TABLE GAME

Abstract

The present invention involves live gaming tables where players make one or more wagers on the outcome of a game played according to a predetermined set of rules. The table game is characterized by having a progressive prize that may be won through the play of a plurality of different bonus games. Each bonus game has a different triggering event associated with it and is preferably differentiated from the other bonus games by the probability of winning the progressive prize through the bonus game. The triggering event for each bonus game is preferably a combination of cards formed by the players' hands, the dealer's hand and/or a combination thereof In additional embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of different table games played with different rules employ a plurality of bonus games associated with the different tables that allows different table games with otherwise disparate and fixed odds to have fair odds of winning a communal progressive prize.

Claims

1. A system comprising: a table with a table layout designed for a play of a card game, the table having, 1) a plurality of player positions wherein each player position includes i) a first location for placing one or more first gaming chips used as a primary wager on the play of the card game wherein the primary wager is required to play the card game at the player position and ii) a second location for placing one or more second gaming chips used as a secondary wager at the player position wherein the secondary wager is required to be eligible for a progressive prize resulting from the play of the card game at the player position and wherein the primary wager and the secondary wager are placed prior to a beginning of the play of the card game at the player position, 2) a dealer position for a dealer, 3) a wager detection mechanism to detect whether the one or more second gaming chips are at the second location at each of the plurality of player positions, 4) a display device visible to the players at the plurality of player positions and 5) an input mechanism at the dealer position on the table where an indication of an occurrence of at least a first card hand in an instance of the play of the card game or an occurrence of a second card hand in the instance of the play of the card game is input; and a computer including a memory and at least one executable program, the computer operatively connected to the wager detection mechanism, the input mechanism and the display device, wherein at least a first progressive probability associated with the first card hand and a second progressive probability associated with the second card hand are stored in memory, wherein the first progressive probability is different from the second progressive probability, wherein a first probability of the first card hand occurring during the play of the instance of the card game is lower than a second probability of the second card hand occurring during the play of the instance of the card game, wherein an overall probability of awarding all or a portion of the progressive prize during the play of the instance of the card game is determined from at least the first probability, the second probability, the first progressive probability and the second progressive probability, the computer is programmed to: i) increment an amount to the progressive prize in response to a detection of the one or more second gaming chips at each of plurality of player positions received from the wager detection mechanism, wherein an equal amount is incremented to the progressive prize whether the first card hand or the second card hand occurs, ii) generate a random number, iii) use the random number generated and the stored first progressive probability to determine when the occurrence of first card hand results in the award of all or the portion of the progressive prize, and when the award results, award all or the portion of the progressive prize in response to receiving from the input mechanism a first indication of the occurrence of the first card hand in the instance of the play of the card game, iv) use the random number generated and the stored second progressive probability to determine when the occurrence of second card hand results in the award of all or the portion of the progressive prize, and when the award results, award all or the portion of the progressive prize in response to receiving from the input mechanism a second indication of the occurrence of the second card hand in the instance of the play of the card game, v) generate a graphical presentation indicating the result of the determination of whether to award all or a portion of the progressive prize for the occurrence of either the first card hand or the second card hand, vi) output the graphical presentation to the display device and vii) adjust the progressive prize when the determination of whether to award all or the portion of the progressive prize for the occurrence of either the first card hand or the second card hand indicates all or the portion of the progressive prize is to be awarded.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to generate a plurality of bonus games.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a first paytable stored in the memory that is used to generate a first bonus game, wherein the first paytable includes the first progressive probability to award the progressive prize as an outcome to the first bonus game resulting from the play of the instance of the card game.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first paytable further includes a third probability to award a prize separate from the progressive prize as the outcome to the first bonus game resulting from the play of the instance of the card game.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a second paytable stored in the memory that is used to generate a second bonus game, wherein the second paytable includes the second progressive probability to award the progressive prize as the outcome to the second bonus game resulting from the play of the instance of the card game.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the second pay table further includes a fourth probability to award a second prize separate from the progressive prize as the outcome to the second bonus game resulting from the play of the instance of the card game.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the card game is played with at least one predefined deck of playing cards.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the card game is one of either black jack, pai gow, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Crazy For Poker, 3 Hand Hold 'Em, Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em or a game based at least in part on traditional rules of poker.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein game rules of the card game comprise a plurality of predefined card hands made from at least one predefined deck of playing cards and a predefined hierarchy of card hands and wherein it is an object of the card game for a player to have a card hand that is higher in the hierarchy than the card hand made by a dealer.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first card hand or the second card hand is an occurrence of a player's card hand, a dealer's card hand or some combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first card hand or the second card hand is a predetermined combination of the playing cards used by one or more players, the dealer, a group of community cards or some combination thereof.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the secondary wager, required to be eligible to win the progressive prize, is separate from the primary wager, and wherein the primary wager is resolved in favor of the player if a player's card hand beats a dealer's card hand according to game rules for the card game.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein a multiplied return is awarded from the secondary wager required to be eligible to win the progressive prize and/or the primary wager upon the occurrence of one of a plurality of predetermined combinations of playing cards used by one or more of the players, the dealer, a group of community cards or some combination thereof.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to generate a plurality of bonus games wherein there are a plurality of possible multipliers associated with a multiplied return, and wherein a first portion of the multipliers are fixed for a portion of predetermined combinations of playing cards, and wherein a second portion of the multipliers are variably selected by one of a plurality of bonus games.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the input mechanism includes a touch screen display accessible by the dealer and wherein the computer is further programmed to output a list of selectable card hands including at least the first card hand and the second card hand to the touch screen display.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second computer, separate from the computer, configured to receive the amount to increment the progressive prize from the computer.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the input mechanism includes a control pad or one or more input buttons.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the graphical presentation includes a wheel or a reel.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the result of the determination of whether to award the progressive prize for the occurrence of either the first card hand or the second card hand is presented using a mechanical device.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the mechanical device is one of a mechanical wheel or a mechanical reel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a first table layout that may be used for implementing the present invention on a pai gow poker game.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a second table layout that may be used for implementing the present invention on a Four Card Poker™ game.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a functional view of a display device and control pad shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as a computer that may be used for implementing the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic of a computer that may be used for implementing the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic showing a plurality of tables networked to implement the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] One embodiment of the present invention may be played on a table 50 as shown in FIG. 1. The layout for table 50 is designed to accommodate a pai gow game. A dealer employed by the casino stands behind the table 50 with access to a tray 55. The tray 55 holds chips of various denominations used to pay out players' winning wagers. Each player sits at the table 50 behind a player position 60. In the pai gow poker embodiment shown, each player position has a high hand position 62a, and a low hand position 62b. Each hand position 62 also has an associated primary wager circle 64 located directly in front of the high hand position 62a where players place their primary wagers on the hand. Each hand position 62 also has an associated secondary wager circle 65 located adjacent to the primary wager circle 64 where players place their secondary wagers on the hand. Preferably, the table 50 also has at least one legend 66 showing the multiplier associated with certain hands. The table 50 is also equipped with a video display 80. The video display is used to display the bonus games of the present invention and is under control of a dealer control pad 82.

[0019] Play of the game begins by each player placing a wager in the primary wager circles 64 of their player position 60. The players may also place a wager in the secondary wager circles 65 of their player position 60. In the preferred embodiment, the secondary wager is voluntary and the primary wager is mandatory. However, in alternative embodiments the secondary wager may be mandatory. Once all of the wagers have been placed, the dealer deals seven cards to at least each occupied player position 60 and to the dealer from a randomly shuffled deck of cards. Preferably it is a standard playing card deck with fifty-two suited cards and one joker that can be used as an ace or to complete a straight, flush or straight flush.

[0020] The player then examines his cards and divides them into a high hand consisting of five cards and a low hand consisting of two cards. The rules of pai gow poker dictate that the high hand (using standard five-card poker hand rankings) must be higher in value than the two card hand. The standard rank of five-card poker hands is shown in the table below:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 5 CARD POKER HANDS Royal Flush Straight Flush Four of a Kind Full House Flush Straight Three of a Kind Two Pair One Pair High Card

[0021] The player indicates his hand is set by placing the high hand in the high hand position 62a and the low hand in the low hand position 62b. Once all of the player hands are set, the dealer reveals her hand and sets the hand according to pre-established house rules. The dealer sets her high hand in a dealer high hand position 70 and her low hand in a dealer low hand position 68.

[0022] The dealer then reveals each of the player's hands and compares them to the dealer's hands. The primary wager is resolved as follows: If player's high hand beats the dealer's high hand and the player's low hand beats the dealer's low hand, the dealer pays the player even money on the primary wager in primary wager circle 64. If player's high hand loses to the dealer's high hand and the player's low hand loses to the dealer's low hand, the player loses and the dealer collects the primary wager in primary wager circle 64. All other instances result in a push between the dealer and the player.

[0023] After the dealer has resolved the primary wager, the dealer evaluates the secondary wager. Preferably the secondary wager is paid according to the pay table shown on the legend 66. Each player hand is preferably evaluated regardless of how the player chose to set their hand. For instance, a player dealt a full house that chooses to play three of a kind for his high hand and a pair for his low hand is still paid for a full house. The seven-card hand rankings, with the associated multipliers that are paid for the player's secondary wager for a prior art game are shown in the table below:

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 PRIOR ART 7 CARD HANDS AND PAYS HAND PROBABILITY PAY 7 Card St Flush No Joker 2.07599E−07 Progressive 7 Card St Flush W/Joker 1.27155E−06 1000 5 Aces 7.31788E−06 400 Royal Flush 0.000169271 150 Straight Flush 0.001197874 50 Four of a Kind 0.001994718 25 Full House 0.027172988 5 Flush 0.040041292 4 Three of a Kind 0.049775183 3 Straight 0.071584167 2 All Other Hands 0.808055710 0 1.000000000

[0024] The seven-card hand rankings, with the associated pay table (that is preferably shown legend 66) for a preferred embodiment of the present invention applied to a pai gow poker game are shown in the table below:

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 7 CARD HANDS AND PAYS HAND PROBABILITY PAY 7 Card St Flush No Joker 2.07599E−07 Progressive 7 Card St Flush W/Joker 1.27155E−06 Bonus Game 1 5 Aces 7.31788E−06 Bonus Game 2 Royal Flush 0.000169271 Bonus Game 3 Straight Flush 0.001197874 Bonus Game 4 Four of a Kind 0.001994718 Bonus Game 5 Full House 0.027172988 Bonus Game 6 Flush 0.040041292 4 Three of a Kind 0.049775183 3 Straight 0.071584167 2 All Other Hands 0.808055710 0 1.000000000

[0025] As demonstrated by Table 3, whenever a player achieves a flush, straight or three of a kind, they receive a fixed multiplier on their secondary wager, as in the prior art game. Whenever a player achieves the rarest hand possible, the seven-card straight flush without the use of a joker, the player is awarded the progressive prize without further play as in the prior art game demonstrated on Table 2. However when the player achieves one of the six hands comprising a seven-card straight flush with a joker, five aces (using the joker), a royal flush (with or without the joker), a straight flush (with or without the joker), four of a kind or a full house, the player will be awarded the opportunity to play a bonus game. The bonus game to be played is determined by the combination of cards, or hand hierarchy, achieved.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, in the preferred embodiment, each of the six hands that qualify the player to play a bonus game, entitle the player to play a bonus game that is specific to the qualifying hand. The bonus game to be played is preferably played on the video display 80. In the preferred embodiment each of the bonus games is the spin of a wheel 300 on the video display 80. The wheel 300 is divided into six segments, 300A, 300B, 300C, 300D, 300E and 300F. Each segment indicates a prize. Preferably, one of the segments indicates that the player has won the progressive prize. The other segments preferably indicate a multiplier that the player is paid on his secondary wager.

[0027] The segment and therefore the prize to be awarded to the player is indicated by a pointer 305. In practice, the wheel is spun and the segment is selected using a computer 400 executing a RNG using methods well known in the art. The probability of a specific segment being selected can therefore be weighted as desired.

[0028] The amount of the progressive prize may also be shown on the video display 80 in a banner 310 that is continually updating the amount of the progressive. Alternatively, the amount of the progressive may be shown on a separate display (not shown).

[0029] In the preferred embodiment the dealer enters a player's qualifying hand in the control pad 82. The control pad 82 communicates with the computer 400 via an input pathway 410 and the computer 400 alters the video output sent to the video display 80 via a video pathway 420 to display the appropriate bonus wheel 300. In the exemplar shown on FIG. 3 a wheel corresponding to Bonus Game 1 is being shown. The bonus game may then be played automatically or initiated through additional input from the dealer or player through the control pad 82 or additional inputs, such as buttons installed at each player position (not shown).

[0030] Each bonus wheel 300 comprises the bonus game and can be defined by the multiplier values shown on the segments 300A to 300F as well as the probability of each segment being selected. Tables 4 to 9 below shows the bonus games and average return to the player for the preferred embodiment of the present game where the progressive resets at an amount of $5,000 and the secondary wager is $1. The bonus game shown on the display device 80 in FIG. 3 corresponds to Bonus Game 1 below.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 BONUS GAME 1 - 7 CARD STRAIGHT FLUSH W/JOKER SEGMENT PRIZE PROBABILITY RETURN A Progressive 0.02000 100 B 2,500X.sup.  0.08000 200 C 1000X  0.20000 200 D 900X 0.24000 216 E 800X 0.26000 208 F 600X 0.20000 120 1.00000 1044

[0031] By displaying a different wheel 300 with different amounts indicated in segments 300A-F, the same display 80 can also be used to play the following bonus games:

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 BONUS GAME 2 - 5 ACES SEGMENT PRIZE PROBABILITY RETURN A Progressive 0.00160 8.0 B 800X 0.04800 38.4 C 600X 0.08000 48.0 D 400X 0.28000 112.0 E 300X 0.31200 93.6 F 250X 0.27840 69.6 1.00000 369.6

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 BONUS GAME 3 - ROYAL FLUSH SEGMENT PRIZE PROBABILITY RETURN A Progressive 0.00100 5.0 B 250X 0.04000 10.0 C 200X 0.08000 16.0 D 150X 0.32000 48.0 E 100X 0.35100 35.1 F  75X 0.20800 15.6 1.00000 129.7

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 BONUS GAME 4 - STRAIGHT FLUSH SEGMENT PRIZE PROBABILITY RETURN A Progressive 0.00040 2.00 B 250X 0.08000 8.00 C 200X 0.11960 8.97 D 150X 0.18000 9.00 E 100X 0.32000 9.60 F  75X 0.30000 6.00 1.00000 43.57

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 BONUS GAME 5 - 4 OF A KIND SEGMENT PRIZE PROBABILITY RETURN A Progressive 0.00020 1.000 B 50X 0.01000 0.5000 C 30X 0.02000 0.6000 D 25X 0.24000 6.000 E 20X 0.37500 7.500 F 15X 0.35480 5.322 1.00000 20.922

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 BONUS GAME 6 - FULL HOUSE SEGMENT PRIZE PROBABILITY RETURN A Progressive 0.00004 0.2000 B 8X 0.02000 0.1600 C 6X 0.05996 0.3598 D 5X 0.32000 1.6000 E 4X 0.32000 1.2800 F 3X 0.28000 0.8400 1.00000 4.4398

[0032] The total return to the player for the secondary wager can be calculated by summing the return to the player for each hand combination along with the percentage contribution of each bet that is added to the progressive prize. The return for each hand is the probability of each hand times the average return to the player for that hand, when expressed as a “for one” pay for its associated bonus game (e.g., the return on a full house is 0.027172988×(4.44+1)=0.147814531). Similarly, the probability of a player winning the progressive prize can be calculated by summing the probability of a qualifying hand by the probability of winning the progressive through the associated bonus game. These two calculations are illustrated for the discussed preferred embodiment in Table 10 below:

TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 10 PAI GOW SECONDARY WAGER RETURNS HAND RETURN PROGRESSIVE WIN 7 Card St Flush No Joker 0.001038204 2.07599E−07 7 Card St Flush W/Joker 0.001328765 2.54309E−08 5 Aces 0.002712005 1.17086E−08 Royal Flush 0.022123759 1.69271E−07 Straight Flush 0.053389248  4.7915E−07 Four of a Kind 0.043728211 3.98944E−07 Full House 0.147814531 1.08692E−06 Flush 0.200206458 0 Three of a Kind 0.199100732 0 Straight 0.214752501 0 All Other Hands 0.00000000 0 Progressive Contribution 0.05000000 0.936194414 2.37902E−06

[0033] Therefore, the secondary wager in the preferred embodiment discussed has a house edge of approximately 6.4%. By inverting the total probability of winning the progressive, the average number of hands required for the progressive to be won, or progressive cycle, can also be determined. In the preferred embodiment discussed the progressive cycle is 420,341 games (e.g. 1/2.37902E-06). It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the progressive cycle for the prior art games was always greater than 4,816,971. Thus, through the addition of a plurality of bonus games and associated qualifying events the progressive cycle has been reduced to a level more desired by the casino.

[0034] Preferably, as indicated in the previously discussed embodiment, the probability of the hand resulting in the bonus game is inversely related to the probability of winning the progressive prize by playing the associated bonus game. In other words, when players qualify for a bonus game with rarer hand, they are more likely to win the progressive prize relative to when players qualify for a bonus game with a hand that is not as rare.

[0035] Although the bonus games in the preferred embodiment have been described as a plurality of video reels, there is no requirement that all of the bonus games be the same type of game. For instance, one of the bonus games could be a video reel, or a group of reels as is routinely used in slot machines. Other bonus games are also possible. Additionally, although the bonus games described have been played in a video format, it would be a simple matter to develop one or more mechanical bonus games, such as a mechanical wheel. The use of the video display 80 is preferable because the plurality of bonus games can readily be played on a single device, however.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows the primary components comprising the computer 400 used in the present invention. The computer 400 comprises a processor 200 and memory device 210. Preferably the computer 400 is located at the gaming table, but it should be appreciated that it is possible for both the processor 200 and memory device 210 to reside at a central location instead of at the gaming table. In such a situation, a network server may be used to communicate to the gaming device over an Internet connection, local area network (LAN), or wide area network (WAN).

[0037] The computer 400 is configured to output video to one or more display devices 230 using a video controller 270 or controllers 275. The display devices 230 preferably include the control pad 82 and video display 80. Preferably the computer 400 receives inputs from a touch screen 260 affixed to the control pad 82 utilizing a touch screen controller 265. Other input devices 220, such as buttons, may also be utilized by either the player or the dealer to communicate with the computer 400. Other input devices 220 may be used to detect wagers placed in the wager circles 65 and 64. In addition to video output, the computer may provide audio output via a sound card 240 and speakers 250.

[0038] The computer 400 has two primary purposes in the present invention. The first is to administer the progressive prize and increment accordingly. This is done by storing the amount of the progressive prize in memory 210. Additionally, preferably secondary wagers placed on secondary wager circles 65 are detected using methods well known in the gaming art, such as, but not limited to, mechanically detecting a gaming chip placed in a slot, or using light, sonic waves, RFID technology or cameras communicating with pattern recognition software to detect the presence and/or denomination of gaming chips. Such systems are generally described in Bahar, U.S. Pat. No. 7,559,839, incorporated herein by reference. The current amount of the progressive prize is preferably shown by the computer 400 using one of the display devices 230.

[0039] The second primary purpose of the computer 400 is to conduct the play of the plurality of bonus games. Preferably the software for play of the bonus games, including probabilities, pays, associated animations and a RNG are stored on the memory 210.

[0040] Additional advantages of the present invention will now be described by discussing another embodiment utilizing a different basic table game. FIG. 2 shows a table 52 suitable for playing a table game known as Four Card Poker™ as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,584,966 issued to Shuffle Master, Inc. In the game, each player places an initial primary wager in a first primary wager circle 64a as well as a secondary wager in secondary wager circle 65. Each player and the dealer is then dealt five cards from a standard card deck of fifty-two cards that they use to make a four-card poker hand. If the player desires to play his hand against the dealer's the player places an additional primary wager in second primary wager circle 64b and places his hand in a player hand position 62c. If the player doesn't desire to play further, he folds his hand and the dealer collects the wagers from circles 65 and 64a.

[0041] Once all player hands are set, the dealer reveals the dealer's hand at a dealer hand position 69. Each player's hand is then compared to the dealer's hand using a predetermined hierarchy of hands and the player is paid on for winning hands on the primary wagers. If the player's hand is sufficiently high on the hierarchy of hands, they were also paid, in the prior art game, a fixed multiplier of the player's secondary wager. By applying the present invention to this known game a plurality of bonus games will now be awarded to the player in lieu of the fixed multiplier. The hierarchy for the four card poker hands as well as the pays (which are indicated on legend 66) and probabilities associated with each in a preferred embodiment are shown in Table 11, below:

TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 11 4 CARD HANDS AND PROBABILITIES HAND PROBABILITY PAY 4 Aces 1.84689E−05 Bonus Game 7 4 Kings to Tens 7.38757E−05 Bonus Game 8 4 Nines to Twos 0.000147751 Bonus Game 9 Straight Flush 0.000797242  Bonus Game 10 Three of a Kind 0.022569028  Bonus Game 11 Flush 0.044100717 4 Straight 0.039172592 3 Two Pair 0.047539016 2 Pair of Aces 0.031203251 Push All Other Hands 0.814378059 0 1.000000000

[0042] As with the Bonus Games 1 to 6 for the previous embodiment involving pai gow, Bonus Games 7 to 11 for an embodiment of the present invention for use in a Four Card Poker™ game can be defined by the following Tables 12 to 16.

TABLE-US-00012 TABLE 12 BONUS GAME 7 - 4 ACES SEGMENT PRIZE PROBABILITY RETURN A Progressive 0.040132 200.6600 B 2,500 0.040000 100.0000 C 1,500 0.200000 300.0000 D 1,000 0.239880 239.8800 E 700 0.240000 168.0000 F 500 0.239988 119.9940 1.00000 1128.5340

TABLE-US-00013 TABLE 13 BONUS GAME 8 - 4 KINGS TO 4 TENS SEGMENT PRIZE PROBABILITY RETURN A Progressive 0.00416 20.800 B 500 0.15780 78.900 C 300 0.20000 60.000 D 250 0.20400 51.000 E 150 0.20800 31.200 F 100 0.22604 22.604 1.00000 264.504

TABLE-US-00014 TABLE 14 BONUS GAME 9 - 4 NINES TO 4 TWOS SEGMENT PRIZE PROBABILITY RETURN A Progressive 0.00160 8.00 B 250 0.07040 17.60 C 150 0.08000 12.00 D 100 0.32000 32.00 E 75 0.32000 24.00 F 50 0.20800 10.40 1.00000 104.00

TABLE-US-00015 TABLE 15 BONUS GAME 10 - STRAIGHT FLUSH SEGMENT PRIZE PROBABILITY RETURN A Progressive 0.00024 1.2000 B 100 0.17976 17.9760 C 70 0.22400 15.6800 D 50 0.24000 12.0000 E 35 0.23600 8.2600 F 20 0.12000 2.4000 1.00000 57.5160

TABLE-US-00016 TABLE 16 BONUS GAME 11 - 3 OF A KIND SEGMENT PRIZE PROBABILITY RETURN A Progressive 0.00004 0.2000 B 25 0.10000 2.5000 C 10 0.26000 2.6000 D 8 0.32000 2.5600 E 5 0.19996 0.9998 F 4 0.12000 0.4800 1.00000 9.3398

[0043] Again, the total return to the player for the secondary wager in an embodiment suited for the game Four Card Poker™ can be calculated by summing the return to the player for each hand combination along with the percentage contribution of each bet that is added to the progressive prize. The return for each hand is the probability of each hand times the average return to the player for that hand, when expressed as a “for one” pay for its associated bonus game. Similarly, the probability of a player winning the progressive prize can be calculated by summing the probability of a qualifying hand by the probability of winning the progressive through the associated bonus game. These probabilities are illustrated for the discussed embodiment of Four Card Poker™ in Table 17 below:

TABLE-US-00017 TABLE 17 FOUR CARD POKER ™ SECONDARY WAGER RETURNS HAND RETURN PROGRESSIVE WIN 4 Aces 0.020861280 7.41195E−07 4 K's to Tens 0.019614295 3.07323E−07 4 Nines to Twos 0.015513898 2.36402E−07 Straight Flush 0.046651411 1.91338E−07 3 of a Kind 0.233359232 9.02761E−07 Flush 0.220503586 0 Straight 0.156690368 0 Two Pair 0.142617047 0 Pair of Aces 0.031203251 0 All Other Hands 0.000000000 0 Progressive Contribution 0.05000000 0.937014368 2.37902E−06

[0044] As demonstrated before, the progressive cycle is the inverse of the total probability of winning the progressive, 420,341 hands.

[0045] By comparing Tables 3 and 10 with Tables 11 and 17 some important similarities as well as differences between the two exemplars will become apparent. First, it will be appreciated that the probabilities of the rarest hands in each exemplar game differ by nearly two orders of magnitude. The seven card straight flush with no joker in pai gow is almost 100 times less probable than the four aces in Four Card Poker™. However, by utilizing the present invention, the probability of a player winning the progressive on a given pai gow hand has been shifted to be greater than the probability of the of the rarest hand. In contrast, by utilizing the present invention, the probability of a player winning the progressive on a given hand of Four Card Poker™ has been shifted to be less than the probability of the rarest hand.

[0046] But more importantly, the probability of a player winning the progressive prize in either game is now substantially equal. In fact, the progressive cycle for the two games is identical to the nearest whole number. By equalizing the progressive cycle, the two disparate games can now contribute to, and play for the same progressive prize fairly. Gambling regulators often require this level of fairness for two games to contribute and vie for the same progressive prize. Therefore, for the purposes of this invention, substantially equal probabilities of winning the progressive prize or the progressive cycle should be understood to mean meeting the required level of fairness imposed by various gaming regulators in the United States.

[0047] Similarly, a progressive prize that is fairly awarded should be understood to mean that when players of two different types of games are both contributing to a single progressive prize, each player will have a substantially equal chance of winning the prize if their contributions to the prize are equal. Although it is preferable to have each player's contribution be equal when calculated on a “per wager” basis, it should be understood that this does not need to be the case as long as the overall contribution of each player is proportional to the player's chances of winning the prize. Thus, if a player of game A contributes $1 to a progressive prize for each play of game A and game A has, based on the chances of winning the prize at game A, a progressive cycle of 100,000 games, the progressive prize could be fairly competed for by a player of game B, if a player of game B contributes $2 to the prize for each play of game B if game B has a progressive cycle of 50,000 games. Both the player of games A and B would contribute, on average $100,000 to the progressive prize before it is won.

[0048] Referring now to FIG. 5 a plurality of tables networked together to share a common progressive prize will now be described. Tables 50a and 50b are pai gow tables as described above. Tables 52c and 52d are Four Card Poker tables as described above. Each table has a local computer 400a-d that now performs the primary function of conducting the bonus games at its associated table 50a-b and 52c-d. Additionally, local computers 400a-d may perform some of the duties of administering the progressive prize. Preferably, these duties comprise collecting information about the wagers place at each computer's table and relaying that information over a network pathway 430 to a centralized progressive controller 425. The centralized controller 425 may be similar in construction to local computer 400. Centralized controller 425 collects progressive contribution data from the plurality of tables and maintains the amount of the progressive prize. The amount may then be relayed back to the local computers 400a-d so that local computers 400a-d can display the amount, preferably on video displays 80a-d. Alternatively, centralized controller 425 may directly communicate with a plurality of local displays.

[0049] The centralized controller 425 may physically reside on the same casino floor as tables 50a-b and 52c-d or it may be located at a remote site. In such a configuration disparate table games on different casino floors can be linked to the same progressive prize. Network pathway 430 may comprise an Internet connection, a wired or wireless local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). Further, it may include additional servers, switches and other networking hardware for relaying the required data.

[0050] Other combinations, orders of operation, additions and modifications to the foregoing may also be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, the foregoing should be considered illustrative rather than limiting the invention, which is defined only by the following claims.