Apparatus and method of enhancing a casino table game

Abstract

An apparatus and method of enhancing table wagering games such as Blackjack, Craps and Roulette. The method involves randomly selecting one or more players prior to each round, but after all wagers have been placed, of an underlying wagering game. The selection process may be conducted in a complimentary fashion or may require a player to first place an ante for participation in the selection process. Once the selection is made, the one or more selected players are then eligible to receive an enhanced reward based on the outcome of the underlying wagering game. For example, a selected player may be paid 2-1 on a winning Blackjack hand as compared to the conventional 1-1. In another example, the selected player may be paid 3-1 on two card “Blackjack” rather than the conventional 3-2. A first embodiment includes a random number generator and lighting units for randomly selecting and identifying selected players.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A gaming table comprising: 
 a table top having a gaming layout depicted thereon;    a plurality of player positions arranged about said table top;    means for randomly selecting one or more of the player positions; and    one or more display indicators for identifying the one or more randomly selected player positions.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming table of  claim 1  wherein the means for randomly selecting the one or more player positions is a random number generator.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming table of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of display indicators are light emitting diodes.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming table of  claim 3  wherein said one or more light emitting diodes are incorporated into said table.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming table of  claim 1  wherein a player seated in the selected one or more player positions is provided with an opportunity at an enhanced gaming reward.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming table of  claim 5  wherein said enhanced gaming reward is based on the wagering game outcome of the one or more selected players.  
     
     
         7 . A method of playing a wagering game at a table comprising the steps of: 
 accepting player wagers corresponding to the wagering game;    randomly selecting one or more player positions at said table;    identifying the one or more selected player positions;    conducting the wagering game; and    providing the one or more players associated with the one or more selected player positions an opportunity at an enhanced reward related to the wagering game outcome of the one or more selected players.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said step of randomly selecting the one or more player positions is accomplished by means of a random number generator.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the one or more selected player positions is identified by one or more display indicators integrated into the table.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the one or more selected player positions is identified by a display for showing a alphanumeric number corresponding to the one or more player positions.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the reward is an enhanced payout.  
     
     
         12 . A method of enhancing a wagering game played at a gaming table comprising the steps of: 
 accepting player wagers corresponding to the wagering game;    randomly selecting one or more player positions at the table;    identifying the one or more selected player positions;    conducting the wagering game; and    providing one or more players corresponding to the one or more selected player positions with an enhanced wagering game payout should the one or more players achieve a predetermined wagering game outcome.    
     
     
         13 . A gaming table comprising: 
 a table top having a gaming layout depicted thereon;    a plurality of player positions arranged about said table top; and    a plurality of display indicators incorporated into said table for identifying one or more player positions selected by a random number generator.    
     
     
         14 . A system of enhancing a plurality of wagering games played at a plurality of gaming tables in a proximate location of one another comprising: 
 a centrally located random number generator in communication with the plurality of gaming tables, said centrally located random number generator generating a number corresponding to a gaming table player position upon request by a table wagering game operator;    identifying the selected player at the gaming table operated by the requesting operator;    conducting the wagering game; and    providing a player corresponding to the selected player position with an enhanced wagering game payout should the player achieve a predetermined wagering game outcome.    
     
     
         15 . A gaming table comprising: 
 a table top having a gaming layout depicted thereon;    a plurality of player positions arranged about said table top;    a random number generator for selecting one or more player positions; and    a plurality of light emitting diodes placed adjacent each player position, one or more of said light emitting diodes corresponding to the one or more selected player positions being lighted upon said random selection.    
     
     
         16 . A gaming table comprising: 
 a table top having a gaming layout depicted thereon;    a plurality of player positions arranged about said table;    means for randomly selecting one or more of the player positions; and    a display for displaying an alphanumeric symbol corresponding to said randomly selected player position.    
     
     
         17 . The gaming table of  claim 16  wherein said means for randomly selecting one or more player positions is a random number generator.  
     
     
         18 . A method of enhancing a wagering game played at a gaming table comprising the steps of: 
 accepting a first player wager corresponding to the wagering game;    randomly selecting one or more player positions at the table;    identifying the one or more selected player positions;    conducting the wagering game; and    providing one or more players corresponding to the one or more selected player positions with a reward based on the random selection.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further including the step of accepting a second player wager as an ante corresponding to an opportunity at the reward.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the reward is an enhanced wagering game payout should the one or more players achieve a predetermined wagering game outcome.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said step of randomly selecting the one or more player positions is accomplished by means of a random number generator.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the one or more selected player positions is identified by one or more display indicators integrated into the table.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the one or more selected player positions is identified by a display for showing a alphanumeric number corresponding to the one or more player positions.