Table keno

Abstract

The present invention provides a table version of a keno game. A table defines a community side bet area including a plurality of betting positions. A set of player symbols is selected by a player from among a set of playable symbols. A set of winning symbols is preferably randomly selected from among the set of playable symbols. A plurality of winning positions are configured such that each winning position displays one of the winning symbols. The player uses a marker to identify at least one of the betting positions within the community side bet area as a marked position prior to placement of the winning symbols, with each betting position representing one of the winning positions. The player is awarded a bonus if any of the player symbols match winning symbols displayed within marked positions. The betting positions and the winning positions may be coextensive.

1 . A game comprising:
 a table defining a community side bet area, said community side bet area including a plurality of betting positions;   a set of playable symbols;   a set of player symbols selected by a player from among said set of playable symbols;   a set of winning symbols preferably randomly selected from among said set of playable symbols;   a plurality of winning positions, with each of said plurality of winning positions configured to display one of said set of winning symbols; and   a marker usable by said player to identify at least one of said plurality of betting positions within said community side bet area as a marked position;   wherein each of said plurality of betting positions represents one of said plurality of winning positions, such that said marked position represents a specific winning position, with said player being awarded a bonus if any of said player symbols match said one of said set of winning symbols displayed within said specific winning position represented by said marked position.   
   
   
       2 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein said betting positions and said winning positions are coextensive. 
   
   
       3 . The game of  claim 1 , further including a first bet wagered by said player, said player receiving a payout based on said first bet if a predetermined number of said player symbols are present among said set of winning symbols. 
   
   
       4 . The game of  claim 3 , further including a second bet wagered by said player, said bonus being awarded based on said second bet. 
   
   
       5 . The game of  claim 4 , wherein said second bet is said marker. 
   
   
       6 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein said player selects a plurality of marked positions, said bonus increasing as the number of said player symbols matching winning symbols displayed within winning positions represented by marked positions increases. 
   
   
       7 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein said community side bet area is divided into a plurality of zones, said player being restricted to a predetermined zone for placement of said marker. 
   
   
       8 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein said marker identifies one of one, two or four of said plurality of betting positions as marked positions. 
   
   
       9 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein said community side bet area is a matrix of rows and columns defining said plurality of betting positions, and wherein said marker identifies one of an entire row and an entire column as marked positions. 
   
   
       10 . The game of  claim 1 , further including a dealer for management of said community side bet area. 
   
   
       11 . A method of playing a table version of a keno game comprising:
 a) providing a table defining a community side bet area, said community side bet area including a plurality of positions;   b) defining a set of playable symbols;   c) selecting a set of player symbols from said set of playable symbols;   d) identifying at least one of said plurality of positions within said community side bet area as a marked position;   e) selecting a set of winning symbols from said set of playable symbols;   f) displaying one of said set of winning symbols within each of said plurality of positions within said community side bet area, such that said marked position displays one of said set of winning symbols;   g) comparing said one of said set of winning symbols displayed within said marked position to said set of player symbols; and   h) awarding a bonus if said one of said set of winning symbols displayed within said marked position is among said set of player symbols.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a player selects said set of player symbols. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a player identifies at least one of said plurality of positions within said community side bet area as a marked position. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further including wagering of a first bet by a player prior to selection of said set of winning symbols, said player being awarded a payout based on said first bet if a predetermined number of said player symbols are among said set of winning symbols. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further including wagering of a second bet by said player prior to displaying said winning symbols within said plurality of positions, wherein said bonus is based on said second bet. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said second bet is used to identify said marked position. 
   
   
       17 . A game comprising:
 a table defining a community side bet area, said community side bet area including a plurality of positions;   a set of playable symbols;   a set of player symbols selected by a player from said set of playable symbols;   a set of winning symbols preferably randomly selected from among said set of playable symbols, with each of said winning symbols being displayed within one of said plurality of positions;   a first bet wagered by said player, said player receiving a payout based on said first bet if a predetermined number of said set, of player symbols are present among said set of winning symbols; and   a second bet wagered by said player, said second bet identifying at least one of said plurality of positions as a marked position, such that said marked position displays one of said winning symbols;   wherein said player is awarded a bonus based on said second bet if any of said player symbols match said winning symbol displayed within said marked position.   
   
   
       18 . The game of  claim 17 , wherein said second bet identifies a plurality of said plurality of positions as marked positions, said bonus increasing as the number of said set of player symbols matching winning symbols displayed within marked positions increases. 
   
   
       19 . The game of  claim 17 , wherein said community side bet area is divided into a plurality of zones, with each of said plurality of zones including at least one of said plurality of positions, wherein said second bet may operate to identify all of said plurality of positions within one of said plurality of zones as marked positions. 
   
   
       20 . The game of  claim 19 , wherein said player is restricted to a predetermined zone for placement of said second bet.