Betting game with side betting options

Abstract

The present invention relates to a betting game suitable for being incorporated into a card game involving community cards. Players qualify for a round of the betting game and have the option of placing side bets based solely on a predetermined sub-set of the community cards. A dealer takes the side bets from qualified players exercising their option and then deals the community cards. Successful side bets are awarded according to the predetermined sub-set of the community cards and rules governing the side betting, irrespective of continued participation in the round of the betting game.

1 . An apparatus for facilitating a main betting game with side bet possibility, said game using community cards during play of the main betting game, said apparatus comprising a playing surface for normal game play of the main betting game and a side bet tray which is separated from the playing surface used for normal game play, said side bet tray providing qualified players with a location to place an optional side bet, said optional side bet being based solely on a predetermined sub-set of the community cards dealt in the main betting game, wherein a successful side bet is awarded according to the predetermined sub-set of the community cards dealt in the main betting game, and also according to rules governing side betting, irrespective of continued participation in the round. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , said apparatus being removably attachable to a casino chip tray. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said side bet tray comprises betting slots representing side betting options. 
     
     
         4 . A system for facilitating a main betting game with side bet possibility, said game using community cards during play of the main betting game, said system comprising a casino chip tray, a plurality of player seats, a playing surface for normal game play of the main betting game and a side bet tray which is separated from the playing surface used for normal game play, said side bet tray comprising a plurality of betting slots, the number of betting slots corresponding to the number of player seats in a predefined ratio, said betting slots representing at least one side betting option, wherein said side bet tray provides qualified players with an opportunity to place an optional side bet, said optional side bet being based solely on a predetermined sub-set of the community cards dealt in the main betting game, wherein a successful side bet is awarded according to the predetermined sub-set of the community cards dealt in the main betting game, and also according to rules governing side betting, irrespective of continued participation in the round. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , said side bet tray being removably attachable to said casino chip tray. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said betting slots allow qualified players to place one or more side bets on whether the sub-set of the community cards are selected from the group including:
 Red or Black;   Odd or Even; and/or   
       Over or Under, wherein the sum of the face value of the sub-set of the community cards is more than or less than a predetermined number. 
     
     
         7 . A computer based betting game, which game when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to:
 display a playing surface for normal game play of a main betting game, the playing surface including a side bet tray which is separated from the playing surface used for normal game play;   allow players to qualify for a round of the main betting game;   provide an option for each qualified player to place a side bet based solely on a predetermined sub-set of community cards dealt in the main betting game;   take a side bet from each qualified player exercising their option and displaying the side bet in the a side bet tray displayed;   deal community cards during play dealt in the main betting game; and   award each successful side bet according to the predetermined sub-set of the community cards, and also according to rules governing side betting, irrespective of continued participation in the round.   
     
     
         8 . The computer based betting game according to  claim 7 , wherein the computer based betting game is a video poker machine. 
     
     
         9 . The computer based betting game according to  claim 7 , wherein the computer based betting game is a video gaming console. 
     
     
         10 . The computer based betting game according to  claim 7 , wherein the computer based betting game is a hand held device. 
     
     
         11 . A computer readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions, said instructions being executed by one or more processors, said one or more processors adapted to:
 display a playing surface for normal game play of a main betting game, the playing surface including a side bet tray which is separated from the playing surface used for normal game play   allow players to qualify for a round of the main betting game;   provide an option for each qualified player to place a side bet based solely on a predetermined sub-set of community cards dealt in the main betting game;   take a side bet from each qualified player exercising their option and displaying the side bet in the a side bet tray displayed;   deal community cards during play dealt in the main betting game; and   award each successful side bet according to the predetermined sub-set of the community cards, and also according to rules governing side betting, irrespective of continued participation in the round.   
     
     
         12 . An internet based betting game, which game when executed by one or more remote servers causes one or more player terminals to:
 display a playing surface for normal game play of a main betting game, the playing surface including a side bet tray which is separated from the playing surface used for normal game play;   allow players to qualify for a round of the main betting game;   provide an option for each qualified player to place a side bet based solely on a predetermined sub-set of community cards dealt in the main betting game;   take a side bet from each qualified player exercising their option and displaying the side bet in the a side bet tray displayed;   deal community cards during play dealt in the main betting game; and   award each successful side bet according to the predetermined sub-set of the community cards, and also according to rules governing side betting, irrespective of continued participation in the round.   
     
     
         13 . A method for playing a betting game, said game using community cards during play, the method utilising an apparatus according to  claim 1 , said method comprising the steps of:
 allowing players to qualify for a round of the betting game;   providing an option for each qualified player to place a side bet based solely on a predetermined sub-set of the community cards;   taking a side bet from each qualified player exercising their option;   dealing the community cards during play; and   awarding each successful side bet according to the predetermined sub-set of the community cards, and also according to rules governing side betting, irrespective of continued participation in the round.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein allowing players to qualify for a round of the betting game includes dealing private cards to each player. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein allowing players to qualify for a round of the betting game includes taking a bet from each player wanting to qualify at commencement of the betting game. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein placing a side bet on the predetermined sub-set of the community cards includes placing one or more side bets on a side betting slot of the following side bet types:
 Bonus Only;   All Red;   All Black;   Majority Red;   Majority Black;   Odd;   Even;   Over; or   Under; 8 8 8, or any variation of a set sequence.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a qualified player may further qualify to play a bonus payout game. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein further qualification to play a bonus payout game includes the sub-set of community cards forming any one of the following hands:
 any pair; flush; straight; three of a kind; straight flush; royal straight; royal flush; jackpot royal flush; or super jackpot royal flush; wherein
 a royal straight includes a combination of A K Q J of the same kind; 
 a royal flush includes a combination of A K Q J 10 of the same kind; 
 a jackpot royal flush includes a combination of A K Q J 10 9 of the same kind; and 
 a super jackpot royal flush includes a combination of seven or more cards of the same kind beginning with A and descending down the order of a card deck. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein, in the event of the sub-set of community cards forming a royal straight, the qualified player is dealt an extra card for the opportunity to form a second tier royal straight and be awarded a higher prize if the second tier royal straight is formed. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein if the royal flush run continues, the qualified player is subsequently dealt further cards for the opportunity to form subsequent tier royal straights while each formation of subsequent tier royal straights awards the qualified player with increasing prizes. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said betting game is any one of:
 Texas hold'em;   Omaha;   Pineapple;   Manila;   5-Card Stud;   7-Card Stud;   Pineapple—no throw away;   One card hole'em—must use card;   One card hole'em—don't have to use card;   Two card hole'em—must use two cards;   Two card hole'em—must use one card;   Four card hold'em;   Five card hold'em;   Six card hold'em;   Five card Omaha; or   Six card Omaha.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the rules governing side betting include awarding payout bonuses for predetermined combinations of the predetermined sub-set of the community cards. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein a predetermined combination eligible for a payout bonus includes: each of the predetermined sub-set of the community cards to be the eight card. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the side bet is based on a combination of the predetermined sub-set of the community cards and a player's private cards.