Multi level progressive blackjack

Abstract

A method is provide for operating a blackjack game. Means are provided for a player to make an initial wager in order to participate in a standard game. Further means are provided for the player to make a further wager on a jackpot feature. After the cards are dealt, the appearance of a selected card combination is determined. If such a combination appears and the player wagered on this feature then a corresponding progressive jackpot is paid to the player. The result of the standard game is determined as normal.

1 . A method of operating a blackjack game, comprising at least the steps in any suitable order of: 
 providing means for a player to make an initial wager to participate in the standard game;    providing means for the player to make a further wager on a jackpot feature;    dealing the cards;    determining if a selected card combination has been dealt, and paying a corresponding progressive jackpot if the player has wagered on said feature; and    determining the result of the standard game.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the selected card combination is a blackjack hand in a specific suit.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein more than level of jackpot is available, and the level won is determined by different specific combinations.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein one or more cards are specially marked, and the level of jackpot won is at least partly dependant on presence or absence of the specially marked cards in the combination.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for the player to make a wager on said jackpot feature is at least partly automated.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein whether a side bet has been made is monitored automatically, and a portion of such side bet is contributed to said progressive jackpot.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein more than one game contributes to a common progressive jackpot.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the game is played by cards being manually dealt at a gaming table.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the game is played in simulation.  
   
   
       10 . A gaming table for blackjack, said table comprising a layout for manually dealing cards and placing wagers, wherein a specifically marked region is provided for players to wager on a side bet, said region being monitored by automated means to determine that a side bet has been made, and wherein said automated means communicates with jackpot controller to indicate that a side bet has been made.  
   
   
       11 . A gaming table according to  claim 10 , wherein said automated means is a sensor to detect the placement of a gaming chip in said specifically marked region.  
   
   
       12 . A system for operating a blackjack game, said system comprising one or more gaming tables and a jackpot controller, 
 each said gaming table comprising a layout for manually dealing cards and placing wagers, wherein a specifically marked region is provided for players to wager on a side bet, said region being monitored by automated means to determine that a side bet has been made,    said jackpot controller being adapted to communicate with each said automated means and receive periodic indications that one or more side bets have been made at each table, and indications that the jackpot has been won, so that a part of the value of each said side bet is added to a progressive jackpot pool.    
   
   
       13 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the system further comprises one or more displays for indicating the value of said progressive jackpot.  
   
   
       14 . A method of awarding a jackpot in a blackjack game, comprising in any suitable order at least the steps of; 
 providing means for a player to make an initial wager to participate in the standard game;    providing means for the player to make a further wager on a jackpot feature;    contributing at least a part of said further wager to a jackpot pool;    dealing the cards;    determining if a selected card combination has been dealt, and paying a corresponding progressive jackpot if the player has wagered on said feature; and    determining the result of the standard game.    
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the jackpot pool comprises contributions from a plurality of games, at a plurality of tables.