Gaming system and method of operation thereof
A gaming system comprises a primary wagering facility which is usable by a player to place an initial wager on a turn of a game of blackjack, and a secondary wagering facility which automatically places a side wager on the same turn of the game of blackjack. The side wager relates to an outcome which is a function of a number of different playing cards contained in the blackjack hand dealt to the player in turn of the game of blackjack. The side wager is paid at odds of at least 2 to 1 if the first dealt card in the player's hand is of a predetermined rank.
1. A method of operating a gaming server, including the steps of:
the gaming server receiving data relating to an initial wager by a player on an outcome of a turn of a game of blackjack;
the gaming server receiving data relating to an automatic side wager on the occurrence of a different outcome of the same turn of the game of blackjack in response to placement of the initial wager, wherein the different outcome that is the subject of the side wager is a function of a number of different playing cards contained in the blackjack hand dealt to the player in the turn of the game of blackjack;
the gaming server dealing random blackjack hands corresponding to the player and to a dealer;
the gaming server determining the success or otherwise of the initial and the side wagers; and
the gaming server settling the successful wagers as a function of the respective outcomes of the turn of the game of blackjack, wherein the side wager is paid at odds of at least 2 to 1 if the first dealt card in the player's hand is of a predetermined rank.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 that includes the steps of:
accumulating a predetermined portion of each side wager in a pooled jackpot; and
maintaining a balance of the pooled jackpot above a predetermined minimum amount at all times during a course of the game of blackjack.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2 that includes the step of incrementing the pooled jackpot at a predetermined rate, even when the player is not playing the game of blackjack.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the different outcome that is the subject of the side wager is a function of a first three cards dealt in the player's blackjack hand.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the side wager is paid at odds of at least 10 to 1 if the first two dealt cards are each of the predetermined rank but of different suites.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the side wager is paid at odds of at least 20 to 1 if the first two dealt cards are each of the predetermined rank and are all of the same suite.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the side wager is paid at odds of at least 100 to 1 if the first three dealt cards are each of the predetermined rank and are not all of the same suite.
8. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the side wager is paid at odds of at least 250 to 1 if the first three dealt cards are each of the predetermined rank and are all of the same suite.
9. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the side wager is paid the amount of the pooled jackpot if the first three dealt cards are each of the predetermined rank and are all of a predetermined suite.