Methods for games that permit rewagering

Abstract

Methods of administering wagering games comprise accepting a first wager to participate in a first wagering game according to a first set of game rules. A second wager to participate in a second, different wagering game according to a second, different set of game rules is accepted and resolved according to the second set of game rules. An instruction is accepted from each player in whose favor the second wager is resolved to award at least a portion of winnings from the second wager directly to the player or to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager. The first wager is resolved according to the first set of game rules. Games of the present invention may be implemented as live card games, EGM games, multi-player EGM games, on-line games, scratch ticket games and on live card games with electronic betting interfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of administering a wagering game, comprising:
 a dealer accepting a wager from a player to participate in a game of blackjack by receiving at least one first physical, monetarily valuable wagering element in a first designated area on a surface of a gaming table;   the dealer accepting an optional side wager from the player to participate in a side game by receiving at least a second physical, monetarily valuable wagering element in a second designated area on the surface of the gaming table, the second designated area being distinct from the first designated area;   the dealer dealing at least one standard physical playing card to each of the player and the dealer from a deck comprising at least one set of 52 randomized, standard physical playing cards;   the dealer resolving the side wager according to a set of rules different from blackjack rules;   the dealer accepting from the player an instruction from the player to award at least a portion of winnings from the side wager directly to the player, in response to which each physical, monetarily valuable wagering element associated with the at least a portion of winnings is transferred to the player, or an instruction to transfer at least a portion of winnings from the side wager to the wager associated with the game of blackjack, in response to which each physical, monetarily valuable wagering element associated with the at least a portion of winnings is transferred to the surface of the gaming table in an area associated with the game of blackjack, when the side wager is resolved in favor of the player;   the dealer dealing at least one additional standard physical playing card to each of the player and the dealer; and   the dealer resolving the ante wager according to blackjack rules.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein resolving the side wager according to the set of rules different from blackjack rules comprises considering only the at least one standard physical playing card initially dealt to each of the player and the dealer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein considering only the at least one standard physical playing card initially dealt to each of the player and the dealer comprises comparing a rank of a player hand to a rank of a dealer hand. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein comparing a rank of a player hand to a rank of a dealer hand comprises comparing using poker rankings. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein resolving the ante wager comprises considering more cards than were considered when resolving the side wager. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising revealing the at least one standard physical playing card dealt to each of the player and the dealer in resolving the side wager. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein revealing the at least one standard physical playing card deal to each of the player and the dealer comprises dealing the at least one standard physical playing card dealt to each of the player and the dealer face up. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dealer accepting from the player the instruction to transfer the at least a portion of winnings from the side wager to the wager associated with the game of blackjack when the side wager is resolved in favor of the player comprises adding the at least a portion of winnings to a total wagered amount for the ante wager on an outcome the same as an outcome on which the ante wager was wagered. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dealer accepting from the player the instruction to award the at least a portion of winnings from the side wager directly to the player or to add the at least a portion of winnings from the side wager to the ante wager when the side wager is resolved in favor of the player comprises awarding an even money payout on the side wager directly to the player or adding an even money payout on the side wager to the ante wager when the side wager is resolved in favor of the player. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising returning an amount of the side wager to the player when the at least a portion of winnings from the side wager are added to the ante wager. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dealer accepting from the player an instruction from the player to award at least a portion of winnings from the side wager directly to the player or an instruction to transfer at least a portion of winnings from the side wager to a wager associated with the game of blackjack when the side wager is resolved in favor of the player comprises the dealer accepting from the player an instruction to award all of the winnings from the side wager directly to the play or an instruction to transfer all of the winnings from the side wager to the area associated with the game of blackjack. 
     
     
         12 . A method of administering a wagering game, comprising:
 accepting an ante wager from a player to participate in a game of blackjack by receiving at least one first physical, monetarily valuable wagering element in a first designated area on a surface of a gaming table;   accepting an optional side wager from the player to participate in a side game by receiving at least a second physical, monetarily valuable wagering element in a second designated area on the surface of the gaming table, the second designated area being distinct from the first designated area;   dealing randomized physical cards from a deck comprising at least one set of 52 standard playing cards to the player and to the dealer;   resolving the side wager according to a set of rules different from blackjack;   accepting from the player an instruction from the player to award at least a portion of winnings from the side wager directly to the player, in response to which each physical, monetarily valuable wagering element associated with the at least a portion of winnings is transferred to the player, or an instruction to transfer at least a portion of winnings from the side wager to a wager associated with the game of blackjack, in response to which each physical, monetarily valuable wagering element associated with the at least a portion of winnings is transferred to the surface of the gaming table in an area associated with the game of blackjack, when the side wager is resolved in favor of the player;   dealing additional randomized physical cards from the deck to the dealer and the player; and   resolving the ante wager according to blackjack rules.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein resolving the side wager according to the set of rules different from blackjack comprises comparing a rank of a player hand to a rank of a dealer hand. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein comparing a rank of a player hand to a rank of a dealer hand comprises comparing using poker rankings. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein dealing the randomized physical cards from the deck to the player and to the dealer and dealing the additional randomized physical cards to the player and to the dealer comprises dealing no less than two cards to the player and no less than two cards to the dealer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising revealing the randomized physical cards dealt to each of the player and the dealer in resolving the side wager. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein revealing the randomized physical cards dealt to the player and to the dealer comprises dealing the randomized physical cards dealt to each of the player and the dealer face up. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising returning an amount of the side wager to the player when the at least a portion of winnings from the side wager are added to the ante wager. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the dealer accepting from the player an instruction from the player to award at least a portion of winnings from the side wager directly to the player or an instruction to transfer at least a portion of winnings from the side wager to a wager associated with the game of blackjack when the side wager is resolved in favor of the player comprises the dealer accepting from the player an instruction to award all of the winnings from the side wager directly to the play or an instruction to transfer all of the winnings from the side wager to the area associated with the game of blackjack. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the dealer accepting from the player the instruction to award the at least a portion of winnings from the side wager directly to the player or to add the at least a portion of winnings from the side wager to the ante wager when the side wager is resolved in favor of the player comprises awarding an even money payout on the side wager directly to the player or adding an even money payout on the side wager to the ante wager when the side wager is resolved in favor of the player.