US20080116641A1

US20080116641A1 - Modified blackjack game

Info

Publication number: US20080116641A1
Application number: US11/602,083
Authority: US
Inventors: Russell G. Weldon
Original assignee: GAMING GROUP LLC
Current assignee: GAMING GROUP LLC
Priority date: 2006-11-20
Filing date: 2006-11-20
Publication date: 2008-05-22

Abstract

A method of playing a modified blackjack game includes designating at least one card within the standard deck as a wild card. In playing the game to determine a winner, a value is selected for the wild card to achieve a total of twenty-one if the player receives the wild card and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player totals ten or greater. A value is selected for the wild card from the values normally assigned to any of the playing cards if the player receives the wild card and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player totals less than ten. The wild card is played at face value if the dealer receives the wild card.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a blackjack game and, more particularly, to a method of playing a modified blackjack game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The game of “blackjack” or “twenty-one” is perhaps the most popular card game played in casinos throughout the United States. This game is typically played with a standard deck of playing cards containing fifty-two cards in four different suits, though multiple standard decks arranged together in a “shoe” are commonly employed at many casinos. The object of the game is for each player to collect a number of cards in his or her hand whereby the total point value assigned to the cards in a player's hand is as close as possible to twenty-one without going over. Numbered cards (i.e., 2-10) are assigned a numerical value equal to their face value and face cards (i.e., king, queen and jack) are assigned a numerical value of ten points each. An ace card may be assigned either a point value of one or eleven—whichever value gives a more favorable hand to the player. If the point value in a player's hand exceeds twenty-one points, the player “busts” and is eliminated from further play until a winner is declared and the next hand is dealt.
Blackjack is typically played at tables that include a location for a dealer and up to seven additional players. Each player places a wager and, along with the dealer, initially receives two cards. In traditional blackjack, each player is playing against the dealer or “house”. The dealer or house acts as the bank, paying all losses and collecting all winnings from the other players at the table. In order to win his or her wager, the cards in a player's hand must have a higher total point value than the total point value in the dealer's hand without going over twenty-one points.
During a player's turn, a player may elect to draw additional cards (i.e., take a “hit”) or play only the cards currently held in his or her hand (i.e., “stand”). A player may continue to receive additional cards in order to try to reach a point total of twenty-one without exceeding twenty-one. It is not necessary to reach twenty-one points to win a game; it is only necessary to come closer to twenty-one points than the dealer. In a common variation of blackjack, the dealer receives one of his two initial cards face down (i.e., a “hole” card). In this variation, the players know only half of the cards in the dealer's initial hand, adding an element of uncertainty to a player's decision to take a hit or stand.
The risk of losing a hand by exceeding twenty-one points (i.e., “busting”) by taking an additional card increases as the point total of the cards in the player's hand approaches twenty-one. A player increases the probability of beating the dealer's card total by selectively and strategically hitting or standing on a particular card situation. Under most house rules, the dealer must take a hit on any point total of sixteen or less and must stand on any point total of seventeen or more. Each player at the table who comes closer to a point total of twenty-one than the dealer without exceeding twenty-one wins his or her wager. Conversely, each player who “busts” or who does not achieve a higher point total than the dealer loses the hand and the corresponding wager for that hand. Even if the dealer also busts, the player still loses when the player busts.
A “blackjack” occurs when a player or the dealer receives an ace and a face card or ten. A blackjack by the dealer ends the game, causing all other players to lose their wagers, except for any players holding a blackjack. A blackjack for a player is the best possible hand for the player and beats the dealer unless the dealer also has a blackjack. A tie between the player and the dealer is called a “push,” and neither the dealer nor the player wins. Players at a blackjack table will typically play multiple successive hands and players may enter and leave the game at any time between hands.
After all of the players have taken hits or have stood on their hand, the dealer stands or hits based on preestablished rules of the game. The conventional manner of play requires the dealer to take a hit whenever the dealer's hand is a “soft 17” count. However, in other casinos, the dealer stands on a soft 17 count. The term “soft” means that the ace is valued as a count of eleven, instead of as a count of one. A soft 17 occurs when the dealer has an ace and a six (or multiple cards that add up to six). The dealer will stand on soft 18s, soft 19s and soft 20s.
A drawback with traditional forms of blackjack is that the set point values of the cards may make the game somewhat predictable so as to eventually bore players after a few hands. Moreover, there is no incentive built-into the game for playing additional hands beyond the usual reasons of winning money or recouping money lost in previous wagers.
A method for providing a modified version of blackjack that generates additional unpredictability, excitement, and revenue for both players and casinos relative to traditional forms of blackjack is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,580 (the '580 Patent), the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the '580 Patent, wild cards are used to introduce an exciting and unpredictable element into traditional forms of blackjack, while still not requiring players of the modified version to work at learning extensive new rules or strategies.
While the use of wild cards, as disclosed by the '580 Patent, has enlivened and help expand the popularity of blackjack, further improvements, refinements and innovations are still possible.
Additionally, progressive jackpot payout features have been used to lend excitement to casino gambling. However, the use of progressive jackpot payouts is confined to slot machines and games like Caribbean Stud (a poker variation where players play a type of stud poker against the house), where winning is typically associated with receiving a rare combination of slot values or cards.
Typically, the progressive jackpot is funded, at least in part, from a premium charged to gamblers to be eligible for the payout. For instance, slot machines eligible for winning the progressive jackpot payout might be more than other slot machines. In many casinos offering Caribbean Stud, players must place a betting chip in a special slot to be eligible. A single progressive jackpot is usually funded from multiple slots or tables, allowing the progressive jackpot payout to grow extremely large. Sometimes, the progressive jackpot payout is contributed to from many slots or tables at multiple casinos, allowing still larger progressive jackpot payouts. Usually the progressive jackpot payout amount is tracked electronically and prominently displayed to players to increase the anticipation and excitement.
Because winning blackjack hands typically involves relatively few cards, and winning is generally connected with numerical totals rather than with the receipt of specific card combinations, progressive jackpot payouts have not been used in connection with blackjack games. Thus, it would be advantageous if a form of blackjack could be devised that lends itself to the use of a progressive jackpot payout, while not requiring substantial changes to the conventional blackjack game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of playing a modified blackjack game with at least one player and a dealer, includes the steps of using a shoe including at least one standard deck of playing cards, designating at least one card within the standard deck as a wild card, initially dealing hands of two cards each to the at least one player and to the dealer, and playing the game to determine a winner, including selecting a value for the wild card to achieve a total of twenty-one if the player receives the wild card and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player totals ten or greater.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a natural hand will win against an equivalent artificial hand.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes selecting a value for the wild card from the values normally assigned to any of the playing cards if the player receives the wild card and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player totals less than ten.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes playing the wild card at face value if the dealer receives the wild card.
A method of playing a blackjack game with a side bet aspect includes the steps of designating at least one wild card for the side bet, and paying a bonus to any player upon receipt of the at least one wild card, wherein the bonus paid to the player upon receipt of the at least one wild card is independent from winning or losing the blackjack game.
These and other aspects, features, advantages, and variations on the present invention will be clear in view of the drawing and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method of playing a modified game of blackjack according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a side bet aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a method of playing a modified blackjack game according to the present invention will be described. The game is preferably played at a conventional blackjack table which seats the dealer and one to seven players. Typically, a betting square is printed on the table in front of each player's seat. A chip tray is located in front of the dealer. To the dealer's left is the deck or shoe for holding a stack of playing cards. To the dealer's right is a money drop slot where currency and tips in the form of betting chips are deposited.
The dealer shuffles the shoe, preferably composed of several decks of standard, four suit, fifty-two card, playing cards (step 10). No additional, non-standard, cards are added to the shoe. One or more of the standard playing cards is designated a wild card (step 12). Cards of any denomination, ace through king, and belonging to any suit, hearts, diamonds, spades or clubs, can be designated as a wild card. For instance, the two of spades, or any black two, or any two of any suit, could be designated as wild cards.
Preferably, the designation of the wild card or cards is a feature of the table and the designation is made in advance by the casino, such that the table might advertise, for example, that all twos are wild. Alternatively, the designation of the denomination(s) and/or the suit(s) of the wild cards is made at the table by the players. As the use of a wild card can tend to bias the odds of winning toward the players, preferably an exchange or tradeoff is made for the use of one or more wild cards that will maintain the long-term profitability of the table for the casino. For instance, even-odds can be substituted for the normal 150% payoff for a blackjack, or the house can win with hands that would otherwise result in pushes. Alternately, players can be required to pay for the use of the one or more wild cards, by an extra payment, or ante, prior to each hand.
Before the dealer begins dealing cards from the shoe to the players, each player places a wager, usually in the form of chips or markers representing actual money. Wagering with real money is virtually universal in casino blackjack, although in recreational and electronic forms of blackjack, wagering is sometimes omitted or simulated.
After all players have placed wagers, usually by placing chips in their betting squares, the dealer deals each player and him- or herself two cards. Typically, the players receive both cards face up. One the dealer's cards may be face down, or both may be face up, according to the house rules. The game is then played to determine a winner (step 14). Players who have received a blackjack receive no further cards. Other players may elect to receive hits until they reach twenty-one or bust. Alternately, the player may stand before reaching twenty-one.
After receiving the first two cards and prior to taking a hit, a player may also opt to split or double down. A player who splits doubles his or her wager, and effectively playing each of the two cards as the first card in a new hand, but may only split if each of the first two cards is the same denomination. A player who doubles down doubles his or her wager and receives only one more hit. Doubling down and splitting are the only ways in which a player may increase his or her wager after the dealer has begun dealing.
When a player receives a wild card, a value for the wild card is selected. If the wild card is received as the first card dealt, no value is selected until after the second card is dealt. If the total value of non-wild cards in the hand with the wild cards is ten or greater, the value selected for the wild card is preferably limited to the value necessary to achieve twenty-one. Thus, if a player receives a wild card and a card with a value of ten as his or her first two cards, that player effectively receives an artificial blackjack, and cannot double down and assign the wild card a value of one to increase the odds of winning. Similarly, if a player receives an ace and a wild card as his or her first two cards, that player also receives an artificial blackjack, and cannot split. In another example, if a player has, for instance, a seven and an eight, and receives a wild card on a hit, the value for the wild card is limited to six, so as to give the player an artificial twenty-one.
“Artificial” is used herein to distinguish from “natural.” An artificial hand is a hand whose total value includes a value selected for a wild card, whereas a natural hand is hand whose total value is a result of the face values of each of the cards. If a hand includes a wild card that is playable as a wild card, but the value selected happens to be the face value of the card, the hand is still artificial.
If the value of the non-wild cards in a hand is less than ten, then the value selected for the wild card is not limited to a value for achieving twenty-one, as no value normally assigned to any card could achieve twenty-one in this situation. Instead, the value selected is limited to the value normally assigned to any of the cards; namely, one through eleven. The wild card continues to carry this value throughout the hand. In this instance, the player is allowed to double down or split using the wild card, provided the wild card is received as the first or second card.
The house may choose to have wild cards be unplayable by the dealer, in which case any wild cards will be given their face value when received by the dealer. If the dealer is permitted to play wild cards, the dealer, like the players, is limited to a value for achieving twenty-one if the non-wild cards in the dealer's hand total ten or more. If the non-wild cards in the dealer's hand total less than ten, the dealer preferably plays the card at its face value. Unless the dealer receives, and is able to select a value for, a subsequent wild card, the dealer's hand is considered a natural hand.
If there are multiple wild cards in the shoe, preferably only the first wild card dealt to each player or the dealer is treated as a wild card, and subsequent cards are played at their face value. An exception is if the dealer received a wild card, but was not permitted to play the card as a wild card because the dealer's non-wild cards totaled less than ten. In this case, the dealer may select a value for the subsequent wild card, unless the dealer's non-wild cards, including the previous wild card at its face value, still total less than ten.
Generally, players win their wagers against the dealer if they have not busted and their total is closer to twenty-one than the dealer. However, a natural hand will win against an artificial hand of equal value, referred to as an equivalent artificial hand. For instance, a dealer's natural blackjack will win against a player's artificial blackjack, and a player's natural eighteen will win against a dealer's artificial eighteen. Generally, a blackjack, where the first two cards total twenty-one, defeats a hand with three or more cards totaling twenty-one, also referred to as a non-blackjack twenty-one. Accordingly, an artificial blackjack will preferably defeat a natural non-blackjack twenty-one.
From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a method for playing a modified blackjack game according to an embodiment of the present invention, adds additional excitement and unpredictability to the traditional blackjack game, while not requiring players to learn extensive additional skills. Casinos employing the method for playing a modified blackjack game can continue to use all their existing equipment, including their existing shoes, and are provided with new advertising opportunities to draw in prospective players. At most, additional signage or updated felts would be employed for the tables where the method for playing a modified blackjack game is played.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described, but that various alterations and modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the embodiment described if the value of the non-wild cards in a hand is less than ten, then the value selected is limited to the value normally assigned to any of the cards. Alternatively, if the value of the non-wild cards in a hand is less than ten, then no fixed value is immediately selected for the wild card. Instead, additional hits are received until the value of non-wild cards in a hand is ten or greater. At that time, the value for the wild card is selected to make the total for the hand equal twenty-one. In this alternative, a player will be assured of eventually reaching an artificial twenty-one, and dealing additional hits to a player may be omitted with the understanding that the player's hand is equivalent to a non-blackjack twenty-one. The same rule can also be applied in the situation where the dealer whose non-wild cards total less than ten receives a wild card.
As another alternative where the non-wild cards in a player's hand total less than ten and the player receives a wild card, the player is, like the dealer, required to play the wild card at its face value. Upon receipt of a subsequent wild card, the player is then able to select a value for the wild card if the player's non-wild cards, including the wild card played at its face value, total more than ten. If no subsequent wild card is received, the player's hand is, like the dealer's in the same situation, considered a natural hand.
Also in the embodiment described, the dealer is not permitted to play a wild card if the dealer's non-wild cards total less than ten, but is, instead, required to play the wild card at its face value. Alternatively, the dealer could be allowed to select the value normally assigned to any of the cards, or the dealer may be required to select a non-face value pre-determined by the house, or a value normally assigned to any of the cards may be randomly selected.
Furthermore in the embodiment described, where there are multiple wild cards in the shoe, subsequent wild cards received by either the player or the dealer are played at their face value, except in situations where the previous wild card(s) received could not be played as wild cards. Alternatively, subsequent wild cards can be played as wild cards. Typically, the receipt of a subsequent wild card will almost always result in an artificial twenty-one, as most players would have selected a value for the wild card resulting in a total of ten or greater prior to receipt of the subsequent wild card. If, however, the total, including the value selected for the previous wild card(s), prior to receipt of the subsequent wild card is still less than twenty-one, a value may be selected for the subsequent wild card from the value associated with any of the standard cards, as described above. If the initial two cards are both wild cards, then the hand is considered an artificial blackjack, and no further cards are dealt.
Additionally, in the embodiment described, players receiving a wild card as one of their first two cards with the other card being less than ten are permitted to select a value for the wild card such that they can split, or to increase their chances for winning if they double down. Alternatively, players receiving a wild card with non-wild cards totaling less than ten will not be allowed to play the wild card, and must play the wild card at its face value, unless they are willing to pay to double down or split. If a player is willing to double down, then the wild card is automatically given a value necessary to bring the player's total to eleven. If a player is willing to split, then the wild card is automatically given a value necessary to allow the player to split. As a further alternative, the player is only given the option to split, as opposed to doubling down, if the player's other card is an ace.
Another aspect of the invention includes the taking of side bets regarding the receipt of one or more wild cards. This aspect, shown in FIG. 2, can be used in connection with the previously described game, or can be used independently in connection with an otherwise conventional blackjack game. The blackjack game in connection with which this side bet aspect is being used is referred to herein as the “underlying” blackjack game. For instance, a card could be considered wild with respect to this side bet aspect, but represent only a standard card for scoring in the underlying blackjack game. The side bet aspect of the present invention is not necessarily limited to any particular type of underlying blackjack game.
In games where the side bet feature is offered, players are invited to make a side bet prior to receiving any cards from the dealer (step 20). If wild cards are not being used in the underlying blackjack game, it will be necessary to designate one or more wild cards for the side bet feature, as in step 12 of the embodiment described above. If wild cards are being used in the underlying blackjack game, the same wild cards can be used for the side bet aspect, or different wild cards can be designated.
Players who opt to make the side bet will receive an immediate bonus payout upon the receipt of one or more wild cards (step 22). The amount required to make the side bet and the payout amounts are determined by the house. Preferably, multiple cards are designated as wild cards for the purposes of this side bet, such as every card of a certain value. For example, every two could be designated a wild card.
If multiple cards are designated as wild cards, it is possible for a single player to receive multiple bonuses; a first bonus with the first wild card, a second bonus with the second wild card, with further bonuses for additional wild cards (step 24). Each bonus can be the same amount, or the bonus payout can be increased for the receipt of each additional wild card. Additionally, supplemental or extra bonus payouts can be used for predetermined combinations of wild cards. For example, if all twos are designated wild, a player who receives a two from all four suits could receive a supplemental or extra bonus payout. Alternatively, this payout could be limited to situations where a player's first four, or other applicable number, of cards result in the predetermined combination.
The bonus payout amount paid to players upon receipt of one or wild cards and/or a predetermined combination of wild cards, can also be augmented by the use of a progressive jackpot payout. Unlike a fixed payout amount where every player meeting the conditions to win is paid the same amount (either the same absolute amount, or the same amount in proportion to his or her bet), a progressive jackpot payout increases until a player meets the criteria for winning the progressive jackpot payout. At that time, the payout to the player is removed from the progressive jackpot, and the progressive jackpot continues to build. Thus the amount of the payout the player receives depends on how large the progressive jackpot has grown by the time a player meets the criteria for wining.
Winning a progressive jackpot payout can be tied to receipt of any wild card, or only to receipt of multiple wild cards and/or predetermined combinations of wild cards (step 26). Where multiple options for winning exist, players can preferably be limited to a percentage of the progressive jackpot for less rare occurrences. For example, if the progressive jackpot payout can only be won by players who receive a wild card in each of the four suits as their first four cards, any winning player receives 100% of the progressive jackpot at the time the fourth wild card is received. However, if players can win from the progressive jackpot payout upon receipt of either a wild card in each of the four suits as their first four cards or receipt of any four wild cards regardless of suit or order of receipt, players who win upon receipt of the latter combination are preferably limited to winning 50% of the progressive jackpot.
There can be a predetermined limit on the number of wild cards for which a bonus will be paid. For instance, no additional bonuses will be paid upon receipt of a fifth wild card. As a practical matter, the number of wild cards a player could possibly receive will be limited by the rules of the blackjack game being played out in connection with this side bet aspect. For example, a player cannot continue to hit after busting or reaching twenty-one, and many players may not opt to hit even if under twenty-one so as to avoid busting.
Receipt of the bonus payout (either a standard payout or a progressive jackpot payout) for the side bet aspect is independent from play of the hand according to the rules of the modified blackjack game previously described herein, or according to the rules of conventional blackjack. For example, if the underlying blackjack game is being played with conventional rules, and, for the purposes of the side bet aspect only, all twos are wild, a player who receives four twos in a row can win a substantial bonus with the side bet, while still holding a relatively poor hand in the underlying blackjack game. If this player ultimately busts in the underlying game, or falls further short of twenty-one than the dealer, the player will lose the bet in the underlying game, but will still have won the side bet bonus amount(s).
It can be appreciated that this side bet aspect lends excitement and unpredictability to conventional or modified blackjack, as players may opt to hit in situations where hitting would normally be inadvisable under basic blackjack strategies. For instance, a knowledgeable player who, in conventional blackjack, has reached a total of twenty would virtually never choose to hit, although permitted to do so by the rules. However, if the same player has also received three consecutive wild cards, the chances for an additional bonus payout on the side bet following receipt of an additional wild card may prompt the player to hit even though the player will almost certainly bust and lose whatever bet has been placed on the conventional hand. Depending on the player's conventional bet and the amount of the bonus payout, the player may stand to win far more upon receipt of one more wild card than the player stands to lose upon busting.
Additionally, because the side bet aspect of the present invention need not affect the rules of play for the blackjack game with which it is used, players do not need to learn any new rules to enjoy the additional excitement and unpredictability of the side bet aspect. Also, because of the ease of play of the side bet aspect, new players unfamiliar with blackjack can also be drawn to play blackjack games featuring the side bet aspect.
The preceding variations are not an exclusive list, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that these and further variations and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as herein shown and described.

Claims

1. A method of playing a modified blackjack game with at least one player and a dealer, comprising the steps of:

using a shoe including at least one standard deck of playing cards;

designating at least one card within the standard deck as a wild card;

initially dealing hands of two cards each to the at least one player and to the dealer; and

playing the game to determine a winner, including selecting a value for the wild card to achieve a total of twenty-one if the player receives the wild card and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player totals ten or greater;

wherein a natural hand will win against an equivalent artificial hand.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes selecting a value for the wild card from the values normally assigned to any of the playing cards if the player receives the wild card and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player totals less than ten.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the player is permitted to double down or split if one of the two cards initially dealt to the hand of the player is the wild card.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes playing the wild card at face value if the dealer receives the wild card.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes selecting a value for the wild card to achieve a total of twenty-one if the dealer receives the wild card and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the dealer totals ten or greater.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes playing the wild card at face value if the wild card is received by the dealer and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the dealer totals less than ten.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein at least two cards are designated as wild cards, and the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes playing any subsequent wild card received by the player or the dealer at face value.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein at least two cards are designated as wild cards, and the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes:

playing any subsequent wild card received by the player at face value,

selecting a value for any subsequent wild card received by the dealer to achieve a total of twenty-one if the dealer was required to play any previous wild card(s) at face value and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the dealer totals ten or greater; and

playing any subsequent wild card received by the dealer at face value if the non-wild card(s) in the hand of the dealer total less than ten.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes determining no fixed value for the wild card if the wild card is received by the player and the non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player total less than ten.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes dealing subsequent hits to the player receiving the wild card until the non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player total ten or greater, then selecting a value for the wild card to achieve a total of twenty-one.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes dealing no additional cards to the player receiving the wild card, and considering the player's hand to be a non-blackjack twenty-one.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes determining no fixed value for the wild card if the wild card is received by the player or the dealer, and the non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player or the dealer total less than ten.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes playing the wild card at face value if the wild card is dealt to the player and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player totals less than ten.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes selecting a value for the wild card from the values normally assigned to any of the playing cards if the dealer receives the wild card and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the dealer totals less than ten.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the value selected if the dealer receives the wild card and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the dealer totals less than ten is pre-determined.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the value selected if the dealer receives the wild card and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the dealer totals less than ten is randomly selected.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein at least two cards are designated as wild cards, and the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes selecting a value for any subsequent wild card received by the player to achieve twenty-one if the value of the player's hand immediately prior to receiving the subsequent wild card is ten or greater.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the player's hand is considered an artificial blackjack if both of the initial two cards in the player's hand are wild cards.

19. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes playing the wild card at face value if the wild card is received by the player and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player totals less than ten.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein at least two cards are designated as wild cards, and the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes:

selecting a value for any subsequent wild card received by the player to achieve a total of twenty-one if the player was required to play any previous wild card(s) at face value and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player totals ten or greater

selecting a value for any subsequent wild card received by the dealer to achieve a total of twenty-one if the dealer was required to play any previous wild card(s) at face value and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the dealer totals ten or greater;

playing any subsequent wild card received by the player at face value if the non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player total less than ten; and

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes playing the wild card at face value if received by the player if the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player totals less than ten, unless the player doubles down or splits.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of playing the game to determine a winner further includes:

selecting a value for the wild card to achieve a total of eleven if the wild card is received by the player and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player totals less than ten and the player is willing to double down; and

selecting a value for the wild card necessary to allow the player to split if the wild card is received by the player and the value of non-wild card(s) in the hand of the player totals less than ten and the player is willing to split.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the player is only allowed to split with a wild card if the non-wild card is an ace.

24. A method of playing a blackjack game with a side bet aspect comprising the steps of:

designating at least one wild card for the side bet; and

paying a bonus to any player upon receipt of the at least one wild card;

wherein the bonus paid to the player upon receipt of the at least one wild card is independent from winning or losing the blackjack game.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein a plurality of wild cards are designated for the purpose of the side bet, and an additional bonus is paid to any player upon receipt of each additional wild card.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the additional bonus paid to any player upon receipt of each additional wild card remains constant.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the additional bonus paid to any player upon receipt of each additional wild card increases with the receipt of each additional wild card.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein a player is required to pay an extra amount before cards are dealt to be eligible for the bonus paid upon receipt of the at least one wild card.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein a payout from a progressive jackpot is used in connection with the bonus paid upon receipt of the at least one wild card.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein a payout from a progressive jackpot is used in connection with the bonus paid upon receipt of an additional wild card.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the payout from the progressive jackpot is used in connection with the bonus paid upon receipt of an additional wild card only when receipt of the additional wild card achieves at least one predetermined combination of wild cards.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein a wild card is designated from each suit and the at least one predetermined combination is one wild card from each suit.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein a plurality predetermined combinations of wild cards can result in use of the payout from the progressive jackpot in connection with the bonus paid upon receipt of an additional wild card, and the payout is a larger percentage of the progressive jackpot for rarer predetermined combinations.