GAMING TABLE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO WAGER ON OTHER PLAYERS

Abstract

A gaming surface including multiple player stations including a first station and a second station, the second player station being displaced from the first player station in a first direction and a first distance. The first player station includes a first area where bets are placed to wager on an outcome associated with the first player station, and a second area where bets are placed to wager on an outcome associated with the second player station; the second area being offset from the first area in a direction derived from the first direction and being offset from the first area by a distance that is proportional to the first distance.

Description

PRIORITY

The present application is a non-provisional application that claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/140,923, titled WAGERING GAME WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO WAGER ON OTHER PLAYERS, filed Mar. 31, 2015 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/239,634, titled WAGERING GAME WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO WAGER ON OTHER PLAYERS, filed Oct. 9, 2015, the priority of both of which is hereby claimed and the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is related to implements for wagering games, and to methods of employing the same. The present disclosure is more specifically directed to gaming tables used in wagering games that provide the opportunity for a player to wager on the characteristics of another players hand that are independent of the player's hand.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

The construct of many common card games, such as blackjack, poker, and other carnival games use a common 52 card deck and provides a hierarchy of card collections that are possible from the cards in combination. Card games provide a specific set of rules that govern how a player may go about assembling a card collection and provide a payment schedule for the various collections with reference to the collection of an opponent or dealer.

In order to provide efficiently operating games, tables and table layouts are provided that allow repeatable interactions between a dealer and one or more players. Layouts typically include areas for cards to be placed and areas for one or more bets to be placed.

The conventional casino Blackjack table approximates the shape of a half-circle with one curved side for the players to stand or sit and a straight side where the dealer stands or sits. Most conventional Blackjack tables have five, six or seven player positions. Each player position has a single wager box to bet on cards dealt to that position and potentially an area for a side bet related to the cards dealt to that position.

Similarly, a conventional casino poker or “carnival game” table is also a half-circle with one curved side for the players to stand or sit and a straight side where the dealer stands or sits. Most conventional tables have multiple player positions. Each player position (or station) has one or more wager areas that permit a player to place one or more wagers on his/her hand.

According to a first embodiment, a gaming surface is provided. The gaming surface including: multiple player stations including a first station and a second station, the second player station being displaced from the first player station in a first direction and a first distance. The first player station includes a first area where bets are placed to wager on an outcome associated with the first player station, and a second area where bets are placed to wager on an outcome associated with the second player station; the second area being offset from the first area in a direction derived from the first direction and being offset from the first area by a distance that is proportional to the first distance.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a gaming surface is provided including multiple player stations including a first station. The first player station including multiple unique areas, such that for every player station at the table, there is a unique area within the first player station dedicated to receiving a bet whose outcome is dependent upon the outcome of that player station; where each unique area is positioned spatially to reflect the spatial positioning of the player stations whose outcome determines the outcome of the bet placed in that unique area relative to the first player station.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure a method of operating a wagering game using a table layout is provided. The method including accepting a first wager placed on the table layout by a first player in a first player station, the first player station having a first area dedicated to accepting the first wager by the first player on the outcome of gaming implements assigned to the first player station, an accepting a second wager placed on the table layout by the first player in the first player station, the second wager being placed in a second area dedicated to accepting a wager by the first player on the outcome of gaming implements assigned to a second player station.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a gaming surface is provided including multiple player stations including a first station, the first player station including: multiple unique areas, such that for every other player station at the table, there is a respective unique area within the first player station dedicated to receiving a bet whose outcome is dependent upon the outcome of that other player station; where each unique area includes a visual indication of the player station whose outcome determines the outcome of the bet placed that unique area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary poker table of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a close-up section of the poker table of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary blackjack table of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a close-up section of the blackjack table of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a second embodiment blackjack table of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a third embodiment blackjack table of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a fourth embodiment table of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an exemplary game play sequence utilizing the table layout of any of the preceding or following figures; and

FIG. 9 is a top view of a fifth embodiment table of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present tables and table layouts are adaptations of blackjack, poker, and carnival game tables and table layouts. Three such poker variants usable with the tables of the present disclosure are Caribbean Stud poker, Russian Poker as described in US Publication No. 2004/0248635, and Lunar Poker described in US Publication No. 2011/0042899.

Gaming surfaces, or layouts, are in general, felt covered tables that have indicia printed thereon that facilitate gameplay. The layouts include multiple player spots or “stations” as well as a dealer location. Tables are a half-circle with one curved side for the players to stand or sit and a straight side where the dealer stands or sits. Most tables have five, six or seven player positions. Other table shapes are envisioned that are rectangles or otherwise.

Each station is a designated area on a layout that has the player's wager boxes and where the dealer deals cards to the player and where winning wagers are paid. Each player station shown FIGS. 1-6 has designated areas that provide for a player to place a wager regarding cards dealt to a player station other than their own (most clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 4). Accordingly, the present disclosure provides the general concept of a table layout that provides wagering areas within a station that allow a player to wager on a hand dealt to another station (or to the dealer).

In each provided exemplary station, the area for betting on another player's hand has a component that is dependent upon the relative physical location of the betting space to the other betting spaces. It should be understood that the provisions allowing for betting on another player's hand is not specific to blackjack, carnival games, or poker, but is envisioned as being applicable to games generally.

With specific reference to FIG. 1, table 10 is shown. Table 10 includes a felt covering 11 on which a layout is printed or otherwise provided. The printed layout includes words, symbols, shapes, and/or outlines that are meant to facilitate gameplay thereon. Table 10 will be referred to herein interchangeably as a table and as a table layout. While covering 11 is separable from the structure of table 10, in use, covering 11 is installed and part of table 10. Accordingly, the layout provided by the printing on covering 11 is part of table 10.

Table 10 is a poker style table having five player stations 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. FIG. 2 shows a close up view of a portion of player station 18 and a portion of player station 20. It should be appreciated that the stations are often referred to as a “seat” and “seat 1” refers to the station on the far right side of the table, which is to the dealer's left side. Station 12 is referred to as “seat 1” in that during a gaming session, the dealer deals cards to and addresses station 12 first. Similarly, station 14 is “seat 2,” station 16 is “seat 3,” station 18 is “seat 4,” and station 20 is “seat 5.”

The table layout 10 of FIG. 1 provides for the betting on cards and outcomes of a betting player's station (betting on the player's “own station”) as well as betting on cards and outcomes of stations other than the station of the betting player (betting on “another player's station”). The table layout 10 provides the players a quick and intuitive way of indicating bets meant to bet on other stations to the game operator (dealer). The layouts and method further allow the game operator (dealer) a mechanism to quickly and readily track and disposition such bets and their outcomes. The layouts and method further allow all parties a quick and easy way to view the playing field and readily understand the bets that are in play.

Again with reference to FIGS. 1 & 2, station 20 is illustratively seat 5 of table 10. As shown in FIG. 2, each station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 of table layout 10 includes a seat indicator 28 (the number 5 for station 20) that is readable by the dealer. Each Station 20 also includes bet placing indicia 30 (the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 for station 20) that are displayed to (facing) a player located at station 20. Station 20 further includes bet placed indicia 32 (the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 for station 20) that are displayed to (facing) the dealer. In the provided example, bet placed indicia 32 are accompanied by fanciful artwork that may or may not provide a bounded area for the placement of gaming chips, tokens, or otherwise. Furthermore, while the present examples provide the indicia 30, 32 as numbers, any other indicia, such as letters (A, B, C, D, E, etc.), different colors, or different shapes may be used. In embodiments using colors, indicia 30, 32 would include colors that are also associated with a particular station (such as a color of circles 40-48). In embodiments using shapes, shapes of the indicia 30, 32 would illustratively be shapes that are also associated with a particular station (such as using a triangle for specific indicia 30, 32 to associate that area with a station that has a triangle for its main bet area, instead of circles 40-48). Each of the provided examples, (numbers, colors, shapes, spatial/directional locations) are visual indications of the station to which the particular area is referencing. It should be appreciated that while various numbers and indicia are described and shown as facing a certain direction or being readable by a certain actor, embodiments are envisioned where such numbers and indicia are provided in differing orientations.

The bet placing indicia 30 of station 20 are provided areas where the player at station 20 can place chips to indicate to the dealer a desire to place a bet on the hand or other event associated with cards/events of another station. The bet placing indicia 30 of the number 4 is used to indicate a desire to place a bet associated with seat 4. The bet placing indicia 30 of the number 3 is used to indicate a desire to place a bet associated with seat 3. The bet placing indicia 30 of the number 2 is used to indicate a desire to place a bet associated with seat 2. The bet placing indicia 30 of the number 1 is used to indicate a desire to place a bet associated with seat 1.

It should be appreciated that each station also includes a self-betting area, illustrated in each of FIGS. 1-6 as a circle 40-48. A bet placed in circle 40 is a bet on the outcome of the player's own hand/station. With respect to station placement, relative to station 20 (seat 5), station 18 (seat 4) is to the immediate right. Station 16 (seat 3) is then to the immediate right of station 18. Station 14 (seat 2) is then to the immediate right of station 16. Station 12 (seat 1) is then to the immediate right of station 14.

In the same way, bet placing indicia 30 of the number 4 at station 20 is to the immediate right of circle 40. Bet placing indicia 30 of the number 3 at station 20 is to the immediate right of indicia 30 of the number 4 at station 20. Bet placing indicia 30 of the number 2 at station 20 is to the immediate right of indicia 30 of the number 3 at station 20. Bet placing indicia 30 of the number 1 at station 20 is to the immediate right of indicia 30 of the number 2 at station 20. As such, the indicia 30 are laid out in a manner such that the particular indicia is laid out within station 20 in a manner that mimics or is at least derived from the relative location of the other stations that the indicia is indicating relative to the station at which the indicia is located. Stated differently, within station 20, the indicia 30 of the number 4, which is referencing seat 4, station 18, is to the immediate right of circle 40 which is the same as how seat 4, station 18, is to the immediate right of station 20. Similarly, station 16 is two seats over from station 20 and as such, the indicia 30 of the number 3 is two betting spots (indicia 30) over from circle 40, etc. In embodiments with additional stations, those additional stations are represented by additional indicia 30 within each station.

The indicia 30 thus provide an intuitive layout that allows a player at station 20 to easily understand which hand is being represented by each indicia 30. Thus, a player at station 20 understands that to place a bet on the outcome of station 18 (seat 4), the station to his/her immediate right, the player places a bet on indicia 30, number 4 that is immediately to the right of circle 40 where he/she would place a bet on the outcome of his/her own station 20. Furthermore, indicia 30 are part of areas that are adjacent (directly or via another indicia 30) to circle 40. This adjacent positioning suggests that the bets made in indicia 30 are the same type of bet that is made via circle 40, only for another station 12, 14, 16, 18. While the indicia 30 and the areas depicted thereby are generally horizontal (or curved, generally following the curve of the table edge) other embodiments are envisioned. Specifically, embodiments are envisioned where indicia 30 are vertically laid out (from the player's perspective) or laid out in another spatial manner such that indicia 30 spatially suggest the station to which they refer.

Similarly, station 18 has indicia 30. At station 18, circle 42 is provided for the player at station 18 to bet on the outcome of his/her own station. At station 18, a seat indicator (the number 4 for station 18) is again provided that is readable by the dealer. From the perspective of station 18 (seat 4), station 20 (seat 5) is to the immediate left. Thus, betting indicia 30 of number 5 is located to the immediate left of circle 42. Again, from the perspective of station 18, station 16 (seat 3) is to the immediate right. Thus, betting indicia 30 of number 3 is located to the immediate right of circle 42. From the perspective of station 18, station 14 (seat 2) is two stations to the right. Thus, betting indicia 30 of number 2 is located to two spots to the right of circle 42. From the perspective of station 18, station 12 (seat 1) is three stations to the right. Thus, betting indicia 30 of number 1 is located three spots to the right of circle 42. Thus, again, the indicia 30 provide an intuitive layout that allows a player at station 18 to easily understand which hand is being represented by each indicia 30. A player at station 18 understands that to place a bet on the outcome of station 20 (seat 5), the station to his/her immediate left, the player places a bet on indicia 30, number 5 that is immediately to the left of circle 42 where he/she would place a bet on the outcome of his/her own station 18. While the various portions of the tables 10, 110, etc. are provided with areas that are positioned to provide an intuitive suggestion as to their purpose, embodiments are envisioned where such areas are located in a manner that lacks the intuitive suggestion of their purpose.

Each station, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 thus has indicia 30 that are representative of other stations 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. A player at a given station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 uses indicia 30 to place bets on outcomes at other stations 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. For any given station, the location of a particular indicia 30 relative to the circle (40, 42, 44, 46, or 48) of that station is proportional to the location of the station and the station to which the particular indicia is referring. When stating that the location is “proportional” it is not intended that there is a direct ratio of the distance between the indicia 30 and the circle (40, 42, 44, 46, or 48) relative to the distance between the two stations (the station having the indicia and the station to which the indicia refers). Rather, for stations that are farther away from a given station, the indicia 30 referencing that farther station is farther away from the circle (40, 42, 44, 46, or 48). Stated differently, for station 20, the indicia referencing station 16 is farther away from circle 40 than is the indicia referencing station 18 to reflect that station 16 is farther away from station 20 than station 18 is from station 20. Also, in one embodiment, where a second station is offset from a first station by a first direction, indicia 30 within the first station that references the second station is likewise offset in the first direction. In some embodiments, the “direction” is simply “left” or “right.” In other embodiments, the “direction” includes a left/right component and a forward/back component around a curved table. Still further, while the offset between player locations may have both a left/right and a forward/back offset, in some embodiments, the offset of indicia 30 from circles (40, 42, 44, 46, or 48) within a station only accounts for the left/right offset and does not also account for offset in the forward/back manner. Thus, an offset direction for indicia 30, 32 can be left/right alone, or can take into account multiple axes of offset of the stations themselves. As such, the offset direction for indicia 30, 32 need not account for every axis of offset or be the exact offset (or a particular ratio) of the respective stations, but rather can just be a direction derived from the offset of the respective stations.

With bets so placed on table layout 10, a dealer (or other game operator) can readily perceive the bets placed on indicia 30 and easily understand which hand/seat/station the bet is intended to be associated with. With the players having indicated intention to place bets by placing items such as wagering chips on indicia 30, the dealer can then accept the bets.

In accepting bets, the dealer then moves the bet amount (chips) to a location within the station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 on which the bet is made. Table layout 10 provides bet placed indicia 32 for this purpose. Bet placed indicia 32 are similarly located as indicia 30. However, indicia 32 are closer to the dealer's position than indicia 30. Amounts placed on indicia 32 within station 20 (seat 5) are indicative of players in seats 1-4 having placed bets on the outcome of station 20.

Thus, when the player in seat 5 (station 20) places a bet on indicia 30 of the number 4, upon accepting the bet, the dealer moves the bet to indicia 32 of the number “5” within station 18 (seat 4). This indicates that the player at seat “5” has placed a bet on the outcome of station 18. This process is followed for each bet placed on an indicia 30 at each station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. Once all bets are accepted, chips are located at circles 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 and at indicia 32.

With the bets so placed, the game starts, such as via the dealing of cards. Once the outcome of a particular station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 is determined, it is time to distribute payouts for the bets.

As previously noted, gameplay and payouts typically address seat 1 first and progress successively through any other stations 14, 16, 18, 20 etc. If the outcome at seat 1 indicates a dealer win, then the dealer collects all bets on circle 48 and indicia 32 within station 20. If there is a tie, then all bets on circle 48 and indicia 32 within station 20 are returned to the bettors (or dealt with according to the game rules). If the outcome at seat 1 indicates a player win, then the dealer distributes winnings for all bets on circle 48 and indicia 32 within station 20. Again, winning bets on indicia 32 are given to the players at the other stations that are indicated by indicia 32. The fact that the location of the various indicia 32 are positioned relative to the circles 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 in a manner that reflects the station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 indicated thereby provides an intuitive and positionally suggestive indicator to the dealer when placing the bets on indicia 32 and also when paying out winning bets back to players at the stations 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. Still further, by placing bets on indicia 32, for a given station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, all bets that are dependent upon the outcome of that station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 are located within the area of that station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. Thus, upon the determination of an outcome of a given station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 the dealer can dispose of all the bets within that station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and know that all bets that are a function of the outcome of that station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 have been dealt with. Having dealt with a particular station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 the dealer can proceed to a next station 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 or next hand/betting round.

Thus, while only two stations 18, 20 are explicitly discussed, it should be appreciated that similar features are present at the other stations 12, 14, 16. Still further, while the table 10 pictured in FIG. 1 shows five stations 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, embodiments are envisioned where any number of stations exist (such as two, three, four, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more stations). Indeed, FIG. 3 shows in implementation on a blackjack table 110 having six stations.

Table 110 has six stations 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122. The inset shown in FIG. 4 shows stations 120, 122 which correspond to seats five and six. Again, like table 10, table 110 includes bet placing indicia 130, bet placed indicia 132, and bet areas (circles) 140. Thus, each station 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122 provides areas (bet placing indicia 130) that allow a player to place a bet on the outcome of event at another station. Each station 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122 provides areas (bet placed indicia 132) that allow a dealer or other operator to take bets placed via bet placing indicia 130 and group those bets proximate the station 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122 on which their win/lose/draw outcome depends. The ability of a player to place one or more bets on the outcome of another station, and the manifestations in the table layout that provide for such bets are generally referred to as “multi-bet” features.

FIGS. 5-7 show alternative embodiment blackjack table layouts 510, 610, 710. Again, each embodiment includes multiple stations, bet placing indicia, and bet placed indicia (multi-bet features). FIGS. 5-6 show 5 and 6-player layouts, respectively. FIGS. 5-6 specifically include areas 534, 634 that provide for betting on an event associated with cards dealt to the dealer position. Again, it should be appreciated that areas 534, 634 are positioned nearer a dealer station relative to circles 540, 640. Thus, again, the position of areas 534, 634 provides a spatial suggestion of the station for which it is provided. FIG. 7 shows a table layout 710 in which each station provides betting circles 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 and also provide side bet circles 740, 742, 744, 746, 748, 750. Side bet circles 740, 742, 744, 746, 748, 750 provide areas for accepting and indicating side bets relating to a player's own hand. The side bet can be any typical side bet that is known to be accepted in association with the underlying game being played (in the depicted case, blackjack). Rather than being adjacent betting circles 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, indicia 730 are adjacent and horizontally aligned with side bet circles 740, 742, 744, 746, 748, 750. Thus, in the table layout 710, indicia 730 accept side bets that are dependent upon the outcome and/or gameplay of other stations. Like indicia 30 relative to bet circles 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 in FIGS. 1-6, the adjacent positioning of indicia 730 relative to side bet circles 740, 742, 744, 746, 748, 750 suggests that the bets made in indicia 730 are the same type of bet that is made via circle 740, only for another station 712, 714, 716, 718. Like indicia 32, indicia 732 are provided to indicate bets that have been placed on a particular station and provide a spatial indication of the owner of the bets. It should be appreciated that while a particular layout for betting on side bets associated with another hand is pictured with respect to a single game, this depiction is illustrative of the concept that can be applied to any number of other games. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the present application conceives of the ability to bet on an event associated with another hand/station generally rather than being specific to any one game.

According to one embodiment, table layout 10 of FIGS. 1-2 is referred to as part of a genre of games called “carnival games.” The genre of “carnival games” includes many different games. Another example of a carnival game layout 910 is shown in FIG. 9 where circles 940, 942, 944, 946, 948, 950 are side-bet areas/circles and indicia 930, 932 operate similarly to indicia 730, 732, respectively. While all such examples of carnival games with which it is envisioned to apply the present table layout features are not depicted in the figures, one of skill in the art reading this application readily understands how to use the features with all variety of carnival games. A non-exhaustive list of potential games, including carnival games, suitable for use with the multi-bet features is provided below.

Overall, multiple shapes and sizes for the various indicia are envisioned. What is consistent across indicia is that something about the indicia on the table 10, 110, 510, 610, 710 is done so that the indicia are suggestive of the station that the indicia are referencing. More specifically, the indicia are visually indicative and/or suggestive of the station that the indicia are referencing. Indeed, across the depicted indicia, the placement of the indicia on the table 10, 110, 510, 610, 710 is done so that the placement of the indicia is related to location of the station that the indicia is referencing (spatially indicative). Furthermore, the various indicia are physically located relative each other in a manner that reflects the physical locations of the stations to which they refer relative to the station at which the indicia is located.

In addition, the ability to bet on other players' hands and table layouts facilitating the acceptance and operation of such bets is further explicitly envisioned for at least the following list of games:

Lucky Eights

Lucky Stiff

Super Sevens

Crazy Sevens

Royal Match

Royal Match—Version 3

Royal Match—Version 4

Royal Match—Version 5

Streak

Over/Under 13

Bet the Set/Pair Square

Pair Play

Bet the Set—Progressive

Tie—Version 1

Tie—Version 2

21+3

Top 3

Sweet Sixteen

Dare any Pair

Lucky Ladies

Bonus Blackjack—Version 1

Bonus Blackjack—Version 2

Bonus Blackjack—Version 3

Progressive Blackjack

Twin Blackjack

Perfect Pairs

Bonanza Blackjack

Hi/Low (version 1)

Hi/Lo (version 2)

2 Through 6

Jack Magic

Match the Dealer

Blackjack Only

Blackjack Attack

Lucky Lucky

Bonus Spin

Wheel of Madness

High Tie Bonus Blackjack

Field of Gold

Automatic Win/Casino Surrender

Bust It

Straight 8's

2 Run 21

Winners Option

21 to the River

Buster Blackjack

Super Split

Lucky Pairs

Kings Bounty

Perfect Charlie

In Between

Bust Bonus

3 Card Hard Hand

Block

Hit and Run

Bet the Bust

Bust Me

Cowboys & Cowgirls

Red Flex

Dealer Bust 21

House Money 21

Wild Aces

Royal 20's

Suit 'em Up

20 Bet

Dealer Bust—Nicaragua Version

Roulette

Dealer Total

Let's Play

Lucky 7

Triple Sevens

Double Jack

Golden 21

Sevens

Safe Bet

777 Jackpot

Highest Hand

Cash Queens

Mega Match

2 Face Blackjack

21 Burn Blackjack

Australian Blackjack

Blackjack

Blackjack Challenge

Blackjack Plus

Blackjack Switch

Burn 20 Blackjack

California Blackjack

Canal 21

Caribbean 21

Caribbean Blackjack

Change it 21

Diamond Blackjack

Double Attack Blackjack

Double Exposure

Doublet Blackjack

Exchange Blackjack

Extreme 21

Free Bet Blackjack

Instant 18

Lucky 13s Blackjack

Lucky Blackjack

Never Bust Blackjack

No Bust 21

One Up

Panama Blackjack

Pick One 21

Player's Choice 21

Player's Edge 21

Pontoon: Australian

Pontoon: Real Time Gaming

Power Blackjack

Rummy

Siete y Media

Space Jack

Spanish 21

Super Fun 21

Three Card Blackjack

Three Way Action

Ties Win Blackjack

Triple Attack Blackjack

Triple Shot

Triple Up 21

Ultimate 21

War Blackjack

Your Way 21

Zappit

3 Card Hold 'Em

3-5-7 Poker

6 Card Poker 1-2-5

Asia Poker

Asian Stud

Bet on Poker

Bet the Deck

Bet the Deck version 2

Bet Voyager Hold 'Em

Big Raise Stud Poker

Bonus Six

Boston 5

Break Poker

Caribbean Advanced Poker

Caribbean Hold 'Em

Caribbean Stud Poker

Casino Hold 'em

Commission Free Pai Gow Poker

Crazy 4 Poker

Criss Cross Poker

Dealer Bluff

Deuces Wild

DJ Wild

Double Down Stud

Double Draw Poker

EZ Pai Gow Poker

Face Up Three Card Poker

Flop Poker

Flush Rush

Flushes Gone Wild

Four Card Poker

Guts

Guts Poker

Heads Up Hold 'Em

Hi Low Pai Gow Poker

High Card Flush

High Five Poker

Hold 'em Challenge

Let It Ride

Mini Pai Gow

Mini Tex

Mississippi Stud

Mulligan Poker

No-Flop Pineapple

No-Fold Oasis Poker

Oasis Poker

Pai Gow Poker

Poker Keno

Pyramid Poker

Q Poker

Rabbit Hunter

Raise it Up

Riverboat Hold 'em Poker

Six Card Poker

Tequila Poker

Texas Choose Em

Texas Hold 'em

Texas Hold 'em Bonus

Texas Shootout

Three Card Mulligan

Three Card Poker

Three Card Second Chance Poker

Three Way Action

Triple Action Hold 'em

Triple Shot

Two Card Joker Poker

Ultimate Texas Hold 'em

Ultimate Three Card Poker

Video Poker

Wan Doy Pairs Poker

Wild Hold 'em Fold 'em Poker

World Poker Tour 3× Raise Hold 'em

World Poker Tour All in Hold 'em

7-14-21

Card Craps

Card Sharks

Casino War

Catch A Wave

Draw Hi-Lo

Faro

Flushes Gone Wild

Four Cast

Genie's Hi Lo

Go Fore It

Money$uit 31

One for the Money

Red Dog

Screw Your Neighbor

Siete y Media

Stos

Three Way Action

Trente Et Quarante

Triple Shot

Two Cards High

Vegas Three Card Rummy

Wild Viking

Zero

2 to 1 Baccarat

7 Up Baccarat

Asia Poker

Asian Stud

Baccarat

Baccarat Gold

Baccpo

Chemin De Fer

Double Fortune Baccarat

Double Up

Dragon Tiger

EZ Baccarat

EZ-9

Fan Tan

Fortune 8

Lucky Draw Baccarat

Mah Jong Pai Gow

Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Tiles

Pan 9

Power baccarat 98

Punto Banco

Sic Bo

Super Pan 9

Three Card Baccarat

Yee Hah Hi

1×2 Banco

Alphabetic Roulette

Beat the Dealer

Big Six

Boule

Card Craps

Casino Backgammon

Chuck A Luck

Craps

Dazzling Dice

Diamond Roulette

Dice

Dice Twister

Die Rich

Double Action Roulette

Double Ball Roulette

Dragon Phoenix

Easy Over-Under

Fan Tan

Flip It

Four the Money

Hazard

Heads or Tails

Lucky Star

Lucky Symbols Roulette

Money Wheel

Pai Gow Tiles

Poker Dice

Ricochet

Riverboat Roulette

Rock 'n Roll Dice

Roller Coaster Dice

Roulette

Roulette Express

Roulette-18

Scossa

Scratch Dice

Sic Bo

Spingo

Street Dice

Three Dice Football

Two Up

Cleopatra Keno

Easy Lotto

Jackpot Party Keno

Keno

Liar's Poker

Lite-a-Line

Lottery

Lucky 5

Lucky 7

Lucky Star

Mega Ball

Predictor

Sudoku

Slot Machines such as Lock and Roll and Slots generally

Around the World

Bingo

Bonus Bowling

Easy Over-Under

Jackpot Darts

Lite-a-Line

Minesweeper

Penalty Shootout

Pin Ball

Pop Bingo

Pop Up 25

Pull Tabs

Rock Paper Scissors

Tic Tac Toe

Thus, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure describes table layout portions that can be applied to any gaming table to provide an intuitive and efficient setup for a player to bet on outcomes of their own station and to bet on outcomes of other stations at the table. Still further, embodiments are envisioned where the table is a virtual table. Virtual tables may take the form of a tabletop that is formed from a screen, such as an LCD screen on which table markings are shown. Virtual tables may further take the form of a table depicted on a screen, such as for video poker or other such computer implemented game. Furthermore, some embodiments utilize a computerized dealer. In such embodiments, the markings described herein (30, 32, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) provide, at least, a visual indication to a player of what bets are in play.

FIG. 8 shows steps in a method of using any of the foregoing tables to operate a wagering game using gaming implements, such as cards, tiles, dice, or other implements known in the art. Using one of the table layouts discussed above, a game operator accept a first wager placed on the table layout by a first player in a first player station. The first player station having a first area dedicated to accepting the first wager by the first player on the outcome of gaming implements assigned to the first player station (block 810). The game operator further accepts a second wager placed on the table layout by the first player in the first player station. The second wager being placed in a second area dedicated to accepting a wager by the first player on the outcome of gaming implements assigned to a second player station (block 820). Like the first player, the second player at the table also has the option to bet on his own hand and the other hands being played at the table. Accordingly, the game operator accepts a third wager placed on the table layout by a second player in the second player station (block 830). The second player station has a first area dedicated to accepting the third wager by the second player on the outcome of gaming implements assigned to the second player station and the game operator accepts a fourth wager placed on the table layout by the second player in the second player station, the fourth wager being placed in a second area in the second player station dedicated to accepting a wager by the second player on the outcome of gaming implements assigned to a first player station (block 840).

Once the bets are placed, the game operator moves the bets so that they are grouped within the player station on which they are betting. (block 850). The game session is then executed such that the winning/losing/push status of the game session with respect to a first player station is determined (block 860). In the event of the first player station having a winning outcome (block 870), all wagers on the player station are paid off (block 880). Winning wagers are returned to the player station that placed the bets (block 890). In the event of the first player station having a losing outcome (block 870), all wagers are retained by the house (block 900). All other player stations are then similarly disposed of until an outcome is achieved for all bets (block 910).

The above detailed description and the examples described therein have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description only and not for limitation. For example, the operations described may be done in any suitable manner. The method steps may be done in any suitable order still providing the described operation and results. It is therefore contemplated that the present embodiments cover any and all modifications, variations or equivalents that fall within the spirit and scope of the basic underlying principles disclosed above and claimed herein.

Claims

1. A gaming surface including:

multiple player stations including a first station and a second station, the second player station being displaced from the first player station in a first direction and a first distance;

the first player station including: a first area where bets are placed to wager on an outcome associated with the first player station, and a second area where bets are placed to wager on an outcome associated with the second player station; the second area being offset from the first area in a direction derived from the first direction and being offset from the first area by a distance that is proportional to the first distance.

2. The gaming surface of claim 1, wherein the second player station includes:

a third area where bets are placed to wager on the outcome associated with the second player station,

a fourth area where bets are placed to wager on the outcome associated with the first player station; the fourth area being offset from the third area in a direction derived from a direction that the second player station is offset from the first player station, the fourth area being offset from the third area by a distance that is proportional to the first distance.

3. The gaming surface of claim 2, further including a third player station, the third player station being displaced from the first player station in the first direction and by a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance; the third player station including:

a fifth area where bets are placed to wager on an outcome associated with the third player station,

a sixth area where bets are placed to wager on the outcome associated with the first player station, the sixth area being offset from the fifth area in a direction derived from a direction that the third player station is offset from the first player station, the sixth area being offset from the fifth area by a distance that is proportional to the second distance;

a seventh area where bets are placed to wager on the outcome associated with the second player station, the seventh area being offset from the fifth area in a direction derived from a direction that the third player station is offset from the second player station, the seventh area being offset from the fifth area by a distance that is proportional to a distance between the second player station and the third player station.

4. The gaming surface of claim 3, wherein the first player station further includes an eighth area where bets are placed to wager on the outcome associated with the third player station, the eighth area being offset from the first area in a direction derived from a direction that the third player station is offset from the first player station, the eighth area being offset from the first area by a distance that is proportional to the distance between the first player station and the third player station.

5. The gaming surface of claim 4, wherein the second player station further includes a ninth area where bets are placed to wager on the outcome associated with the third player station, the ninth area being offset from the third area in a direction derived from a direction that the third player station is offset from the second player station, the ninth area being offset from the third area by a distance that is proportional to the distance between the second player station and the third player station.

6. The gaming surface of claim 1, wherein the first player station includes multiple areas, including the second area, such that for every player station at the table, there is an area within the first player station where a bet is placed to wager on that station.

7. The gaming surface of claim 6, wherein every area within the first player station that provides for a bet on the outcome of another station is physically offset from the first area in a manner that is directionally indicative of the location of the other player station whose outcome determines a payout therefor.

8. The gaming surface of claim 7, wherein the areas within a player station are directionally indicative and spatially indicative as to the direction and magnitude of the spacing between each player station and the other player stations.

9. A gaming surface including:

multiple player stations including a first station, the first player station including: multiple unique areas, such that for every player station at the table, there is a unique area within the first player station dedicated to receiving a bet whose outcome is dependent upon the outcome of that player station; where each unique area is positioned spatially to reflect the spatial positioning of the player stations whose outcome determines the outcome of the bet placed that unique area relative to the first player station.

10. The gaming surface of claim 9, wherein the first player station includes:

a first unique area dedicated to accepting bets on the outcome associated with the first player station, and

a second unique area dedicated to accepting bets on the outcome associated with a second player station located to the immediate right of the first player station, wherein the second unique area is located to the immediate right of the first unique area.

11. The gaming surface of claim 10, wherein the first player station includes:

a third unique area dedicated to accepting bets on the outcome associated with a third player station located to the immediate left of the first player station, wherein the third unique area is located to the immediate left of the first unique area.

12. The gaming surface of claim 10, wherein the first player station includes:

a fourth unique area dedicated to accepting bets on the outcome associated with a fourth player station located to the immediate right of the second player station, wherein the fourth unique area is located to the immediate right of the second unique area.

13. The gaming surface of claim 9, wherein the multiple player stations further includes a second player station, the second player station including:

multiple unique areas, such that for every player station at the table, there is a unique area within the second player station dedicated to receiving a bet whose outcome is dependent upon the outcome of that player station; where each unique area is positioned spatially to reflect the spatial positioning of the player stations whose outcome determines the outcome of the bet placed that unique area relative to the second player station.

14. The gaming surface of claim 9, wherein each unique area within the first player station includes a number within the unique area that is the number of a player station that bets placed therein are wagering on.

15. A method of operating a wagering game using a table layout including:

accepting a first wager placed on the table layout by a first player in a first player station, the first player station having a first area dedicated to accepting the first wager by the first player on the outcome of gaming implements assigned to the first player station, and

accepting a second wager placed on the table layout by the first player in the first player station, the second wager being placed in a second area dedicated to accepting a wager by the first player on the outcome of gaming implements assigned to a second player station.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein accepting the second wager places a bet on the outcome of a set of gaming implements other than those associated with a dealer.

17. The method of claim 15, further including:

accepting a third wager placed on the table layout by a second player in the second player station, the second player station having a first area dedicated to accepting the third wager by the second player on the outcome of gaming implements assigned to the second player station, and

accepting a fourth wager placed on the table layout by the second player in the second player station, the fourth wager being placed in a second area in the second player station dedicated to accepting a wager by the second player on the outcome of gaming implements assigned to a first player station.

18. The method of claim 15, further including moving the second wager to a dedicated area in the second player station.

19. The method of claim 18, further including:

determining an outcome of a gaming session associated with the second player station,

paying off the second wager when the second player station is determined to have a winning gaming session, and

placing winnings from the second wager in the first player station.

20. A gaming surface including:

multiple player stations including a first station, the first player station including: multiple unique areas, such that for every other player station at the table, there is a respective unique area within the first player station dedicated to receiving a bet whose outcome is dependent upon the outcome of that other player station; where each unique area includes a visual indication of the player station whose outcome determines the outcome of the bet placed that unique area.