Wagering game with side wager providing tournament entry award

Abstract

A method of playing an underlying wagering game using standard playing cards which includes a side bet wager providing players with the chance to win entry to a wagering game tournament, the method comprising the steps of: placing a first wager on a casino card game with specified rules; placing a side bet wager, wherein the outcome of the side bet wager depends on a comparison of the player's hand rank with a plurality of preset criteria; dealing the cards; resolving the first wager; comparing the player's hand with the plurality of preset criteria to resolve the side bet wager, wherein payouts are made on hands meeting the preset winning criteria, and when a player's hand also meets a second criteria qualifying for tournament entry, awarding the winning player a tournament entry voucher.

1 . A method of playing a wagering game using standard playing cards which includes a side bet wager providing players with the chance to win entry to a separate wagering game tournament, the method comprising the steps of: 
 placing a wager on a primary game with predetermined rules;    placing a side bet wager, wherein the outcome of the side wager depends on a comparison of the player's hand rank with a plurality of preset criteria;    dealing the cards to form a player's hand and a dealer's hand; and    comparing the player's hand with the plurality of preset criteria to resolve the side bet wager, and awarding both a monetary amount determined by multiplying the side bet wager by a specific multiple, the specific multiple being based on the particular preset criteria satisfied, and wherein at least one of the plurality of preset criteria is operatively associated with the granting of a second award to a player upon satisfaction thereof, the second award including an entry pass to a separate wagering game tournament.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of preset criteria comprise at least one standard poker hand rank.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of preset criteria comprise poker hand rankings of royal flush, straight flush, flush, straight and three-of-a-kind.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of preset criteria operatively associated with the granting of a second award to a player comprises a royal flush.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of preset criteria comprise poker hand rankings of a pair, flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, straight flush and royal flush.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the underlying game is Three Card Poker®.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the side wager is mandatory.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the side wager is optional.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of preset criteria comprise poker hand rankings of a pair, flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, straight flush and mini-royal flush.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of preset criteria operatively associated with the granting of a second award to a player comprises a mini-royal flush.  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary game is a game against a dealer hand.  
   
   
       13 . A method of qualifying for tournament play, comprising: 
 placing a first wager to play an underlying casino card game;    placing a second wager on the occurrence of one of a plurality of predetermined winning card combinations;    dealing cards to each player;    dealing cards to a dealer when the casino card game rules so require;    resolving the first wager according to the rules of the casino card game;    resolving the second wager against the predetermined winning card combinations and when a player holds a predetermined winning card combination, a payout is made, and when the winning card combination is designated for tournament entry, awarding the winning player an entry voucher.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the voucher is transferable.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the underlying casino game is a game where the players play against a dealer hand.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the game is a Three Card Poker® game.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , where each player and the dealer receive three cards each.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein earnings from the second bet are used to fund tournament prizes.  
   
   
       19 - 22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the designated tournament entry hand is a mini-royal.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein winning payouts on the second wager are resolved using a pay table.  
   
   
       25 . A multi-player platform that provides multiple player positions for live players to engage in an interactive wagering game with a virtual dealer and virtual cards comprising at least two player positions that enable live players to place wagers on the game, a display system for showing a virtual dealer, a display system for showing the virtual cards used in play of the game, and a database that contains the rules of the wagering game, a game engine for processing a game script including instructional steps enabling game play for each player according to the rules in the database, wherein the game script comprises the steps of: 
 receiving a wager on an underlying game with predetermined rules;    receiving a side wager from a player, wherein the outcome of the side bet wager depends on a comparison of the player's hand rank with a plurality of preset criteria;    dealing cards to form a player's hand and a dealer's hand;    comparing the player's hand with the plurality of preset criteria to resolve the side bet wager, and awarding both a monetary amount determined by multiplying the side bet wager by a specific multiple, the specific multiple being based on the particular preset criteria satisfied, and wherein at least one of the plurality of preset criteria is operatively associated with the granting of a second award to a player upon satisfaction thereof, the second award including an entry pass to a separate wagering game tournament.    
   
   
       26 - 37 . (canceled)