A gaming apparatus and method are disclosed wherein a gaming surface having distinct betting locations is provided in order to assist in the play of a hybrid version of blackjack and poker games having a side bet. The gaming surface includes a main betting spot for the blackjack game and a separate raised betting platform for the side bet to keep the bets from being comingled. The side bet of the hybrid game is based on whether or not the dealer's hand is a qualifying poker hand. Multipliers and a progressive jackpot are used during the hybrid game to increase the potential winnings.

A system for configuring a digital wallet application for implementing a casino player loyalty program includes a memory storing reward configuration data associated with digital wallet awards and a processor configured to: (a) provide an award type user interface for receiving player loyalty award types; (b) receive award type data corresponding to one or more selected player loyalty award types; (c) provide an award threshold user interface for receiving at least one indication corresponding to player loyalty award thresholds; (d) receive award threshold data corresponding to one or more selected player loyalty award thresholds; (e) provide an award trigger user interface for receiving player loyalty award triggers; (f) receive award trigger data corresponding to selected player loyalty award triggers; and (g) configure a rules engine for a mobile wallet based, at least in part, on the award type data, the award threshold data and the award trigger data.

A modified method of playing a blackjack style bonus game that includes additional wagering options for players. Various double down options are provided for players to increase their chances of winning and to add excitement to the game. The player and dealer receive two cards with the dealer receiving one face-up card. The player receiving a number between 12 and 17 has a bonus wagering option that the next card will produce a 21. The player having a second bonus option that if the player continues to receive hits he can receive a 21 without busting. The dealer settles the bonus wagers and the traditional game of blackjack continues.

Example methods and devices are set forth for playing a game. In some embodiments, an inventory of game indicia is arranged in a random but established, serial order. In some embodiments, for each hand of play the player makes a wager and game indicia are displayed in order from the inventory to define a winning or losing outcome. In some embodiments, a display, as hands are played, displays the remaining constituency of the inventory and the player, before any game, can order re-shuffling and re-constitute of the inventory. Other embodiments are described.

Methods and apparatuses for including zero-value playing cards in various playing card games are disclosed. Wagering techniques, playing strategies, and other game play may be changed based on the inclusion of zero-value cards in various card games.

Automatic card shufflers may include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting cards from the card shuffler. The automatic card shufflers may randomly select an internal compartment to be an overflow compartment for inserting cards when a failure of insertion of a card to a selected primary card position occurs.

Embodiments provide for card games such as blackjack that allow at least one card to be dealt from a special deck (e.g., a restricted deck) into a hand, while the remainder of the cards for that hand (and, in some embodiments, other hands involved in the game event) are dealt from a main/conventional deck. In accordance with some embodiments, the at least one card dealt from the special deck is dealt into a hand of the player while in other embodiments it is dealt into the hand of a dealer and/or an opponent player. A special deck may be a deck that includes cards configured to provide an advantage to the player (e.g., in a blackjack game, restricted deck may only include high value cards if being used for a player hand or only low value cards if being used for a dealer hand).

Systems and methods of conducting wagering games involving, among other things, a modified Blackjack wagering game including an option to resolve the game prior to a final determination and optional wagers on the final dealer hand score.

Methods and apparatuses for including zero-value playing cards in various playing card games are disclosed. Wagering techniques, playing strategies, and other game play may be changed based on the inclusion of zero-value cards in various card games.

A system includes a memory storing player positioning information associated with a table gaming environment and a smart table configured to use RFID-enabled chips and RFID sensors configured to detect the presence of RFID-enabled chips, including a dealer scratchpad area. The system also includes a processor configured to (a) detect presence of a player at a player position, (b) receive, from a player computing device, a request to buy into the wagering game for a buy-in value using a funds source from a digital wallet accessed from the player computing device, (c) display, to a dealer, a confirmation that the player is entitled to receive the buy-in value, (d) detect, from the at least one RFID sensor, a chip value within the scratchpad area, (e) compare the chip value to the buy-in value, and (f) display, to the dealer, a confirmation that the chip value matches the buy-in value.