GB2395439A

GB2395439A - Gaming apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2395439A
Application number: GB0226969A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Ludlow; Mark Bishop
Original assignee: BYTEWISE Ltd
Current assignee: BYTEWISE Ltd
Priority date: 2002-11-19
Filing date: 2002-11-19
Publication date: 2004-05-26
Also published as: GB0226969D0

Abstract

An interactive gaming apparatus fig 1 (not shown) for playing a game of blackjack between a player and a dealer includes fund acceptance means for accepting funds from a player, fund crediting means for crediting funds to a player dependent upon the outcome of the game, display means 16 capable of displaying indicia representing a plurality of possible outcomes for a first card in the player's hand and indicia representing a plurality of possible outcomes for two or more cards in the player's hand and interface means for allowing the player to interact with the apparatus to bet on selected displayed possible outcomes for the first card and/or the first two or more cards in the player's hand. The interface means displays an indication of the bet on the display means 16 in the form of a betting marker associated with one or more of the indicia 22. The gaming apparatus further includes means for generating a blackjack hand for the player and for the dealer, utilising the input means to allow the player to hit or stand as desired, comparison means for comparing the player's hand with the dealer's hand to determine the winner of the game of blackjack and comparing the cards in the player's hand with the selected possible outcomes, computing means for calculating a payout for the player based both on whether the player won the game of blackjack and whether the player's cards corresponded to the selected possible outcomes, and means for causing the fund crediting means to credit the player depending upon the results of the computing means calculation. The side bet on one game of blackjack can also be enacted on a casino table. Fig 4 (not shown).

Description

Gaming Apparatus The invention relates to a gaming apparatus for playing a

game of blackjack, and particularly to an interactive gaming apparatus for playing blackjack. The game of blackjack is popular in both casinos and as played on gaming machines. In a conventional game of blackjack, a player is dealt two cards (either physically or electronically) and a dealer (represented by the gaming apparatus in the electronic version of the game) is dealt either one or two cards, one of which is laid face up and the other face down. The player may either stand (not request another card) or hit (take another card). The player continues to do this, trying to obtain a total on his cards as close to twenty one as possible. If the player goes over twenty one, he is bust and loses the game. Once a player has stood, the dealer draws cards until he has a total greater than sixteen. The dealer may not take another card after he reaches seventeen. The player's score is compared with the dealer's score and whoever has the higher score (without busting) wins. An Ace may be high or low depending on what is more advantageous for the player.

According to the invention there is provided an interactive gaming apparatus for playing a game of blackjack between a player and a dealer, the apparatus including: fund acceptance means for accepting funds from a player; fund crediting means for crediting funds to a player dependent upon the outcome of the game; display means capable of displaying indicia representing a plurality of possible outcomes for a first card in the player's hand and indicia representing a plurality of possible outcomes for two or more cards in the player's hand;

interface means for allowing the player to interact with the apparatus to bet on selected displayed possible outcomes for the first card and/or the first two or more cards in the player's hand and for displaying an indication of the bet on the display means in the form of a betting marker associated with one or more of the indicia; means for generating a blackjack hand for the player and for the dealer, utilising the input means to allow the player to hit or stand as desired; comparison means for comparing the player's hand with the dealer's hand to determine the winner of the game of blackjack and comparing the cards in the player's hand with the selected possible outcomes; computing means for calculating a payout for the player based both on whether the player won the game of blackjack and whether the player's cards corresponded to the selected possible outcomes; and means for causing the fund crediting means to credit the player depending upon the results of the computing means calculation.

Preferably the display means includes means for displaying indicia representing each possible first card in a hand of blackjack. Preferably the display means includes means for displaying the indicia in a grid comprising a row of indicia representing different card identities above a row of indicia representing other card identities. The rows may include indicia representing six different card identities. The second row may be located above a central ind icia representing the final card identity.

The card identities preferably comprise card values. The first row may comprise the card values 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and the second row the card values 5, 6, 7, Jack, Queen, King. The final card value is preferably Ace.

Preferably the interface means includes means for enabling the player

to bet on the player's first card being any of the following: any single card value; either one of two card values adjacent to one another in the grid; any one of four card values adjacent to one another in the grid; and/or any one of the three card values including the Ace and the two card values indicated above the Ace.

The interface means preferably includes means for displaying a betting marker on one indicium relating to a card value, between two indicia relating to two different card values, between three indicia relating to three different card values or between four indicia relating to four different card values.

Preferably the display means also includes an indicium specifying that the first card has a low value, i.e., two to seven, and an indicium specifying that the first card has a high value, i.e., eight to King. The display means may also include indicia relating to the suit of the first card. Preferably the interface means includes means for displaying a betting marker on the indicia relating to a low card value, a high card value and/or any suit for the card.

Preferably the display means also includes means for displaying indicia representing possible outcomes for the first two cards in the player's hand of blackjack. The display means may include means for displaying indicia indicating one or more of the following: the first two cards have the same value; the first two cards are both red; the first two cards are both black; the first two cards have a value of twenty one (blackjack); the first two cards are both diamonds; the first two cards are both clubs;

the first two cards are both hearts; or the first two cards are both spades.

The interface means preferably includes means for displaying a betting marker on one or more of the indicia relating to the first two cards.

The display means may further include means for displaying indicia indicating the following: the first three cards are reds the first four cards are red; the first five cards are red; the first three cards are black; the first four cards are black; or the first five cards are black.

Preferably the display means includes indicia representing three cards, four cards and/or five cards respectively and adjacent indicia representing red or black. Preferably the interface means includes means for displaying a betting marker on one of the indicia relating to red or black.

The display means preferably further includes means for displaying an indicium relating to the stake for the game of blackjack. The interface means preferably enables the player to display a betting marker on this indicium.

The interface means preferably includes means for allowing the player to choose the value represented by each betting marker.

The display means preferably also includes means for displaying the

total stake of the player, the amount the player has in hand in a bank and the value of the last amount won by the player.

Preferably the means for generating the blackjack hands for the player and for the dealer includes means for selecting cards randomly as if from at least one and preferably six decks of cards. However, in some applications, the cards may be selected as if from one shuffled deck of cards. The apparatus may include means for receiving a random number input from a remote random number generator and utilising this input to select the cards.

The display means may include a screen of a computer or of a gaming machine. The interface means may include means for sensing a touch on the display means. Alternatively, the interface means may include a mouse for indicating a position on the display means, a keyboard, buttons, joysticks, a light pen, tracker ball, graphics tablet, etc. The interface means preferably includes means for determining a value of a bet. These means may include means for determining a number of touches of the display means, clicks of a mouse, presses of a key on a keyboard or any other indication and associating this number with a location on the display means, to determine the magnitude of a bet. For example, one touch or click may indicate a value of 20p, up to ú1, whereupon each subsequent touch or click indicates a further r1.

The computing means preferably includes information relating to the probability of all the displayed possible outcomes for the player's cards.

Preferably the payout is based substantially on these probability values.

The fund acceptance means may include means for receiving cash

directly, for example a slot in a gaming machine. Alternatively, the fund acceptance means may include means for receiving a credit/debit/smart card.

Alternatively, the fund acceptance means may include means for interacting with a separate apparatus or on-line arrangement for accepting payment.

The fund crediting means may include means for paying out cash or preferably a coded ticket directly from the apparatus. Alternatively, the fund crediting means may include means for crediting a player's credit/debit/smart card or for interacting with a separate betting apparatus or on-line betting arrangement. The game could be played for points rather than money, and the term "funds" is intended to embrace any betting units, whether monetary or not.

The display means may further include means for displaying an indicium representing a bet on an additional "spin of fortune" sequence. The interface means preferably includes means for placing a betting marker on this indicium.

The display means preferably includes means for displaying a "spin of fortune" if there is a betting market on the "spin of fortune" indicium and the player's first two cards are a blackjack. The displayed spin of fortune preferably includes a plurality of segments, each representing a prize, and a pointer to indicate a segment and therefore a prize to be won.

According to the invention there is further provided apparatus for playing a game of blackjack between a player and a dealer, the apparatus including: a primary betting station;

a side betting station including a display incorporating indicia representing a plurality of possible outcomes for a first card in the player's hand and indicia representing a plurality of possible outcomes for a first two or more cards in the player's hand; and a plurality of betting chips of various different values; wherein the chips may be placed on the primary betting station to indicate a bet on the outcome of the game of blackjack and on the side betting station in association with one or more of the indicia representing possible outcomes for the first card and/or the first two or more cards in the player's hand, to indicate a side bet on the player's hand in the game of blackjack. Preferably the apparatus includes a betting table, the primary betting station and the side betting station being provided on a surface of the table.

Preferably the display means includes means for displaying indicia representing each possible first card in a hand of blackjack. Preferably the display means includes means for displaying the indicia in a grid comprising a row of indicia representing different card identities above a row of indicia representing other card identities. The rows may include indicia representing six different card identities. The second row may be located above a central indicia representing the final card identity.

The indicia may be in the form of markings on the betting table.

Preferably the display also includes an indicium specifying that the first card has a low value, i.e., two to seven, and an indicium specifying that the first card has a high value, i.e., eight to King. The display may also include indicia relating to the suit of the first card.

Preferably the display also includes indicia representing possible outcomes for the first pair of cards in the player's hand of blackjack. The display may include indicia indicating one or more of the following: the first two cards have the same value; the first two cards are both red; the first two cards are both black) the first two cards have a value of twenty one (blackjack); the first two cards are both diamonds; the first two cards are both clubs; the first two cards are both hearts; or the first two cards are both spades.

The display may further include indicia indicating the following: the first three cards are red; the first four cards are red; the first five cards are red; the first three cards are black; the first four cards are black; or the first five cards are black.

Preferably the display includes indicia representing three cards, four

cards and five cards respectively and adjacent indicia representing red or black. The display preferably further includes an indicium relating to the stake for the game of blackjack, enabling the player to display a betting marker on this indicium.

An embodiment of the invention will be described for the purpose of illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the main components of a gaming machine according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a display screen of the gaming machine of Fig. 1 in a first configuration; Fig. 3 is a display screen of the gaming machine of Fig. 1 in a second configuration; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a blackjack table apparatus according to the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, a gaming machine indicated generally at 10 includes a funds acceptance means 12 in the form of a slot for cash, betting tokens/tickets or credit/debit/smart cards and a fund crediting means in the form of a payout apparatus 14. The payout apparatus is preferably designed to dispense a ticket printed with a code indicating an amount won by the player. The gaming machine 10 further includes a display screen 16 and an internal processor 18, the functions of which are described in more detail hereinafter. The gaming machine 10 is used to play a variation of blackjack

wherein the player is able to place side bets on the outcome of the cards he or she is drawn. Fig. 2 illustrates the display screen 16 when the game has just started.

The display screen 16 includes a first, upper screen area 20 relating to the first card drawn for the player. The first screen area 20 includes an array 22 of indicia in the form of squares displayed on the screen, each square relating to a value of the first card drawn for the player. The array 22 includes a top row of squares representing card values 2,3,4,8,9 and 10, a mid row of squares representing card values 5, 6, 7, Jack, Queen and King and a bottom square representing an Ace, located adjacent to and below the squares for 7 and Jack.

The screen 16 further includes an indicium in the form of a box 24, which indicates that the first card is low, i.e., between 2 and 7, an indicium in the form of a box 26 indicating that the first card is high, i.e., between 8 and King, and indicia in the form of boxes 28,30,32 and 34 indicating that the first card is a diamond, a club, a heart or a spade respectively.

Underneath the first screen area 20 is a second screen area 36 which relates to possibilities for the player's first two cards. The various possibilities are represented by indicia in the form of boxes 38,40,42,43, 44,46,48 and 50, which indicate respectively that the first two cards are a pair (i.e., they both have the same value), a blackjack (i.e., they add up to twenty one), both red, both black, both diamonds, both clubs, both hearts or both spades.

Underneath the second screen area 36, there is a third screen area 60 which relates to characteristics of the first three, four or five cards drawn for the player. An indicium in the form of a red circle 62 indicates that the

It first three, four or five cards are red and an indicium in the form of a black circle 64 indicates that they are black. Indicia 66, 68 and 70 indicate three, four or five cards.

Under the third screen area 60, an indicium in the form of a circle 74 indicates the blackjack stake and indicia in the form of ovals 76, 78, 80, 82 and 84 indicate the commands SHOW ODDS, LAST BET, DEAL, HELP and UNDO. A further indicium in the form of a central display board 72 includes information relating to the total stake, the money in reserve (in the bank) and the last return.

The gaming machine 10 includes interface means in the form of the display screen 16 being touch sensitive. A player may touch any of the above indicia in order to interact with the gaming machine 10. The way in which the player does this to play a game is described hereinafter.

Fig. 3 illustrates the display screen 16 embodying a further display, part way through a game of blackjack. In this case, the screen of Fig. 1 is moved to the side and ovals 90, 92, 94, 96 and 98 are added to the screen to indicate DOUBLE, SPLIT, INSURANCE, STAND and HIT. The ovals indicating SHOW ODDS, LAST BET, DEAL and UNDO are no longer relevant and have been removed. The left of the display screen 16 indicates the cards being dealt to the player and/or the dealer. It may be seen that three cards totalling 17 have been dealt to the dealer, and that two eights and a four, totalling 20, have been dealt to the player.

The game is played as follows. The player is initially presented with the screen of Fig. 2. The player must place a bet on the outcome of the game of blackjack, i.e., whether the player or the dealer wins. In addition,

the player may optionally bet on the outcome of the cards dealt to him.

These side bets are as follows: Player's first card drawn (first screen area 20) À The value of the first card drawn, from Ace to King. The player may bet on any one value by touching in the middle of one of the numbered squares in the array 22 or may bet on any two values by touching the line between the squares relating to those two values, may bet on any four values by touching the corner between the four squares relating to those four numbers, or may bet on the combination of Ace, seven and Jack by touching the corner between the squares representing these values.

The player may also bet on his first card being low, i.e., between two and seven, by touching the box 24, or being high, i.e., between eight and King by touching the box 26. Further, the player may bet on his first card being of any particular suit, by touching any of the boxes 28 to 34.

2. Player's first two cards drawn (second screen area 36) À The player may bet that the first two cards drawn will be a pair, by touching box 38 or will have a value of twenty one, by touching box 40. Alternatively or additionally, the player may bet that the first two cards will be red (box 42) or black (box 43) or both of a particular suit (boxes 44 to 50).

3. Multiple bets (third screen area 60)

À By using the third screen area 60 a player may bet that the first three, four or five cards will all be red by touching the red circle 62.

Alternatively, the player may bet that the first three, four or five cards will be black by touching the black circle 64. In this case, the winning three, four or five cards must have a total value of twenty one or less.

When the player touches the screen to place a bet, he may touch once to bet 20p, for example, and once again for each subsequent 20p up to ú1.

Thereafter, each subsequent touch represents a further fly. In this way, the player places all his side bets and must also place his bet on the outcome of the game of blackjack in the circle 74.

Once the player has placed all his bets, he touches the DEAL button and a round of blackjack begins. The player is dealt one or possibly two cards face up and the dealer is dealt two cards, one of which is face up and the other face down. The player must decide whether to stand (not take another card) or hit (take another card). The player must try to get as close to twenty one as possible but if he goes over twenty one, he is bust and loses the game. However, even if the player loses the game, he may still recuperate his losses on his side bets.

Once the player has stood, the dealer draws cards until he has a total greater than sixteen. The dealer may not take another card after he reaches seventeen. The processor 18 of the computer includes means for generating the blackjack hands for the player and for the dealer. These may include a random number generator or means for communicating with a remote

random number generator. It is preferable that the cards are dealt as if from at least six decks. The processor also includes means for processing the input from the HIT and STAND indicia in order to determine the number of cards to be dealt.

Once the game is over, comparison means within the processor 18 compare the player's hand with the dealer's hand. They also compare the player's hand with all the various side bets which were placed. For example, in Fig. 3, it may be seen that the player placed a number of bets on the value of his first card by placing markers indicating 20p or 30p on and between the indicia in the array 22. He also bet 20p that his first card would be high, 20p that it would be a diamond and 20p that it would be a heart. Further, he bet 20p on achieving pairs of hearts or diamonds and on achieving a blackjack.

The player bet ú3.00 as a blackjack stake (i.e. on winning the overall game).

A 20p bet was also placed on the red multiplier 62.

In the illustrated example, the player has won the game of blackjack and has also won a number of his side bets.

The processor includes computing means for calculating a payout based on whether or not the player wins and on whether the values of the player's cards correspond to the selected side bets. The computing means calculates a payout based on this analysis, the payout being dependent upon the probability of the bet being won.

The odds are as follows: 1. Player's first card drawn

"straight up" bet (any single value): 11-1.

"Split" bet (any two values situated next to each other on the grid): 5-1.

"Corner" bet (any four values situated next to each other on the grid): 21. A bet on Ace/seven/Jack: 3-1.

High and low bets: evens.

A bet on the suit: 3-1 2. Player's first two cards drawn colour (red and red or black and black): 3-1 Two of the same suit: 14-1 Pair: 1 4-1 Blackjack: l 8-1 3. Multiples First three cards the same colour: 10-1 First four cards the same colour: 20-1 First five cards the same colour: 40-l The odds for the blackjack game are as follows: the payout on a normal win in blackjack is evens; if the result is a push (player and dealer draw) the player is paid back his stake; on a double, the player doubles his stake; he is paid evens on his final stake;

on a split, the player doubles his stake; each winning hand is paid evens; the payout on insurance is 2-1; the payout on a hand of blackjack (twenty one with the first two cards) is 6-4.

The odds may of course be varied as required.

There is thus provided a gaming machine for playing a modified game of blackjack which allows much more varied betting. One of the most popular casino games is roulette and this game allows the popular elements of roulette to be incorporated into blackjack. It increases the excitement of the blackjack game by enabling much larger numbers of bets to be placed at a single time and increases the revenue for the game operator for the same reason. The game may be modified to include an additional "spin of fortune" bet. In this case, the first screen display includes an additional indicium representing a spin of fortune bet, typically of a fixed stake such as fl.00.

The player is able to mark the spin of fortune box by for example touching the screen to indicate a bet. If the player is then dealt a blackjack during this particular game, the spin of fortune appears. This is represented by a disc on the screen, the disc consisting of a number of segments, each segment being labelled with a prize, and a pointer to indicate the prize value won. The screen display may indicate the disc spinning and eventually stopping, with the pointer indicating a segment to show the prize to be awarded to the player. For higher cash payouts, multiple discs could be used. A first disc

could contain a number of segments labelled with cash prize values, second and subsequent discs could be smaller and inside the first disc or could be indicated as separate discs. These could have segments labelled with multipliers for example "x10, x20, etc" or further cash prizes. The prize allocated to the player would then be the sum of the cash values, multiplied by the value of any multipliers or it could be the multiple of all the values shown. Referring to Fig. 4, there is illustrated an apparatus 84 for playing the modified blackjack game in a casino, for example. The apparatus 84 includes a semi-circular casino table 86, a dealer chip tray 88 and betting stations 90 for seven players, but any number could be catered for.

Each betting station 90 includes a primary betting area 92 and a side betting area 94. The primary betting area 92 is an area on the table in which the player may place his main bet on whether or not he wins the game of blackjack against the dealer. In the side betting area 94, the player may place side bets on the hands that he is dealt, as discussed in detail in relation to the gaming machine embodiment.

Each side betting area 94 comprises an area of the casino table 86 provided with artwork substantially as set out on the screen display of Fig. 2.

This allows each player to place side bets on the outcome of the first card and the first two or more cards, as described above.

Once all seven players have placed their main bets and their optional side bets in the primary betting areas 92 and side betting areas 94, the game begins.

The dealer then deals each of the players a hand of two cards, both cards being placed face up. The dealer also deals himself a hand of two cards, the first dealer's card being placed face up and the second card face down. Each player may then play his own hand of blackjack against the dealer in the normal way. Once the game is over he either wins or loses his main bet (i.e., whether he won or lost the game of blackjack) and also wins or loses all his side bets.

The player places his side bets by taking conventional betting chips, which may have various different values and placing them on the areas of the side betting table. This is as described for the above gaming machine embodiment except that the players physically pick up the chips and place them in the appropriate positions on the side betting area.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to

those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. An interactive gaming apparatus for playing a game of blackjack between a player and a dealer, the apparatus including: fund acceptance means for accepting funds from a player; fund crediting means for crediting funds to a player dependent upon the outcome of the game; display means capable of displaying indicia representing a plurality of possible outcomes for a first card in the player's hand and indicia representing a plurality of possible outcomes for two or more cards in the player's hand; interface means for allowing the player to interact with the apparatus to bet on selected displayed possible outcomes for the first card and/or the first two or more cards in the player's hand and for displaying an indication of the bet on the display means in the form of a betting marker associated with one or more of the indicia; means for generating a blackjack hand for the player and for the dealer, utilising the input means to allow the player to hit or stand as desired; comparison means for comparing the player's hand with the dealer's hand to determine the winner of the game of blackjack and comparing the cards in the player's hand with the selected possible outcomes; computing means for calculating a payout for the player based both on whether the player won the game of blackjack and whether the player's cards corresponded to the selected possible outcomes; and means for causing the fund crediting means to credit the player depending upon the results of the computing means calculation.

2. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means includes means for displaying indicia representing each possible first card in a hand of blackjack.

3. A gaming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display means includes means for displaying the indicia in a grid comprising a row of indicia representing different card identities.

4. A gaming apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the interface means includes means for enabling the player to bet on the player's first card being any of the following: any single card value; either one of two card values adjacent to one another in the grid; any one of four card values adjacent to one another in the grid; and/or any one of the three card values including the Ace and the two card values indicated above the Ace.

5. A gaming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the interface means includes means for displaying a betting marker on one indicium relating to a card value, between two indicia relating to two different card values, between three indicia relating to three different card values or between four indicia relating to four different card values.

6. A gaming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display means also includes an indicium specifying that the first card has a low value, i.e., two to seven, and an indicium specifying that the first card has a high value, i.e., eight to King, and/or indicia relating to the suit of the first card.

7. A gaming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the interface means includes means for displaying a betting marker on the indicia relating to a low card value, a high card value and/or any suit for the card.

8. A gaming apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the

display means includes means for displaying indicia representing possible outcomes for the first two cards in the player's hand of blackjack.

9. A gaming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the display means includes means for displaying indicia indicating one or more of the following: the first two cards have the same value; the first two cards are both red; the first two cards are both black) the first two cards have a value of twenty one (blackjack); the first two cards are both diamonds; the first two cards are both clubs; the first two cards are both hearts; or the first two cards are both spades.

10. A gaming apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the interface means includes means for displaying a betting marker on one or more of the indicia relating to the first two cards.

11. A gaming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the display means further includes means for displaying indicia indicating the following: the first three cards are red; the first four cards are red; the first five cards are red; the first three cards are black) the first four cards are black) or the first five cards are black.

12. A gaming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the display means includes indicia representing three cards, four cards and/or five cards and adjacent indicia representing red or black, and the interface means includes means for displaying a betting marker on one of the indicia relating to red or black.

13. A gaming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the display means includes means for displaying an indicium relating to the stake for the game of blackjack and the interface means enables the player to display a betting marker on this indicium.

14. A gaming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the interface means includes means for allowing the player to choose the value represented by each betting marker.

15. A gaming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the display means also includes means for displaying the total stake of the player, the amount the player has in hand in a bank and the value of the last amount won by the player.

16. A gaming apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for generating the blackjack hands for the player and for the dealer includes means for selecting cards randomly as if from at least one deck of cards.

17. A gaming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus includes means for receiving a random number input from a remote random number generator and utilising this input to select the cards.

18. A gaming apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the display means includes a screen of a computer or of a gaming machine.

19. A gaming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the interface means includes means for sensing a touch on the display means.

20. A gaming apparatus according to claim l 9, wherein the interface means includes means for determining a value of a bet.

21. A gaming apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the computing means includes information relating to the probability of all the displayed possible outcomes for the player's cards.

22. A gaming apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the fund acceptance means includes means for receiving cash or tokens directly, or for receiving a credit/debit/smart card.

23. A gaming apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the fund crediting means includes means for paying out cash or a coded ticket directly from the apparatus.

24. A gaming apparatus according to any of claims l to 22, wherein the fund crediting means includes means for crediting a player's credit/debit/smart card or for interacting with a separate betting apparatus or on-line betting arrangement.

25. A gaming apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the display means further includes means for displaying an indicium representing

a bet on an additional "spin of fortune" sequence, and the interface means includes means for placing a betting marker on this indicium.

26. Apparatus for playing a game of blackjack between a player and a dealer, the apparatus including: a primary betting station; a side betting station including a display incorporating indicia representing a plurality of possible outcomes for a first card in the player's hand and indicia representing a plurality of possible outcomes for a first two or more cards in the player's hand; and a plurality of betting chips of various different values; wherein the chips may be placed on the primary betting station to indicate a bet on the outcome of the game of blackjack and on the side betting station in association with one or more of the indicia representing possible outcomes for the first card and/or the first two or more cards in the player's hand, to indicate a side bet on the player's hand in the game of blackjack.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26, the apparatus including a betting table, the primary betting station and the side betting station being provided on a surface of the table.

28. Apparatus according to claim 26 or claim 27, wherein the display means includes means for displaying indicia representing each possible first card in a hand of blackjack.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the display means includes means for displaying the indicia in a grid comprising a row of indicia representing different card identities above a row of indicia representing other

card identities.

30. Apparatus according to claim 28 or claim 29, wherein the indicia are in the form of markings on the betting table.

31. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the display also includes an indicium specifying that the first card has a low value, i.e., two to seven, and an indicium specifying that the first card has a high value, i. e., eight to King.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the display also includes indicia relating to the suit of the first card.

33. Apparatus according to any of claims 26 to claim 32, wherein the display includes indicia representing possible outcomes for the first pair of cards in the player's hand of blackjack, the indicia indicating one or more of the following: the first two cards have the same value; the first two cards are both red; the first two cards are both black; the first two cards have a value of twenty one (blackjack); the first two cards are both diamonds; the first two cards are both clubs; the first two cards are both hearts; or the first two cards are both spades.

34. Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the display further includes indicia indicating the following:

the first three cards are red; the first four cards are red; the first five cards are red; the first three cards are black; the first four cards are black; or the first five cards are black.

35. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the display includes indicia representing three cards, four cards and five cards respectively and adjacent indicia representing red or black.

36. Apparatus according to any of claims 26 to 35, wherein the display includes an indicium relating to the stake for the game of blackjack, enabling the player to display a betting marker on this indicium.

37. A gaming apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings.

38. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings.

39. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.