Methods of progressive jackpot gaming

Abstract

A method and apparatus for including a progressive jackpot component in a live casino table game. In addition to playing a live casino table game, each player makes an additional wager at the beginning of each hand that makes that player eligible to win all or part of a jackpot. If during the play of the hand a player is dealt a predetermined arrangement of cards, the player wins a preselected percentage of the jackpot amount. The jackpot is progressive in that unwon amounts of the jackpot carry over to the next hand. Apparatus is provided to receive each gaming token wagered for the jackpot component, to increment the jackpot meter which displays the jackpot amount, to decrement the jackpot meter whenever a winning hand is paid and to reset the apparatus for the next hand.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to casino or cardroom gaming involving a progressive jackpot. More particularly, it relates to a progressive jackpot that is available to be played by participants in various casino or-cardroom table games.

It has become common practice in gaming establishments to provide a progressive jackpot component in connection with electronic or mechanical gaming devices, such as slot machines, video poker machines or keno machines. Typically a plurality or "bank" of machines are electronically interconnected to a common progressive jackpot meter. As gaming tokens are fed into each machine, the amount shown on the jackpot meter progresses incrementally until some lucky player lines up the winning combination, such as three or four 7's on the same row of a slot machine. In video poker, a Royal Flush normally wins the jackpot, although in some variations, a player must achieve a Royal Flush in an exact order, such as A-K-Q-J-10 from left to right, or in a particular suit, such as Spades. In video keno, a player typically must match 15 out of 15 numbers to win the progressive jackpot.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a progressive jackpot component to typical casino or cardroom table games such as poker or Twenty-One.

It is a feature of the present invention to have each participant in the progressive jackpot component win all or part of the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter if the participant achieves a particular predetermined playing hand.

It is an advantage of the present invention that when the progressive jackpot component is added to typical table games such as poker or Twenty-One that the players will enjoy these games more and that the amount of play will increase.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus useful in providing the progressive jackpot component to casino or cardroom table games such as poker or Twenty-One.

It is a further feature of the present invention to have a progressive jackpot meter electronically interconnected to one or more gaining tables to allow each player at his playing location to participate in the progressive jackpot component by wagering a gaining token which automatically activates an indicator showing the player's participation and also automatically increments the progressive jackpot meter.

It is an advantage of the present invention that the apparatus makes it easy for each player to participate in the progressive jackpot component of the game.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The method of the present invention generally involves a typical casino or cardroom game modified to include a progressive jackpot component. During the play of a Twenty-One game, for example, in addition to his normal wager, a player will have the option of making an additional wager that becomes part of, and makes the player eligible to win, the progressive jackpot. If the player's Twenty-One hand comprises a particular, predetermined arrangement of cards, the player will win all, or part of, the amount showing on the progressive jackpot. This progressive jackpot feature is also adaptable to any other casino or cardroom game such as Draw Poker, Stud Poker, Lo-Ball Poker or Caribbean Stud.RTM. Poker.

The apparatus used to practice the present invention comprises a gaming table, such as those used for Twenty-One or poker, modified with the addition of a coin acceptor that is electronically connected to a progressive jackpot meter. When a player drops a coin into the coin acceptor, a light is activated at the player's location indicating that he is participating in the progressive jackpot component of the game during that hand. At the same time, a signal from the coin acceptor is sent to the progressive meter to increment the amount shown on the progressive meter. At the conclusion of the play of each hand, the coin acceptor is reset for the next hand. When a player wins all or part of the progressive jackpot, the amount showing on the progressive jackpot meter is reduced by the amount won by the player.

Any number of gaming tables can be connected to a single progressive jackpot meter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the apparatus of the present invention using a casino gaming table with coin acceptors at each playing location electronically connected to a progressive jackpot meter.

FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention using a cardroom gaming table with coin acceptors at each playing location electronically connected to a progressive jackpot meter.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the electronic circuitry of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a plurality of gaming tables connected to a single progressive jackpot meter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, a casino gaming table 10 is provided having a plurality of playing locations 12 for players participating in the game being conducted, e.g., Twenty-One. A dealer is positioned at the dealer's location 14 adjacent a chip rack 16. Adjacent to each player location 12 is a coin acceptor 20. Each coin acceptor 20 is electronically connected to a main control board 40 to which is connected a number of odometer-type counters 42 corresponding to the number of playing locations 12 provided on the gaming table 10. As shown in FIG. 1, seven playing locations 12 are preferably provided, although the number of playing locations can be more or less than seven. A reset switch 50 is located adjacent the dealer's location 14 and is electronically connected to the main control board 40 and provides a means whereby the dealer can reset the coin acceptors 20 prior to the beginning of the play of each hand. A lockout switch 55, is also provided adjacent to the dealer's location 14 which is activated by the dealer to prevent later wagering as will be more fully explained herein.

A main control board 40 is electronically connected to a progressive jackpot control box 60 which receives the signals from each coin acceptor 20 and in response to those signals increments the progressive jackpot meter 70, as will be more fully explained herein. Also electronically connected to the progressive control box 60 is the jackpot reset control 80 which provides means for resetting the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter whenever a player wins all, or part of, the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter 70.

In operation, the present invention operates as follows. A conventional Twenty-one game is conducted on gaming table 10. At the beginning of each hand, each player, in addition to making his usual wager for the play of the Twenty-One hand, may also make an additional wager to be eligible to participate in the progressive jackpot component of the game during that hand. To do so, a player places a gaming token into the coin acceptor 20 associated with that player's particular playing location 12. As will be more fully explained herein, the coin acceptor, 20 "recognizes" that a gaming token has been placed therein and an indicator signal 22, preferably a light, adjacent to the coin acceptor 20 is activated showing that that particular player is participating in the progressive jackpot component of the game during the play of that hand.

Besides activating the indicator signal 22, the coin acceptor 20 also sends an electronic signal to the main control board 40. This signal is sent by the main control board 40 to the odometer-type counter 42 corresponding to the particular playing location 12 to keep a sequential count of the number of gaming tokens that are placed in the particular coin acceptor 20.

The main control board 40 also activates the progressive jackpot control box 60 which in turn controls the progressive jackpot meter 70. Each gaming token placed in a coin acceptor 20 results in the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter being increased by a predetermined amount. If, for example, each gaming token has a value of one dollar, then the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter would be increased by any amount up to one dollar for each gaming token placed into a coin acceptor 20. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the progressive jackpot would be increased between 93% to 97% of the amount of each gaming token being wagered, the balance representing the house's share of the amount wagered for providing the progressive jackpot component of the game.

When each player has had a reasonable opportunity to make a progressive jackpot wager, the dealer activates lockout switch 55 which deactivates each coin acceptor 20. Any tokens placed in a coin acceptor 20 after lockout switch 55 is activated will not register. This prevents late wagering after the cards are dealt.

The amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter will continue to increase for each gaming token wagered until a player achieves a winning hand. Preselected winning hands earn a player all or part of the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter. In a preferred embodiment, the preselected wining hands and payoff amounts in Twenty-One game are as follows:

______________________________________Winning Hand Amount of Jackpot______________________________________Four 5's and an Ace 100%Ace, two, three, four, 4%five and sixSix, seven and eight 100 tokensof same suitThree 7's 50 tokens______________________________________ The invention is not limited to these particular combinations of winning hands or payoffs; other winning hand combinations or pay-off amounts can be utilized.

When a player achieves a winning hand, the jackpot reset control 80 is manually activated by pushing a button that corresponds to the type of hand that the player achieved. The amount won by the player is thus electronically deducted from the amount showing on the progressive jackpot meter.

When a particular hand is completed at gaming table 101, the dealer presses the reset switch 50, which deactivates the indicator signal 22. Lockout switch 55 is also manually deactivated by the dealer. The coin acceptor 20 is thus readied to receive another gaming token for the next hand.

The progressive jackpot component of the present invention can also be used in connection with other types of casino games, e.g., Caribbean Stud.RTM. Poker, which is the subject matter of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 182,374 filed Apr. 10, 1988, which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. Caribbean Stud.RTM. Poker is a modification of conventional five-card stud poker. Each player makes an ante and a dealer deals five cards to each player and to himself. The player's cards are dealt face down and the dealer's cards are dealt four cards face down and one card face up. Each player views his hand and then decides whether to continue to play by making an additional bet or to fold or drop, in which case he loses his ante. The dealer then reveals his entire hand; if the dealer's hand does not have a poker value of at least Ace-King, then the dealer is not permitted to continue to play. In that case, the dealer pays even money on the remaining players' antes, and returns their bets to them. If the dealer's hand has a poker value of Ace-King or better, the dealer compares his hand to each player's hand, paying or collecting the bets as appropriate. The dealer also pays odds of more than even money on each winning player's hand of two pair or better according to a bonus payment schedule. This game can be played using the gaming table shown in FIG. 1. Each player makes a progressive jackpot wager by placing a gaming token in the coin acceptor which makes that player eligible to participate in the progressive jackpot amount shown on the meter 70. The winning hands and amounts for Caribbean Stud Poker are preferably as follows:

______________________________________Hand Amount______________________________________Royal Flush 100%Straight Flush 10%Four of a kind 1%Full House 50 tokensFlush 25 tokens______________________________________ Again the invention is not limited to these particular combinations of hands or payoff amounts; other hand combinations or payoff amounts can be utilized.

The invention can also be adapted to other casino or cardroom poker games such as Stud Poker, Draw Power or Lo-Ball Poker. The gaming table 100 used to play each of these games is modified as shown in FIG. 2 by the addition of coin acceptors 120 and indicator signals 122 at each player's location 112. The electronics is the same as that shown in FIG. 1 and includes a main control board 140, an odometer-type counter 142, a progressive jackpot control box 160, a progressive jackpot meter 170 and a jackpot reset control 180. A reset switch 150 and a lockout switch 155 are located adjacent the dealer's location 114 next to the chip rack 116.

The progressive jackpot meter 170 is incrementally increased in the same manner as that described in connection with FIG. 1 by each player placing a gaming token in the coin acceptor 120.

The winning hands and payoff amounts are preselected as appropriate for the type of game being played. In the preferred embodiment, the winning hands and payoff amounts are as follows:

______________________________________Hand Amount______________________________________I. Five Card Draw PokerRoyal Flush 100%Straight Flush 10%Four of a kind 100 tokensFull House 25 tokensII. Five Card Stud PokerRoyal Flush 100%Straight Flush 10%Four of a kind 100 tokensFull House 25 tokensIII. Seven Card Stud PokerRoyal Flush 100%Straight Flush 10%Four of a kind 100 tokensFull House 25 tokensIV. Lo-Ball Poker5-4-3-2-Ace 100%6-4-3-2 Ace 5%6-5-3-2-Ace 100 tokens7-4-3-2-Ace 25 tokens______________________________________ These winning hands and payoff amounts are merely preferred embodiments and the invention may be practiced using any appropriate combination of winning hands and payoff amounts.

As an alternative embodiment, progressive jackpot component of the game may be utilized as a consolation payoff for a player who otherwise loses during the play of the regular game. For example, assume the regular game being played is Five Card Stud. Players A and B are both eligible for the progressive jackpot amount because each has placed a gaming token in the coin acceptor prior to the beginning of the play of the hand. Player A holds a hand having Four of a Kind. Player B holds a Full House. Because Player A's hand is higher according to the customary poker hand ranking priority, Player A wins the pot wagered on the Five Card Stud game. As a consolation, however, Player B receives a payoff amount from the progressive jackpot for his Full House, e.g., 25 tokens. Player A does not receive a payoff from the progressive jackpot because he already has won the pot from the regular Five Card Stud game. Thus, under this alternative embodiment, a player only receives a payoff from the progressive jackpot if the player both has a hand of the preselected type and loses to a higher hand in the game being played.

Another modification would have the two players sharing in the progressive jackpot amount; the player with the preselected type of hand receiving a percentage of the progressive jackpot amount and the player with the higher poker hand receiving the rest of the progressive jackpot amount. With reference to the example above, Player B would receive 80% of the progressive jackpot amount for a Full House and Player A would receive 20% of the progressive jackpot amount for a Full House.

FIG. 3 shows in block diagram form the operation of the present invention. Each playing location has a coin a acceptor 210 into which a player places a gaming token in order to be eligible for the progressive jackpot amount. When all players have had sufficient time to decide whether to participate in the progressive jackpot for that hand the dealer activates the lockout switch 220 which prevents late wagers. Each gaming token placed in a coin acceptor 210 energizes the progressive output control 230 which in turn activates three separate devices. An integrated circuit timer is energized which causes an indicator light 250 to be illuminated at the location on the coin acceptor in front of the player. This gives a visual indication to the dealer that that player is participating in the progressive jackpot during the play of that hand.

The signal from the progressive jackpot control 230 also activates an odometer-type counter 255 which increments by one unit for each gaming token wagered through the coin acceptor. This allows the gaming establishment to keep an accurate count of the number of wagers made on the progressive jackpot.

The third signal from the progressive jackpot control 230 goes directly to the progressive jackpot meter 270. The progressive jackpot meter 270 shows the total amount available to be won by a player who obtains one of the preselected winning hands. The amount of the progressive jackpot meter 270 automatically increases a predetermined amount for each gaming token placed in a coin acceptor. The progressive jackpot meter 270 is programmed to increase a specified percentage of the amount wagered in the coin acceptor 210. In the preferred embodiment, the progressive jackpot meter will be increased between about 93% to 97% of the amount wagered in the coin acceptor 210.

The dealer then deals the cards to each player and the hand is played 280. If a player has a preselected wining hand, the player is paid the amount corresponding to the type of winning hand that the player has. The jackpot reset control 290 is manually activated which results in the amount of the payoff being automatically deducted from the amount displayed on the progressive jackpot meter 270.

After the winning players have been paid, the dealer activates the reset switch 295 which both turns off the integrated circuit timer 240 and turns off the indicator light 250 and the dealer deactivates the lockout switch 297 thereby activating the coin acceptor 210 for the next hand.

FIG. 4 in schematic form depicts the electronic circuitry to operate the apparatus of the present invention. The coin acceptor circuitry 300 is activated when a gaming token is dropped into the slot on the gaming table where the coin acceptor is mounted. The gaming token passes between an ultraviolet transmitter DS1 and an optic receiver Q1 (Model #MRD 300 transistor). This causes a pulse to be passed from the collector of Q1 to the base of receiver Q2. Q2 is a Model #2N3906 transistor and acts as an emitter follower and sends a pulse which is received by the integrated circuit 322,324 of the main control board 320. The integrated circuit 322,324 is a Model #LM-556 Timer. The pulse from Q2 is received at pin 325 of the lower portion 324 of the integrated circuit and this pulse causes pin 326 of the lower portion 324 to go high and turn on diode DS2 (a Model P367 diode). This diode DS2 is the indicator light 22 shown in FIG. 1 and this indicator light 22 stays on until the play of the hand is finished.

The pulse from Q2 also is received by pin 323 on the upper portion 322 of the integrated circuit and this pulse creates a pulse at pin 327 of the upper portion 322 which causes transistor Q3 (a Model #T1P120 transistor) to turn on, then off for the duration of the pulse created at pin 327. The turning on and off of transistor Q3 causes this odometer-type counter 42 shown in FIG. 1 to increment one digit. The odometer-type counter 330 is a six-digit non-resetable electronic 12 VDC counter, WICO Model #31-443400.

The pulse created at pin 327 of the upper potion 322 of the integrated circuit also goes to the opto isolator 340 (which is a Model #H11A16E Opto Isolator). The opto isolator 340 passes this pulse to the base of transistor Q4 (a Model #2N3906 transistor) thereby turning on transistor Q4 for the duration of the pulse. When transistor Q4 is turned on, the pulse is passed to the progressive jackpot display meter 350 where the amount shown on the display meter 350 is increased by a predetermined percentage of the value of the gaming token placed in the coin acceptor 300. The progressive jackpot display meter 350 can typically be a Game Technology Model having 3' LED characters on a 44" length single progressive display.

After all bets are made, the dealer manually presses a lockout switch 360 which will clamp the output of transistor Q2 at a low level which ensures that there can be no late wagers made through the coin acceptor 300. Once the output of transistor Q2 is clamped at a low level, a gaming token placed in the coin acceptor 300 will not cause a pulse to flow through the rest of the circuitry.

The game is then played and once the game is completed, the dealer will manually press the reset switch 370 which creates a reset pulse that activates pin 320 which resets the lower portion 324 of the integrated circuit. This resetting causes pin 326 to go low which will extinguish diode DS2 which turns off the indicator light 22 on the gaming table.

The dealer also manually presses the lockout switch 360 to open the circuit and remove the clamp on the emitter of transistor Q2 which allows another hand to be played. The players commence the next hand by placing gaming tokens in the coin acceptor 300 and the process is repeated.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various resistors and capacitors are provided to complete the circuitry. The specifications on the resistors and capacitors shown in FIG. 4 is as follows:

______________________________________Resistors Capacitors______________________________________R1 - 68 Ohm C1-.1 ufd/35 vR2 - 3 KohmR3 - 1 Kohm C2-.01 ufd/35 vR4 - 200 OhmR5 - 4.7 Kohm C3-.1 ufd/35 vR6 - 10 KohmR7 - 1 Mohm C4-.1 ufd/35 vR8 - 240 OhmR9 - 1 KohmR10 - 4.7 KohmR11 - 240 OhmR12 - 1 Kohm______________________________________

As shown in FIG. 5, any number of gaming tables may be connected to a single progressive jackpot meter. While the invention has been illustrated with respect to several specific embodiments thereof, these embodiments should be considered as illustrative rather than limiting. Various modifications and additions may be made and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention should not be limited by the foregoing description, but rather should be defined only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A method of including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino card game, said jackpot including at least four different preselected payoff amounts in accordance with a predetermined payoff table, comprising the steps of:

(a) a player placing a first wager to participate only in the live casino card game;

(b) a player optionally placing a second wager to participate in the jackpot component, wherein no portion of said second wager contributes toward the play or winnings of said live casino card game;

(c) playing said live casino card game only after the player has placed said first wager and decided whether to optionally place said second wager;

(d) determining whether a player who has placed said second wager has won according to a predetermined set of rules; and

(e) paying to said winning player a preselected payoff amount in accordance with said predetermined payoff table.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined amount paid to the winning player is based upon a predetermined multiple of the value of said second wager and wherein said predetermined multiple is at least 100 to 1.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined amount paid to the winning player consists of a fixed amount.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said jackpot includes a progressive jackpot and wherein at least two of said preselected payoff amounts comprise a predetermined percentage of said progressive jackpot.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined payoff table is based upon poker rank and wherein said preselected payoff amounts increase with a higher poker ranking.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said card game consists essentially of stud poker.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said card game consists essentially of Caribbean Stud.RTM. poker.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said card game consists essentially of draw poker.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said card game consists essentially of twenty-one.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing a gaming table including a plurality of player locations at which players receive cards from a dealer for playing said live casino card game;

providing at least one light on said table at each player location for indicating placement of said second wager; and

indicating placement of said second wager by a player by illuminating the light at the player's location.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of electronically recognizing the placement of said second wager by a player.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of recording the sequential count of the numbers of second wagers placed.

13. A method of including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino card game, said jackpot including at least four different preselected payoff amounts in accordance with a predetermined payoff table, comprising the steps of:

providing a gaming table including a plurality of player locations at which players receive cards from a dealer for playing said live casino card game;

providing a human dealer;

affording a player an opportunity of placing at least one first wager to participate only in the live casino card game;

affording a player an opportunity to optionally place a second wager to participate in the jackpot component;

electronically recognizing placement of said second wager at said player locations on said gaming table;

dealing a hand of playing cards to the player;

determining whether the player's hand comprises a predetermined winning arrangement of cards; and

paying to a winning player having a predetermined winning arrangement of cards a preselected payoff amount in accordance with said predetermined payoff table, only if the winning player opted to place said second wager.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said predetermined amount paid to the winning player is based upon a predetermined multiple of the value of said second wager and wherein said predetermined multiple is at least 100 to 1.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said predetermined amount paid to the winning player consists of a fixed amount.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said jackpot includes a progressive jackpot and wherein at least two of said preselected payoff amounts comprise a predetermined percentage of said progressive jackpot.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said predetermined payoff table is based upon poker rank and wherein said preselected payoff amounts increase with a higher poker ranking.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said card game consists essentially of stud poker.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said card game consists essentially of Caribbean Stud.RTM. poker.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said card game consists essentially of draw poker.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein said card game consists essentially of twenty-one.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

providing at least one light on said table at each player location for indicating placement of said second wager; and

indicating placement of said second wager by a player by illuminating the light at the player's location.

23. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of recording the sequential count of the numbers of second wagers placed.

24. A method of including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino card game, said jackpot including at least four different preselected payoff amounts in accordance with a predetermined payoff table, comprising the steps of:

(a) permitting a player to make a first wager to participate in the live casino card game;

(b) affording the player an option of making a second wager to participate in the jackpot component, with no portion of said second wager contributing toward wagers for the live casino card game;

(c) a dealer, subsequent to steps (a) and (b), dealing a hand of playing cards for the live casino card game to the player;

(d) subsequent to steps (a), (b), and (c), if the player's hand for the live casino card game comprises a predetermined arrangement of cards and if the player opted to make said second wager, awarding to the player a preselected payoff amount in accordance with said predetermined payoff table.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said predetermined amount paid to the winning player is based upon a predetermined multiple of the value of said second wager and wherein said predetermined multiple is at least 100 to 1.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said predetermined amount paid to the winning player consists of a fixed amount.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said predetermined payoff table is based upon poker rank and wherein said preselected payoff amounts increase with a higher poker ranking.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said card game consists essentially of stud poker.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said card game consists essentially of Caribbean Stud.RTM. poker.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said card game consists essentially of draw poker.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein said jackpot includes a progressive jackpot and wherein at least two of said preselected payoff amounts comprise a predetermined percentage of said progressive jackpot.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein said card game consists essentially of twenty-one.

33. The method of claim 24 further comprising the steps of:

providing a gaming table including a plurality of player locations at which players receive cards from a dealer for playing said live casino card game;

providing at least one light on said table at each player location for indicating placement of said second wager; and

indicating placement of said second wager by a player by illuminating the light at the player's location.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of electronically recognizing the placement of said second wager by a player.

35. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of recording the sequential count of the numbers of second wagers placed.

36. A method of including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game in which a plurality of players may participate, said jackpot including at least four different preselected payoff amounts in accordance with a predetermined payoff table, comprising the steps of:

(a) a player placing a first wager to participate only in the live casino table game;

(b) a player optionally placing a second wager to participate in the jackpot component, wherein no portion of said second wager contributes toward the play or winnings of said live casino table game;

(c) playing said live casino table game only after the player has placed said first wager and decided whether to optionally place said second wager;

(d) determining whether a player who has placed said second wager has won according to a predetermined set of rules; and

(e) paying to said winning player a preselected payoff amount in accordance with said predetermined payoff table.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said preselected payoff amount is based upon a predetermined multiple of the value of said second wager.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein said preselected payoff amount consists of a fixed amount.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein said live casino game comprises a card game.

40. A method of including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game in which a plurality of players may participate, said jackpot component including a progressive jackpot amount, comprising the steps of:

(a) a player placing a first wager to participate only in the live casino table game;

(b) a player optionally placing a second wager to participate in the jackpot component, wherein no portion of said second wager contributes toward the play or winnings of said live casino table game and at least a portion of said second wager contributes to the progressive jackpot amount of said jackpot component;

(c) playing said live casino table game only after the player has placed said first wager and decided whether to optionally place said second wager;

(d) determining whether a player who has placed said second wager has won according to a predetermined set of rules; and

(e) paying to said winning player who has placed said second wager at least a portion of said progressive jackpot amount.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said portion of said progressive jackpot amount is predetermined.

42. The method of claimed 40, wherein said portion of said progressive jackpot amount is 100%.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of electronically interlinking a plurality of tables to a common progressive jackpot amount, whereby the progressive jackpot amounts of each of the games on each of the table are combined to achieve a common progressive jackpot amount total and wherein a winning player wins at least a portion of said common progressive jackpot amount total.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising the step of visibly displaying said common progressive jackpot amount total on a jackpot meter.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein any amount of the progressive jackpot that is not won on the first game carries over to the next game.

46. The method of claim 40, wherein said live casino game comprises a card game.

47. A method of including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game in which a plurality of players may participate, said jackpot component including a progressive jackpot amount, comprising the steps of:

(a) a player making a first wager to participate in the live casino table game;

(b) a player optionally making a second wager to participate in said jackpot component;

(c) electronically registering said second wager made by each player;

(d) electronically displaying a signal to indicate registering of said second wager made by that player;

(e) playing said live casino table game;

(f) determining whether a player who has placed said second wager has won according to a predetermined set of rules; and

(g) awarding to said winning player a predetermined prize, wherein the steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) occur prior to step (e) and wherein said predetermined set of rules and said predetermined prize are each determined before steps (a) and (b).

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said predetermined prize is at least 100 times the amount of said second wager.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein said predetermined prize is the entire amount of said progressive jackpot amount.

50. The method of claim 47 further comprising the step of electrically sequentially counting second wagers made by players to participate in said jackpot component.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein said live casino game comprises a card game.

52. A method of affording each player who participates in a live house-banked casino table poker card game in which a plurality of players may participate in an opportunity to win one of a plurality of prizes in addition to any amounts won in connection with the play of said live casino table card poker game, wherein each of said additional prizes corresponds to one of a plurality of predetermined winning arrangements of five cards, and wherein the corresponding additional prize for a higher ranked poker hand is of greater value than the corresponding additional prize for a lower ranked poker hand, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a gaming table including a plurality of player locations at which players receive cards from a dealer for playing said live casino table poker card game;

(b) affording a player an opportunity to place at least one first wager to participate only in the live casino table poker card game;

(c) affording a player an opportunity to optionally place a second wager in order to be eligible to win said additional prize, wherein said second wager does not contribute to the wagers of said live casino table poker card game;

(d) electronically recognizing placement of said second wager at each player location on said gaming table;

(e) after steps (a)-(d) have occurred, dealing playing cards to the player until the player achieves a hand consisting of five cards;

(f) determining whether the player's hand comprises a predetermined winning arrangement of five cards; and

(g) paying to a winning player having a predetermined winning arrangement of five cards one of said prizes only if the winning player opted to place said second wager.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising the steps of:

providing at least one light on said table at each player location for indicating placement of said second wager, and

indicating placement of said second wager by a player by illuminating the light at the player's location.

54. The method of claim 52 wherein said live casino table poker card game consists essentially of stud poker.

55. The method of claim 52 wherein said predetermined winning arrangements of five cards include a royal flush and a straight flush.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein said predetermined winning arrangements of five cards additionally include a full house, a flush, and a straight.

57. A method of including a component as an additional feature to a live casino card game by which a player participating in said component who holds a winning hand of playing cards wins a separate payoff amount, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a gaming table including a plurality of player locations at which players receive cards from a dealer for playing said live casino card game;

(b) affording a player an opportunity to make a first wager to participate only in the live casino table card game;

(c) affording a player an opportunity to optionally make a second wager to participate in the jackpot component;

(d) electronically recognizing the making of said second wager at said player locations on said gaming table;

(e) after steps (a), (b), and (c), dealing a hand of playing cards to the player;

(f) after steps (d) and (e), determining whether a player's hand of playing cards comprises a winning hand; and

(g) paying to such player said payoff amount only if such player has a winning hand and opted to make said second wager.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein said card game comprises twenty-one.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein said hand is dealt by a dealer and wherein said dealer does not place a wager in said live casino card game.

60. The method of claim 57 wherein said card game comprises poker.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein said hand is dealt by a dealer and wherein said dealer does not place a wager in said live casino card game.

62. The method of claim 57 further comprising the step of visually displaying said payoff amount.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein said payoff amount is electronically, visually displayed.

64. The method of claim 63 further comprising the step of electronically visually indicating whether the player has opted to make said second wager.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein said electronic, visual indication is performed by a light signal which stays on during steps (d) and (e) if the player opted to make said second wager.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein said card game comprises twenty-one.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein said hand is dealt by a dealer and wherein said dealer does not place a wager in said live casino card game.

68. The method of claim 65 wherein said card game comprises poker.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein said hand is dealt by a dealer and wherein said dealer does not place a wager in said live casino card game.

70. The method of claim 63 wherein said hand is dealt by a dealer and wherein said dealer does not place a wager in said live casino card game.

71. The method of claim 57 further comprising the step of electronically, visually indicating whether the player has opted to make said second wager.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein said electronic, visual indication is performed by a light signal which stays on during steps (d) and (e) if the player opted to make said second wager.

73. The method of claim 71 wherein said hand is dealt by a dealer and wherein said dealer does not place a wager in said live casino card game.

74. The method of claim 57 wherein said hand is dealt by a dealer and wherein said dealer does not place a wager in said live casino card game.

75. A method of including a component as an additional feature in a live casino game in which game a player makes a first wager to play said live casino game and in which component a player may make a second, separate, additional wager and win a separate, additional payoff amount, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a table at which the game is played;

(b) affording a player an opportunity to make a first wager to participate only in the live casino game;

(c) affording a player an opportunity to make a second wager to participate only in the component;

(d) electronically recognizing the making of said second wager, if any;

(e) electronically, visually indicating the making of the second wager; and

(f) after steps (a)-(e), settling the second wager for the component by paying any separate payoff amount.

76. The method of claim 75 further comprising the steps of electronically, visually displaying said separate payoff amount.

77. The method of claim 75, wherein said live casino game comprises a card game.

78. A method of including a component as an additional feature in a live casino game, in which game a player makes a first wager to play said live casino game and in which component a player may make a second, separate, additional wager and win a separate, additional payoff amount, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a table at which the game is played;

(b) affording a player an opportunity to make a first wager to participate only in the live casino game;

(c) affording a player an opportunity to make a second wager to participate only in the component;

(d) electronically recognizing the making of said second wager, if any;

(e) electronically maintaining an accounting of second wagers made by a player; and

(f) after steps (a)-(d), settling the second wager for the component by paying any separate payoff amount.

79. The method of claim 78 further comprising the step of electronically, visually displaying said separate payoff amount.

80. The method of claim 78, wherein said live casino game comprises a card game.

81. A method of including a component as an additional feature in a live casino game, in which game a player makes a first wager to play said live casino game and in which component a player may make a second, separate, additional wager and win a separate, additional payoff amount, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a table at which the game is played;

(b) affording a player an opportunity to make a first wager to participate only in the live casino game;

(c) affording a player an opportunity to make a second wager to participate only in the component;

(d) electronically recognizing the making of said second wager, if any;

(e) electronically preventing the late making of said second wager; and

(f) after steps (a)-(e), playing the game.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein said live casino game comprises a card game.

83. A method of including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino card game, comprising the steps of:

(a) affording a player an opportunity of making at least one first wager to participate only in the live casino card game;

(b) affording a player an opportunity to optionally make a second wager to participate in the jackpot component;

(c) determining a winning arrangement of cards for said jackpot component;

(d) selecting a payoff amount for said winning arrangement of cards for said jackpot component;

(e) only after steps (c) and (d), dealing a hand of playing cards to the player;

(f) determining whether the player's hand comprises said winning arrangement of cards; and

(g) paying to a winning player having said winning arrangement of cards said payoff amount, only if the winning player opted to make said second wager, and wherein steps (a)-(e) are performed prior to steps (f) and (g).

84. The method of claim 83 wherein said hand is dealt by a dealer hired by the casino to deal the cards.

85. The method of claim 84 wherein said percentage is 100% of said displayed amount.

86. The method of claim 84 wherein said dealer does not place a wager in said live casino table game.

87. The method of claim 84 wherein said dealer does not place a wager in said jackpot component.

88. The method of claim 83 further comprising the step of visibly displaying an amount on a jackpot meter prior to step (e), and wherein said payoff amount comprises a percentage of said displayed amount.

89. The method of claim 83 wherein said payoff amount is a predetermined multiple of the value of the wager of step (b).

90. The method of claim 83 wherein said payoff amount is not based upon a predetermined multiple of the value of the wager in step (b).

91. The method of claim 83 further comprising the steps of providing a gaming table including a plurality of player locations at which players receive dealt cards, providing at least one light associated with each player position for indicating the making of said second wager by the player at the associated player location, and indicating the making of said second wager by illuminating the light associated with the player location where the player made said second wager.

92. The method of claim 91 further comprising the step of electronically recognizing the making of said second wager by each of said players.

93. The method of claim 83 further comprising the step of electronically recognizing the making of said second wager.

94. The method of claim 83 wherein said winning arrangement is based upon a poker rank.

95. The method of claim 83 wherein said winning arrangement is not based upon a poker rank.

96. The method of claim 83 wherein no portion of said second wager contributes toward the play or winnings of said live casino card game.

97. The method of claim 96 wherein said hand is dealt by a dealer hired by the casino to deal the cards.

98. The method of claim 97 wherein said dealer does not place a wager in said live casino table game.

99. The method of claim 97 wherein said dealer does not place a wager in said jackpot component.

100. The method of claim 97 wherein said payoff amount is a predetermined multiple of the value of the wager of step (b).

101. The method of claim 97 wherein said payoff amount is not based upon a predetermined multiple of the value of the wager in step (b).

102. The method of claim 97 further comprising the steps of providing a gaming table including a plurality of player locations at which players receive dealt cards, providing at least one light associated with each player position for indicating the making of said second wager by the player at the associated player location, and indicating the making of said second wager by illuminating the light associated with the player location where the player made said second wager.

103. The method of claim 102 further comprising the step of electronically recognizing the making of said second wager by each of said players.

104. The method of claim 97 further comprising the step of electronically recognizing the making of said second wager.

105. The method of claim 97 wherein said winning arrangement is based upon a poker rank.

106. The method of claim 97 wherein said winning arrangement is not based upon a poker rank.

107. The method of claim 96 further comprising the step of visibly displaying an amount on a jackpot meter prior to step (e), and wherein said payoff amount comprises a percentage of said displayed amount.

108. The method of claim 107 wherein said percentage is 100% of said displayed amount.

109. As an additional feature and modification to a live casino table card game, the method of providing a payoff amount awarded separate from the winnings of the live casino table card game, which amount possesses a monetary value, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a gaming table including a plurality of player locations at which players receive cards from a dealer for playing said live casino table card game;

(b) providing a human dealer hired by the casino to deal the cards;

(c) selecting a plurality of winning arrangements of cards;

(d) determining a plurality of payoff amounts, each amount corresponding to one of said plurality of winning arrangements of cards;

(e) affording a player an opportunity of making at least one first wager to participate in the live casino table card game;

(f) affording a player an opportunity to optionally make a second wager to participate in the additional feature by which the player may possibly be awarded one of the payoff amounts;

(g) electronically recognizing the making of said second wager at said player locations on said gaming table;

(h) only after steps (a)-(g), dealing a hand of playing cards to the player by the dealer;

(i) determining whether the player's hand compromises one of said winning arrangements of cards;

(j) awarding to a winning player having one of said winning arrangement of cards a corresponding payoff amount, only if the winning player opted to place said second wager, and wherein steps (a)-(h) are performed prior to steps (i) and (j).

110. The method of claim 109 wherein each of said winning arrangements of cards comprises a poker hand and the corresponding payoff amount for a higher ranked poker hand possesses greater monetary value than the corresponding payoff amount for a lower ranked poker hand.

111. The method of claim 109 further comprising the steps of providing a gaming table including a plurality of player locations at which players receive dealt cards, providing at least one light associated with each player location, and indicating the making of said second wager by a player by illuminating the light associated with the player location where the player made said second wager.

112. The method of claim 109 when at least one of said payoff amounts comprises cash.

113. The method of claim 109 wherein at least one of said payoff amounts comprises a plurality of tokens.

114. The method of claim 109 wherein the monetary value of each of said payoff amounts is visibly displayed to the players during the play of live casino table card game.