Abstract: There is described a gaming apparatus for providing an auxiliary jackpot game to a live casino table in which players may place gaming chips anywhere in a betting zone defined on the gaming table surface to signify entry in the auxiliary jackpot game. The gaming apparatus includes sensors to detect the positions of gaming chips placed in the betting zone, memory means to record the physical positions of the detected betting chips, random number generating apparatus, and processor means operable to select, on the basis of a generated random number, which of the detected positions is occupied by the winning bet. Optionally, the gaming apparatus further includes determining means for determining, on the basis of a generated random number, whether or not a jackpot payout is to be made, and the processor means is operated to select a winning bet position only when the determining means determines that a payout is to be made.

Abstract: There is described a gaming apparatus for providing an auxiliary jackpot game to a live casino table in which players may place gaming chips anywhere in a betting zone defined on the gaming table surface to signify entry in the auxiliary jackpot game. The gaming apparatus includes sensors to detect the positions of gaming chips placed in the betting zone, memory means to record the physical positions of the detected betting chips, random number generating apparatus, and processor means operable to select, on the basis of a generated random number, which of the detected positions is occupied by the winning bet. Optionally, the gaming apparatus further includes determining means for determining, on the basis of a generated random number, whether or not a jackpot payout is to be made, and the processor means is operated to select a winning bet position only when the determining means determines that a payout is to be made.