases of a wagering game and providing a game phase output to a table monitoring system. The game phase detector may have a switch, optical signal detector, or other interface capable of detecting or receiving a card or user input. The output of the game phase detector is processed by a table monitoring system, such as an RFID table monitoring system. Game phase data correlates table monitoring system data to accurately monitor game play and wagers. In the game of blackjack, the game phase detector may comprise a dealer hole card detector configured to detect the presence or rank of a dealer hole card.

Abstract: A bet detection system which may execute on a computer based processing device is disclosed for use with DID tokens to detect unwanted or unfair betting patterns by players. The system utilizes a table equipped with DID token detection antenna associated with the one or more bet spots for the player positions. DID token antenna may detect DID tokens at the dealer position, other bet spots, or chip trays. A dealer interface allows the dealer to provide the game data to the detection system. The detection system processes the game data and the bet data, such as bet amount for the players. Based on this processing, bet patterns may be generated for the players and in relation to deck penetration information, deviations in bet patterns may be detected and appropriate notification provided.

Abstract: Two-way communications between casino games and diverse master controllers using a universal game module there between allows routing event messages with standard protocols. The universal game module with a computer processor, circuitry, connection ports, interfaces and protocols allows the communications by evaluating, prioritizing, polling and routing communications. A jackpot group of differing games is possible because the win cycles of the various games can be equalized. The volatility of the games in the group is increased by randomly segregating a percentage of the machines to be eligible to win the progressive jackpot for a limited time period. A life changing jackpot is thus payable for a variety of games in a casino on a relatively frequent basis.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring playing cards in a live casino game by reading card attributes stored in each playing card at a player position with a radio frequency reading system. Each card has a radio frequency identification tag containing at least value and suit attributes. The tracking of the dealt cards to each player position occurs in sequence and based upon wagers placed monitors play of the live card game according to rules of the live card game.

Abstract: Two-way communications between casino games and diverse master controllers using a universal game module there between allows routing event messages with standard protocols. The universal game module with a computer processor, circuitry, connection ports, interfaces and protocols allows the communications by evaluating, prioritizing, polling and routing communications. A jackpot group of differing games is possible because the win cycles of the various games can be equalized. The volatility of the games in the group is increased by randomly segregating a percentage of the machines to be eligible to win the progressive jackpot for a limited time period. A life changing jackpot is thus payable for a variety of games in a casino on a relatively frequent basis.