Enhanced wagering game

Abstract

A method of operating an enhanced game of roulette is provided. The method includes receiving one or more selections and player-funded wagers on possible roulette game outcomes from a player. An actual roulette game outcome is then determined. The determined outcome then determines whether the player is to be awarded any winnings and, if so, any determined winnings are awarded to the player. The method further includes determining if a trigger event has occurred. If a trigger event has occurred, then one or more subsequent games of roulette are provided to the player. Each subsequent game does not require any player-funded wagers from the player. In each subsequent game, a roulette game outcome is determined for the subsequent game. A determination is made as to whether the player is to be awarded any bonus award based upon the roulette game outcome for the subsequent game. A bonus award is determined and, if any bonus award is determined to be awarded, then the bonus award is awarded to the player. Methods for enhancing other wagering games are also provided.

1 . A method for providing a bonus feature in a card game, a dice game or a wheel game, the method including:
 providing an underlying game, being a card game, a dice game or a wheel game, the underlying game including a physical or an electronic player interface for placing bets;   providing, within the player interface, an option to receive a side bet from the player, so as to make the player eligible for the bonus feature;   conducting a first underlying game and determining a winning outcome;   awarding any winnings from the first underlying card game, dice game or wheel game to each player having the winning outcome;   if the winning outcome of the first underlying game establishes a first component of a bonus feature win, then providing at least one subsequent game to eligible players to determine whether further components of the bonus feature win have been established;   wherein the at least one subsequent game is a regular underlying game of the card game, dice game or wheel game, on which regular wagers may or may not be received from eligible players and other players, and wherein the further components of the bonus feature win are determined without requiring a further player-funded amount to be received from the eligible players, and wherein the number of subsequent games provided to eligible players is proportional to the amount of respective side bet received from the eligible players during the underlying game in which the first component of the bonus feature win occurred.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a bonus wager is received from each eligible player on one or more possible outcomes of each subsequent game. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the bonus wager is funded by free credits provided to each eligible player during each subsequent game. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the bonus wager is received for a predetermined selection of outcomes, at least one of which is assigned a jackpot prize. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the bonus wager consists of a set of wagers of different predetermined value, such that wagers are related to outcomes in descending order of value according to their relationship to the jackpot prize outcome. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the relationship is based on the proximity numerically or in the betting layout of the outcomes to the jackpot prize outcome. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the relationship is based on a defined set of outcome characteristics. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the underlying game is a card game, and the set of outcome characteristics includes color, rank and suit of card. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein during each subsequent game, one or more possible outcomes are assigned a prize, at least one prize being a jackpot prize. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the value of each prize, other than the jackpot prize, assigned to each outcome varies according to its relationship to the jackpot prize outcome. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the relationship is based on the proximity numerically or in the betting layout of the outcomes to the jackpot prize. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the side bet is added to a progressive jackpot pool. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the card game, dice game or wheel game is an electronic simulation of such a game, displayed on a display to each player 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the underlying game is roulette, and a bonus feature win requires either a particular winning number, or consecutive, specific winning numbers. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein a bonus feature win requires the winning number to be the same as the outcome from an immediately previous game of roulette. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the underlying game is a dice game, and a bonus feature win requires either a particular winning dice total or combination, or consecutive, specific winning dice totals or combinations. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the underlying game is a card game, and a bonus feature win requires either a particular winning hand total or combination, or consecutive, specific winning hand totals or combinations. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A gaming system, including a game controller and at least one player terminal, the at least one player terminal being adapted for play of an underlying game, being a card game, a dice game or a wheel game, and including a player interface for placing wagers,
 the player interface further configured to receive a side bet from a player so as to be eligible for a bonus feature, wherein if the outcome of a first underlying game indicates a first component of a bonus feature win, each eligible player is provided with at least one subsequent game to determine whether further components of the bonus feature have been established;   wherein the at least one subsequent game is a regular underlying game of the card game, dice game or wheel game, on which regular wagers may be received from eligible players and other players, and wherein the further components of the bonus award are determined without requiring a further player-funded amount to be received from the eligible players, and wherein the number of subsequent games provided to each eligible player is proportional to the amount of respective side bets received during the first underlying game in which the first component of the bonus feature win occurred.   
     
     
         20 . The gaming system according to  claim 19 , configured to receive, on behalf of each eligible player, a bonus wager on one or more possible outcomes of each subsequent game. 
     
     
         21 . The gaming system according to  claim 20 , configured to fund the bonus wager by free credits provided to each eligible player during each subsequent game. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming system according to  claim 20 , wherein the bonus wager is received for a predetermined selection of outcomes, at least one of which is assigned a jackpot prize. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming system according to  claim 22 , wherein the bonus wager consists of a set of wagers of different predetermined values, such that wagers are related to outcomes in descending order of value according to their relationship to the jackpot prize outcome. 
     
     
         24 . The gaming system according to  claim 23 , wherein the relationship is based on the proximity numerically or in the betting layout of the outcomes to the jackpot prize outcome. 
     
     
         25 . The gaming system according to  claim 23 , wherein the relationship is based on a defined set of outcome characteristics. 
     
     
         26 . The gaming system according to  claim 25 , wherein the underlying game is a card game, and the set of outcome characteristics includes color, rank and suit of card. 
     
     
         27 . The gaming system according to  claim 19 , wherein during each subsequent game, one or more possible outcomes are assigned a prize, at least one prize being a jackpot prize. 
     
     
         28 . The gaming system according to  claim 27 , wherein the value of each prize, other than the jackpot prize, assigned to each outcome varies according to its relationship to the jackpot prize outcome. 
     
     
         29 . The gaming system according to  claim 28 , wherein the relationship is based on the proximity numerically or in the betting layout of the outcomes to the jackpot prize outcome. 
     
     
         30 . The gaming system according to  claim 28 , wherein the relationship is based on a defined set of outcome characteristics. 
     
     
         31 . The gaming system according to  claim 30 , wherein the underlying game is a card game, and the set of outcome characteristics includes color, rank and suit of card. 
     
     
         32 . The gaming system according to  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the side bet is added to a progressive jackpot pool. 
     
     
         33 . The gaming system according to  claim 19 , wherein the underlying game is roulette, and a bonus feature win requires either a particular winning number, or consecutive, specific winning numbers. 
     
     
         34 . The gaming system according to  claim 33 , wherein a bonus feature win requires the winning number to be the same as the outcome from an immediately previous game of roulette. 
     
     
         35 . The gaming system according to  claim 19 , wherein the underlying game is a dice game, and a bonus feature win requires either a particular winning dice total or combination, or consecutive, specific winning dice totals or combinations. 
     
     
         36 . The gaming system according to  claim 19 , wherein the underlying game is a card game, and a bonus feature win requires either a particular winning hand total or combination, or consecutive, specific winning hand totals or combinations.