Abstract: A system to generate large (e.g. $1 million) jackpots for live card games such as blackjack is disclosed. Multiple live card tables are placed in one or more gaming establishments. A coin acceptor is assigned to each player position on the tables and includes a sensor for determining the presence of a coin to generate a signal indicating that a jackpot side bet has been placed and to correspondingly increase the available jackpot that is being accumulated from the side bets on all tables. The coin acceptors are mounted directly to the playing tables. The acceptors have a low profile above the table top and include sloping surfaces to facilitate the insertion and withdrawal of coins from them. Each coin acceptor communicates with a central computer or processor.

Abstract: A fibre optic light pen including a hollow elongate cylindrical housing having a tip portion and a base portion, and having an elongate cylindrical actuator positioned for axial movement relative to and within said housing tip portion is described. The actuator is operable between an extended position at which the actuator point portion projects outwardly from the housing tip portion, and a retracted position at which the actuator point portion is pressed within the housing hollow tip portion. An axial bore extends through the actuator and contains therein a light conductive rod which extends axially along said bore from the actuator's point portion to the actuator's base portion. A fibre optic light conductor is secured within the hollow housing base portion in such a manner that the light conductive rod focuses light on the light conductor when the actuator is recessed within the hollow tip portion of the housing.

Abstract: A light pen is described wherein light information indicative of a selected position on a lighted display is propagated along a light conductive fibre cable to a processing circuit. The light pen includes a retractable sleeve wherein pressing the pen to the lighted display moves a pin-hole objective to its focal point on a light conductive fibre cable such that light entering through the pin-hole objective from the lighted display may be propagated along the light conductive fibre cable. Additionally, a magnet may be secured to the sleeve such that the magnet is brought into proximity to, and operates a magnet-actuated switch when the sleeve is retracted.