Patent ID: 7980948

Claim:
A system for facilitating side wagering activities conducted at a casino, the casino including a casino gaming network, the gaming network including a plurality of gaming machines, including a first gaming machine, the system comprising: at least one processor; at least one interface operable to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in gaming network; and memory; the system being operable to: receive first side wager request for placing a first side wager relating to a first gaming machine; determine an identity of a first player associated with generating the first side wager request; determine at least one side wager opportunity available to the first player based on the identity of the first player; and automatically initiate a first side wager session, wherein the initiation of the first side wager session includes: automatically place the first side wager at the casino gaming network, wherein the first side wager includes first side wager criteria; and associate the placed first side wager with the identified first player; wherein a first criteria of the first side wager specifies that an outcome of the first side wager is related to at least one event associated with game play at the first gaming machine.