Wagering game with table bonus

Abstract

A method of playing a casino table wagering game with at least two players comprises wagering on an underlying game where players may receive a bonus for obtaining a player hand of at least a predetermined rank; placing a side bet that at least one player of the at least two players will obtain a player hand of at least a predetermined rank; playing a hand of the casino table wagering game to conclusion; determining if at least one of the at least two players has obtained a player hand of said at least a predetermined rank; if a player has not obtained a player hand of at least a predetermined rank, but that player has placed the side bet that at least one player of the at least two players will obtain a player hand of at least a predetermined rank, and if another player has obtained a player hand of at least a predetermined rank, awarding that player a predetermined proportional share of the bonus for obtaining a player hand of at least a predetermined rank.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a casino table wagering game with at least two players comprising: 
 wagering on an underlying game where players may receive a payout for obtaining a player hand of at least a predetermined rank;    placing a side bet that at least one player of the at least two players will obtain a player hand of at least a predetermined rank;    playing a hand of the casino table wagering game to conclusion;    determining if at least one of the at least two players has obtained a player hand of said at least a predetermined rank;    if at least one player has obtained a player hand of at least a predetermined rank, awarding each player who placed the side bet a predetermined proportional share of the bonus for obtaining a player hand of at least a predetermined rank.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the casino table wagering game is a card game.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the card game is a poker-type card game.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the poker game is a form of five-card stud.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the card game is Let It Ride® stud poker or a variant of Let It Ride® stud poker.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein each player may place a table bet as the side bet, an individual bet as a side bet, or both a table bet and an individual bet as a side bet.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein different pay tables for the bonus are provided that differ in at least some awards depending upon the number of players that place the side bet that at least one player of the at least two players will obtain a player hand of at least a predetermined rank.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein different pay tables for the bonus are provided that differ in at least some awards depending upon the number of players that place the side bet that at least one player of the at least two players will obtain a player hand of at least a predetermined rank.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein different pay tables for the bonus are provided that differ in at least some awards depending upon the number of players that place the side bet that at least one player of the at least two players will obtain a player hand of at least a predetermined rank.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5  wherein different pay tables for the bonus are provided that differ in at least some awards depending upon the number of players that place the side bet that at least one player of the at least two players will obtain a player hand of at least a predetermined rank.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  wherein different pay tables for the bonus are provided that differ in at least some awards depending upon the number of players that place the side bet that at least one player of the at least two players will obtain a player hand of at least a predetermined rank.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the predetermined proportional share of the bonus for each player placing the side bet is an equal share of the bonus with all players who are awarded proportional shares of the bonus.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the predetermined proportional share of the bonus for each player placing the side bet is an equal share of the bonus with all players who are awarded proportional shares of the bonus.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the predetermined proportional share of the bonus for each player placing the side bet is an equal share of the bonus with all players who are awarded proportional shares of the bonus.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the predetermined proportional share of the bonus for each player placing the side bet is an equal share of the bonus with all players who are awarded proportional shares of the bonus.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the predetermined proportional share of the bonus for each player placing the side bet is an equal share of the bonus with all players who are awarded proportional shares of the bonus.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the predetermined proportional share of the bonus for each player placing the side bet are not all equal shares of the bonus with all players who are awarded proportional shares of the bonus.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the wagering card game is played with at lest two players using standard playing cards having a standard rank, said game involving standard poker hand rankings and comprising: 
 each player placing at least four distinct wagering parts to participate in the game;  
 dealing three cards to each player and at least two common cards, all of said at least two common cards being dealt face down;  
 giving each player the chance to examine the cards received by that player and to withdraw at least a first part of said at least four distinct wagering parts wager based on the rank of said player's cards prior to one of said at least two common cards being dealt face down being exposed;  
 showing said at least one common card, thereby providing at least a partial hand for each player, each player's at least a partial hand comprising said shown at least one common card and the cards each player was dealt;  
 allowing each player to withdraw a second part of the at least four wagering parts and forfeiting a third part of the at least four wagering parts;  
 showing at least one more common card to expose all common cards that had been dealt face down; and  
 resolving each player's remaining wager based on the rank of that player's hand, which remaining wager was not withdrawn.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , said wager to participate in the game comprising exactly four parts.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein there are exactly two common cards.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said wager is divided into four parts and the number of common cards is two.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said four parts of said wager are equal.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said four parts of said wager are equal.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18  wherein a side bet is placed by the player, prior to receiving and viewing player cards, to play against a bonus pay table and/or progressive jackpot.  
     
     
         25 . A method of playing a side bet wagering game in connection with a casino game, the casino game utilizing game symbols, comprising the steps of: 
 each player placing a wager to participate in a casino wagering game, the wagering game having a first set of rules for resolving the game, and a separate set of rules for resolving a side bet game;    each player optionally placing a wager to participate in the side bet game;    a dealer distributing game symbols to the house and/or each player according to the first set of rules of the casino game;    resolving the casino game according to the first set of game rules;    and when at least one player who placed the side bet obtains a predetermined winning outcome according to the second set of rules, and when at least two players have placed a wager in the side bet game, all players having placed a wager on the side bet game win a payout    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the casino card game is poker.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the game symbols are standard cards.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first set of rules includes a table of winning hand combinations and corresponding payout odds.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the second set of rules includes a subset of the table of winning hand combinations and corresponding payout odds.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein each player receives a hand of cards.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the dealer holds common cards.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein at least the first set of rules includes each player playing against a dealer hand.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein all players who participated in the side bet game receive an equal payout amount.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the payouts decrease as the number of participating players increase.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the winning hand combinations and payouts for each number of players is displayed on an electronic display.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the winning hand combinations and payouts for each number of players is displayed on the game layout.