EP0959967A1 - An accumulated pot for craps qualified by a predetermined blackjack - Google Patents

Abstract

A game is disclosed for combining the play of blackjack and the play of craps based upon two dice each having six faces numbered one to six. The board (12) presents a semicircular playing arena (14) with a dealer playing area adjacent the straight diameter (16) of the semicircular playing arena and a plurality of player areas (18). Each of the player areas includes a plurality of craps wager indicator circles (20, 22, 24). After the wagers are settled based upon the play of the cards in accordance with the rules of blackjack, each player who has a blackjack is offered the roll of the dice and a craps wager. The remaining players may also place bets on one of their respective craps wager circles (20, 22, 24). Each craps wager is then settled based on the outcome of a roll of the dice by the player having the blackjack. The subject invention is characterized by interleaving an accumulating pot which is supported by each player placing a pot wager on one of the three wager indicator circles prior to the cards being dealt. A register (34) keeps track of these initial pot wagers. A player qualifies to roll the dice for a portion of the pot by having a predetermined blackjack, such as the Ace and Jack of one suit or different suits.

Description

AN ACCUMULATED POT FOR CRAPS QUALIFIED BY A

PREDETERMINED BLACKJACK

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject invention relates to a combination card and dice game.

BACKGROUND ART

Various games are known in the prior art which combine standard playing cards and two dice. The U.S. Patent 4,746,126 to Angileri discloses a game utilizing the attributes of CRAPS with the play of cards wherein the play of the cards is dependent upon the throw ofthe dice. The U.S. Patent 4,515,369 discloses a game combining the elements of Craps and blackjack wherem the rules of blackjack apply to movement of

game pieces as determined by the roll ofthe dice.

Against this prior art background, the invention of combining the play of the card game of twenty-one, or blackjack, and the dice game of Craps was made and is disclosed and claimed in the abovementioned application Serial No. 08/533,567 filed September 25, 1995. In accordance with that invention, at least two cards are presented to each player under the rules of blackjack and a Craps wager is offered to all ofthe players when at least one player has two cards equaling twenty-one. The Craps wagers are settled based upon wagers made by the individual players and the roll of the dice generally in accordance with the odds and the rules of Craps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method of combining the play of twenty-one and Craps comprising the steps of offering an accumulative pot wager based upon the roll of two dice prior to presenting the cards to the players- presenting at least two cards to each player, accumulating the pot wagers without payout until a qualified player has two cards of a predeteιτnined combination to make a predetermined blackjack equaling twenty-one, rolling the dice by the qualified player, and paying out a portion of the accumulated pot to the qualified player in response to the pot wager by the qualified player covering or matching the outcome ofthe roll ofthe dice.

A device for combining the play of twenty-one based upon at least one card deck having fifty-two cards divided into four suites of duces through aces and the play of Craps based upon two dice each having six faces numbered one to six. The device includes a dealer presentation area for presenting the dealer's cards, a player presentation

area for each player to present the player cards, and a plurality of Craps wager indicators for each player presentation area. The device is characterized by register means for indicating an accumulated pot wager for each player placed upon the Craps wager indicators and posting means for posting the payout ofthe accumulated pot from hand to

hand. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages ofthe present invention will become readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 discloses a game board illustrating the subject invention and Figure 2 shows a plurahty of playing

tables networked together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An amusement device for combining the play of twenty-one and Craps is generally shown in Figure 1. The device takes the foπn of a mat, table cloth or cover, place mat, or the like, and may even be implemented in a computer program producing images for a monitor, or a machine making the same presentations. In any case the device comprises a presenter for positioning at least two cards for each player and a Craps wager indicator for each player to indicate the Craps wager based upon the roll of two dice by each player having only two cards equaling twenty-one.

As illustrated, the device is a game board or cover for combining the play of twenty-one based upon at least one card deck having fifty-two cards divided into four suites of duces through aces and the play of Craps based upon two dice each having six faces numbered one to six. The board or cloth comprises an upper playing surface 12

which presents a semi-circular or arcuate playing arena, defined by the semi-circle 14 and

the straight diameter 16. A dealer playing area is disposed in the middle adjacent the

straight diameter 16 of the semi-circular playing arena. More specifically, the dealer playing area is in the area indicated by the indicia portraying the chip holder and chips. This is a dealer presentation area for presenting, i.e., depositing, the dealer's cards.

The board also defines a plurality of player areas spaced about the circumference ofthe circular periphery 14 ofthe semi-circular playing arena and opposed to the dealer

playing area. Each ofthe player areas comprises a rectangular card box 18 defining a player presentation area for each player to present or deposit the player cards. This box may be defined by a space or a multitude of indicia instead of or in addition to the cards

and dice shown, as for example, an Ace and Jack of spades in an array with two dice. A plurality of Craps wager indicator areas 20, 22 and 24 are disposed adjacent each player area 18 to divide the numbers 2 through 12 into a plurality of groups for wagering at

different odds for each group. More specifically, a plurality of three Craps wager indicator areas 20, 22 and 24 are presented for each player with each indicator area presenting different odds for different total dice numbers. A first ofthe indicators, i.e., indicator area 20, presents the numerals 7 and 11 for first odds of nine for two, a second

indicator area 22 presents the numerals 2, 3 and 12 for second odds of nine for one, and a third indicator area 24 presents the remaining numbers for third odds of three for two .

The game board 10 presents an odds area 26 centrally located and indicating the

first, second and third odds for the respective wager indicator areas 20, 22 and 24. That

is, the first table pay-off odds are nine chips for two chips bet on a natural 7 or 11, the

second table pay-off odds are nine chips for one chip bet on Craps 2, 3 or 12; and the third

table pay-off odds are three chips for two chips bet on the point numbers 4,5,6,8, 9 or 10.

The first true odds are three and one half to one for a natural 7 or 11, the second true odds are eight to one for Craps 2, 3 or 12, and the third true odds are one to two for point numbers 4. 5, 6, 8, 9 ox 10. The board may include other informative indicia like

the dealer must take a card when at sixteen and stand at seventeen in blackjack.

The play of twenty-one, i.e., blackjack, and Craps is combined in the basic steps

of presenting at least two cards to each player followed by then offering a Craps wager based upon the roll of two dice to a player having two cards equaling twenty-one, i.e., to each player having a blackjack. Each player having blackjack then places a Craps wager and rolls the dice, alternatively, to qualify to roll the dice the player, in addition to having a blackjack, must also beat the dealer. The wagers are then settled based upon the outcome ofthe roll of the dice. The offering ofthe Craps wager includes the offer of a plurality of alternative dice number combinations in groups having different betting odds. More specifically, the offering of the wager combinations are divided into the dice

number combinations ofthe natural 7 or 11 at first odds, the dice number combinations

of any Craps 2, 3 or 12 at second odds, and the remaining dice number combinations of

the point numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 at different third odds. For example, the numerals

7 and 11 may be at first odds of nine for two, the numerals 2, 3 and 12 may be at second

odds of nine for one, and the remaining numbers of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 may be at third odds of three for two. Of course, these odds may vary as in accordance with individual house rules. These three groups of numbers are respectively presented in the first, second

and third indicator areas 20, 22 and 24 respectively for each player.

The play of twenty-one is based upon at least one card deck having fifty-two cards divided into four suites of duces through aces and the play of Craps based upon two dice each having six faces numbered one to six. It involves the placing of a blackjack wager on behalf of each player to beat a dealer player by placing chips in front ofthe card boxes

18. The dealer, or machine, presents two cards to each player including the dealer player

by placing the cards on the card boxes 18 in sequence about the semi-circle 14. As is normal in the game of blackjack, additional cards are sequentiaUy presented to each player in response to a request for same from that player. Thereafter, the blackjack wagers are paid or settled in the absence of requests for additional cards.

The opportunity or option to roll two dice is then presented to each player having a blackjack consisting of only two cards equaling twenty-one. However, before the roll of the dice, each player estabUshes a Craps wager, if the player wishes to participate, based upon the roll ofthe two dice by placing chips on one ofthe three circles 20. 22 and 24 to indicate the numbers and odds ofthe roU. The blackjack winner then roUs the dice once and each Craps wager by each player is settled based the outcome ofthe roU ofthe dice by the blackjack winner.

The subject invention provides an accumulated pot variation which may be combined with or substituted for the wager entitlement which occurs upon a player having two cards equaling twenty-one. In either case, the two are completely independent as the wagers on the accumulated pot are accumulated separately and paid out on independent criteria. However, in the preferred embodiment, the accumulated pot is played along with or in conjunction with the Craps wager entitlement.

More specificaUy, the accumulated pot variation is played by offering an accumulative pot wager based upon the roU of two dice prior to presenting the cards to the players. In other words, the entire game is initiated by«ach player placing a pot wager

on one or more of the Craps wager indicator areas 20, 22 and 24. The system wiU include a register for indicating the pot wager placed by each player upon the Craps wager indicator areas 20, 22 and 24, i.e., the register wiU indicate the one ofthe three

Craps wager indicator areas 20, 22 and 24 upon or into which each player has placed a

pot wager. Each wager indicator area 20, 22 and 24 could have a slot 28 for receiving

and electronicaUy counting the chip wagered on the pot with an indicator hght 30 to indicate the area wagered.

The game proceeds as described above with the Craps wager indicator areas 20, 22 and 24 used by the players to place wagers in the event one of the players gets twenty- one. Successive hands are dealt and played while accumulating the pot wagers without

payout until a player becomes a qualified player by having two cards of a predetermined combination to make a predetermined blackjack equaling twenty-one. In other words, when a player receives a predetermined blackjack, e.g., a predetermined combination of an Ace and a Jack ofthe same suit or different suits, or specificaUy the Ace of hearts and

the Jack of spades, that player becomes a qualified player eligible to win a portion ofthe accumulated pot.

The qualified player rolls the dice to match his initial pot wager placed at the

beginning ofthe game and which the register Hght 30 has indicated throughout the play. If the player placed wagers on more than one indicator area, the player roUs the dice once for each different indicator area upon which the player placed a wager. Accordingly, aU or at least a portion ofthe accumulated pot is paid out to the qualified player in response

to the registered pot wager by the qualified player covering the outcome ofthe roU ofthe dice. That is. the accumulated pot is paid to the player if the roU ofthe dice for a ceπain

indicator area matches any ofthe numbers in that indicator area. The accumulated pot is

divided into three different payout portions each corresponding to one of the Craps wager

indicator areas 20, 22 and 24. Hence, the pot wager is made on the dice number

combinations of 2, 3 and 12 at the greatest payout portion and dice number combinations

of 7 and 11 at a lesser payout portion and the rem-rining dice number combinations at the

smallest payout portion. There is also included a posting means comprising a sign for posting the respective greatest, lesser and smaUest payout portions. As the pot grows from

hand to hand a counter calculates the respective payouts and the amounts continually

change on the electronic sign.

To further enhance the game by increasing the accumulated pot faster and to

higher amounts, a plurality of playing sites, i.e., individual tables each with its own dealer,

may be combined electronicaUy to establish one common combined pot. This common

combined pot is divided into three portions, each of which is paid out to the first player

having the winning combination of a predetermined blackjack and rolling the dice to

match his registered pot wager. Otherwise, the pot wagers are accumulated without

payout from hand to hand until a qualified Craps player has the predetermined winning

combination. The pot wagers placed on the respective wager indicator areas 20, 22 and

24 may be accumulated separately, i.e., individuaUy, to establish independent posted

portions on the electronic signs 32 which may vary from time to time in proportion to the

number of wagers in each wager indicator area 20, 22 and 24 and/or the lack of winning

players in one or two pot portions. After a win, that portion ofthe pot may be seeded to

start a new series of hands. Accordingly, at one seating a player may play blackjack and qualify to further bet

on a Craps roU ofthe dice each time the player receives a blackjack, and, in addition, to

place pot wagers to qualify for rolling the dice for the pot in the event of receiving a

predetermined blackjack, such as the Ace and Jack of one designated combination.

Alternatively, the invention may interleave the pot wager with similar card games which

are played from hand to hand under conventional rules until a player qualifies to roU the dice for at least a portion of the pot by beating the dealer in the card game with a

predetermined combination of cards which is generally more difficult to acquire than lesser

winning combinations and then foUows up w h a roU ofthe dice producing numbers in the group of numbers the player wagered upon in the pot wager at the beginning ofthe

hand.

In the preferred sequence of play, a first accumulative pot wager is offered to each

player at a first group 20 of numbers at first odds based upon the roU of two dice. At

the same time, second and third accumulative pot wagers are offered to each player at

respective second and third groups 22 and 24 of numbers at second and third odds

based upon the roU of two dice. Each player places a blackjack wager on behalf to beat a dealer player at blackjack in accordance with the normal rules of blackjack. The dealer

or machine then presents two cards to each player including the dealer player to begin a

hand. At this point, if no player has a blackjack, the first accumulative pot wagers are

accumulated in a first accumulative pot without payout from card game to card game until a qualified pot player has cards of a predetermined combination equaling twenty-one, i.e.,

a blackjack, and makes a winning roU of the dice. Likewise, the second and third

accumulative pot wagers are accumulated in a second accumulative pot and in a third accumulative pot respectively without payout from card game to card game untϋ being

won by a winning quaUfied pot player having cards of a predetermined combination

equaling twenty-one, i.e., a blackjack, and makes a wirining roU of the dice. As the

respective accumulated pots increase from hand to hand because no player becomes a winning qualified pot player, or, if so, does not roU a number on the dice which matches

a number in the indicator area upon which that player placed an accumulative pot wager,

a posting means 32 posts the payout of the first accumulated pot to the winning qualified player in response to-the numbers resulting from the roU of the dice by the winning

qualified player matching one ofthe numbers in the first indicator area 20 upon which the

winning qualified player placed a first accumulative pot wager and for posting the payout

of the second accumulated pot to the vvτr-ning qualified player in response to the numbers resulting from the roU ofthe dice by the winning qualified matching one ofthe numbers

in said second indicator area 22 upon which the winning qualified player placed a second

accumulative pot wager and for posting the payout of the third accumulated pot to the winning qualified player in response to the numbers resulting from the roU ofthe dice by

the winning qualified matching one ofthe numbers in said third indicator area 24 upon

which the winning qualified player placed a third accumulative pot wager. The posting

means 32 includes a computer and counter to keep track ofthe wagers on the respective

indicator areas 20, 22 and 24.

However, if a player has a predeterrnined combination of cards, such as the Ace

of hearts and the Jack of spades, the player becomes a qualified pot player and is entitled to the roU of two dice for the accumulated pot upon which the player placed a wager, i.e.,

one or more of the wager indicator areas 20, 22 and/or 24, at the onset ofthe game. Accordingly, either a dealer or a machine presents a roU of the two dice to the quaUfied pot player having the predetermined combination of cards for a wager placed by the

qualified pot player on the first group 20, i.e., first indicator area 20. SequentiaUy, that

same qualified player having the predeterrnined combination of cards is presented a roU of the two dice for a wager placed by that quaUfied pot player on the second group, i.e.,

indicator area 22. And thereafter, that same quaUfied player having the predeteπnined

combination of cards is presented a roU of the two dice for a wager placed by that

qualified pot player on-the third group, i.e., indicator area 24. Instead of actual dice, the

roU ofthe dice could be accompUshed by the dealing of cards having dice numbers or by

a computer or a machine. Only the player having the predetermined combination of cards

is aUowed to roll the dice for the accumulated pot and then only for the accumulated pot

upon which that player placed a wager at the onset of the hand. If the qualified player

placed a wager on more than one ofthe indicator areas 20, 22 and 24, that qualified player

is presented the a roU ofthe dice for each indicator area, i.e., each accumulative pot, upon

which that player initiaUy placed a an accumulative pot wager. The initial accumulative pot wagers by afl ofthe other players are cleared and placed into the accumulative pot as

posted by the posting means or sign 32. Accordingly, just before the pot player roUs the

dice for the accumulated pot or pots, the wager indicator areas 20, 22 and 24 are cleared

with the wagers going to the respective accumulated pots with a corresponding increase

in the value posted by the posting means 32 for the respective pots.

If upon the rolling the two dice by the qualified Craps player, the numbers on the

dice match one of the numbers in the indicator area 20, 22 or 24 for which the dice were

rolled, then the accumulated pot as indicated on the posting means 32 is paid out to the player. In other words, if the qualified player is rolling the dice for a wager placed upon the first indicator area 20, i.e., the first accumulative pot, at least a portion of the first accumulated pot is paid out to the winning qualified player in response to the numbers resulting from the roll of the dice matching one of the numbers in the first group of

numbers set forth in the first indicator area 20. In a similar fashion, if the qualified player

is rolling the dice for a wager placed upon the second indicator area 22, i.e., the second

accumulative pot, at least a portion of the second accumulated pot is paid out to that winning qualified player in response to the numbers resulting from the roU of the dice matching one of the numbers in the second group of numbers set forth in the second indicator area 22. The same occurs if the qualified player is rolling the dice for a wager

placed upon the third indicator area 24, i.e., the third accumulative pot, at least a portion of the third accumulated pot is paid out to that vvTiining qualified player in response to the numbers resulting from the roU ofthe dice matching one ofthe numbers in the third group of numbers set forth in the third indicator area 22.

In the absence of a player having the predetermined combination of cards to qualify to roU the dice for one or more accumulative pots, or after that qualified player has roUed the dice for the accumulative pot or pots, each player having two cards equaling twenty-one is identified as a natural blackjack player. This includes the player having the

predetermined combination because that is also a natural blackjack. For each player having a natural blackjack, a craps wager is presented, i.e., offered, to each player on one ofthe first, second and third groups of numbers. Said another way, each player may place

a wager on one of the indicator areas 20, 22 or 24 in front ofthe player, but only one of

the areas for one set of odds. After aU bets are placed on the respective indicator areas 20. 22 or 24, a roU of the two dice is presented to the natural blackjack player who then

roUs the dice. Each player is then paid the designated odds in response to the numbers resulting from the roU of the dice by the natural blackjack player matching one of the numbers in the group of numbers upon which that player placed a craps wager. The same sequence is conducted for each natural blackjack.

After aU ofthe opportunities for rolling the dice based upon blackjacks or two card twenty-one are resolved, the normal game of blackjack proceeds by sequentiaUy presenting additional cards to each player in response to a request for same from that player. As is customary in blackjack, the blackjack wagers are paid in the absence of requests for additional cards and the hand comes to an end, ready to start over with a new deal. As wiU be appreciated, the various steps, order of play or sequence of play may be varied without departing form the inventive combination.

As aUuded to above, the method is further defined as offering 2, 3 or 12 as the

first group of numbers at the first payout odds and offering 7 and 11 as the second group of numbers at the second payout odds and offering the remaining dice number combinations as a third group at third payout odds.

A further refinement includes the steps of combining the play of at a pluraUty of independent playing sites with a dealer at each site by combining the first accumulated pot from the plurality of independent playing sites and paying out at least a portion ofthe combined first accumulated pot to the winning qualified player as weU as similarly independently combining the second and third accumulated pots from the pluraUty of independent playing sites and paying out at least a portion of the respective combined second and third accumulated pots to the winning qualified player.

Although the gaming device for implementing play may comprise a machine, it frequently employs a gaming table presenting an upper playing surface. A pluraUty of

player areas are spaced about the periphery ofthe arcuate playing arena and opposed to the dealer playing area. Each of the player areas comprises a card box 18 and a pluraUty of group indicator areas 20, 22 and 24 dividing the numbers 2 through 12 into a plurality

of groups for presenting a first accumulative pot wager to each player at a first indicator area 20 presenting a first group ofthe numbers at first odds based upon the roU of two dice and for presenting a second accumulative pot wager to each player at a second mdicator area 22 presenting a second group ofthe numbers at second odds based upon

the roU of two dice and for presenting a third accumulative pot wager to each player at a third indicator area 24 presenting a third group of the numbers at third odds based upon the roU of two dice.

A first of the registers 30 is included for each player to indicate a first

accumulative pot wager placed by each player upon the first indicator area 20. A second ofthe registers 30 is included for indicating a second accumulative pot wager placed by

each player upon the second indicator area 22. Similarly, a third ofthe registers 30 is included for indicating a third accumulative pot wager placed by each player upon the

third indicator area 24.

Each table includes a computerized totalizing device 34 for providing a first

accumulation means for adding the first accumulative pot wagers 20 from hand to hand into a first accumulated pot untU being won by a winning qualified pot player having cards of a predetermined combination equaling twenty-one. The running summation of

that first accumulated pot is posted by a first sign 36 of the posting means 32 for each

table. The device 34 also provides a second accumulation means for adding the second

accumulative pot wagers 22 from hand to hand into a first accumulated pot unttf being

won by a winning qualified pot player having cards of a predetermined combination equaling twenty-one. The riirining summation of that second accumulated pot is posted

by a sign 38 ofthe posting means 32 for each table. The device 34 also provides a third

accumulation means for adding the third accumulative pot wagers 24 from hand to hand

into a first accumulated pot until being won by a winning qualified pot player having cards of a predetermmed combination equaling twenty-one. The running summation of

that third accumulated pot is posted by a sign 40 ofthe posting means 32 for each table.

In addition, a networking means 42 may be included for combining the play of at

a pluraUty of independent playing sites or tables with a dealer at each site by combining

the first accumulated pot from the pluraUty of independent playing sites and paying out at least a portion ofthe combined first accumulated pot to the winning qualified player.

In the event the first accumulated pot is combined among a pluraUty of sites or tables, the

first sign 36 at each table wiU show that combined pot which could be won by a winning

qualified player at any one of the networked tables. Of course, the networking means 42

would also independently combine the respective second and third accumulated pots from the pluraUty of independent playing sites.

As aUuded to above, the dice rolling means is included for presenting a roU of the

two dice to the winning qualified pot player for a wager placed by the winning quaUfied

pot player on the first indicator area 20 and for presenting a roU of the two dice to the winning qualified pot player for a wager placed by the winning qualified pot player on the second indicator area 22 and for presenting a roU of the two dice to the winning qualified

pot player for a wager placed by the winning qualified pot player on the third indicator area 24. This dice rolling means could be a cup, a closed and clear waUed container for

roUing the dice within the container, or cards having a dice number on each of at least twelve cards, or a computerized or mechanized device for randomly selecting the dice number.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in Ught of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, wherein reference numerals are merely for convenience and are not to be in any way limiting, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificaUy described.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A method of conibining the play of twenty-one and craps comprising the steps

of:

offering an accumulative pot wager based upon the roU of two dice prior to presenting the cards to the players;

presenting at least two cards to each player;

accumulating the pot wagers without payout until a quaUfied player has two cards of a predetermined combination to make a predeteπnined blackjack equaling twenty-one;

rolling the dice by the qualified player; and

paying out a portion ofthe accumulated pot to the quaUfied player in response to the pot wager by the qualified player covering the outcome ofthe roU ofthe dice.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherem the offering of the pot wager includes

the offer of a pluraUty of alternative dice number combinations in groups having different

amounts of payout portions.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 further defined as offering the dice number

combinations of 2, 3 or 12 at the greatest payout portion and dice number combinations

of 7 and 11 at a lesser payout portion and the remaining dice number combinations at the

smaUest payout portion.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the predetermined combination of cards comprises a predetermined combination of an Ace and a Jack.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the predeteπnined combination of cards comprises an Ace and Jack of different suites.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the steps of combining the play of twenty-one and craps at a plurahty of playing sites with a dealer at each site, and accumulating a single pot from the pluraUty of independent playing sites.

7. A method of conabining the play of twenty-one based upon at least one card deck having fifty-two cards divided into four suites of duces through aces and the play of craps based upon two dice each having six faces numbered one to six. said method comprising the steps of:

placing a blackjack wager on behalf of each player to beat a dealer player;

offering an accumulative pot wager based upon the roU of two dice prior to presenting the cards to the players;

presenting two cards to each player including the dealer player to begin a hand;

sequentially presenting additional cards to each player in response to a request for same from that player;

paying the blackjack wagers in the absence of requests for additional cards to end

the hand;

presenting a craps wager to each participating player based upon the roU of two dice in response to a player becoming a quaUfied craps player by beating the dealer with a blackjack of two cards equaling twenty-one;

rolling the two dice by the qualified craps player;

settling each craps wager based the outcome ofthe roU ofthe dice;

paying out at least a portion ofthe accumulated pot to the qualified craps player in response to the winning combination ofthe qualified craps player having a blackjack consisting ofa predetermmed combination of cards equaling twenty-one and a roU ofthe dice by the quaUfied craps player matching the accumulative pot wager; and

accumulating the pot wagers without payout from hand to hand until a qualified craps player has the winning combination.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 including the steps of combining the play of

twenty-one and craps at a pluraUty of independent playing sites with a dealer at each site by accumulating a single pot from the pluraUty of independent playing sites.

9. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the predetermined combination of cards comprises a predetermined combination of an Ace and a Jack.

10. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the offering of the pot wager

includes the offer of a pluraUty of alternative dice number combinations of 2, 3 or 12 at

the greatest payout portion and dice number combinations of 7 and 11 at a lesser payout

portion and the rermining dice number combinations at the smaUest payout portion.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 including posting the respective amounts ofthe payout portions.

12. A method of combining the play of cards and craps comprising the steps of:

offering an accumulative pot wager at three groups of numbers each at different odds based upon the roU of two dice;

thereafter presenting at least two cards to each player and proceeding with the play ofthe card game;

accumulating the pot wagers without payout from card game to card game until a qualified player has cards of a predetermined combination to thereby qualify to roU the dice for at least a portion of the pot;

rolling the dice by the qualified player; and

paying out a portion ofthe accumulated pot to the qualified player in response to the pot wager by the qualified player being on the group of numbers which match the numbers resulting from the roU of the dice.

13. A method of combining the play of blackjack based upon at least one card deck having fifty-two cards divided into four suites of duces through aces and the play of craps based upon two dice each having six faces numbered one to six, said method

comprising the steps of:

offering a first accumulative pot wager to each player at a first group of numbers

at first odds based upon the roU of two dice; offering a second accumulative pot wager to each player at a second group of

numbers at second odds based upon the roU of two dice;

placing a blackjack wager on behalf of each player to beat a dealer player;

presenting two cards to each player including the dealer player to begin a hand;

sequentiaUy presenting additional cards to each player in response to a request for

same from that player;

paying the blackjack wagers in the absence of requests for additional cards to end the hand;

accumulating the first accumulative pot wagers in a first accumulative pot without

payout from card game to card game until a quaUfied pot player has cards of a predetermined combination equaling twenty-one;

accumulating the second accumulative pot wagers in a second accumulative pot without payout from card game to card game untU being won by a winning quaUfied pot

player having cards of a predetermined combination equaling twenty-one;

presenting a roU of the two dice to the quaUfied pot player having the

predetermined combination of cards for a wager placed by the qualified pot player on the

first group;

presenting a roU of the two dice to the quaUfied pot player having the

predetermmed combination of cards for a wager placed by the quaUfied pot player on the

second group; rolling the two dice by the qualified craps player;

paying out at least a portion of the first accumulated pot to the winning qualified player in response to the numbers resulting from the roU ofthe dice matching one ofthe numbers in the first group of numbers;

paying out at least a portion of the second accumulated pot to the winning qualified player in response to the numbers resulting from the roU of the dice matching one ofthe numbers in-the second group of numbers;

identifying each player having two cards equaling twenty-one as a natural blackjack player;

presenting a craps wager to each player on one ofthe first and second groups of numbers;

presenting a roU of the two dice to the natural blackjack player; and

paying each player the designated odds in response to the numbers resulting from the roll ofthe dice by the natural blackjack player matching one of the numbers in the group of numbers upon which the player placed a craps wager.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 further defined as offering 2, 3 or 12 as the

first group of numbers at the first payout odds and offering 7 and 11 as the second group of numbers at the second payout odds and offering the remaining dice number combinations as a third group at third payout odds.

15. A method as set forth in claim 13 including the steps of combining the play of at a pluraUty of independent playing sites with a dealer at each site by combining the first accumulated pot from the pluraUty of independent playing sites and paying out at

least a portion ofthe combined first accumulated pot to the winning qualified player.

16. A device for combining the play of twenty-one based upon at least one card

deck having fifty-two cards divided into four suites of duces through aces and the play of

craps based upon two dice each having six faces numbered one to six, said device

comprising:

a dealer presentation area for presenting the dealer's cards;

a player presentation area for each player to present the player cards;

a pluraUty of craps wager indicators for each player presentation area;

register means for indicating a pot wager for each player placed upon the craps

wager indicators; and

posting means for posting the payout ofthe accumulated pot from hand to hand.

17. A device as set forth in claim 16 wherein said wager indicators present the

dice number combinations of 2, 3 or 12 at the greatest payout portion and dice number

combinations of 7 and 11 at a lesser payout portion and the remaining dice number

combinations at the smaUest payout portion

18. A device as set forth in claim 17 wherein said posting means includes means

for posting the respective greatest, lesser and smaUest payout portions.

19. A gaming device for combining the play of twenty-one based upon at least one card deck having fifty-two cards divided into four suites of duces through aces and the

play of craps based upon two dice each having six faces numbered one to six, said device comprising:

an upper playing surface;

said playing surface presenting an arcuate playing arena;

a dealer playing area in the middle ofthe playing arena;

a plurahty of player areas spaced about the periphery of said arcuate playing arena and opposed to said dealer playing area, each of said player areas comprising a card box

and a pluraUty of craps wager indicator areas dividing the numbers 2 through 12 into a

pluraUty of groups for wagering at different odds for each group;

register means for indicating an accumulative pot wager placed by each player

upon one of the craps wager indicator areas; and

accumulation means for adding the pot wagers from hand to hand until a qualified

craps player beats the dealer player with a blackjack consisting of a predetermined

combination of cards equaling twenty-one and the pot wager by the quaUfied craps player

covers the outcome ofthe roU ofthe dice.

20. A device as set forth in claim 19 including posting means for posting the

payout ofthe accumulated pot from hand to hand.

21. A device as set forth in claim 20 including networking means for accumulating a single pot from the pluraUty of independent playing sites with a dealer at each site.

22. A gaming device for combining the play of twenty-one based upon at least one

card deck having fifty-two cards divided into four suites of duces through aces and the

play of craps based upon two dice each having six faces numbered one to six, said device

comprismg:

an upper playing surface;

said playing surface presenting an arcuate playing arena;

a dealer playing area in the middle ofthe playing arena;

a pluraUty of player areas spaced about the periphery of said arcuate playing arena

and opposed to said dealer playing area, each of said player areas comprising a card box

and a plurality of group indicator areas dividing the numbers 2 through 12 into a pluraUty

of groups for presenting a first accumulative pot wager to each player at a first indicator

area presenting a first group of said numbers at first odds based upon the roU of two

dice and for presenting a second accumulative pot wager to each player at a second indicator area presenting a second group of said numbers at second odds based upon the

roU of two dice;

first register means for indicating a first accumulative pot wager placed by each player upon said first indicator area;

second register means for indicating a second accumulative pot wager placed by

each player upon said second indicator area; first accumulation means for adding said first accumulative pot wagers from hand

to hand into a first accumuiated pot until being won by a winning qualified pot player

having cards of a predetermined combination equaling twenty-one;

second accumulation means for adding said second accumulative pot wagers from

hand to hand into a second accumulated pot until being won by a winning qualified pot

player having cards of a predetermined combination equaling twenty-one;

dice rolling means for presenting a roU of the two dice to the winning quaUfied

pot player for a wager placed by the winning qualified pot player on said first indicator

area and for presenting a roU of the two dice to the winning qualified pot player for a wager placed by the winning qualified pot player on said second indicator area; and

posting means for posting the payout of the first accumulated pot to the winning

qualified player in response to the numbers resulting from the roU of the dice by the

winning qualified player matching one of the numbers in said first indicator area upon which the winning qualified player placed a first accumulative pot wager and for posting

the payout of the second accumulated pot to the winning qualified player in response to

the numbers resulting from the roU ofthe dice by the winning qualified matching one of

the numbers in said second indicator area upon which the winning qualified player placed

a second accumulative pot wager.

23. A device as set forth in claim 22 wherein said first group of numbers consists

of 2, 3 and 12 in said first indicator area and second group of numbers consists of 7 and

11 in said second indicator area and including a third indicator area presenting the

remaining dice number combinations as a third group at third odds.