Baccarat Game With Insurance Side Bet

Abstract

A method of playing a baccarat game having an additional insurance offering step providing an opportunity to place an insurance wager before a player hand and a banker hand are dealt. Any insurance wager placed by a participant is resolved according to a plurality of insurance side bet rules including: paying out any insurance wager in response to a primary wager being placed on a player win and an ultimate banker victory resulting from the banker hand score of nine, paying out any insurance wager in response to the primary wager being placed on a banker win and an ultimate player victory resulting from the player hand score of nine, and a push of any insurance wager in response to a tie resulting from the player hand score and the banker hand score of nine.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/586,264, filed Jan. 13, 2012, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to gaming and casino games, and more specifically to methods of playing the baccarat card game with novel insurance side betting provisions. These methods are adaptable to both standard and “mini or midi-baccarat” games as well as to computer or electronic games.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The game of baccarat is well known in the gaming industry. It is attractive to casinos and game participants alike because baccarat is based on simple concepts and procedures that may be readily understood. In conventional baccarat or mini baccarat, participants place primary wagers on either a player win or a banker win. Next, conventional playing cards are dealt into at least two hands—a player hand and a banker hand. Initially, only two cards are dealt to each hand. Baccarat dealing rules then dictate whether the two card hands, also known as natural hands, stand or take a hit to add a third card. According to baccarat scoring rules, the cards comprising a hand are scored based on their face value. Ace is assigned the value of 1 while 10, Jack, Queen, and King are all assigned the value of 0. A player win or a banker win is determined by adding the scores of each card in the player hand and the banker hand with the highest scoring hand being victorious. When the score totals of the player hand and the banker hand are summed, any digit of the total score in the tens position is truncated. For example, where the total score of a hand is 16, the 1 in the tens position is truncated and the score of the hand is 6. Accordingly, the highest possible score of any hand in baccarat is 9. However, the chances are small of a hand being dealt having a score of 9. Baccarat payout rules provide for a payout on primary wagers where the participant correctly guesses the final outcome—a player win or a banker win. The rules also specify the payout in the event of a tie between the player hand and the banker hand.

As a result of these rules, in baccarat the participants generally have little or no control over the outcome of the game and are helpless to make any kind of a decision that would improve their odds of winning. This distinguishes conventional baccarat games from other competing table games such a blackjack. In an attempt to make baccarat more attractive to participants and to give participants the ability to make more wagering decisions, several baccarat variant games have been introduced that include an optional side bet or side wager. Some of these baccarat variants provide a bonus type side bet that pays out upon the happening of certain natural hand totals. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,801 to Snow provides for a baccarat side wager game including a bonus type side bet having a variable payout based on a natural 8 or 9 being dealt on the first two cards or based on the magnitude of the difference between the player hand score and the dealer hand score. Accordingly, such bonus type side bets payout regardless of the outcome of the participant's primary wager.

Other baccarat variants provide an insurance type side bet that pays out in the event the hand wagered on by the participant loses. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,621,533 to Kenny provides for an insurance side bet when certain two card hand totals arise. More specifically, the insurance side bet is offered after two cards have been dealt to the player hand and the banker hand. Both two card hands are turned and the insurance wager is offered when the hand to be insured has a two card total ranging from 6 to 9. If made, the insurance side bet is then paid out in the event the hand that was insured losses. Accordingly, such insurance type side bets payout only when the insured hand losses.

Despite these existing baccarat variants, there is a need for a baccarat game offering an insurance wager before any cards have been dealt that protects the hand bet on by the participant from a loss against an opposing hand having a total score of 9. Such a baccarat game would increase the excitement of game play and avoid the unnecessary addition of rules dictating when an insurance wager is offered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is for a method of playing a baccarat game having at least one participant. The method includes a primary wagering step wherein the at least one participant places a primary wager on a player win or a banker win. An insurance offering step is provided giving the at least one participant an opportunity to place an insurance wager so long as the at least one participant places a primary wager. In response to completion of the primary wagering step and the insurance offering step, a plurality of playing cards are dealt into a player hand and a banker hand according to baccarat dealer rules. The player hand and the banker hand are scored according to baccarat scoring rules to determine whether there has been a player victory, a banker victory, or a tie. The primary wager placed by the at least one participant is resolved according to baccarat payout rules. Any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant is resolved according to a plurality of insurance side bet rules. The plurality of insurance side bet rules include paying out any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant at predetermined odds in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the player win and in response to a banker victory resulting from the banker hand totaling a score of nine. Similarly, the plurality of insurance side bet rules include paying out any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant at predetermined odds in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the banker win and in response to a player victory resulting from the player hand totaling a score of nine. In addition, the plurality of insurance side bet rules provide for a push of any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant in response to a tie resulting from the player hand and the banker hand each totaling a score of nine.

The present invention further provides the method of playing the baccarat game described herein on a playing surface specifically tailored to the game. The method described in the paragraph above is adapted to include presenting a playing surface with a player win betting position, a banker win betting position, and an insurance betting position. During the primary wagering step, the at least one participant places a primary wager on the player win betting position to bet on a player win or on the banker win betting position to bet on a banker win. During the insurance offering step, the at least one participant is given an opportunity to electively place an insurance wager on the insurance betting position.

Accordingly, the present invention offers several advantages over prior art baccarat games. First, the baccarat game of the present invention offers an insurance wager before any cards have been dealt. By offering the insurance wager at this early stage in the baccarat game, participants are quickly drawn into the action of the game, increasing excitement from the very beginning of play. Second, the insurance wager is always offered regardless of the cards dealt to the player and banker hands. This keeps the insurance wager rules simple and avoids the unnecessary addition of rules dictating when an insurance wager is offered. Thus, the participant friendly environment of the baccarat game is preserved and novice participants need not worry about when an insurance wager can be placed. Third, the insurance wager is unique in that it protects the hand bet on by the participant from a loss against an opposing hand having a total score of 9. This is attractive as participants can hedge against a total loss resulting from a low percentage loss against a hand having a total score of 9.

In addition to these advantages, the insurance side bet rules of the present invention produce a new result by changing the overall odds of the baccarat game. These odds are attractive to the participant and the house alike depending on the hands that are dealt and are unique to the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an top elevation view of an exemplary playing surface of an eight (8) seat baccarat table showing the general layout and provisions for the betting methods of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ENABLING EMBODIMENT

A method of playing a baccarat game having at least one participant is provided and described herein. There are a number of variations of the basic game of baccarat, and the game is sometimes referred to in its various forms as baccarat-chemin-de-fer, baccarat a deux tableaux, baccarat banquet, Nevada baccarat, mini-baccarat, and the like. The rules may vary slightly, and rules may vary from casino to casino, but the underlying game is the same. The underlying game is a competition between the hands of two players, usually referred to as the banker and the player. All participants at the table can place wagers, essentially betting on whether the player or the banker will ultimately win the round.

It should be appreciated that the methods disclosed herein may be implemented in any version of the baccarat game. It should also be noted that the term “participant,” as used herein, refers to any person making a wager in the baccarat game. In most forms of the baccarat game, the number of participants is limited to the number of seats arranged about the playing surface or table. For example, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary playing surface of an eight seat baccarat table.

The method of the present invention includes a primary wagering step wherein the at least one participant places a primary wager on either a player win or a banker win. The method also includes an insurance offering step providing the at least one participant with an opportunity to place an insurance wager so long as the at least one participant places a primary wager. Both the primary wagering step and the insurance offering step are performed before any cards have been dealt for the given round of play. In response to completion of the primary wagering step and the insurance offering step, a plurality of playing cards are dealt into a player hand and a banker hand according to baccarat dealer rules.

Baccarat dealer rules may be subject to local variation but may be generally described as follows. Only two hands are dealt in play, one hand being the banker hand and the other hand being the player hand. Typically, cards are dealt from an apparatus known as a shoe. The shoe holds multiple decks of convention playing cards. Each deck has 52 cards of four suits. Often, the shoe holds six to eight decks of shuffled cards and is configured such that only one card may be drawn from the shoe at a time. Depending on the version of Baccarat being played, the shoe may be passed around the table with the participants taking turns dealing the cards. However, due to security concerns, this courtesy is often substituted with a stationary shoe and a non-participant casino employee, or dealer, dealing the cards from the shoe. Typically, the first and third cards drawn from the shoe are dealt to the player hand and the second and fourth cards are dealt to the banker hand. All cards are dealt face down. The dealer positions the hands in the appropriate positions of the playing surface and turns the hands for viewing.

Once two cards have been dealt to each of the hands, a number of rules dictate whether each hand will stand at two cards or take a hit to add a third card. These rules may include the following. Where the player's two card hand has a score total ranging from 0 to 5 according to the baccarat scoring rules (explained below), then the player hand takes a hit to add a third card. Where the player's two card hand has a score total ranging from 6 to 9, the player hand must stand. When the player hand stands (does not draw an additional third card), the rules of play for the banker hand are as follows. Where the banker's two card hand has a score total ranging from 0 to 5, then the banker hand takes a hit to add a third card. Where the banker's two card hand has a score total ranging from 6 to 9, the banker hand must stand. However, when the player hand draws a third card, the rules of play for the banker hand are alternatively as follows. Where the banker's two card hand has a score total ranging from 0 to 2, then the banker hand takes a hit to add a third card. Where the banker's two card hand has a score total ranging from 3 to 9, then the banker hand must stand.

The method includes the step of scoring the player hand and the banker hand according to baccarat scoring rules to determine player victory or banker victory or tie. It should be appreciated that player victory, banker victory, and tie are the only possible outcomes according to baccarat scoring rules. These rules may vary but can be summarized as follows. Baccarat scoring rules are premised on determining how close the point total of a hand is to a score of 9. Point totals are based on the added face value of the cards, with the values of the cards being Ace=1, 2=2, 3=3, 4=4, 5=5, 6=6, 7=7, 8=8, 9=9, 10=0, Jack=0, Queen=0, and King=0. Only the last digit of the sum of the point values of the cards is operative in the play of the game. For example, a total value of the cards would be read as 10=0, 11=1, 12=2, 13=3, 14=4, 15=5, 16=6, 17=7, 18=8, 19=9, 20=0, etc. In other words, the digit in the tens position is truncated or dropped from the sum. Accordingly, the highest possible score of any hand in baccarat is 9 and it is not possible to “bust” or exceed the score of 9. Two card hands with a point total of 8 or 9 are known as “naturals” or a “natural 8” or a “natural 9.”

The method further includes the step of resolving the primary wager placed by the at least one participant according to baccarat payout rules. Baccarat payout rules include paying out any primary wager on the player win in response to a player victory and paying out any primary wager on the banker win in response to a banker victory. In other words, baccarat payout rules provide for a payout on primary wagers where the participant correctly guesses the final outcome—a player victory or a banker victory. Payout on the primary wager is typically at 1 to 1 odds (i.e. “even money”). Player and banker victories are determined by adding the scores of each card in the player hand and the banker hand. The hand having the highest score total is declared the victor, or in other words, the winner. Baccarat payout rules may further include a push with no payout or loss of any primary wager in response to a tie. Alternatively, baccarat payout rules may include a loss of any primary wager in response to a tie. In another alternative, where a tie results from a natural eight or natural nine and a three card hand of equal score, the natural hand may be declared as the victor. A commission is usually extracted from the winning primary wagers on the banker hand (e.g., 5% of the winning primary wager on the banker hand), because the banker hand usually wins more often than the player hand. The banker hand has a slight statistical advantage over the player's hand. No commissions are paid to the house when the participant places a primary wager on the player hand. There may also be a separate wager placed on the occurrence that the banker hand and the player hand will tie. Depending on the odds provided by the house, a payout for such a tie wager may equal 8 to 1 odds.

The method also includes resolving any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant according to a plurality of insurance side bet rules. The insurance side bet rules include paying out any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant at predetermined odds in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the player win and in response to a banker victory resulting from the banker hand totaling a score of nine. Similarly, the insurance side bet rules include paying out any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant at predetermined odds in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the banker win and in response to a player victory resulting from the player hand totaling a score of nine. In other words, the insurance wager is paid out when the participant loses on the primary wager to an opposing hand having a total score of nine. The insurance side bet rules may further include a push of any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant in response to a tie resulting from the player hand and the banker hand each totaling a score of nine.

In accordance with the insurance side bet rules set forth above, losses of the insurance wager are similarly determined. The insurance side bet rules include a loss of any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the player win and in response to any player victory. Similarly, the insurance side bet rules include a loss of any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the banker win and in response to any banker victory. In other words, the participant losses the insurance wager when the participant's primary wager is victorious. The predetermined odds at which the insurance wager is paid out may vary in accordance with the goals of the house. For example, the predetermined odds of the insurance wager may equal 6 to 1 odds or alternatively 7 to 1 odds. It should also be appreciated that the insurance offering step of the present invention and the insurance side bet rules do not otherwise affect the play of the baccarat game. The game is still played in accordance with traditional baccarat dealing, scoring, and payout rules.

A method of playing a baccarat table game having at least one participant is also provided and described herein. Referring to FIG. 1, this method further provides for the use of a playing surface 20 specifically tailored to the baccarat game of the present invention, which was described above. Specifically, the method provides presenting a playing surface 20 including a player win betting position 22, a banker win betting position 24, and an insurance betting position 26. The method includes a primary wagering step wherein the at least one participant places a primary wager on the player win betting position 22 or the banker win betting position 24. The method further includes an insurance offering step providing the at least one participant with an opportunity to place an insurance wager on the insurance betting position 26, provided the at least one participant places a primary wager. In response to completion of the primary wagering step and the insurance offering step, a plurality of playing cards are dealt into a player hand and a banker hand according to baccarat dealer rules. To determine whether there has been a player victory, a banker victory, or a tie, the player hand and the banker hand are scored according to baccarat scoring rules. The primary wager placed by the at least one participant is resolved according to baccarat payout rules. It should be appreciated that the baccarat dealer rules, the baccarat scoring rules, and the baccarat payout rules are the same as those previously described. In addition, the baccarat payout rules include paying out any primary wager placed on the player win betting position 22 in response to a player victory and paying out any primary wager placed on the banker win betting position 24 in response to a banker victory.

The method further includes resolving any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant according to a plurality of insurance side bet rules. The insurance side bet rules include paying out any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant on the insurance betting position 26 at predetermined odds in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the player win betting position 22 and in response to a banker victory resulting from the banker hand totaling a score of nine. Along these lines, the insurance side bet rules include paying out any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant on the insurance betting position 26 at predetermined odds in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the banker win betting position 24 and in response to a player victory resulting from the player hand totaling a score of nine. In other words, the insurance wager is paid out when the participant loses on the primary wager to an opposing hand having a total score of nine. The insurance side bet rules may further provide a push of any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant on the insurance betting position 26 in response to a tie resulting from the player hand and the banker hand each totaling a score of nine. As before, the predetermined odds for the insurance wager payout may be set by the house, such as at 6 to 1 odds or alternatively 7 to 1 odds.

Losses of the insurance wager are similarly determined. Accordingly, the insurance side bet rules include a loss of any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant on the insurance betting position 26 in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the player win betting position 22 and in response to any player victory. Similarly, insurance side bet rules include a loss of any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant on the insurance betting position 26 in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the banker win betting position 24 and in response to any banker victory. In other words, the participant losses the insurance wager when the participant's primary wager is victorious.

In addition to providing the advantages previously noted, the methods of the present invention produce a new result by changing the overall odds of the baccarat game. These odds are unique to present invention and may be described as follows.

Baccarat Insurance Side Wager

9 Point Tie: Occurrence Rates by Number of Cards for Eight Decks
Total	2 Cards	Total
9-9	0.008971	0.008971
Banker - 9 Point Totals:
Occurrence Rates by Number of Cards for Eight Decks
	Total	2 Cards	3 Cards	Total
	9	0.094903	0.033538	0.128440
	9-9 Tie		Must be subtracted from 9 totals	−0.008971
	9 Point Totals - Banker (without Ties)	0.119469

In accordance with the results indicated in the tables shown above, the occurrence rate for a 9 point total for the banker is 0.119469, excluding ties. Additionally, the occurrence rate for the banker insurance wager losing is 0.880531. The occurrence rate for a 9-9 tie is 0.008971 and the occurrence rate for the banker insurance wager loss where 9-9 is a push is 0.871560.

Player - 9 Point Totals:
Occurrence Rates by Number of Cards for Eight Decks
	Total	2 Cards	3 Cards	Total
	9	0.094903	0.038784	0.133687
	9-9 Tie		Must be subtracted from 9 totals	−0.008971
	9 Point Totals - Player (without Ties)	0.124716

In accordance with the results indicated in the table shown above, the occurrence rate for a 9 point total for the player is 0.124716, excluding ties. Additionally, the occurrence rate for the player insurance wager losing is 0.875284. The occurrence rate for a 9-9 tie is 0.008971 and the occurrence rate for the Banker insurance wager loss where 9-9 is a push is 0.866313.

7 to 1—Pay Tables (Where a 9-9 Tie is a Loss)

Player
Hand Total	Probability	Payout	Contribution	Hit %
9 Pt. Total	0.124716	7 to 1	99.7728%	12.4716%
9-9 Tie	0.008971	−1 to 1	0%	0.8971%
Anything Else	0.866313	−1 to 1	0%	87.5284%
Totals	1			100%

In accordance with the results indicated in the table shown above, the fixed pays for the player are 99.7728%. The hit frequency is 12.4716% and the hit ratio is 1 in 8.02. The house advantage is 0.23%.

Banker
Hand Total	Probability	Payout	Contribution	Hit %
9 Pt. Total	0.119469	7 to 1	95.5752%	11.9469%
9-9 Tie	0.008971	−1 to 1	0%	0.8971%
Anything Else	0.871560	−1 to 1	0%	87.5284%
Totals	1			100%

In accordance with the results indicated in the table shown above, the fixed pays for the banker are 95.5752%. The hit frequency is 11.9469% and the hit ratio is 1 in 8.37. The house advantage is 4.42%.

6 to 1—Pay Tables (Where a 9-9 Tie is a Loss)

Player
Hand Total	Probability	Payout	Contribution	Hit %
9 Pt. Total	0.124716	6 to 1	87.3012%	12.4716%
9-9 Tie	0.008971	−1 to 1	0%	0.8971%
Anything Else	0.866313	−1 to 1	0%	87.5284%
Totals	1			100%

In accordance with the results indicated in the table shown above, the fixed pays for the player are 87.3012%. The hit frequency is 12.4716% and the hit ratio is 1 in 8.02. The house advantage is 12.70%.

Banker
Hand Total	Probability	Payout	Contribution	Hit %
9 Pt. Total	0.119469	6 to 1	87.3012%	11.9469%
9-9 Tie	0.008971	−1 to 1	0%	0.8971%
Anything Else	0.871560	−1 to 1	0%	87.5284%
Totals	1			100%

In accordance with the results indicated in the table shown above, the fixed pays for the banker are 87.3012%. The hit frequency is 11.9469% and the hit ratio is 1 in 8.37. The house advantage is 16.37%.

6 to 1—Pay Tables (Where a 9-9 Tie is a Push)

Player
Hand Total	Probability	Payout	Contribution	Hit %
9 Pt. Total	0.124716	6 to 1	87.3012%	12.4716%
9-9 Tie	0.008971	Push	0.8971%	0.8971%
Anything Else	0.866313	−1 to 1	0%	86.6313%
Totals	1			100%

In accordance with the results indicated in the table shown above, the fixed pays for the player are 88.1983%. The hit frequency is 12.4716% and the hit ratio is 1 in 8.02. The house advantage is 11.80%.

Banker
Hand Total	Probability	Payout	Contribution	Hit %
9 Pt. Total	0.119469	6 to 1	87.3012%	11.9469%
9-9 Tie	0.008971	Push	0.8971%	0.8971%
Anything Else	0.871560	−1 to 1	0%	87.1560%
Totals	1			100%

In accordance with the results indicated in the table shown above, the fixed pays for the banker are 84.5254%. The hit frequency is 11.9469% and the hit ratio is 1 in 8.37. The house advantage is 15.47%.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, these odds are attractive to the participant and the house alike depending on the hands that are dealt and differ from the odds provided by prior art baccarat games.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the inventive novelty exercises its utility.

Claims

1. A method of playing a baccarat game having at least one participant comprising;

a primary wagering step wherein the at least one participant places a primary wager on a player win or a banker win,

an insurance offering step providing the at least one participant with an opportunity to place an insurance wager provided the at least one participant places a primary wager,

dealing a plurality of playing cards into a player hand and a banker hand according to baccarat dealer rules in response to completion of said primary wagering step and said insurance offering step,

scoring the player hand and the banker hand according to baccarat scoring rules to determine player victory or banker victory or tie,

resolving the primary wager placed by the at least one participant according to baccarat payout rules, and

resolving any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant according to a plurality of insurance side bet rules,

said plurality of insurance side bet rules including paying out any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant at predetermined odds in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the player win and in response to a banker victory resulting from the banker hand totaling a score of nine,

said plurality of insurance side bet rules including paying out any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant at predetermined odds in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the banker win and in response to a player victory resulting from the player hand totaling a score of nine, and

said plurality of insurance side bet rules including a push of any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant in response to a tie resulting from the player hand and the banker hand each totaling a score of nine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of insurance side bet rules include a loss of any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the player win and in response to any player victory.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said plurality of insurance side bet rules include a loss of any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the banker win and in response to any banker victory.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the player hand and the banker hand are scored based on either two card hand totals or three card hand totals in accordance with baccarat scoring rules.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said baccarat payout rules include paying out any primary wager on the player win in response to a player victory and paying out any primary wager on the banker win in response to a banker victory.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said baccarat payout rules include a push with no pay out or loss of any primary wager in response to a tie.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said baccarat payout rules include a loss of any primary wager in response to a tie.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein said predetermined odds are six to one odds.

9. A method of playing a baccarat table game having at least one participant comprising;

presenting a playing surface including a player win betting position and a banker win betting position and an insurance betting position,

a primary wagering step wherein the at least one participant places a primary wager on the player win betting position or the banker win betting position,

an insurance offering step providing the at least one participant with an opportunity to place an insurance wager on the insurance betting position provided the at least one participant places a primary wager,

dealing a plurality of playing cards into a player hand and a banker hand according to baccarat dealer rules in response to completion of said primary wagering step and said insurance offering step,

scoring the player hand and the banker hand according to baccarat scoring rules to determine player victory or banker victory or tie,

resolving the primary wager placed by the at least one participant according to baccarat payout rules, and

resolving any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant according to a plurality of insurance side bet rules,

said plurality of insurance side bet rules including paying out any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant on the insurance betting position at predetermined odds in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the player win betting position and in response to a banker victory resulting from the banker hand totaling a score of nine,

said plurality of insurance side bet rules including paying out any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant on the insurance betting position at predetermined odds in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the banker win betting position and in response to a player victory resulting from the player hand totaling a score of nine, and

said plurality of insurance side bet rules including a push of any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant on the insurance betting position in response to a tie resulting from the player hand and the banker hand each totaling a score of nine.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of insurance side bet rules include a loss of any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant on the insurance betting position in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the player win betting position and in response to any player victory.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said plurality of insurance side bet rules include a loss of any insurance wager placed by the at least one participant on the insurance betting position in response to the primary wager being placed by the at least one participant on the banker win betting position and in response to any banker victory.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the player hand and the banker hand are scored based on either two card hand totals or three card hand totals in accordance with baccarat scoring rules.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said baccarat payout rules include paying out any primary wager placed on the player win betting position in response to a player victory and paying out any primary wager placed on the banker win betting position in response to a banker victory.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said baccarat payout rules include a push with no pay out or loss of any primary wager in response to a tie.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said baccarat payout rules include a loss of any primary wager in response to a tie.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said predetermined odds are six to one odds.