Methods and apparatus for games that permit rewagering

Abstract

Methods of administering wagering games comprise accepting a first wager to participate in a first wagering game according to a first set of game rules. A second wager to participate in a second, different wagering game according to a second, different set of game rules is accepted and resolved according to the second set of game rules. An instruction is accepted from each player in whose favor the second wager is resolved to award at least a portion of winnings from the second wager directly to the player or to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager. The first wager is resolved according to the first set of game rules. Games of the present invention may be implemented as live card games, EGM games, multi-player EGM games, on-line games, scratch ticket games and on live card games with electronic betting interfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of administering a wagering game, comprising:
 accepting a first wager to participate in a first wagering game according to a first set of game rules;   accepting a second wager to participate in a second, different wagering game according to a second, different set of game rules;   dealing cards to a Player hand and to a Banker hand;   resolving the second wager according to the second set of game rules;   accepting from each player for whom the second wager is resolved in favor of that player an instruction to award at least a portion of winnings from the second wager directly to the player or to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager; and   resolving the first wager according to the first set of game rules.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein resolving the second wager according to the second set of game rules comprises resolving the second wager according to whether the cards in the Player hand, the cards in the Banker hand, or the cards only in the Player hand and the cards only in the Banker hand are of equal rank. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the winnings from the second wager are greater when the cards in the Player hand are of equal rank and the cards in the Banker hand are of equal rank than the winnings from the second wager when the cards in only one of the Player hand and the Banker hand are of equal rank. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of game rules comprises the rules of baccarat. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a number of cards dealt to each of the Player hand and the Banker hand at the time the second wager is resolved is two. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising dealing additional cards to at least one of the Player hand and the Banker hand after resolving the second wager. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein accepting the first wager comprises accepting a first wager that an outcome selected from the following will occur: the Player hand will win or the Banker hand will win. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein accepting from each player for whom the second wager is resolved in favor of that player an instruction to award at least a portion of winnings from the second wager directly to the player or to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager comprises accepting from at least one player an instruction to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager on at least one outcome different from the outcome selected by the at least one player when the first wager was accepted. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein accepting from the at least one player the instruction to add the at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager on the at least one outcome different from the outcome selected by the at least one player when the first wager was accepted comprises adding the at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager only on one of the Player hand and the Banker hand. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein accepting from each player for whom the second wager is resolved in favor of that player an instruction to award at least a portion of winnings from the second wager directly to the player or to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager comprises accepting from at least one player an instruction to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager and automatically adding the at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager on the same outcome as was selected by the at least one player when the first wager was accepted. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein an odds payout on the second wager is 15 to 1 when the cards in the Player hand are of equal rank and the cards in the Banker hand are of equal rank and an odds payout on the second wager is 3 to 1 when the cards in only one of the Player hand and the Banker hand are of equal rank. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second wager is optional. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically adding all the winnings from the second wager to the first wager for each player from whom an instruction to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager is accepted. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising adding the second wager amount to the first wager amount. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of game rules permit a player to bet on a tie, and at least a portion of the winnings from the first wager cannot be combined with the second wager. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of game rules comprises a three-card poker game against a pay table and the second, different set of game rules comprises a three-card baccarat game. 
     
     
         17 . A method of administering a wagering game, comprising:
 accepting a second Wager to participate in a game of baccarat;   accepting a first wager to participate in a side game using cards initially dealt to a Player hand and a Banker hand according to a set of game rules different from baccarat rules;   dealing two cards to each of the Player hand and the Banker hand;   resolving the first wager according to whether the two cards in the Player hand are of equal rank, the two cards in the Banker hand are of equal rank, or the two cards in the Player hand are of equal rank and the two cards in the Banker hand are of equal rank;   accepting from each player in whose favor the first wager is resolved an instruction to award at least a portion of winnings from the first wager directly to the player or to add at least a portion of winnings from the first wager to the second wager; and   resolving the second wager according to baccarat rules.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the winnings from the first wager are greater when the cards in the Player hand are of equal rank and the cards in the Banker hand are of equal rank than the winnings from the second wager when the cards in only one of the Player hand and the Banker hand are of equal rank. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein accepting from each player for whom the first wager is resolved in favor of that player an instruction to award at least a portion of winnings from the first wager directly to the player or to add at least a portion of winnings from the first wager to the second wager comprises accepting from at least one player an instruction to add at least a portion of winnings from the first wager to the second wager on at least one outcome different from an outcome selected by the at least one player when the second wager was accepted. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein accepting from the at least one player the instruction to add the at least a portion of winnings from the first wager to the second wager on the at least one outcome different from the outcome selected by the at least one player when the second wager was accepted comprises adding the at least a portion of winnings from the first wager to the first wager only on one of the Player hand and the Banker hand. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein accepting from each player for whom the first wager is resolved in favor of that player an instruction to award at least a portion of winnings from the first wager directly to the player or to add at least a portion of winnings from the first wager to the second wager comprises accepting from at least one player an instruction to add at least a portion of winnings from the first wager to the second wager and automatically adding the at least a portion of winnings from the first wager to the second wager on an outcome that is the same as an outcome selected by the at least one player when the second wager was accepted. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising automatically adding all the winnings from the first wager to the second wager for each player from whom an instruction to add at least a portion of winnings from the first wager to the second wager is accepted. 
     
     
         23 . A gaming table for administering a wagering game, comprising:
 a playing surface including at least one player interface;   at least one dealer interface; and   at least one processor programmed to:
 accept a first wager to participate in a game of baccarat; 
 accept a second wager to participate in a side game using cards initially dealt to a Player hand and a Banker hand according to a set of game rules different from baccarat game rules; 
 resolve the second wager according to the set of game rules; 
 accept from each player in whose favor the second wager is resolved an instruction to award at least a portion of winnings from the second wager directly to the player or to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager; and 
 resolve the first wager according to baccarat rules. 
   
     
     
         24 . A system for administering a wagering game over a computer network, comprising:
 a game engine configured to be accessed by a client server over a network, the game engine being programmed to:
 accept an instruction from a client server to place a first wager to participate in a game of baccarat; 
 accept an instruction from the client server to place a second wager to participate in a side game using cards initially dealt to a Player hand and a Banker hand according to a set of game rules different from baccarat game rules; 
 resolve the second wager according to the set of game rules; 
 accept an instruction from each player for whom the first wager is resolved favorably an instruction to award at least a portion of at least one of the second wager and winnings from the second wager directly to the player or to add all or a portion of said amounts to the first wager; and 
 resolve the first wager according to baccarat rules. 
   
     
     
         25 . An electronic gaming machine for administering a wagering game, comprising:
 at least one player display and at least one player interface; wherein the player interface enables a player to input a wager instruction; and   at least one processor programmed to:
 accept a player first wager instruction to participate in a game of baccarat; 
 accept a player second wager instruction to participate in a side game using cards initially dealt to a Player hand and a Banker hand according to a set of game rules different from baccarat game rules; 
 resolve the second wager according to the set of game rules; 
 accept from each player in whose favor the second wager is resolved an instruction to award at least a portion of winnings from the second wager directly to a player account or to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager; and 
 resolve the first wager according to baccarat rules. 
   
     
     
         26 . The gaming machine of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one player display comprises a single player display configured for single player play. 
     
     
         27 . The gaming machine of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one player display comprises a common display, wherein the machine is configured for multiple players to play the same game.