Abstract:
A Baccarat wagering method is provided for a game of Baccarat lasting at least two rounds of play in which provision is made for placing a bet on an outcome of each round of play ending in a win for a Player hand or a win for a Banker hand. The method includes the steps of determining if the Banker hand wins with a predetermined points total, paying the same odds for a win on the Player hand as for a win on the Banker hand during all rounds of play if the Banker hand does not win with the predetermined points total, and omitting to pay winnings during that, first round of play at least when the Banker hand wins with the predetermined points total. Instead, when the Banker hand does not win with the predetermined points total the winnings are paid out in a subsequent, second round of play.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    THIS INVENTION relates to gaming. In particular, the invention relates to a Baccarat wagering method, to a Baccarat playing surface, and to a computer controlled version of Baccarat. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    Baccarat is a card game widely played in casinos worldwide. It originated in Europe, initially being reserved only for the aristocracy and very wealthy (it was originally referred to as the “Game of Kings”). The name of the game, “Baccarat”, means zero, which is also how a total of zero is referred to in the game. 
         [0005]    There are several different names for and versions of the game, such as Chemin de Fer, Punto Banco, and Baccarat, with only slight, if any, rule differences. For the purposes of this application all of these versions are considered to be one and the same. 
         [0006]    There are three game sizes of Baccarat, all sharing the same rules, although the procedure of play is slightly different: Big Baccarat (14-seater table), Midi-Baccarat (9-seater table), and Mini-Baccarat (7-seater table). 
         [0007]    Baccarat is played using more than one deck of cards (typically eight decks) consisting of 52 cards per deck. Joker cards are not used. The cards are shuffled by a dealer before the commencement of the game and are then dealt from a box known as a shoe. Baccarat has three betting options that a betting player can exercise: bets can be placed on the “Player” winning a round of play, the “Banker” winning a round, or a “Tie” between the “Player” and the “Banker”. Players or participants indicate their bets on the “Player”, the “Banker”, or a “Tie” between the “Player” and the “Banker”, by placing tokens on the appropriate fields or zones demarcated on the playing surface. The terms “Player” and “Banker” do not refer to the actual participants and the dealer, but only refer to the available betting options as indicated by the appropriate zones on the table. 
         [0008]    The object of the game is to guess which of the two hands dealt (Player or Banker) in a round of play will have a final card total equal to 9, or a card total closest to 9, where 9 is the highest possible count and 0 the lowest count. The card total in a hand is calculated by adding the value of the cards in the hand, modulo 10. In other words, all digits except the least significant digit of the card total are discarded. If the combined total was 15, the card total for the purposes of Baccarat will be 5. 
         [0009]    Ace cards have a value of 1, ten cards and picture cards have a value of 0, and all other cards are counted at their face value. For example, if a hand consists of a picture card and a 5, the total count in the hand is 5. The card value can only range from 0 to 9. Suits e.g. Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs or Spades, have no relevance in conventional Baccarat. 
         [0010]    Once all bets have been placed, two cards are dealt to each of the Player and the Banker; the first and third cards going to the Player, and the second and fourth cards to the Banker. 
         [0011]    Clearly marked areas on the playing surface indicate where the cards for the Player and the Banker are placed. 
         [0012]    Each of the Player hand and the Banker hand will always consist of a minimum of two, and a maximum of three cards. If the Player hand requires a third card, it will be dealt before the Banker hand may receive a third card. Rules for determining whether or not a third card is to be dealt are as follows:
       if the Player or the Banker has a card total of 8 or 9 on the first two cards, they “stand”, i.e. no further cards are drawn. This rule overrides all other rules;   if the Player&#39;s initial two-card total is 5 or less, another card is dealt to the Player, otherwise the Player stands. If the Player stands, the Banker will be dealt another card only if it has an initial two-card total of 5 or less; otherwise the Banker stands; and   if the Player is dealt a third card, the value of this card will determine whether the Banker will also receive a third card or not. The chart below is used for reference to determine whether the Banker will be dealt a third card or not, where “H” (hit) indicates that a further card is dealt and “S” (stand) indicates that no further card is dealt.       
 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Player&#39;s third card 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 0 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 4 
                 5 
                 6 
                 7 
                 8 
                 9 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Banker&#39;s initial two- 
                 7 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
               
               
                 card total 
                 6 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
                 H 
                 H 
                 S 
                 S 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
                 S 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 S 
                 S 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 S 
                 S 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 S 
                 S 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 S 
                 H 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
                 H 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 The set of rules according to which the cards are dealt in Baccarat is known as the Baccarat Tableau (or the “Baccarat Card Drawing Rules”). 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0016]    Once both the Player hand and the Banker hand have received all the cards required according to the Baccarat Tableau, the result of the round is announced by the dealer, e.g. “Banker wins 5 over 4”. 
         [0017]    A bet placed on the Player wins if the Player hand has a higher final card total than the Banker hand, it loses if the Banker hand has the highest final card total, and it stands (neither wins nor loses) if the final card total of the Player and Banker hands are equal, i.e. tied. 
         [0018]    A bet on the Banker wins if the Banker hand has a higher final card total than the Player hand, it loses if the Player hand has the highest final card total and it stands if the final card total of the Player and Banker hands are equal, i.e. tied. 
         [0019]    A bet on a Tie wins if the final totals of the Player and Banker hands are tied, and loses in all other cases. In the event of a Tie between the Player and Banker hands, participants may remove and/or adjust their bets on the Player or the Banker before the commencement of the next round. 
         [0020]    Once the result of the round of play has been determined, all bets are settled by the dealer (winning bets are paid, and losing bets are collected by the dealer). 
         [0021]    A winning Player bet is paid at an equal ratio of the bet placed, i.e. for every $100 wagered, the player will be paid $100 (plus the player will retain his original bet). 
         [0022]    A winning Banker bet is paid at a ratio of 19 to 20, i.e. a 5% commission is deducted from what is paid, i.e. for every $100 wagered a payment of $95 is made (plus the player will retain his original bet). 
         [0023]    A winning Tie bet is paid at a ratio of 8 to 1, i.e. for every $100 wagered, the player will be paid $800, plus the player will retain his original bet. In some variations of the game the payment ratio is 9 to 1 for a winning Tie bet. 
         [0024]    The so called “house advantage” (HA) on the respective bets refers to the mathematical calculations that determine a casino&#39;s profit on the game. This “House Advantage” indicates the difference between the odds (ratio) paid to a customer for a winning bet, and the actual probability (odds) of the event occurring. 
         [0025]    Typically the Banker bet has a HA of 1.06%, the Player bet has a HA of 1.24%, and the Tie bet has a HA of 14.36% (at payment ratio of 8 to 1), or 4.84% (at payment ratio of 9 to 1). 
         [0026]    The deduction of the 5% commission from a winning Banker bet is necessitated by the difference in statistical win frequency between the Player and Banker hands. The commission deduction is necessary to maintain a positive HA on the Banker bet, irrespective of the difference in the statistical win frequency between the Player and Banker hands. The statistical win frequencies are typically as follows for eight-deck Baccarat:
       the Banker will win 45.85% of hands dealt;   the Player will win 44.62% of hands dealt; and   the Player and Banker hands will be tied (have the same final total) 9.52% of hands dealt.       
 
         [0030]    Because winning Tie bets have no influence on Player or Banker bets (Player and Banker bets stand—neither win nor lose—in the event of a tied hand), it follows that the Banker will win 50.7% of all hands dealt which do not end up in ties, and the Player will win the remaining 49.3%. Casinos therefore charge the 5% commission on winning Banker bets to eliminate this difference in statistical win-frequency. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    In recent years side bets have become quite a common sight on most table games. Side bets are wagers other than the primary wagers available on the traditional version of the game in question. Side bets normally do not affect the way the normal game is played, but run independently. They typically have a much higher house advantage than the “normal” bets on the game, which is how they justify their existence. Many of these side bets have progressive jackpots to be won, where a small, typically fixed betting amount could win the owner a relative fortune. Examples of casino table games with popular progressive side bet jackpots include “Caribbean Stud Poker” and “Let-it-Ride Poker”. Several progressive side bet jackpots have been designed for Baccarat, but none have been as successful as those on the poker variations. 
         [0032]    The Inventor believes that existing Baccarat progressive jackpot variants have several drawbacks: 
         [0033]    Progressive bets, generally, are side bets; meaning they require an optional, additional and dedicated bet to be placed in order for the player to qualify for any payment within the framework of the progressive jackpot. A side bet is not generally part of the primary game. 
         [0034]    Progressive side bets usually have a very low probability of winning and hence a very high probability of losing. In Caribbean Stud Poker, for example, the progressive side bet generally only pays out once in about 270 hands. 
         [0035]    Players may usually only wager a small amount on a progressive jackpot; also, the required bet is generally a fixed amount, or, at best, a very small spread (maybe between 1 and 10 betting units). In contrast to this, the primary bets on Baccarat allow betting spreads (multiples) of anything up to 1000 betting units. A betting unit is the minimum betting amount allowed, and the spread is the number of times that the maximum can be divided by the minimum, so if you were playing at a table with a minimum bet of $100 and a maximum bet of $100,000 that would give you a 1000-spread. 
         [0036]    Player participation is particularly difficult to achieve with existing Baccarat progressive side bet jackpots, due to the fact that Baccarat players are notoriously difficult to engage in progressive side bets. 
         [0037]    According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a Baccarat wagering method, implemented on a computer having a processor and a memory coupled to said processor, in a game of Baccarat lasting at least two rounds of play in which provision is made for placing a bet on an outcome of each round of play ending in a win for a Player hand or a win for a Banker hand, the method including the steps of 
         [0038]    determining if the Banker hand wins with a predetermined points total; 
         [0039]    paying, or at least indicating payment of the same odds for a win on the Player hand as for a win on the Banker hand during all rounds of play if the Banker hand does not win with a predetermined points total; 
         [0040]    omitting to pay or to indicate payment of winnings during that, first round of play at least when the Banker hand wins with said predetermined points total, but instead paying out, or at least indicating payment of the winnings in a subsequent, second round of play; and 
         [0041]    when the winnings for said first round of play are paid out in said subsequent, second round of play, or when indicating that the winnings for said first round of play are to be paid out in said subsequent, second round of play, determining the quantum of the winnings for said first round of play based on a predetermined payment table or schedule using as input the outcome of said subsequent, second round of play, 
         [0042]    wherein at least some of the steps are performed using said processor. 
         [0043]    According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a Baccarat wagering method in a game of Baccarat lasting at least two rounds of play in which provision is made for placing a bet on an outcome of each round of play ending in a win for a Player hand or a win for a Banker hand, the method including paying the same odds for a win on the Player hand as for a win on the Banker hand during all rounds of play, except at least when the Banker hand wins with a predetermined points total, when no winnings are paid during that, first round of play but instead the winnings are paid out in a subsequent, second round of play and the quantum of the winnings for the first round of play is determined based on a predetermined payment table or schedule using as input the outcome of said subsequent, second round of play. 
         [0044]    The invention extends to a Baccarat wagering method in which a bet that is placed as a primary bet in a first round of play of a primary Baccarat game takes on at least some of the characteristics of a jackpot or side-wager so that access is obtained to a jackpot-style pay table in a second round of play when a Banker hand wins with a predetermined points total in said first round of play, thereby qualifying players for entry into a progressive or jackpot bet by means of merely participating in said primary Baccarat game without an additional, dedicated bet being required to take part in the progressive or jackpot bet. 
         [0045]    The Card Drawing Rules, according to which the winning results are determined, may be identical to the traditional Baccarat Tableau. As in a conventional game of Baccarat, there may be two primary wagers on which players may place bets; the “Player” bet, and the “Banker” bet, as well as a secondary bet, the “Tie” bet. The Player bet may be the same as in traditional Baccarat; all winning Player bets may be paid even money, regardless of winning total. The Tie bet may also be identical to traditional Baccarat; when the final totals of the Player and Banker hands are tied; e.g. a winning Tie bet may pay odds of 8 to 1. In contrast to traditional Baccarat, where all winning Banker bets are charged a 5% commission, the Banker bet of the present invention however pays the same as for a winning Player bet, e.g. even money for all winning Banker totals, except when the Banker wins on a predetermined points total, in which case the bet is not paid immediately. Instead, the specific card denominations of the next round of play determine the level of payment, based on a fixed payment schedule known to the players. 
         [0046]    Said predetermined points total for the Banker hand in the first round of play may be seven. 
         [0047]    The method, when said game of Baccarat is played on a physical support or playing surface, e.g. a Baccarat table, may include displacing or moving the bet placed on the Banker hand in the first round of play to a dedicated, marked area of the surface to await the outcome of the next round of play, when the Banker hand wins with said predetermined points total. 
         [0048]    Said predetermined payment table or schedule using the outcome of said second round of play for determining the quantum of the winnings for the Banker hand in the first round of play may include the number of times a card of a particular value is drawn in a predetermined number of consecutive card draws in the second round of play, as an input. 
         [0049]    The predetermined number of consecutive card draws may be four. In other words, the first four cards drawn in the second round of play may be used to determine the quantum of the winnings for the Banker hand in the first round of play. 
         [0050]    The quantum of the winnings for the Banker hand of the first round of play may increase non-linearly with the number of times a card of a particular value is drawn in the second round of play. The increase may be exponential. 
         [0051]    The quantum of the winnings for the Banker hand of the first round of play may increase further if two or more cards of the same suit of said particular value are drawn in the second round of play. 
         [0052]    The quantum of the winnings for the Banker hand of the first round of play, when four cards of said particular value are drawn consecutively as the first four cards in the second round of play, may be increased further if cards of the same colour are drawn, and even further if cards of the same suit are drawn. 
         [0053]    In one embodiment of the invention, the following payment table may be used: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Number of times 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 selected card is 
                   
                   
                   
                 Number of units 
               
               
                 drawn in second 
                 Number of cards 
                 Number of cards 
                 Odds paid 
                 received when 
               
               
                 round of play 
                 of the same colour 
                 of the same suit 
                 out 
                 100 units were bet 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 0 
                 Not applicable 
                 Not applicable 
                  0.5:1 
                 150 
               
               
                 1 
                 Not applicable 
                 Not applicable 
                 0.75:1  
                 175 
               
               
                 2 
                 Not applicable 
                 0 
                  1.5:1 
                 250 
               
               
                 2 
                 Not applicable 
                 2 
                  3:1 
                 400 
               
               
                 3 
                 Not applicable 
                 0 
                  10:1 
                 1100 
               
               
                 3 
                 Not applicable 
                 3 
                  20:1 
                 2100 
               
               
                 4 
                 0 
                 Not applicable 
                 100:1 
                 10100 
               
               
                 4 
                 4 
                 0 
                 200:1 
                 20100 
               
               
                 4 
                 Not applicable 
                 4, other than Diamonds 
                 500:1 
                 50100 
               
               
                 4 
                 Not applicable 
                 4 Diamonds 
                 1000:1  
                 100100 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0054]    The Banker house advantage, following the pay table above, is 1.69%. On electronic gaming machines or during internet gaming, each bet is automatically recorded within a program running the game. It would therefore be relatively easy to assign a certain percentage of this house advantage, for example 0.1%, to fund a progressive jackpot that pays out only on selected “multiplier outcomes”—for instance, only when FOUR  8 &#39;s appear. 
         [0055]    The Banker house advantage would still be well above that of traditional Baccarat once the progressive jackpot has been funded; with the configuration set out in the table above it would be 1.59% instead of the 1.06% of traditional Baccarat. 
         [0056]    According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a Baccarat playing surface which includes: 
         [0057]    at least one demarcated zone into which bets from a first round of play can be moved to await the outcome of a second round of play, before winnings for the first round of play but determined by the outcome of the second round of play are paid out. 
         [0058]    The Baccarat playing surface may include indicia thereon to indicate a payment scale or payment table used to determine the winnings in said first round of play based on the outcome of said second round of play. 
         [0059]    The payment scale or table may present information substantially the same as that set out in the abovementioned payment table. 
         [0060]    The playing surface may be provided by a suitable material on a table, with the demarcated zone printed or otherwise affixed to the material. 
         [0061]    According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program which, when executed, provides a computer controlled game of Baccarat which employs a wagering method in accordance with the invention as hereinbefore described. 
         [0062]    According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer-readable medium storing a program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a computer controlled game of Baccarat which employs a wagering method as hereinbefore described. 
         [0063]    According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer operating a program stored on a computer-readable medium as hereinbefore described. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0064]      FIG. 1  shows a Baccarat playing surface in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0065]    The invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the use of the eight card to determine in a second round of play the winnings to be paid out for a Banker hand winning on seven points in a first round of play, and with reference to the single drawing which shows a Baccarat playing surface in accordance with the invention. 
         [0066]    As mentioned hereinbefore, Baccarat is played using multiple standard decks (usually 8 decks) consisting of 52 cards per deck. No Jokers are used. The cards are shuffled by the dealer before the commencement of the game, and are dealt from a box known as the “shoe”. The game of Baccarat has three betting options, namely PLAYER, BANKER or TIE. Baccarat is a relatively simple game, with the object of the game being to correctly guess which of the two hands dealt (PLAYER or BANKER) will have a final total equalling nine or alternatively, closest to nine (nine being the highest possible total and zero being the lowest possible total). Totals are calculated by adding together the value of the cards forming the hand, modulo ten. For example, for a picture card and a 5, the total will be considered to be 5. Scores can only range from zero (baccarat) to 9 and it is impossible to bust. In Baccarat, Aces have a value of one, tens and picture cards count zero (baccarat), and all other cards are counted according to face value. Suits (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs or Spades) have no meaning or special value in Baccarat. 
         [0067]    In the game of Baccarat, players indicate their choice between the PLAYER and the BANKER by placing a bet on a designated betting area on the table layout before any cards are drawn. The only alternative betting option to the PLAYER or BANKER bets is betting on the final totals of the PLAYER and BANKER hands being tied, again indicated by placing a bet on the appropriate designated betting area on the table layout before any cards are drawn. The words “PLAYER” and “BANKER” do not refer to the actual players and the dealer (though that is what one would expect), but only indicate the two betting options. 
         [0068]    At the commencement of a round of a Baccarat game, before any cards are drawn, the players thus have the opportunity to place their bets on the PLAYER, the BANKER, or the TIE bet (or a combination thereof), using chips (checks) or plaques. Once the cards have been drawn, no bets may be placed, withdrawn, or altered. Once all bets have been placed, the cards are drawn, and the result determined according to the Baccarat Card Drawing Rules as set out hereinbefore. Players have no option whether to take another card or not; this is strictly governed by the Drawing Rules. A minimum of two and a maximum of three cards are dealt to each of the two hands (BANKER and PLAYER). 
         [0069]    The result of the game is announced by the Dealer, e.g. “BANKER wins 5 over 4”.
       The PLAYER hand wins if it has a higher final total than the BANKER hand, loses if the BANKER hand has a higher final total and stands (neither wins nor loses) if the final totals of the PLAYER and BANKER hands are tied.   The BANKER hand wins if it has a higher final total than the PLAYER hand, loses if the PLAYER hand has a higher final total and stands (neither wins nor loses) if the final totals of the PLAYER and BANKER hands are tied.   The TIE Bet wins when the final totals of the PLAYER and BANKER hands are tied and loses in all other cases. In the event of a TIE, players are allowed to remove or adjust their PLAYER and BANKER bets before the next hand.       
 
         [0073]    In a conventional game of Baccarat, once the result has been determined, all bets are settled by the dealer.
       Winning PLAYER bets are paid Even Money—for every $100 wagered, the player will be paid another $100, for a total of $200.   Winning BANKER bets are paid at odds of 19 to 20, i.e. a 5% commission is deducted which leaves the player with a payment of $95 for every $100 wagered, for a total of $195.   Winning TIE bets are paid at odds of 8 to 1 (the player will be paid $800 for every $100 wagered). Some casino&#39;s pay odds of 9 to 1 for winning TIE bets, giving the player a payoff of $900 for every $100 wagered.       
 
         [0077]    In a game of Baccarat employing the wagering method of the invention, payment of winnings for the Banker hand is however sometimes postponed to the subsequent round of play and not paid out immediately. 
         [0078]    For illustrative purposes the eight card is selected to be used as a bonus denomination to determine in a subsequent round of play the winnings to be paid out for a Banker hand winning on seven points in a previous round of play. Thus, when the Banker hand wins on a points total of seven in a round of play (hereinafter referred to as the first round of play), the bet or winnings is not paid immediately. Instead, the dealer moves the bet to a “Multiplier Bonus” area clearly marked as such on the Baccarat playing surface, and the specific card denominations of the next round of play (hereinafter referred to as the second round of play) are then used to determine the level of payment for the Banker hand for the first round of play, according to the payment table set out hereinbefore. While having a pending multiplier bonus bet, the player can still place wagers on his usual betting options, and the primary game still continues as usual. For all intents and purposes any pending multiplier bonus bet leaves the realm of the primary game, as it will not win or lose according to the usual criteria. 
         [0079]    Thus,
       If no eight cards appear amongst the first four cards of the second round of play, the multiplier bonus will pay out the minimum payment for the Banker hand for the first round of play, in this case an amount equal to half the wager, so for a bet of $100, the player will receive a payment of $50, plus he will get his $100 bet back.   Should one eight card appear amongst the first four cards of the second round of play, the multiplier bonus will pay out odds of 75% of the wager for the Banker hand for the first round of play, so for a bet of $100, the player will receive $75 plus he will get his $100 bet back.   Should two unsuited eight cards appear amongst the first four cards of the second round of play, the multiplier bonus will pay out odds of 1.5 to 1 for the Banker hand for the first round of play, so for every $100 bet, the player will receive $150, plus he will get his $100 bet back.   Should two eight cards of the same suit appear amongst the first four cards of the second round of play, the multiplier bonus will pay out odds of 3 to 1 for the Banker hand for the first round of play, so for every $100 bet, the player will receive $300, plus he will get his $100 bet back.   Should three unsuited eight cards appear amongst the first four cards of the second round of play, the multiplier bonus will pay out odds of 10 to 1 for the Banker hand for the first round of play, so for every $100 bet, the player will receive $1000, plus he will get his $100 bet back.   Should three eight cards of the same suit appear amongst the first four cards of the second round of play, the multiplier bonus will pay out odds of 20 to 1 for the Banker hand for the first round of play, so for every $100 bet, the player will receive $2000, plus he will get his $100 bet back.   Should four eight cards of different colours appear amongst the first four cards of the second round of play, the multiplier bonus will pay out odds of 100 to 1 for the Banker hand for the first round of play, so for every $100 bet, the player will receive $10,000, plus he will get his $100 bet back.   Should four eight cards of the same colour but different suits appear amongst the first four cards of the second round of play, the multiplier bonus will pay out odds of 200 to 1 for the Banker hand for the first round of play, so for every $100 bet, the player will receive $20,000, plus he will get his $100 bet back.   Should four eight cards of the same suit (but not Diamonds) appear amongst the first four cards of the second round of play, the multiplier bonus will pay out odds of 500 to 1 for the Banker hand for the first round of play, so for every $100 bet, the player will receive $50,000, plus he will get his $100 bet back.   Should four eight cards of Diamonds appear amongst the first four of the second round of play, the multiplier bonus will pay out odds of 1000 to 1 for the Banker hand for the first round of play, so for every $100 bet, the player will receive $100,000, plus he will get his $100 bet back.       
 
         [0090]    The Banker house advantage, following the payment table set out above, is 1.69%. 
         [0091]    It will be obvious to anyone skilled in the art that there are literally hundreds of different payment and progressive jackpot configurations that can be used with the wagering method of the invention. Multiple bonus card denominations, for instance, eight cards and nine cards, can also be used, instead of the single bonus card denomination (the eight card) used for the above configuration. 
         [0092]    With reference to the single accompanying drawing, a Baccarat playing surface in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . The drawing shows a seven-seater playing surface. The playing surface is conventional in all respects, apart from having a “Multiplier Bonus” area  12  indicated by the device with five roughly circular features and adjacent linearly arranged numbered areas for the different players. The dimensions indicated on the drawing are for illustrative purposes only. 
         [0093]    The invention provides a Baccarat wagering method and playing surface whereby players qualify for entry to a multiplier bonus feature (conveniently referred to as the Progressive Multiplier Bonus hereinafter) by way of participating in the primary game. No additional dedicated wager on a progressive side bet is required to qualify to win with the present invention, as the multiplier bonus feature is built into one of the two primary bets. The multiplier bonus feature disclosed may also be configured to include and fund a progressive jackpot. The wagering method of the invention is not a side bet; it does not require an additional wager to be placed. Instead it forms part of one of the primary bets of Baccarat and therefore of the primary game of Baccarat. When the Progressive Multiplier Bonus feature of the wagering method is activated, the player has no control over the process. He cannot remove his bet, or add to or take money from his bet. With the Progressive Multiplier Bonus feature of the present invention, all bets that go to the Progressive Multiplier Bonus are guaranteed a certain minimum payment, and it is impossible for a bet that became part of the Progressive Multiplier Bonus feature of a Baccarat game to lose. Every possible outcome has a pre-defined payment associated therewith. With the present invention, the primary bet becomes the progressive bet in pre-defined circumstances; the player therefore has a chance to win progressive-style payment odds with his primary bet (which is usually much larger), instead of only being able to bet a very small amount on a side bet with a very limited spread. The same betting restrictions that apply to conventional progressive bets therefore do not apply to the wagering method of the present invention. Due to the fact that the Progressive Multiplier Bonus feature is integrated into the Banker bet (one of the primary bets of the game of Baccarat), 100% player participation is achieved for every player at the table, ensuring greatly enhanced player appeal as well as improved profitability for the casino operator. 
         [0094]    The present invention or any part(s) or function(s) thereof, may be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof, and may be implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems. A computer system for performing the operations of the present invention and capable of carrying out the functionality described herein can include one or more processors connected to a communications infrastructure (e.g., a communications bus, a cross-over bar, or a network). Various software embodiments are possible in terms of such an exemplary computer system and to a person skilled in the relevant art(s) it would be apparent how to implement the invention using other computer systems and/or architectures, and any of said various software embodiments. 
         [0095]    The computer system can include a display interface that forwards graphics, text, and other data from the communication infrastructure (or from a frame buffer) for display on a display unit. The display interface can communicate with a browser. The computer system also includes a main memory, preferably a random access memory, and may also include a secondary memory and a database. The secondary memory may include, for example, a hard disk drive and/or a removable storage drive, representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storage drive reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit in a well known manner. The removable storage unit can represent a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc. which is read by and written to by the removable storage drive. As will be appreciated, the removable storage unit can include a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data. 
         [0096]    The computer system may also include a communications interface which allows software and data to be transferred between the computer system and external devices. The terms “computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” are used to refer generally to media such as the removable storage drive, a hard disk installed in the hard disk drive, and signals. These computer program products provide software to the computer system. 
         [0097]    Computer programs or control logic are stored in the main memory and/or the secondary memory. Computer programs may also be received via the communications interface. Such computer programs or control logic (software), when executed, cause the computer system or its processor to perform the features and functions of the present invention, as discussed herein.