CA1335381C

CA1335381C - Method and apparatus for progressive jackpot gaming

Info

Publication number: CA1335381C
Application number: CA 596846
Authority: CA
Inventors: James P. Suttle; Daniel A. Jones
Original assignee: D&D Gaming Patents Inc
Current assignee: Progressive Games Inc
Priority date: 1988-04-18
Filing date: 1989-04-17
Publication date: 1995-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-25
Also published as: EP0338644A3; ES2046445T3; JPH082384B2; NL192893B; NL192893C; JPH0221883A; EP0338644B1; DE68909992D1; DE68909992T2; NL8900970A; EP0338644A2

Abstract

A method and apparatus for including a progressive jackpot component in a live casino table game. In addition to playing a live casino table game, each player makes an additional wager at the beginning or each hand that makes that player eli-gible to win all of part of a jackpot. If during the play of the hand a player is dealt a predetermined arrangement of cards, the player wins a preselected percentage of the jackpot amount. The jackpot is progressive in that unwon amounts of the jackpot carry over to the next hand. Apparatus is provided to receive each gaming token wagered for the jackpot component, to increment the jackpot meter which displays the jackpot amount, to decrement the jackpot meter whenever a winning hand is paid and to reset the apparatus for the next hand.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to casino or cardroom gaming involving a progressive jackpot. More particularly, it relates to a progressive jackpot that is available to be played by participants in various casino or cardroom table games.
It has become common practice in gaming establishments to provide a progressive jackpot component in connection with electronic or mechanical gaming devices, such as slot machines, video poker machines or keno machines. Typically a plurality or "bank" of machines are electronically interconnected to a common progressive jackpot meter. As gaming tokens are fed into each machine, the amount shown on the jackpot meter progresses incrementally until some lucky player lines up the winning combination, such as three or four 7's on the same row of a slot machine. In video poker, a Royal Flush normally wins the jackpot, although in some variations, a player must achieve a Royal Flush in an exact order, such as A-K-Q-J-10 from left to right, or in a particular suit, such as Spades. In video keno, a player typically must match 15 out of 15 numbers to win the progressive jackpot.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a progressive jackpot component to typical casino or cardroom table games such as poker or Twenty-One.
,~

``~.~ I 33538 t 1 It is a ~eature of the present invention to have each 2 participant in ~he progressive jackpot component win all or par~

3 oE the amount sllown on ~he progressive jackpot meter if the par-4 ticipant achieves a particular predetermined playing hand.
It is an advantage oE the present invention-that when 6 the progressive jackpot component is added to typical table games 7 such as poker or Twenty-One that the players will enjoy these 8 games more and that the amount of play will increase.
9 It is a further object oE the present invention to pro-vide apparatus useful in providing the progressive jackpot com-11 ponent to casino or cardroom table games such as poker or Twenty-12 One.
13 It is a fur~her feature of the present invention to have 14 a progressive jackpot meter electronically interconnected to one or more gaming ta~les to allow each player at his playing location 16 to participate in the progressive jackpot component by wagering a 17 gaminy token which au~omatically activates an indicator showing 18 the player's participation and also automatically increments the 19 progressive jackpot meter.
It is an advantage o~ the present invention that the 21 apparatus makes it easy for each player to participate in the 22 proyressive jackpot component of the game.

24 The method of the present invention generally involves a typical casino or cardroom game modified to include a progressive 26 jackpot component. During the play of a Twenty-One game, for 27 example, in addition to his normal wager, a player will have the ~ 1 335381 optlon of maklng an addltional wager that becomes part of, and makes the player ellglble to wln, the progresslve ~ackpot. If the player's Twenty-One hand comprlses a partlcular, predetermlned arrangement of cards, the player wlll wln all, or part of, the amount showlng on the progresslve ~ackpot. Thls progresslve ~ackpot feature ls also adaptable to any other caslno or cardroom game such as Draw Poker, Stud Poker, Lo-Ball Poker or Carlbbean StudTM Poker The apparatus used to practlce the present lnventlon comprlses a gamlng table, such as those used for Twenty-One or poker, modlfled wlth the addltlon of a coln acceptor that ls electronlcally connected to a progresslve ~ackpot meter. When a player drops a coln lnto the coln acceptor, a llght ls actlvated at the player's locatlon lndlcatlng that he ls partlclpatlng ln the progresslve ~ackpot component of the game durlng that hand.
At the same tlme, a slgnal from the coln acceptor ls sent to the progressive meter to lncrement the amount shown on the progresslve meter. At the concluslon of the play of each hand, the coln acceptor ls reset for the next hand. When a player wlns all or part of the progresslve ~ackpot, the amount showlng on the progresslve ~ackpot meter ls reduced by the amount won by that player. Any number of gamlng tables can be connected to a slngle progresslve ~ackpot meter.
In one aspect, the lnventlon resldes ln an apparatus for lncludlng a ~ackpot component ln a llve caslno table game comprlslng: (a) a gamlng table havlng a plurallty of player locatlons; (b) actlvator means at each player locatlon for F

permlttlng a player to wager at least one gamlng token to partlclpate ln a ~ackpot component of the llve caslno game; (c) lndlcator means for dlsplaylng the amount ln the ~ackpot; and (d) means for decrementlng the amount shown on the lndlcator means by the amount won by a player lf the player achleves a predetermlned wlnnlng arrangement ln accordance wlth the rules of the llve caslno game.
In another aspect, the lnventlon resldes ln an apparatus for lncludlng a ~ackpot component as an addltlonal feature ln a llve caslno table game comprlslng: (a) a gamlng table havlng a plurallty of player locatlons at whlch a player recelves playlng cards from a dealer, (b) means assoclated wlth each player locatlon for the player to lnsert a gamlng token to partlclpate ln the addltlonal ~ackpot component of the llve caslno table card game, (c) means for lndlcatlng on a ~ackpot meter the amount ln the ~ackpot, (d) means for lncreaslng the amount shown on the ~ackpot meter a preselected amount for each gambllng token lnserted, and (e) means for decrementlng the amount shown on the ~ackpot meter by the amount won by a player lf the player achleves a predetermlned arrangement of the playlng cards.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Flg. 1 shows the apparatus of the present lnventlon uslng a caslno gamlng table wlth coln acceptors at each playlng locatlon electronlcally connected to a progresslve ~ackpot meter.

3a F

1 Figure 2 shows an alternate embodiment of the present 2 invelltion using a cardroom gaming table with coin acceptors at 3 each playing location electronically connected to a progressive 4 jackpot meter.
I;igure 3 shows a block diagram o~ the operation oE the 6 present invention.
7 Fiyure 4 shows a schematic diagram oE the electronic 8 circuitry oE the present invention.
g DETAILE~ DESCRIPrION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in Figure 1, a casino gaming table 10 is pro-11 vided having a plurality o~ playing locations 12 for players par-12 ~icipa~iny in the game being conducted, e.g., Twenty-One. A
13 dealer is positioned at the dealer's location 14 adjacent a chip 14 rack 16. Adjacent to each player location 12 is a coin acceptor 20. Each coin acceptor 20 is electronically connected to a main 16 control board 40 to which is connected a number of odometer-type 17 counters 42 corresponding to the number of playing locations 12 18 provided on the gaming table 10. As shown in Figure 1, seven 19 playing locations 12 are preferably provided, although the number of playing locations can be more or less than seven. A reset 21 switch 50 is located adjacent the dealer's location 14 and is 22 electronically connected to the main control board 40 and provides 23 a means whereby the dealer can reset the coin acceptors 20 prior 24 to the beginning o~ the play of each hand. A lockout switch 55, is also provided adjacent to the dealer's location 14 which is 26 activated by the dealer to prevent later wagering as will be more 27 fully explained hereln.

- ~
: ~

A main control board 40 is electronically connected to a progressive jackpot control box 60 which receives the signals Erom 3 each coin acceptor 20 and in response to those signals increments 4 the progressive jackpot meter 70, as will be more Eully explained 5 herein. Also electronically connected to the progressive control 6 box G0 is the jackpot reset control 80 which provides means ~or 7 resetting the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter when-8 ever a player wins all, or part of, the amount shown on the pro-9 gressive jackpot meter 70.
In operation, the present invention operates as ~ollows.
11 A conventional Twenty-One game is conducted on gaming table 10.
12 At the beginning oE each hand, each player, in addition to making 13 his usual wager Eor the play of the Twenty-One hand, may also make 14 an additional wager to be eligible to participate in the progres-sive jackpot component oE the game during that hand. To do so, a 16 player places a gaming token into the coin acceptor 20 associated 17 witll that player's particular playing location 12. As will be 18 more Eully explained herein, the coin acceptor 20 "recognizes"
19 that a gaming token has been placed therein and an indicator signal 22, preEerably a light, adjacent to the coin acceptor 20 is 21 activated showing that that particular player is participating in 22 the progressive jackpot component oE the game during the play oE
23 that hand.
24 Besides activating the indicator signal 22, the coin acceptor 20 also sends an electronic signal to the main control 26 board 40. This signal is sent by the main control board 40 to the 27 odometer-type counter 42 corresponding to the particular playing f 1' .. ' ~'1 location 12 to keep a sequential count oE the number of gaming 2 tokens that are placed in the particular coin acceptor 20.
3 The main control board 40 also activates the progressive 4 jackpot control box 60 which in turn controls the progressive jackpot meter 70. Each gaming token placed in a coin acceptor 20 6 results in the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter being 7 increased by a predetermined amount. If, for example, each gaming 8 token has a value of one dollar, then the amount shown on the g progressive jackpot meter would be increased by any amount up to one dollar for each gaming token placed into a coin acceptor 20.
11 In the preferred embodiment oE the present invention, the progres-12 sive jackpot would be increased between 93~ to 97% of the amount ` 13 oE each gaming token being wagered, the balance representing the 14 house's share of the amount wagered for providing the progressive jackpot component of the game.
16 ~hen each player has had a reasonable opportunity to 17 make a progressive jackpot wager, the dealer activates lockout 18 switch 55 which deactivates each coin acceptor 20. Any tokens 19 placed in a coin acceptor 20 after lockout switch 55 is activated will not register. This prevents late wagering aEter the cards 21 are dealt.
22 The amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter will 23 continue to increase for each gaming token wagered until a player 24 achieves a winning hand. Preselected winning hands earn a player all or part of the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter.
26 In a preferred embodiment, the preselected wining hands and 27 payoff amounts in Twenty-One game are as follows:

;

1 ~inning llandAmount of Jackpot Four 5's and an Ace100%
2 Ace, two, three, four, five and six 4%
3 Six, seven and eight of same suit100 tokens 4 Three 7's 50 tokens The invention is not limited to these particular combinations of 6 winning hands or payoffs; other winning hand combinations or pay-7 oE~ amoun~s can be utilized.
8 ,When a player achieves a winning hand, the jackpot reset 9 control 80 is manually activated by pushing a~button that corres-ponds to the type of hand that the player achieved. The amount 11 won by the player is thus electronically deducted from the amount 12 showing on the progressive jackpot meter.
13When a particular hand is completed at gaming table 101, 14 the dealer presses the reset switch 50, which deactivates the in-dicator siynal 22. Lockout switch 55 is also manually deactivated 16 by the dealer. The coin acceptor 20 is thus readied to receive 17 another gaming token Eor the next hand.
18The progressive jackpot component of the present inven-19 tion can also be used in connection with other types of casino games, e.g., Caribbean Stud~ Poker, which is the subject matter of 21U. S. Patent Application Serial No. 182,374 filed April 18, 198~, 22 which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. Caribbean 23 Stud~ Poker is a modification of conventlonal five-card stud 24 poker. Each player makes an ante and a dealer deals five cards to each player and ~o himself. The player's cards are dealt face 26 down and the dealer's cards are dealt four cards face down and one 27 card face up. Each player views his hand and then decides whether 1~,. ..

1 to continue to play by making an additional bet or to Eold or 2 drop, in which case he loses his ante. The dealer then reveals 3 his entire hand; iE the dealer's hand does not have a poker value 4 oE at least Ace-King, then the dealer is not permitted to continue to play. In that case, the dealer pays even money on the re-6 maining players' antes, and returns their bets to them. If the dealer's hand has a poker value of Ace-King or better, the dealer 8 compares his hand to each player's hand, paying or collecting the g bets as appropriate. The dealer also pays odds `of more than even money on each winning player's hand of two pair or better accord-11 ing to a bonus payment schedule. This game can be played using 12 the gaming ta~le shown in Figure 1. Each player makes a progres-13 sive jaclcpot wager by placing a gaming token in the coin acceptor 14 20 which makes that player eligible to participate in the pro-yressive jackpot amount shown on the meter 70. The winning hands 16 and amounts Eor Caribbean Stud Poker are preferably as follows:

17 Hand Amount Royal Flush 100%
18 Straight Flush 10%
Four oE a ICind 1%
19 Full House 50 tokens Flush 25 tokens 20 Again tlle invention is not limited to these particular combina-21 tions of hands or payoff amounts; other hand combinations or pay-22 off amounts can be utilized.
23 The invention can also be adapted to other casino or 24 cardroom poker games such as Stud Poker, Draw Power or Lo-Ball Poker. The gaming table 100 used to play each of these games is 26 modified as shown in Figure 2 by the addition of coin acceptors 27 120 an~ indicator signals 122 at each player's location 112. The electronics is the same as that shown in Figure 1 and includes a 2 Inain control board 140, an odometer-type counter 142, a progres-3 sive jackpot control box 160, a progressive jackpot meter 170 and 4 a jackpot reset control 180. A reset switch 150 and a lockout switch 155 are located adjacent the dealer's location 114 next to 6 t:he chip rack 116.
7 The progressive jackpot meter 170 is incrementally in-8 creased in the same manner as that described in connection with 9 Figure 1 by each player placing a gaming token in the coin accep-tor 120.
11 The winning hands and payoff amounts are preselected as 12 appropriate for the type of game being played. In the preferred 13 embodiment, the winning hands and payo~ amounts are as follows:

: 14 I. Five Card Draw Poker Hand Amount Royal Flush 100%
Straight Flush 10%
16 Four of a Kind 100 tokens Full House 25 tokens 17 II. Five Card Stud Poker Hand Amount : 18 Royal Flush 100%
;: Straight Flush 10%
19 Four of a Kind 100 tokens . Full House 25 tokens III. Seven Card Stud Poker i Hand Amount i 2 Royal Flush 100%
~- 1 Straight Flush 10%
22 Four of a Kind lO0 tokens Full House 25 tokens 23 IV. Lo-~all Poker Iland Amount 24 5-4-3-2-Ace 100%
6-4-3-2 Ace 5%
6-5-3-2-Ace 100 tokens ; 7-4-3-2-Ace 25 tokens . 9 ... . ...

1 These winning hands and payoEf amounts are merely preferred 2 embodiments and the invention may be practiced using any appro-3 priate combination oE winning hands and payoEE amounts.
4 As an alternative embodiment, progressive jackpot com-ponellt oE the yame may ~e utilized as a consolation payoEE Eor a 6 player who otherwise loses during the play oE the regular game.
7 For example, assume the regular game being played is ~ive Card 8 Stud. Players A and B are both eligible Eor the progressive 9 jackpot amount because each has placed a gaming token in the coin acceptor prior to the beginning of the play o~ the hand. Player A
11 holds a hand having Four oE a Kind. Player B holds a Full House.
12 ~ecause Ylayer A's hand is higher according to the customary poker 13 hand ranking priority, Player A wins the pot wagered on the Five 14 Card Stud game. As a consolation, however, Player B receives a payoEE amount Erom the progressive jackpot Eor his Full House, 16 e.g., 25 tokens. Player A does not receive a payoE~ from the 17 progressive jackpot because he already has won the pot Erom the 18 regular Five Card Stud game. Thus, under this alternative em-19 bodiment, a player only receives a payo~E Erom the progressive jackpot iE the player both has a hand of the preselected type and 21 loses to a higher hand in the game being played.
22 Another modiEication would have the two players sharing 23 in the progressive jackpot amount; the player with the preselected 24 type oE hand receiving a percentage oE the progressive jackpot amount and the player with the higher poker hand receiving the 26 rest o~ the progressive jackpot amount. With reEerence to the 27 example above, Player B would receive 80% oE the progressive ' .

, ' 1 0 :

I `I

jackpot amount Eor a Full House and Player A would receive 20% of 2 the progressive jackpot amount for a Full House.
3 Figure 3 shows in block diagram form the operation oE
4 ~he present invention. Each playing location has a coin a accep-tor 210 into which a player places a gaming token in order to be 6 eligible Eor the progressive jackpot amount. When all players 7 have had sufficient l~ime to decide whether to participa~e in the 8 progressive jackpot for that hand the dealer activates the lock-9 out switch 220 which prevents late wagers. Each gaming token placed in a coin acceptor 210 energizes the progressive output 11 control 230 which in turn activates three separate devices. An 12 integrated circuit timer is energized which causes an indicator 13 light 250 ~o be illuminated at the location on the coin acceptor 14 in ~ront of the player. This gives a visual indication to the dealer thal: that player is participating in the progressive jack-16 pot duriny the play of that hand.
17 The signal from l;he progressive jackpot control 230 also 18 activates an odometer-type counter 255 which increments by one 19 unit Eor each gaming token wagered through the coin acceptor.
This allows the gaming establishment to keep an accurate count of 21 the number of wagers made on the progressive jackpot.
22 The third signal from the progressive jackpot control 23 230 yoes directly to the progressive jackpot meter 270. The pro-24 gressive jackpot meter 270 shows the total amount available to be won by a player who obtains one of the preselected winning hands.
26 ~ The amount of the progressive jackpot meter 270 automatlcally in-27 creases a predetermined amount for each gaming token placed in a .. . .

~!` ` - j :
coin acceptor. The progressive jackpot meter 270 is programmed to 2 increase a specified percentage of the amount wagered in the coin 3 acceptor 210. In the preEerred embodiment, the progressive jack-4 pot meter will be increased between about 93% to 97% of the amount 5 wagered in the coin acceptor 210.
6 The dealer then deals the cards to each player and the - 7 hand is played 280. If a player has a preselected wining hand, 8 the player is paid the amount corresponding to the type of winning 9 hand that the player has. The jackpot rese-t control 290 is 10 manually activa~ed which results in the amount of the payoff being 11 automatically deducted from the amount displayed on the progres-12 sive jackpot meter 270.

13 A~ter the winning players have been paid, the dealer 14 activates the reset switch 295 which both turns ofE the integrated circuit timer 240 and turns off the indicator light 250 and the 16 dealer deactivates the lockout switch 297 thereby activating the 17 coin acceptor 210 i~or the next hand.
18 Figure 4 in schematic form depicts the electronic cir-19 cuitry to operate the apparatus of the present invention. The 20 coin acceptor circuitry 300 is activated when a gaming token is 21 dropped into the slot on the gaming table where the coin acceptor 22 is mounted. The gaming token passes between an ultraviolet trans-; mitter DSl and an optic receiver Ql (Model #MRD 300 transistor).
24 This causes a pulse to be passed from the collector of Ql to the base oE receiver Q2. Q2 is a Model #2N3906 transistor and acts as 26 an emitter follower and sends a pulse which is received by the 27 integrated circuit 322,324 of the main control board 320. The ' ~ ' , .

~' integrated circuit 322, 324 is a Model #LM-556 Timer. The pulse from Q2 is received at pin 325 of the lower portion 324 of thc 3 integra~ed circuit and this pulse causes pin 326 of the lower 4 portion 324 to go high and turn on diode DS2 (a Model P3G7 diode).
This diode DS2 is the indicator light 22 shown in Figure 1 and 6 this indica~or light 22 stays on until the play of the hand is 7 E inished .
8 The pulse from Q2 also is received by pin 323 on the 9 upper portion 322 of the integrated circuit and this pulse creates a pulse at pin 327 of the upper portion 322 which causes transis-11 tor Q3 (a Model #TlPl20 transistor) to turn on, then off for the 12 duration of the pulse created at pin 327. The turning on and ofE
13 of transistor Q3 causes the odometer-type counter 42 shown in 14 Figure 1 to increment one digit. The odometer-type counter 330 is a six-digit non-resetable electronic 12VDC counter, WICO Model 16 #31-443400.
17 The pulse created at pin 327 of the upper potion 322 of 18 the integrated circuit also goes to the opto isolator 340 (which 19 is a Model #HllAl6E Opto Isolator). The opto isolator 340 passes this pulse to the base of transistor Q4 (a Model #2N3906 trans-21 istor) tllereby turning on transistor Q4 for the duration of the 22 pulse. When transistor Q4 is turned on, the pulse is passed to 23 the progressive jackpot display meter 350 where the amount shown 24 on the display meter 350 is increased by a predetermined percent-age of the value of the gaming token placed in the coin acceptor 26 300. The progressive jackpot display meter 350 can typlcally be 27 a Game Technology Model having 3" LED characters on a 44" length ., ' I ! ., ...

'. .
1 single progressive display.
2After all bets are made, the dealer manually presses a 3 lockout switch 360 which will clamp the output of transistor Q2 at 4 a low level which ensures that there can be no late wagers made throuyh the coin acceptor 300. Once the output of transistor Q2 6 is clamped at a low level, a gaming token placed in the coin 7 accep~or 300 will not cause a pulse to flow through the res~ oE
8 the circuitry.
9The ~ame is then played and once the game is completed, the dealer will manually press the reset switch 370 which creates 11 a reset pulse that activates pin 32~ which resets the lower por-12tion 324 oE the integrated circuit. This resetting causes pin 326 13 to go low which will extinguish diode DS2 which turns off the 14 indicator light 22 on the gaming table.
15The dealer also manually presses the lockout switch 360 16 to open the circuit and remove the clamp on the emitter of tran-17 sis~or Q2 which allows another hand to be played. The players 18 commence the next hand by placing gaming tokens in the coin ac-19 ceptor 300 and the process is repeated.
20As will be apparen~ to those skilled in the art, various 21 resistors and capacitors are provided to complete the circuitry.
22 The specifications on the resistors and capacitors shown in Figure 23 4 is as follows:

24 Resistors Capacitors Rl - G~ Ohm Cl-.lufd/35v R2 - 3 Kohm R3 - 1 Kohm C2-.01ufd/35v 26 R4 - 200 Ohm R5 - 4.7 Kohm C3-.lufd/35v 27 RG - 10 Kohm ~, 1~

1 R7 - 1 Mohm C4-.lufd/35v R8 - 240 Ohm 2 R9 - 1 ICohm R10 - 4.7 Kohm 3 Rll - 240 Ohm R12 - 1 Kohm 4 While the invention has been illustrated with respect to several speciEic embodiments thereoE, these embodiments should 6 be considered as illustrative rather than limiting. Various 7 modiEications and additions may be made and will be apparent to ; 8 those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention should not : 9 be limited by the foregoing description, but rather should be de-fined only by the following claims.

: I 5 . ~

Claims

1. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer, (b) means associated with each player location for the player to insert a gaming token to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game, (c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot, (d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gambling token inserted, and (e) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an indicator signal means associated with each playing location for indicating that the gaming token has been inserted.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including lockout switch means for preventing late inserting of the gaming token.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including reset switch means for resetting the apparatus at the end of each hand of the game.

5. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer, (b) a coin acceptor located at each player location for accepting a gaming token inserted by the player to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game, (c) a numerical display associated with each coin acceptor for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot, (d) means for increasing the amount shown on the numerical display a preselected amount for each gaming token inserted into the coin acceptor, and (e) means for decrementing the amount shown on the numerical display by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the cards.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a light indicator associated with each playing location for indicating that a gaming token has been inserted into the coin acceptor.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a lockout switch associated with each coin acceptor to prevent late inserting of a gaming token into the coin acceptor.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a reset switch associated with the apparatus for resetting the apparatus at the end of each hand of the game.

9. An apparatus for including a jackpot component in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer;
(b) activator means at each player location for permitting a player to wager at least one gaming token to participate in a jackpot component of the live casino card game;
(c) indicator means for displaying the amount in the jackpot; and (d) means for decrementing the amount shown on the indicator means by the amount won by a player if the player's hand comprises a predetermined arrangement of cards.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said predetermined arrangement of cards comprises three 7's.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said predetermined arrangement of cards comprises three 7's of the same suit.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said predetermined arrangement of cards includes at least one 7.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said live casino table game comprises Twenty-One.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said predetermined arrangement of cards comprises three 7's.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said predetermined arrangement of cards comprises three 7's of the same suit.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said predetermined arrangement of cards includes at least one 7.

17. The apparatus of claim 9 or 13, wherein said predetermined arrangement of cards includes at least one 5.

18. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer;
(b) means associated with each player location for receiving a gaming token by which the player makes a wager to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token wagered; and (e) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising indicator signal means associated with each playing location for indicating that a gaming token has been wagered.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising an indicator associated with each playing location for indicating that a gaming token has been wagered.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a light indicator associated with each playing location for indicating that a gaming token has been wagered.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a plurality of said gaming tables electronically interconnected to a common jackpot component.

23. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a jackpot reset control including a plurality of buttons such that manual activation of one of said buttons corresponding to a particular one of a plurality of predetermined winning arrangements of the playing cards achieved by a player decrements the amount shown on the jackpot meter in accordance with a predetermined payoff table.

24. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a jackpot reset control means for decrementing the amount shown on said jackpot meter upon achievement by a player of a particular one of a plurality of predetermined winning arrangements of the playing cards in accordance with a predetermined payoff table.

25. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising lockout switch means for preventing a player from participating in said jackpot component after activation of said lockout switch means.

26. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a sensor for recognizing wagering of a gaming token.

27. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a light sensor for recognizing wagering of a gaming token.

28. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising reset switch means for resetting the apparatus at the end of each hand of the game.

29. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising means adjacent a dealer location for independently registering placement of a gaming token at each of said player locations.

30. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer;
(b) means associated with each player location for the player to place a gaming token to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token placed; and (e) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

31. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer;
(b) means associated with each player location for the player to place a gaming token to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for recognizing placement of a gaming token;
(e) means responsive to said recognizing means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token placed;
(f) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

32. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer;
(b) wagering means associated with each player location for the player to place a gaming token to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game;
(c) a numerical display associated with each of said wagering means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) recognition means associated with each of said wagering means for recognizing placement of a gaming token;
(e) incrementing means responsive to said recognition means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token placed; and (f) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

33. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer;
(b) means associated with each player location for receiving a gaming token for the player to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token received; and (e) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

34. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer;
(b) means associated with each player location for activating said additional jackpot component for the player to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each player activation of said additional jackpot component; and (e) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

35. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a plurality of electronically interconnected live casino table games comprising:

(a) a plurality of gaming tables each having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer at a dealer location;

(b) token receiving means associated with each player location for receiving a gaming token by which the player makes a wager to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game;
(c) means associated with said plurality of gaming tables for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) a light sensor associated with each of said receiving means for recognizing said placement of a gaming token;
(e) a light indicator associated with each playing location and responsive to an associated light sensor for indicating said placement of a gaming token;
(f) means adjacent said dealer location and associated with said light sensors for registering placement of a gaming token;
(g) a lockout switch adjacent said dealer location and associated with each token receiving means to prevent tokens placed after dealer activation of said lockout switch from activating said light indicators;
(h) a reset switch adjacent said dealer location and associated with each said token receiving means to enable each of said light indicators to be reset at the end of each hand;
and (i) means associated with each of said light sensors for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token placed.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:
(j) a jackpot reset control including a plurality of buttons adjacent said dealer location such that manual activation by a dealer of one of said buttons corresponding to a particular one of a plurality of predetermined winning arrangements of the playing cards achieved by a player decrements the amount shown on the jackpot meter in accordance with a predetermined payoff table.

37. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer;
(b) a wager receiver associated with each player location for receiving a gaming token by which a player makes a wager to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token wagered; and (e) a jackpot reset control for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

38. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer;
(b) an acceptor associated with each player location for accepting a gaming token by which a player makes a wager to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token wagered; and (e) a jackpot reset control for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

39. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer;
(b) a receiver associated with each player location for receiving a gaming token by which a player makes a wager to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) a sensor for recognizing the receiving of a gaming token and an associated control circuit for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token wagered; and (e) a jackpot reset control for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

40. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer;
(b) wagering means associated with each player location for the player to place a gaming token to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game;

(c) a numerical display associated with each of said wagering means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means associated with each of said wagering means for sensing placement of a gaming token;
(e) means responsive to said sensing means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token placed; and (f) a jackpot reset control for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

41. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer;
(b) a receiver associated with each player location for receiving a gaming token by which a player makes a wager to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token received; and (e) a jackpot reset control for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

42. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:

(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer;
(b) an activator associated with each player location to activate said additional jackpot component for the player to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each player activation of said additional jackpot component; and (e) a jackpot reset control for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

43. An apparatus for including a jackpot component in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations;
(b) activator means at each player location for permitting a player to wager at least one gaming token to participate in a jackpot component of the live casino game;
(c) indicator means for displaying the amount in the jackpot;
and (d) means for decrementing the amount shown on the indicator means by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined winning arrangement in accordance with the rules of the live casino game.

44. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations;
(b) means associated with each player location for receiving a gaming token by which the player makes a wager to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token wagered; and (e) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined winning arrangement in accordance with the rules of the live casino game.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising indicator signal means associated with each playing location for indicating that a gaming token has been wagered.

46. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising an indicator associated with each playing location for indicating that a gaming token has been wagered.

47. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising a light indicator associated with each playing location for indicating that a gaming token has been wagered.

48. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising a plurality of said gaming tables electronically interconnected to a common jackpot component.

49. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising a jackpot reset control including a plurality of buttons such that manual activation of one of said buttons corresponding to a particular one of a plurality of predetermined winning arrangements achieved by a player decrements the amount shown on the jackpot meter in accordance with a predetermined payoff table.

50. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising a jackpot reset control means for decrementing the amount shown on said jackpot meter upon achievement by a player of a particular one of a plurality of predetermined winning arrangements in accordance with a predetermined payoff table.

51. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising lockout switch means for preventing a player from participating in said jackpot component after activation of said lockout switch means.

52. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising a sensor for recognizing wagering of a gaming token.

53. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising a light sensor for recognizing wagering of a gaming token.

54. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising reset switch means for resetting the apparatus at the end of each game.

55. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising means adjacent a dealer location for independently registering placement of a gaming token at each of said player locations.

56. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations;
(b) means associated with each player location for the player to place a gaming token to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token placed; and (e) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined winning arrangement in accordance with the rules of the live casino game.

57. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations;
(b) means associated with each player location for the player to place a gaming token to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for recognizing placement of a gaming token;
(e) means responsive to said recognizing means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token placed;
(f) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined winning arrangement.

58. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations;
(b) wagering means associated with each player location for the player to place a gaming token to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table game;
(c) a numerical display associated with each of said wagering means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) recognition means associated with each of said wagering means for recognizing placement of a gaming token;
(e) incrementing means responsive to said recognition means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token placed; and (f) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined winning arrangement.

59. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations;
(b) means associated with each player location for receiving a gaming token for the player to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token received; and (e) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined winning arrangement.

60. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations;
(b) means associated with each player location for activating said additional jackpot component for the player to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each player activation of said additional jackpot component; and (e) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined winning arrangement.

61. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a plurality of electronically interconnected live casino game tables comprising:
(a) a plurality of gaming tables each having a plurality of player locations;
(b) token receiving means associated with each player location for receiving a gaming token by which the player makes a wager to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table game;
(c) means associated with said plurality of gaming tables for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) a light sensor associated with each of said receiving means for recognizing said placement of a gaming token;
(e) a light indicator associated with each playing location and responsive to an associated light sensor for indicating said placement of a gaming token;
(f) means adjacent said dealer location and associated with said light sensors for registering placement of a gaming token;
(g) a lockout switch adjacent said dealer location and associated with each token receiving means to prevent tokens placed after dealer activation of said lockout switch from activating said light indicators;
(h) a reset switch adjacent said dealer location and associated with each said token receiving means to enable each of said light indicators to be reset at the end of each game; and (i) means associated with each of said light sensors for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token placed.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 further comprising:
(j) a jackpot reset control including a plurality of buttons adjacent said dealer location such that manual activation by a dealer of one of said buttons corresponding to a particular one of a plurality of predetermined winning arrangements achieved by a player decrements the amount shown on the jackpot meter in accordance with a predetermined payoff table.

63. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations;
(b) a wager receiver associated with each player location for receiving a gaming token by which a player makes a wager to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token wagered; and (e) a jackpot reset control for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined winning arrangement.

64. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations;
(b) an acceptor associated with each player location for accepting a gaming token by which a player makes a wager to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token wagered; and (e) a jackpot reset control for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined winning arrangement.

65. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations;
(b) a receiver associated with each player location for receiving a gaming token by which a player makes a wager to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) a sensor for recognizing the receiving of a gaming token and an associated control circuit for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token wagered; and (e) a jackpot reset control for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined winning arrangement.

66. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations;
(b) wagering means associated with each player location for the player to place a gaming token to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table game;
(c) a numerical display associated with each of said wagering means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means associated with each of said wagering means for sensing placement of a gaming token;
(e) means responsive to said sensing means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token placed; and (f) a jackpot reset control for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined winning arrangement.

67. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations;
(b) a receiver associated with each player location for receiving a gaming token by which a player makes a wager to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token received; and (e) a jackpot reset control for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined winning arrangement.

68. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:
(a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations;
(b) an activator associated with each player location to activate said additional jackpot component for the player to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table game;
(c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot;
(d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each player activation of said additional jackpot component; and (e) a jackpot reset control for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined winning arrangement.