Abstract:
A player at a casino is provided the opportunity to wager an additional bet to win an additional reward in which several types of games and a plurality of tables of each set vie for the same reward. Each gaming table has a playing surface suitable for use by a game, and all the game tables participating in the universal non-progressive reward have the same predetermined number of play stations, or a multiple of that number. Each play station also has an identification number or symbol which is one of a set of identification numbers, with each number in the set occurring the same number of times at each table. The game includes an additional reward token purchasable by a player which is displayed on the play surface to designate that the player is wagering in the game. Each type of casino game has a set of winning conditions under which a player positioned at a given play station is entitled to win a portion of the additional reward.

Description:
The present application is a continuation in part of the applicant&#39;s prior co-pending application filed Feb. 1, 1999 as Ser. No. 09/243,353 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,533 which in turn was a continuation in part of an application filed Oct. 30, 1997 as Ser. No. 08/961,357 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,283. The present invention relates to supplemental casino games, and in particular to an additional non-progressive reward which can be employed with any of a number of games played in a casino. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Casinos have a number of games which appeal to a person&#39;s temptation to take a risk, with the hope and expectation that the risk taken at the right time and under the right circumstances will result in a return which far exceeds the investment. A typical casino provides many games to a prospective customer including blackjack, poker, baccarat, roulette, craps and slots. 
     Recently, progressive games have been introduced into casino play. The progressive game includes a jackpot and participants who wish to wager on the progressive game contributing a fixed wagering amount by token or cash into a jackpot, and if the participant does not win, a portion of his contribution is added to the jackpot. Accordingly the jackpot becomes progressively larger with each unsuccessful bet until a winner is determined. 
     Jones, U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,041 taught a method whereby a progressive game could be offered as a side bet to a game of poker. In our prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,248 we taught a method whereby a progressive game could be offered as a side bet to a game of craps. In our prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,285 we also taught a method whereby a progressive game could be offered as a side bet to a game of baccarat. 
     Casinos have found that progressive games facilitate in the attraction of players into games, the retention of players who have already engaged in a game, and on the whole, increase table or slot profitability. Casinos are, therefore, seeking to incorporate a supplemental game with each type of game played within the casino. 
     There are however certain draw backs to incorporating a progressive game into the play at the tables of a casino. First, such games require the programming of a computer to receive impute from all the participating tables and the modification of the gaming tables to receive the associated hardware. Once installed a progressive game will attract participation from players after a sizeable jackpot has been built up, but it will draw little interest for a lengthy period of time during which the jackpot is small following a “win.” Also, the mechanical equipment needed to operate existing progressive games are subject to declaring a false winner or may overlook a legitimate winner. It would be desirable therefore to provide a supplemental reward to the players of a gaming table which would attract participation by players immediately after a “win,” which would not be subject to declaring a false winner or overlooking a true winner, and would not require the modification of gaming tables to receive necessary hardware. 
     It would also be desirable to provide a non-progressive reward which would interact with a number of different games in the casino. It would also be desirable to have a reward whereby a player at a black jack table could participate and win a portion of a reward jackpot in the event of the occurrence of a given winning combination in a poker hand at a distant table in the casino. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the present invention is embodied in a universal non-progressive additional reward wherein a player at a casino is provided the opportunity to wager an additional bet to win the additional reward where there are several types of games with each type game played on a plurality of tables. In accordance with the invention, each gaming table has a playing surface suitable for use by the game for which the playing surface is intended, and all the game tables participating in the universal non-progressive reward have the same predetermined number of play stations, or a multiple of the predetermined number with each play station suitable for use by one player. Each play station also has an identification number or symbol which is one of a set of identification numbers equal in number to the predetermined number, with each number in the set occurring the same number of times at each table. 
     The game includes an additional reward token or other negotiable item purchasable by a player in advance of play at one of the play tables, the token to be displayed on the play surface at the commencement of the play of a game at a table to designate that the player is wagering in the game for the additional reward. 
     Each type of casino game has a set of winning conditions under which a player positioned at a given play station is entitled to win a portion of the additional reward. A player at play station number  4  of a blackjack table, for example, would win a portion of the additional reward if he deposits an additional reward token on the table before the commencement of a hand and he was dealt a pair of fours, and the dealer was likewise dealt a pair of fours on both of their first two cards. The set of conditions under which a player at a numbered play station of a blackjack table, therefore, has a winning combination if the cards dealt to both the dealer and the player are identical to the number of his play station. 
     For roulette, a player at a play station bearing a given number who deposits an additional reward token on the table to participate in the game would win if the player bets on a number associated with his play station, the ball comes to rest in the hole for that number, and the rotating portion of the wheel stops with the ball against a section of the surrounding race which bears the same number as the player&#39;s play position. 
     A player at a play station of a poker table who has deposited an additional reward token on the table has a winning combination when the dealer has a completed hand of four of a kind and the four cards correspond to the number of his play position. 
     A player at a slot machine would win if he deposits the maximum number of coins in the machine, including one for the additional reward, and the top award combination occurs on the reels after the handle has been pulled, and the top award includes a number corresponding to the number of the player&#39;s play station. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention there is but one winner of an additional reward for each play. In accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention, when the selected set of conditions for winning a reward occurs for a first player at a first play station having a given first number, a portion of the jackpot is paid to a second player positioned at a second play station for which an additional reward token has been deposited on the table and the number for the play station of the second player is identical to that of the first play station. In this embodiment the first player becomes a primary winner and the second player is a secondary winner, both of whom share in the reward. Any of a number of formulas may be used for apportioning the reward between the first and second players. 
     The invention further envisions a proxy additional reward wherein a player may wager on the possibility that the additional reward will be won at a play station identified by a number different from the player&#39;s own play station number. The proxy additional reward game may be played by requiring the player to deposit an additional reward token on one or more of the six numbered locations on a betting zone having locations marked for receiving tokes, one location for each of the six play stations. 
     In our U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,248 we disclosed a craps game and table having six play stations for receiving six players at the game and a progressive game employing a first pair of dice for playing a conventional craps game and a third die for playing the progressive part of the game. Substantially the same rules apply to the game for the non-progressive reward. In the parent to the present application we also disclosed a baccarat game in which a player at a play station with a given number will win a progressive game if the first two cards in the player&#39;s hand and the first two cards in the banker&#39;s hand all bear numbers identical to the number of the play station. Those rules are also useable in playing for a non-progressive reward. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the players at any combination of a number of types of casino games can vie for the same additional reward. To integrate a number of types of games to compete for a single additional reward, the number of play stations on each game table suitable for vying for the additional reward must be the same for all tables, or a multiple of that number. In the preferred embodiment the play tables of all games will have six play stations to accommodate six players or twelve stations to accommodate twelve players. A gaming table for craps was disclosed in our prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,248 would accommodate six players. The table disclosed by Jones U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,041 can be adapted to accept six players and in like manner all of the game tables of each type of game in the casino vying for the additional reward would have six play stations, each of which is numbered one through six, or twelve play stations in two sets of six numbered locations. 
     The game can be configured such that there is only one winner when a winning combination arises. Alternately, when a first player at a first play station receives a winning combination, the rules can provide that a second player at a second table at a play station having a number identical to that of the first play station will share in the universal additional reward if he has deposited an additional reward token on the table. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A better understanding of the present invention will be obtained after a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of a play surface for use with a game of baccarat; 
     FIG. 2 is a top elevational view of a betting zone for a proxy additional reward; 
     FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of play surface for use with a game of roulette; 
     FIG. 4 is a roulette wheel for use in the table shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a top elevational view of play surface for use with a game of craps; 
     FIG. 6 is a top elevational view of a play surface for use with a game of poker or blackjack; 
     FIG. 7 is a shake container to be used with the crap table shown in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a bank of slot machines configured to participate in a game for an additional reward; and 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of an alternate embodiment of a baccarat table. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a baccarat table  10  has a banker&#39;s edge  11  allowing a dealer seated in a chair  12  to face a plurality of players positioned at play stations along the arcuate outer edge  13 . Six play stations  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19  are depicted and each of the play stations bears an identification number such that the play stations  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19  are numbered one through six respectively. The table includes an area  22  where the dealer can retain chips and a drop slot  26  into which cash exchanged by the gambling establishment for chips may be placed. 
     An important element of the universal reward is that the same set of numbers (preferable  1  through  6 ) are assigned to the play stations of every table vying for the additional reward, and every table has the same given numbers (preferably  6 ) of separately numbered play stations or a multiple of that given number (preferably  12 ). 
     Although the play stations  14 - 19  are described as being “numbered” and are depicted as bearing numerals  1  through  6 , it should be appreciated that the play stations could be identified by lettering them A, B, C, D, E and F. Other symbols may also be used to identify the various play station positions, and for the purposes of this discussion the terms “numbered,” “identification numbers” or “numbering” shall refer to all such methods of identification. 
     Baccarat is generally played at a table which can accommodate more than six players, and a larger baccarat table such as shown in FIG. 9 can be employed with the present invention where numbers of play stations at a larger table are a multiple of the number of play stations at a smaller table. The table  27  is depicted as having twelve play stations divided into two groups of six with each group being numbered one though six. 
     The rules of the game of baccarat are well known and are not set forth herein, however, each of the six play stations  14 - 19  has markings suitable for use in the game of baccarat including a player bet area  30 , a bank bet area  32 , and tie bet area  34 . The bet areas  30 ,  32 ,  34  are intended to receive chips from a player at the play station who desires to place a bet on the success of the player or the banker, or for a tie, on each hand of baccarat. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, each play station  14 - 19  also has a proxy additional reward betting zone  35  for receiving additional reward tokens for wagering on the proxy additional reward. The proxy additional reward betting zone  35  has six betting locations  36  in an array, the six locations numbered  1  through  6  as shown in FIG.  2 . To place a proxy additional reward bet on a play station number (including the number of the player&#39;s own play station) the player will deposit an additional reward token on the numbered location  36  for the play station number of his choice. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a roulette table  40  is generally rectangular in shape with a first long side  42  for use by a dealer, an opposing second long side  44  and first and second short sides  46 ,  48  respectively. A roulette wheel  50  is positioned near the first short side  46  and a betting pattern  52  is positioned adjacent to the roulette wheel  50  and adjacent the first long side  40  such that a dealer can operate the wheel  50  and supervise bets. Four play stations numbered  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56 , extend along the second long side  44  and two play stations numbered  57 ,  58  extend along the second short side  48  as shown. The play stations  53 - 58  are numbered  1  through  6  respectively and each play station has a betting area  60  with markings thereon suitable for placing bets for the game of roulette. Each play station  53 - 58  further has a proxy additional reward betting zone  35  as described above and shown in FIG. 2 for use to bet on the proxy additional reward. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the wheel  62  used in conjunction with a progressive game has a stationary annular outer race  63  with ridges  64  and canoes  65  thereon, and an annular lip  66  surrounding the race  63 . The rotating central portion  67  of the wheel  62  includes a capstan  68 , and near the peripheral edge are the numbers  69  on the wheel. Inward of the numbers  69  is a separation ring  70  with a plurality of separator holes, one of each of the numbers  69 . In accordance with the present invention, the annular outer race  63  is divided into eight sections,  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 ,  75 ,  76 ,  77 ,  78  of which sections  71 ,  72 ,  73  are identified with indicia numbers  1 ,  2 , and  3  respective and sections  75 ,  76 ,  77  are identified with indicia numbers  4 ,  5  and  6  respectively as shown. Sections  74  and  75  are left unnumbered. 
     The rules for playing roulette, like the rules of all casino games, are well known and are not set forth at length herein except for the portions thereof which relate to the progressive game. In the course of the game, players bet on one or more of the numbers  69  after which the central portion  67  is spun and the ball  79  is rolled around the race  63  and against the annular lip  66 . Eventually the ball  79  will come to stop in a hole identified by one of the numbers  69 . When the central portion  67  stops rotating, the numbered hole in which the ball has landed will be against one of the eight sections  71 - 78 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5, crap table  80  has a substantially linear dealer&#39;s side  82  and an arcuate outer edge  83  with six play stations  84 ,  85 ,  86 ,  87 ,  88 ,  89 , each of which is numbered  1  through  6  respectively as shown. The use of the table  80  and the rules of the game of craps are set forth in detail in our above mentioned prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,248 and are incorporated herein by reference. For the purposes of the present invention, however, the table  80  includes a bank roll  90  for use by a dealer positioned along the linear side  82  and each of the play stations  84 - 89  includes a proxy additional reward betting zone  35  allowing the players to wager for a proxy additional reward. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, a table  96  suitable for use for a game of poker or a game of blackjack in a casino is depicted. The table  96  has a generally linear banker&#39;s side  98 , and an arcuate outer edge  100  along which are six play stations  102 ,  103 ,  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  107  numbered  1  through  6  respectively. Like the play stations of the preceding tables, the play stations of the poker and black jack tables has markings suitable for use by a player of the game. Each play station  102 - 107  also has a proxy additional reward betting zone  35 . 
     In accordance with the present invention, each casino game has a preselected set of winning conditions for participating in the jackpot of a progressive game. In the preferred embodiment, the winning combination for baccarat would occur when the first two cards dealt to a player&#39;s hand and the first two cards dealt to a dealer&#39;s hand are all identical and are equal to the numerical identification of the play station at which the player is seated. For example, a player at station four has a winning combination when the player&#39;s hand and the banker&#39;s hand both have a pair of fours. Similarly, a player at play station six has a winning combination when the player&#39;s hand and the banker&#39;s hand both have a pair of sixes. 
     For roulette, the preferred embodiment of the winning combination requires that a player first bet on a number associated with his play station. For example, the numbers  4 ,  14 ,  24 , and  34  are the numbers associated with play station four and the numbers  15 ,  25 , and  35  are the numbers associated with play station five. The winning combination occurs when the ball lands in a number associated with the player&#39;s play station and the rotating portion of the wheel  69  comes to rest with the ball against the section  71 - 78  bearing the same number as that of the player&#39;s play position. 
     In our prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,248 we disclosed how a progressive game can be linked to a crap table as shown in FIG. 5 where the dice are enclosed in a shake container  116  as shown in FIG.  7 . The container  116  is made of a transparent material such as acrylic and has a first chamber  118  for retaining a first pair of dice for use in the game of craps, and a second chamber  119  which retains a third die employed in the progressive game. A player at a play station bearing one of the numbers one through six has a winning combination when the shake container  116  is turned and causes the dice to tumble and come to rest with the numbers showing “up” on all three of the dice being identical and equal to the number assigned to his play station. 
     Referring to FIG. 8, the winning combination for a player before a numbered slot machine  120 A to  120 F in a bank  121  occurs when the player has deposited the maximum number of coins into the machine  120 , including a coin into an additional reward game receptor  122  and, after pulling the handle, the reels display a combination for the top award available on the machine. When the winning combination occurs at a slot machine  120  and an additional reward token has been deposited in a receptor  122 , the machine  120  will send a signal to a central recording center  123  to acknowledge that the player has won both the jackpot for the machine and the additional reward. 
     The slot machines  120 A to  120 F are preferably arranged in banks with the number of machines in each bank equal to the given number (preferable  6 ) and each machine in the bank bearing one of the set of numbers ( 1  to  6 ). Although the seat number of a slot machine is not a factor in determining whether the player is a winner when he pulls the handle, the seat number is important for determining whether the player is entitled to a portion of the additional reward. 
     For poker, the winning combination occurs when a dealer&#39;s completed hand has four of a kind and the numbers on the four cards are equal to the identification number for the play station at which a player is positioned. 
     For the game of blackjack, the winning combination occurs when the player&#39;s first two “up” cards are a pair and the dealer&#39;s first two cards (including the dealer&#39;s “up” cards and the dealer&#39;s “down” cards) are a pair and both are showing the same number as the player&#39;s play station. 
     Experienced poker and blackjack players who are capable of remembering the cards that have previously been played can count the high cards and determine changes in the odds. Players who count cards find it desirable to be in the last play position, that is the sixth person to be dealt cards, which is the player to the dealer&#39;s right. It is desirable therefore for the dealer at the table to deal each hand starting with a different player by utilizing a marker as shown in our first U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,248, however, the rotation of the dealer position will not change the play station number for a player. 
     To participate in the game for an additional reward a player will purchase additional reward tokens from the cashier at the same time that he is purchasing chips for use at the gaming tables. He will then sit at a play station bearing a number from the given set ( 1  through  6 ). While at the table the player will play the game of the table, and if he desires to participate in the play for the additional reward, he will deposit an additional reward token on the table. This can be done by placing the token in an area of the table marked for receiving additional reward tokens, or by placing the token in a place which according to prearranged terms, signals the dealer that the token is in play. The prearranged terms may require the player to place the token on top of a stack of tokens being wagered, or along sides of a stack of tokens being wagered. 
     The player can also participate in a game for a proxy additional reward by depositing an additional reward token on the numbered location in the proxy additional reward betting array  35 . 
     When a player who has deposited a token for an additional reward on the table obtains a winning combination, the dealer will acknowledge the winning combination thereby allowing the player to participate in the award. In one embodiment of the game, only the player who has the winning combination and has deposited a token to participate in the additional reward is a winner. In another embodiment all other players vying for the additional reward who have deposited tokens to participate in the additional reward and are sitting at a station bearing a number ( 1  through  6 ) identical to the number of the winning play station are secondary winners who participate in a percentage of the additional reward along with the primary winner having the winning combination. In a third embodiment, proxy additional reward players who have deposited tokens on the numbered betting zones  36  in their proxy additional reward betting array  35  which correspond to the number of the winning play station number would also participate in the reward. 
     After each winner of the additional reward the casino will reinstate the additional reward jackpot and the play for the additional reward will be renewed. 
     A unique quality of the universal additional reward game is that players at many types of games may all play to win a portion of the same additional reward. A single reward will therefore attract players into a wide number of table games. Another quality of the game is that in the conditions for winning the card games, namely blackjack and poker, the dealer&#39;s hand determines the winning combination. A player cannot, therefore, determine whether he is a winner until the hand is completed, thereby extending interest in the game until the end of the hand. 
     While several embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that many variations and modifications can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended by the following claims to cover all such modifications and variations which come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.