Casino games and gaming apparatus

Abstract

In a secondary game operating alongside a primary game or games, and in which the outcome of the secondary game is independent of the outcome of the primary game or games, a first determination is made to determine whether a prize or prizes will be awarded and the amount of the prize, and a second determination is made to determine a winner or winners of the prize among participants in the secondary game.

1 . A method of operating a secondary game alongside a primary game or games, in which the outcome of the secondary game is independent of the outcome of the primary game or games, and in which in a secondary game cycle a first determination is made to determine whether a prize will be awarded and the amount of the prize, and a second determination is made to determine the or a winner of the prize among participants in the secondary game.  
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in    claim 1   , in which the first determination is made in accordance with an algorithm based on random chance.  
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in    claim 2   , wherein the first algorithm is based on a slot machine type game in which random behaviour of a notional reel or reels selects a predetermined prize or payout from a look-up table.  
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in    claim 2    wherein, in the second determination, a winner is selected at random from the participants in the secondary game cycle.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in    claim 2   , comprising the steps of allocating to participants in the secondary game a weighting factor based on a criterion personal to the participant, the chance of a participant being determined as the or a winner of the prize being related to the weighting factor.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in    claim 5    wherein the criterion is a factor based on participants gaming history, such as games played, amount wagered.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in    claim 5   , wherein participants are allocated a number of player entries, not less than one, in accordance with the weighting factor; and the entries are given equal weight during the second determination, thereby increasing the chance of selection for a participant in accordance with the number of entries.  
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in    claim 5   , wherein participants are grouped according to their individual weighting factors, and a selection is made from one or more of the groups.  
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the second algorithm selects a number of winners per secondary game cycle, the number being related to the number of participants or participating tables in the secondary game cycle.  
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in any one of claims  1 , in which the second algorithm selects a number of winners per secondary game cycle, the number being related to the number of participants or participating tables in the secondary game.  
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in    claim 1   , in which the first algorithm determines a single prize per secondary game cycle.  
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in any one of claims  1 , in which the first algorithm determines a number of prizes per secondary game cycle, dependent on the number of participants or participating tables.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus for playing a secondary game in a casino, the apparatus comprising: 
 a gaming station at which the or a primary game is played by a number of participants;    means at the gaming station for a participant to indicate participation in a cycle of the secondary game;    means for determining the number of participants in a cycle of the secondary game;    means for distinguishing between the participants in the secondary game cycle;    means for determining in accordance with a first algorithm, which is independent of the primary game, whether a payout will be awarded in the secondary game cycle and/or the value of the payout; and    means for determining in accordance with a second algorithm which participant will be awarded the payout (if any).    
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as claimed in    claim 13   , in which the second algorithm determines a winner of the prize independently of the outcome of the primary game.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus as claimed in    claim 13   , in which the gaming station is or includes one or more of a roulette table, a card game table and a slot machine.  
     
     
         16 . A game emulator for simulating the playing of a game, comprising: 
 means for inputting a number of participants in a game cycle;    means for inputting a number of cycles of the game to be played;    means for calculating the amount wagered based on the number of participants in the game and number of cycles;    means for simulating the playing of the game or calculating based on the game algorithm the number and/or amount of payouts or winners of the game for the number of game cycles;    means for calculating the total game payout over the number of game cycles; and    means for comparing the game payout with the amount wagered.    
     
     
         17 . A game emulator as claimed in    claim 16   , including means for varying the game algorithm to adjust the number and/or amount of payouts per game cycle.  
     
     
         18 . A game emulator as claimed in    claim 16   , wherein the means for inputting a number of participants in a game cycle includes means for varying the number randomly or semi-randomly within a pre-determined range per cycle.