Gambling game system and methods

Abstract

A blackjack or other card game system having a plurality of player counters which count the blackjack hands or other player jackpot tally events dealt to players. The system also includes at least one dealer counter which counts the number of bust hands of the dealer or other dealer jackpot tally events. Displays are included for both the dealer and players to indicate the counts. The counters are typically zeroed at the end of each hand if a tally event has not occurred. Jackpots are awarded when the tally counts exceed predefined thresholds. A tabletop retrofit game system is shown for mounting upon blackjack tables. A special round of play having modified rules can be used as part of the jackpot award.

1. A method for playing a card game involving a dealer and at least one player, comprising the following steps:
 establishing a predetermined player jackpot tally event wherein said predetermined player jackpot tally event is a predetermined outcome of a player's card hand;  
 establishing a predetermined dealer bust event wherein said predetermined dealer bust event is a predetermined outcome of a dealer's card hand;  
 providing a player jackpot tally event status display for each player comprising a numeric LED readout visible to all players and the dealer;  
 providing a dealer bust event status display comprising a numeric LED readout visible to all players and the dealer;  
 starting a round of play by dealing a card hand to each player and to the dealer;  
 determining whether a player jackpot tally event has occurred for each player;  
 determining whether a dealer bust event has occurred for the dealer;  
 incrementing a player's player jackpot tally event display if said player's card hand is a predetermined player jackpot tally event;  
 incrementing said dealer bust event display if said dealer's card hand is a predetermined dealer bust event;  
 continuing another round of play and incrementing each player jackpot tally event display and dealer bust event display as recited above, and while continuous rounds are played rewarding any player whose player jackpot tally event display has exceeded a predetermined player jackpot tally event threshold;  
 rewarding all players if said dealer bust event display has exceeded a predetermined dealer bust event threshold;  
 zeroing any said player jackpot tally event display when the associated player's card hand did not increment the player's said jackpot tally event display;  
 zeroing said dealer jackpot tally event display when the dealer's card hand did not increment said dealer bust event display.  
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the incrementing steps are performed by pressing a membrane switch located proximate to each player and to the dealer. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1  wherein a plurality of predetermined jackpot tally event thresholds are included, increasing in value as said player jackpot tally event display is incremented. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1  wherein a plurality of dealer bust events are included, increasing in value as said dealer bust event display is incremented. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said rewarding steps involve providing at least one special round having modified rules. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined player jackpot tally event is a “natural” blackjack. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined dealer bust event occurs when the dealer's hand exceeds 21 points. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein zeroing steps are accomplished by a conventional end-of-hand poker chip slide containing a sensor or switch activated by the dealer deposition losing player's antes. 
     
     
       9. A method for playing a casino card game capable of involving multiple players, comprising:
   conducting play of a first casino card game about a gaming table according to first game rules associated with the first casino card game;        establishing at least one predetermined special round threshold event associated with play of the first casino card game which acts as a trigger for conducting play of at least one special round game by at least one special player;        suspending play of said first casino card game at said gaming table upon occurrence of said at least one predetermined special round threshold event;        initiating play of said at least one special round game at said gaming table after said suspending step with said at least one special player;        conducting said at least one special round game according to special round rules associated with play of the at least one special round game;        paying a special round bonus award to said at least one special round player if the rules of the at least one special round game are met during conduct of said at least one special round game;        awarding any players suspended from the special round game a suspended player award as provided for according to rules of the at least one special round game.     
     
     
       10. A method according to  claim 9  wherein said awarding step makes any suspended player award conditional upon paying a special round bonus award to the at least one special player. 
     
     
       11. A method according to  claim 9  wherein said awarding step makes any suspended player award variable dependent upon a special round bonus award to the at least one special player. 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 9  wherein the special round includes play by the special player of a plurality of hands simultaneously. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 9  wherein the at least one special round threshold event includes a plurality of events which are involved in normal play of the first casino card game. 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 9  wherein the at least one special round threshold event includes a plurality of consecutive events which are involved in normal play of the first casino card game. 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 9  wherein the at least one special round threshold event includes a plurality of consecutive threshold tally events by a player which are involved in normal play of the first casino card game. 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 9  wherein the at least one special round threshold event includes a plurality of consecutive threshold tally events by either a player or a dealer which are involved in normal play of the first casino game. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 9  wherein the special round game involves play of a single player. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 9  wherein the special round game involves play of both a player and a dealer. 
     
     
       19. A method according to  claim 9  wherein the special round game involves play of multiple players. 
     
     
       20. A method according to  claim 9  wherein the special round game involves play of multiple players and a dealer. 
     
     
       21. A method according to  claim 9  and further comprising betting during the at least one special round game. 
     
     
       22. A method for playing a casino gambling game, comprising:
   conducting play of a first casino game according to first game rules associated with the first casino game;        establishing at least one predetermined special round threshold event associated with play of the first casino game which acts as a trigger for conducting play of at least one special round game by at least one special player;        suspending play of said first casino game upon occurrence of said at least one predetermined special round threshold event;        initiating play of said at least one special round game after said suspending step with said at least one special player;        conducting said at least one special round game according to special round rules associated with play of the at least one special round game;        paying a special round bonus award to said at least one special round player if the rules of the at least one special round game are met during conduct of said at least one special round game;        awarding any players suspended from the special round game a suspended player award as provided for according to rules of the at least one special round game.     
     
     
       23. A method according to  claim 22  wherein said awarding step makes any suspended player award conditional upon paying a special round bonus award to the at least one special player. 
     
     
       24. A method according to  claim 22  wherein said awarding step makes any suspended player award variable dependent upon a special round bonus award to the at least one special player. 
     
     
       25. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the special round includes play by the special player of a plurality of hands simultaneously. 
     
     
       26. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the at least one special round threshold event includes at least one event which is involved in normal play of the first casino game. 
     
     
       27. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the at least one special round threshold event includes a plurality of events which are involved in normal play of the first casino game. 
     
     
       28. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the at least one special round threshold event includes a plurality of consecutive events which are involved in normal play of the first casino game. 
     
     
       29. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the at least one special round threshold event includes a plurality of consecutive threshold tally events by a player which are involved in normal play of the first casino game. 
     
     
       30. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the at least one special round threshold event includes a plurality of consecutive threshold tally events by a dealer which are involved in normal play of the first casino game. 
     
     
       31. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the at least one special round threshold event includes a plurality of consecutive threshold tally events by either a player or a dealer which are involved in normal play of the first casino game. 
     
     
       32. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the at least one special round threshold event includes a plurality of consecutive threshold tally events by both a player and a dealer which are involved in normal play of the first casino game. 
     
     
       33. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the special round game involves play of a single player. 
     
     
       34. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the special round game involves play of both a player and a dealer. 
     
     
       35. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the special round game involves play of multiple players. 
     
     
       36. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the special round game involves play of multiple players and a dealer. 
     
     
       37. A method according to  claim 22  and further comprising betting during the at least one special round game.