Abstract: Among other things, enabling late bets in a game of Baccarat includes accepting a first bet from one or more participants. Two cards are dealt to each of a player position and a bank position. A player position score and a bank position score are determined based on the two cards dealt to each of the player position and the two cards dealt to the bank position. Based on the determined scores for the player position and the bank position, a determination is made on whether to deal a third card to at least one of the player position and the bank position.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes. The video presentation is recorded onto a tangible medium (e.g., DVD or CD-ROM) or otherwise provided to a player (e.g., a player may access the video presentation online). In one embodiment, each of the individual outcomes may be represented via a video that depicts a continuous event that provides an indication of the outcomes. This allows a player to purchase a video presentation of (e.g., predetermined outcomes in a jurisdiction in which gambling is legal, yet view the presentation at the player's convenience (e.g., from any jurisdiction and at any time). The player, in one embodiment, may either view the outcomes via a traditional gaming device interface (e.g., via a representation of slot reels) and as discreet outcomes, or view a video that depicts a continuous event, as determined by the discreet outcomes.

Abstract: An electronic video game apparatus is configured to facilitate simultaneous play of at least first and second independent games of chance that generate independent outcomes. The electronic video game apparatus includes a video display and at least one electronic random number generator that randomly selects values for the independent games of chance and preferably displays the values in a superimposed manner on the video display. The outcomes of the second game of chance are preferably employed to determine an outcome, such as a payout or award, for example, of the first game of chance.

Abstract: A method for implementing a Live Dealer game is disclosed. A live feed of game-play at a gaming table is sent to a remote player. During play, a server receives an indication of a rank and suit of a dealt card. If the card has not yet been revealed at the gaming table, the server will delay transmitting to the remote player data indicating the rank and suit of the dealt card. Upon receipt of a status signal indicating that the card has been revealed at the gaming table, the server will transmit the data indicating the rank and suit of the dealt card to the remote player, thereby substantially synchronizing transmitting the data indicating the rank and suit of the dealt card to the remote player with revealing the card at the gaming table.

Abstract: A method to implement a blackjack variation where when the dealer is resolving the dealer's hand, if the dealer's point total is a preset total then the dealer would automatically burn a card in the dealer's hand (such as the last card dealt to the dealer). The preset total can be 21, so that whenever the dealer's point total (after the dealer is done resolving the dealer's hand) is 21 the dealer would burn a card in the dealer's hand and thus the dealer would typically have to draw another card which could result in a better outcome for the player (e.g., the dealer's could bust or end up with a point total less than 21).

Abstract: A system for enabling play of a casino table card game is disclosed. At least one of a rank and suit of a set of playing cards is automatically determined. Multiple randomized sets of playing cards of known composition are formed and delivered to a game, and are set by following automatically generated house way instructions. The components of the system include an automatic card shuffler configured to deliver randomized sets of physical cards, the shuffler equipped with a playing card reading system that reads at least one of a rank and suit of markings on each of the playing cards. The automatic card shuffler has a processor that receives the read card information from the playing card reading system and determines a composition of each individual set of playing cards dispensed.

Abstract: An inventory sensor is positioned and configured to identify playing cards stored in compartments of one or more playing card receivers. The inventory sensor allows the identity of a playing card stored in the playing card receiving compartment to be checked or otherwise verified with respect to an identity of a playing card expected to be stored in the playing card receiving compartment. Anomalies may be identified and appropriate messages provides and/or actions taken, for example removing the anomalous playing card from use.

Abstract: An inventory sensor is positioned and configured to identify playing cards stored in compartments of one or more intermediary playing card receivers. The intermediary playing card receivers may be positioned in a card transport path between an input and an output receiver. The inventory sensor allows an inventory of playing cards to be performed, for example, in response to a possibly anomalous condition or in response to a user request. Playing cards may be transferred back to the intermediary playing card receiver from the output receiver before inventorying. A new randomized set of playing cards can be created at the output receiver after inventorying.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein includes an accumulation sequence and a competition sequence. In one embodiment, the gaming system includes competitor points which determine (i) a competitor's eligibility to participate in the competition sequence and (ii) the competitor's relative probability of success in the competition sequence. In this embodiment, a competitor (which is either representative of an actual player or a virtual, gaming system controlled player) accumulates competitor points during one or more point accumulation sequences which occur in association with designated events. For a subsequent competition sequence, the gaming system determines if a competitor will participate in the triggered competition sequence based on the competitor's accumulated competitor points.

Abstract: A modified version of a Blackjack game includes a plurality of Blackjack rules including at least one player rule and at least one dealer rule. The modified Blackjack game includes at least one deck of cards, a plurality of participant hands formable from the deck, and a plurality of game administrator hands formable from the deck. A game outcome can be produced by applying the player rule to at least one of the game administrator hands, and by applying the dealer rule to at least one of the participant hands.

Abstract: A casino style card game, played in accordance with the standard rules of Blackjack, also known as “21,” and including an auxiliary component allowing additional wagering on the outcome of the dealer's hand for each participating player. Participating players are able to wager on the dealer having a non-breaking hand (i.e., a hand having a value less than 21 in accordance with the rules of Blackjack) containing two, three, four, five, six, or seven cards. Wagers may also be made on the dealer having an even or odd count, or an all read or all black hand. A return is paid on wagers in the auxiliary game only if the dealer hand does not “bust” (i.e, exceed a value of 21). The game is also playable in electronic or other automated versions using, for example, terminals and networks, or slot machines.

Abstract: New apparatuses and methods for introducing varying levels of skill into wagering games that have historically been games of luck or strategy are provided. A card value and suit is invisible or hidden to a player initially and associated with a value and suit dealt to the player. The game enables the player to elect to display the associated value and suit. If the player exercises the option, the associated value and suit is displayed and a poker or blackjack evaluation is made based on the displayed associated value and suit. In various embodiments, the same associations are maintained for a single hand or play, multiple hands or plays or on a long term fixed basis. Associated symbols are also implemented with the game of slot.

Abstract: A game of chance card game in which Players play, at least initially, against a Dealer/Bank. In one embodiment, the Dealer/Bank hand must qualify and if not Players may continue in action against one another. The object of the game is for a Player to successfully hold five cards whose total numeric value is higher than that of any of the other Players or Dealer at the end of the round. To reach a game decision, each Player must proceed through four wagering stages. The game can accommodate one to many Players and may be implemented in live table gaming or electronically implemented formats. Numeric card values are comprised of 3X, 5X and 8X, where X is a non-zero number. A Fire card (30, 30?) resets the value of certain numeric cards only. Wild or Joker cards may be used which are not nullified by the Fire card.

Abstract: An electronic commercial transaction system and associated methods, in which the transaction is conducted concurrently with or followed by a solicitation for either a gratuity for the seller or a charitable donation to be forwarded to a third party beneficiary.

Abstract: A method of playing a succession of poker-type games that has a two-card, revealed, starter hand and a plurality of sets of five unrevealed community cards. The starter hand remains the same for all games of the succession of games. In each game a player wagers on one or more sets of community cards, after which the community cards are revealed. The starter hand is combined with each set of community cards to form complete hands. The player is paid a payout amount if a complete hand that has been wagered on is found in a pay table or is better than the other hands by a predetermined criteria. Optionally, the player is required to wager on all of the sets of community cards. Optionally, the game is played after the occurrence of a triggering event in another game.

Abstract: Non-transitive gaming elements, including a first, a second and a third one or more gaming elements, respectively, wherein the second provides an advantage represented by higher scores, on average, as compared with the scores of the first, the third provides an advantage represented by higher scores, on average, as compared with the scores of the second and the first provides an advantage represented by higher scores, on average, as compared with the scores of the third, and wherein each of the three respective advantages are all less than 3 percent and each advantage does not differ from the mean of the three advantages by more than 20 percent.

Abstract: A wager gaming machine having software and components allowing for automatic powering on and off (also referred to as remote out-of-band power control) bypassing the need for human operator intervention is described. The gaming machine has a master gaming controller and a network interface. The interface includes an input port supporting a TCP/IP connection which can be used by another network component having the gaming machine's IP address. The gaming machine may also include a Web server operating on the input port. The Web server may receive HTTP messages on the input port even when the gaming machine is powered off. Thus, the machine is capable of receiving an HTTP message at the input port instructing the machine to power on. The gaming machine may also contain a manageability engine processor for executing an active management system software component. This component implements the Web server on the gaming machine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming system that can allow a game to be appropriately advanced even by an inexperienced dealer by way of navigating the dealer in game advancement, thereby allowing fraud to be avoided and cost to be reduced. A gaming system 1 gives an instruction to a dealer by operating indicators of card placement areas in which a card is to be placed based on a game advancement program. When a card is placed in a predetermined card placement area, the gaming system 1 reads at least one face of the card being placed by image input devices and determines whether the card is placed in a right place and a right orientation and whether the card is appropriate. After that the abovementioned processing is repeated for a predetermined number of times, a score is calculated based on image data and finally a game result is output.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to acquire an original player input value associated with a wagering game. One or more simulations may be run in reverse from a randomly selected statistical outcome to determine at least one of a modified starting game parameter value, a modified intermediate-time game parameter value, and a modified player input value. Original starting game parameter values, intermediate-time game parameter values, and/or player input values may be modified to provide the modified starting game parameter values, intermediate-time game parameter values, and player input values, respectively. At least a portion of the simulation running forward based on the modified values may be displayed. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and process for operating a computer on a communication network involves providing a first performance environment, such as a first game, over the network to a first on-line user, receiving performance data from the first on-line user corresponding to the first on-line user's performance in the first performance environment. A value is defined for performance rights associated with the received data. A second performance environment that is separate from the first performance environment is provided over the network to a second on-line user, in which the second on-line user is able to make a performance. The second on-line user is provided with access to received data corresponding to the first on-line user's performance in the first performance environment, while the second on-line user is making a performance in the second performance environment.

Abstract: A card game includes a plurality of rounds playable upon at least one base wager and at least one supplemental wager. Each one of the rounds results in an outcome, where a base award is associated with at least one of the outcomes. A pattern condition is fulfillable when a pattern of the outcomes corresponds to one of a plurality of designated patterns. Different supplemental awards are provided based on the fulfillment of the pattern condition.

Abstract: A method to implement two side bets for the casino card game of Baccarat. The player can choose to bet on a player side bet, a banker side bet, or play both side bets. The player side bet wins if, after the game is resolved, the player point total is one less than the banker point total, and loses in all other situations. The banker side bet wins if, after the game is resolved, the banker point total is one less than the player point total, and loses in all other situations. Subsets of these winning sets can be used as well for the winning combinations.

Abstract: A player of a card game, such as poker, is presented with opportunities to replace one or more of the cards in his or her hand. The first such replacement may be free, but the player may incur a cost for each subsequent replacement. This cost may be based on how much the player is expected to benefit from the replacement. Facilitating these subsequent replacements may allow the player to improve a poor hand, thus enhancing the player's excitement of playing the card game.

Abstract: The applicants' provide a process for playing “No Dealer Hand” Blackjack/Twenty-One. As such, the uses of, or display of, at least one common deck of Fifty-Two cards is being applied in play action. This process is inclusive to either an encompassing video gaming apparatus or a live action table gaming environment, as accommodated for. In play action, the dealer's hand is replaced with the application of Trigger Numbers, ranging anywhere from Twelve (12) up to Twenty (20), and optional Push Numbers ranging anywhere from Twelve (12) up to Twenty (20). Through such an application, the applicants' present a more mathematically malleable “core margin percentage variance” being afforded for exploitation by Housemasters. Likewise, the mathematical mechanics supporting this broader core margin percentage variance is made possible while simultaneously applying a seamlessly familiar playing experience for patrons.

Abstract: A gaming machine for a betting card game including a main card game and an auxiliary card game and a method of controlling the same, including: by a controller, accepting a bet of a first wager for participation in the main card game; accepting a bet of a second wager as an option for participation in the auxiliary card game; determining an outcome of the main card game in accordance with a game rule for the main card game on a basis of at least two cards being displayed and disclosed for the main card game after termination of acceptance of a bet of the first wager; and determining an outcome of the auxiliary card game in accordance with a game rule for the auxiliary card game on a basis of first and second cards being displayed for the main card game after termination of acceptance of a bet of the second wager.

Abstract: Players in a multi-state card game, such as blackjack or baccarat, are presented with opportunities to exchange their cards for new cards when the card game is in one or more particular states. These opportunities may include offers to redeal the player's hand of cards or redeal the player's opponent's hand of cards. Additionally, when the player is dealt a new card to be added to the player's hand, the player may be offered options to discard the new card, replace the new card with another new card, or to redeal the player's hand and/or the opponent's hand. In this way, the player may be able to improve his or her position in the card game. At the same time, the game provider may charge the player for acceptance of these offers, thus improving the profit margin of the game provider.

Abstract: A radio frequency card tracking system for a gaming table includes a system computer, a deck of playing cards, one or more table antennas, and a transceiver. Each playing card has an antenna, a card identity, and a transponder. Each table antenna has a detection zone at a dealer's card placement position and/or at locations at a gaming table and can transmit and receive radio-frequency signals to and from a card located within the detection zone. The transceiver is coupled with the table antenna and the system computer to provide radio-frequency-energizing signals to the table antenna for transmission to the card located within the detection zone. The transceiver receives card identifying signals from the table antenna and transfers these signals to the system computer. The system computer recognizes the signal duration, receives card identifying signals; determines the card identity associated with the signal, and determines the location of the card.

Abstract: Methods for facilitating cooperative group play of an online casino game are provided. One method includes initiating a group session of the online casino game over the Internet, the group session defined to include a plurality of players, and defining at least one group objective for the group session. The method then combines outcomes from gameplay of the online casino game of each of the plurality of players during the group session and compares the combined outcomes against the group objective. If the combined outcomes meet the group objective, then the method administers a prize associated with the group objective. The methods further facilitate game play in a social online environment, where the social interactions assist in advancing game play.

Abstract: An electronic video game apparatus is configured to facilitate simultaneous play of at least first and second independent games of chance that generate independent outcomes. The electronic video game apparatus includes a video display and at least one electronic random number generator that randomly selects values for the independent games of chance and preferably displays the values in a superimposed manner on the video display. For example, the first game can be a card game while the second game is a dice game. Video representations of the card suit and value for each card in the card game are displayed along with dice values shown on the cards. The outcomes of the second game of chance are preferably employed to determine an outcome, such as a payout or award, for example, of the first game of chance.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system includes a method of conducting a wagering game. The method includes identifying a player as a member of certain group, and offering the player options related to the wagering game. The options are unavailable to players who are not members of the certain group.

Abstract: A method to implement a casino blackjack game which uses a community card. A plurality of players are each dealt a single card and the dealer is also dealt a single card. A single community card is also dealt face up. The community card becomes one of the initial cards in each of the players' hands and the dealer's hand. Thus, each player begins the game using their respective card and the community card as their starting hand. The dealer begins the game using the dealer's card (typically dealt face down) and the community card as the dealer's starting hand.

Abstract: A blackjack tournament including a plurality of players, each seated at a single player table with the same predetermined starting amount of funds to wager, each player being dealt to from at least one deck of playing cards arranged in the same predetermined order as the at least one deck used for each other player.

Abstract: A method of playing a poker game comprising the steps of: providing a number N of card-boxes at a player's instance; providing for selection of at least one of a predetermined number n of card-boxes from said number N of card-boxes as a player's card-box selection; dealing a card to each of the number N of card-boxes; determining a player's hand based on the cards of the player's card-box selection; dealing as dealer's cards a number of cards determined by the number of player's card-box selection; determining a dealer's hand based on the dealer's cards; and determining a winning hand over the player's and dealer's hand according to a predetermined paytable.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for providing, operating, hosting and conducting wagering games for at least two participating players including distributing randomly generated playing cards to form a partial hand of at least four playing cards for each of the participating players, providing a community group of at least three playing cards, conducting one or more wagering events until the values of at least three of the playing cards in the community group are known to the participating players, determining the winner of the game as one of either the participating player remaining if no other players continue as participating players in the game or the participating player achieving a final hand of the highest poker rank when compared with the final hands of the participating players, transferring a portion of the wagers received to a game host, and transferring the remaining portion of the wagers received to the determined winner.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for providing, hosting and conducting a wagering game associated with Blackjack, which includes steps and/or components configured for generating a random initial hand of playing cards in the underlying game to form an initial player hand and an initial dealer hand; comparing the random initial player hand of playing cards with a preset qualifying criteria comprising the initial player hand being composed of playing cards which are consecutively ranked; conducting the Blackjack game until a final outcome is achieved; determining a payout award which is at least partially determined by the number of consecutively ranked playing cards in the final player hand if the preset qualifying criteria is satisfied by the initial player hand; and providing the determined payout award or collecting the wager if the preset qualifying criteria is not satisfied.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a casino gaming system including a select and drag feature. In the system, a gaming device is capable of enabling play of a game of chance, wherein the game of chance displays multiple game positions for insertion of values related to the game of chance. Also, the system includes a processor associated with the gaming device, and the processor includes an algorithm allowing a player to select an initial value in one of the game positions and then copy the initially selected value into another game position. The select and drag feature may be used with any game, including a lottery style game.

Abstract: Embodiments related to conducting a wagering game according to the rules of a base game includes defining a finite set of game indicia. In some embodiments the player plays multiple sequential game hand by placing a wager, receiving game indicia from the finite set cumulatively excluding any game indicia previously dealt, playing the game hand to completion, collecting the game indicia from the player and excluding the dealt game indicia from further play, and displaying at least the excluded game indicia or any winning combinations precluded by the excluded game indicia. In some embodiments the game hands continue in sequence until a restoration event, which may include a manually triggered restoration or an automatic restoration event, that restores the excluded game indicia. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Blackjack and Blackjack-related card games are provided in which the speed of play is increased over the conventional ways these games are played. After the initial cards are provided to each of the players, determinations regarding the order in which players are to receive requested, additional cards are made using a control that communicates with terminals. The player who is determined to be the first to make a request for another card is provided the next additional card(s). Such determinations rely on requests generated by the players using input elements associated with their terminals. For each set of one or more additional cards being requested, one or more players make a request using the player's input element. A number of such sets of requests are typically made until all players are finished receiving requested cards. Accordingly, players do not need to wait until one or more other players have completed their game play before being able to receive their own additional card(s).

Abstract: A modified version of a Blackjack game includes a plurality of Blackjack rules including at least one player rule and at least one dealer rule. The modified Blackjack game includes at least one deck of cards, a plurality of participant hands formable from the deck, and a plurality of game administrator hands formable from the deck. A game outcome can be produced by applying the player rule to at least one of the game administrator hands, and by applying the dealer rule to at least one of the participant hands.

Abstract: A method to implement a blackjack variation. The dealer is dealt an up-card and a hole-card. If the up-card is a 10-valued card, then the dealer peeks at the hole-card, and if the hole-card is also a 10-valued card, then the dealer will burn both the up-card and the hole-card (which are both 10-valued cards), and deal two additional cards to the dealer which become the dealer's hand. The game then proceeds normally.

Abstract: A board game with a timing feature is disclosed. The board game includes a board with several bonus spaces or premium spaces that can change in value and/or availability as a game progresses. The board also includes indicator associated with the bonus or premium spaces that indicate whether the bonus or premium spaces are available and whether their values have changed.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable storage medium to provide a variation of a blackjack game. The player does not make any strategy decisions as the player must play his or her hand out according to a predetermined strategy. The dealer also players his or her hand out according to a predetermined strategy.

Abstract: A method of managing a blackjack game is provided. A blackjack game bet comprising a bet against a house entity on a blackjack hand is received from a player. A pair of cards is determined for a hand for the house entity, and another pair of cards is determined for a hand for the player. The odds of the occurrence of one or more subsequent events are determined based at least in part on one or more of the pair of cards selected for the house entity's hand and one or more of the pair of cards selected for the player's hand. The odds for an additional bet are determined based at least on the determined odds for the one or more subsequent events, and the additional bet is offered to the player at the determined odds for the additional bet.

Abstract: A gaming device having a primary game and a secondary game is provided. The gaming device includes a primary game, such as blackjack or 21 operable on a wager by a player, and an optional secondary game that is operable on a secondary game wager by a player. After placing a secondary game wager and satisfying certain criteria in the primary game, one or more players are provided with a secondary game card to be used in the secondary game. The secondary game is resolved after a player has accumulated a plurality of secondary game cards over the course of several sequentially played rounds of the primary game.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a symbol recognition arrangement for recognizing a symbol of a gambling device, comprising an image capturing device, and a control unit connected to the image capturing device. The control unit may be configured for arranging the image capturing device in a non-capture mode, acquiring a signal from an external gaming control system, evaluating the acquired signal, arranging the image capturing device in a capture mode if successfully evaluating the acquired signal and subsequently capturing an image of the gambling device, recognizing a symbol of the gambling device, and providing a result relating to the recognized symbol to a user. Advantages with the invention include for example increased security in relation to manual operation of a dice game.

Abstract: A method of managing a blackjack game is provided. A blackjack game bet comprising a bet against a house entity on a blackjack hand is received from a player. A pair of cards is determined for a hand for the house entity, and another pair of cards is determined for a hand for the player. The odds of the occurrence of one or more subsequent events are determined based at least in part on one or more of the pair of cards selected for the house entity's hand and one or more of the pair of cards selected for the player's hand. The odds for an additional bet are determined based at least on the determined odds for the one or more subsequent events, and the additional bet is offered to the player at the determined odds for the additional bet.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and products for self-contained casino gaming haptics are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system for casino gaming haptics includes a touch-sensitive input device configured to sense a contact from a user; an actuator coupled to the touch-sensitive input device, the actuator configured to output a haptic effect to the touch-sensitive input device; and a processor in communication with the touch-sensitive input device and the actuator, the processor configured to: generate a display signal configured to cause an image associated with a casino game to be displayed; receive an input signal from the touch-sensitive input device associated with the contact; determine an interaction between the contact and the image; and generate an actuator signal associated with the interaction, the actuator signal configured to cause the actuator to generate a haptic effect.

Abstract: A game table having a multiplayer interactive display/input device which enables multiple players to simultaneously play primary or base wagering games and/or secondary or bonus games using the display/input device. The display/input device enables multiple players to simultaneously interact with the game table and the various games using the same display/input device. The game table enables multiple players to manipulate displayed objects (such as virtual cards or other game symbols) displayed by the display/input device at the same time. This enables the display/input device to simultaneously display the same game to multiple players in an integrated seamless manner without the need for multiple different sets of display devices and input devices for each of the players.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a Blackjack game where one or more players play against a dealer. The Blackjack game employs a designated set of cards, which includes one or more designated decks of cards. In addition to standard card symbols of rank and suit, each card in each designated deck of cards includes one of a plurality of secondary symbols associated with a secondary game. Each player makes a primary game wager on a play of the Blackjack game. Each player also has the option of placing an optional second wager. For each player who placed the optional second wager, if that player's hand in the play of the Blackjack game includes a designated outcome, the player accumulates one or more of the secondary symbols indicated by the cards in the player's hand.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for resolving a hand of blackjack played by a player. If it is determined that the hand of blackjack has resulted in a push, then it is determined if the player has won the hand of blackjack based on a random outcome. For example, a dealer may receive from the player an indication of a wager amount associated with a hand of blackjack. The hand of blackjack may then be played according to traditional rules. If it is determined that the hand has resulted in a push, an indication of a random outcome may be received. The random outcome may be, for example, statistically independent of the hand of blackjack. Based on the random outcome, it is determined if the player has won the hand of blackjack. If the player has won, he or she receives payment of a winning amount based on the wager amount.