AU2007202625B2 - Baccarat bonus feature - Google Patents

Description

1 BACCARAT BONUS FEATURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to wagering games of chance, particularly wagering games using playing cards, and more particularly casino table card games, such as baccarat, with a bonus event. 2. Background of the Art 10 In this specification unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or 15 known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned. Baccarat is one of the many live table games played in casinos or gaming establishments. Baccarat uses a standard deck of 52 playing cards and is usually dealt from a shoe having multiple decks that have been 20 shuffled together prior to the beginning of play. The object of the game of Baccarat is for the bettor to successfully wager on whether the Bank's hand or the Player's hand is going to win. The bettor receives even money for his wager if he selects the winning hand and loses his wager if he selects the losing hand. Because of the rules of play of 25 Baccarat and more particularly the pre-established draw rules, the Bank's 2 hand has a slightly higher chance of winning than does the Player's hand. The winning frequency for the Bank's hand has been determined to be 0.45859 (45.859%) whereas the winning frequency for the Player hand is 0.44624 (44.624%) with the remainder of the outcomes being ties. 5 Therefore, if the bettor wagers on the Bank's hand and the Bank hand wins, the bettor must pay to the gaming establishment a commission (typically, 5%) of the amount the bettor wins. No commission is paid if the bettor successfully wagers on the Player's hand. As used in this specification, the term "Conventional Manner of Play 10 of Baccarat" is as follows: A multiple number of decks of standard playing cards, 52 in number, are used; typically eight decks are shuffled together and placed in a shoe from which the cards are dealt during the play of the game. Each bettor makes a wager on whether the Bank's hand or the Player's 15 hand will win. After all wagers are made, two cards are dealt from the shoe to the Bank position and two cards are dealt from the shoe to the Player position on the table layout. The first card is typically dealt to the player hand, the second card to the banker hand, the third card to the player hand and the fourth card to the dealer hand. The cards are turned face up and the 20 value of the Bank hand, and the Player hand is determined, modulo ten. Aces count one; Kings, Queens, Jacks and Tens count zero and the other cards count their respective face value. The suits (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs) have no meaning in Baccarat. The highest hand value in Baccarat is nine. All hand values range 25 from a low of zero to a high of nine. If when the cards are added together, 3 the total of the hand exceeds nine, then the hand value is determined modulo ten. For example, a seven and an eight total fifteen, but the hand value is five. An Ace and a nine total ten, but the hand value is zero. A two card total of eight or nine is called a "natural"; a two card total 5 of zero is called a "baccarat." A hand value of 9 outranks a hand value of 8, even when both hands are a natural. As will be explained below, in certain situations in the play of the game, a third card will be dealt. The value of this third card is added to the total of the first two cards and a new hand value is established. Again, if the new hand total exceeds nine, the hand value is 10 determined by subtracting the ten column from the total of the hand. Prior to the deal, each bettor can make one of three wagers: 1) that the Bank hand will win; 2) that the Player hand will win; or 3) that the Bank hand and the Player hand will tie. Wagering locations are provided on the Baccarat table layout. Whichever of the Bank hand or the Player hand is 15 closest to a total of nine is the winner. In the event that one hand is a 2-card 8 and the other hand is a 2-card 9, the 2-card 9 wins. In the event of a tie hand, the wagers are returned to the players. All winning Bank hand wagers are paid off at odds of one-to-one and the house charges a five percent (5%) commission on the amount won by the 20 bettor. For example, if a bettor wagers $100 on the Bank hand and the Bank hand wins, the bettor wins $100 and is charged a $5 commission on the amount that the bettor won. The bettor is not charged any commission on the amount of his wager. All winning Player hand wagers are paid off at odds of one-to-one and 25 the bettor is not charged any commission on the amount of his winnings or 4 his wager because the house, by virtue of the third card draw rules, has a statistical advantage over the player of 45.859-44.624 or 1.235% which is referred to as the vigorish of the house on player wagers. Winning wagers on the Tie hand bet are paid off at odds of nine-to 5 one or eight-to-one (depending on the gaming establishment) and the bettor is not charged any commission on the amount of his winnings or his wager, since there is already a statistical advantage in favor of the house on tie wagers. If a Tie hand occurs, all wagers on the Bank hand and all wagers on the Player hand are "pushes" and the amount wagered is returned to the 10 bettor. Depending on the point total of the Player's hand and the Dealer's hand, one more card may be dealt to either the Player's hand, the Dealer's hand or both hands. The rules for determining whether a third card is dealt are fixed rules. There is no discretion for either the Player's hand or the 15 Dealer's hand on whether a third card is dealt. If either the Player hand or the Dealer hand has a point total of eight or nine on the first two cards, no third card is dealt to either hand and the hand with the highest point total is the winner (or the hand is a Tie, as the case may be). If one hand is a 2-card 8 and the other is a 2-card 9, the hand 20 is a push. If neither the Player hand nor the Dealer hand has a point total of eight or nine, then there is a possibility of a third card draw. The third card draw rules generally are as follows, but may be varied: Rule 1: If the initial two card Player hand has a point total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, the Player hand draws a third card. If the initial two card Player 5 hand has a point total of 6-9, the Player hand stands and does not receive a third card. Rule 2: If the Player hand stands and does not draw a third card, then the Bank hand follows Rule 1. In other words, if the Player hand has a point 5 total of 6-9, the Bank hand draws a third card on a point total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and the Bank hand stands on a point total of 6-9. Rule 3: If the Player hand draws a third card, the Bank hand must draw or stand as follows: If the bank hand two card point total is 3, then the bank hand must 10 draw when the player hand's third card is 0-7 or 9, and the bank must stand if the player hand third card is 8. If the bank hand two card point total is 4, then the bank hand must draw when the player hand's third card is 2-7, and the bank must stand if the player hand's third card is 0, 1, 8 or 9. If the bank hand two card point total is 5, then the bank hand must draw when the player 15 hand's third card is 4-7, and the bank must stand if the player hand's third card is 0-3, 8 or 9. If the bank hand two card point total is 6, then the bank hand must draw when the player hand's third card is 6 or 7, and the bank must stand if the player hand's third card is 0-5, 8 or 9. If the bank hand two card point total is 7-9, then the bank always stands. 20 At the end of each hand, winning wagers are paid and losing wagers are collected by the house. Any commission due to the house is recorded using markers in commission boxes in the center of the table. Gaming chips are used to represent the amount of money owed by each bettor to the house for the commissions. In order not to slow down the game, the commission is 25 not actually collected from each bettor until the end of the round determined 6 by all of the cards in the shoe being dealt down to the plastic cut card, usually approximately eighty hands. It has become desirable to provide side bet events or jackpot events to enhance the interest of and attractiveness to gamers. 5 U.S. Patent Nos. 6,585,586 and 6,896,614 (Romero) describe an assembly for playing a variation of the game baccarat including a computer processor, a display and a user actuatable selector. The computer processor is structured to determine a winning hand in accordance with the rules of baccarat. Additionally, the computer processor monitors the nature of the 10 winning hand and/or monitors consecutive ones of the user's hands and indicates a bonus payout for user in the event that the winning hand totals a natural nine or that consecutive ones of the user's hands have a final number count equal to a natural nine. In one variation, the user is further able to designate one of the initial cards that comprise the player's hand or the 15 banker's hand in exchange for a new card to complete the initial hand and/or may view the initial cards before selecting whether to play the banker's hand or the player's hand. U.S. Patent No. 6,345,824 (Selitzky) describes a bonus method for a base casino card game, such as Blackjack or Baccarat. Play begins with the 20 player making an ante wager and a first and second bonus wager. The player and dealer are each dealt a hand of cards, or electronic representations thereof. The player plays the player's hand to completion and is rewarded, based on the player's first bonus wager, if the player's hand includes a predetermined bonus combination. The values of the cards are then summed 25 according to the rules of the base game and the player's ante wager is 7 resolved by comparing a player's hand value with the hand value of the dealer and determining which hand is closest to a target value. Finally, the player's second bonus wager is resolved by rewarding the player, if the player has won both the base game and the first bonus wager. If the player 5 loses the base game or does not have a bonus combination, the player's second bonus wager is collected. U.S. Patent No. 5,772,211 (Nazaryan) describes a wagering card game permitting players to play against a dealer or the "house" and not against other players. Six standard decks of playing cards, from which all kings and 10 queens have been removed, are combined. Each of the numbered cards has a rank equal to its number, jacks have a number value of zero, and aces have a number value of 11. Each player places a wager as to whether a three-card game hand to be dealt to him or her will be odd or even. If a player is dealt a jack, the player loses the wager. If a player is not dealt a jack, and the 15 player's odd/even wager matches the sum of the number values of the three cards in that player's game hand, then the player wins the wager. Preferably, a single card is dealt face down to the dealer and in addition to an odd/even wager as to the player's own game hand, the player is permitted to place one or more other wagers as to a characteristic of the face down card. Further, 20 each player is permitted to place additional wagers as to another characteristic of the cards in the player's own game hand. Variations of the type of game hand dealt are also possible. There is some background art that is available, with respect to various wagering and card playing games and rules, that might also be considered in 25 appreciating the scope of the present invention, such as Publication Numbers 8 20040256802 and 20050127607 (Centrone); and U.S. Patent Number 5,615,888 (Lofink). All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety for their disclosures. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 5 According to a preferred embodiment of the invention a player plays in a baccarat game by a unique method of play. The player places a first wager in an underlying baccarat game. Prior to displaying any dealer hand cards, the game system, rules or process provides a prior trigger event on a random basis. Upon occurrence of the prior trigger event, a single dealer hand card is displayed. After 10 a player who has made the first wager sees the single dealer hand card, the player is given an option to increase the amount of the first wager on the underlying baccarat game with a second wager or continue playing with the amount of the first wager. The baccarat game is then played to conclusion and any first wager and any second wager are resolved according to ordinary 15 resolutions of baccarat wagers. Other embodiments of the invention provides the player with an opportunity to increase his or her wager after one of any of the four initial cards are viewed, such as first player card, for example. The game is playable in either live format, electronic video game format, or a hybrid live and video format. 20 According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing a game of baccarat, said method including the steps of: determining whether a random trigger event has occurred, wherein enhanced play of baccarat is enabled for the next baccarat game; receiving a first wager from a player in accordance with the normal rules of 25 baccarat prior to the display of any cards in said next game; determining whether said player is eligible for said enabled enhanced play, wherein said player is determined to be eligible if said player was a participating player at the time the random trigger event occurred; displaying at least one card to be used in at least one of an initial Player 30 hand or Bank hand; if said player is determined to be an eligible player then, following the display of said at least one card, permitting said player to place a second wager; 9 following said step of permitting said player to place a second wager, providing said baccarat game to its conclusion in accordance with the normal rules of baccarat; determining and awarding any winnings owed to said player on the basis 5 of all wagers placed by said player. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 10 A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: FIGURE 1 shows a screen shot of a baccarat game in which a single card has been disclosed from a Banker hand on the basis of a displayed 5 random bonus event. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a player plays in a standard underlying baccarat game with a unique bonus event attached thereto. The 10 player places a first wager in an underlying baccarat game on either the Player hand, the Banker hand and/or a tie event. Prior to displaying any cards, the game system, rules or process provides a prior trigger event on a random basis. Upon the random occurrence of the prior trigger event, a single card is displayed. The card may be a dealer card or a player card. In 15 a first example of the invention, the dealer card is displayed. When the random event occurs, and after a player who has made the first wager sees the single dealer hand card, the player has an option to increase the amount of the first wager (on the same wagering event, that is increasing a wager on the Player hand, increasing the wager on the Banker hand and/or increasing 20 the wager on a tie event) on the underlying baccarat game with a second wager, or continue playing with the amount of the first wager. The present invention contemplates both increasing an initial wager or making a separate second wager when the player feels the first card information favors his wager selection. Because of the underlying percentages on the Banker hand 25 wager and tie bet advantages, the Player may be allowed to place a second 11 wager on a different event than the first wager. In the first example of the invention, the player increases his wager by a mandatory multiple of 2, 3, 4 or other multiple. In this example, the player is permitted to double his original wager. The baccarat game is then played to conclusion and any first 5 wager and any second wager are resolved according to ordinary resolutions of baccarat wagers. The game is playable in either live format, electronic video game format, or a hybrid live and video format. The essential technology and rules of the baccarat bonus feature of the present technology is used with an underlying baccarat game, with all its 10 attendant and ordinary rules, except for the provision of a bonus trigger and the additional second wager allowed on the underlying baccarat game. The underlying game of baccarat is modified only with respect to the bonus event and not the underlying game itself. The game may be played in a live format, on a video gaming system, 15 or on a system that combined components of a live game and electronic components known as a hybrid system. The game may be played electronically with non-monetary credits and can be played in other formats such as gaming via the world wide web, in a wireless format and according to all known play formats. As played on a video gaming apparatus with a 20 processor, a player places a wager on the Player or Banker hand (and/or tie) in advance of the cards (here virtual cards) being provided or displayed. The processor generates a random bonus event, which may or may not be based on frequency of hand play or may be a purely random or pseudorandom event initiated by a random event or random number generator.

12 In advance of both or either of the Player hand and Banker hand being fully disclosed, an event is randomly determined as to whether or not the next game or the present game (before any disclosure of cards) will be a Bonus Feature game. It is also possible that a first Banker card may be 5 turned over and if a random symbol or event occurs after the showing of the first card, but before the second card and any other cards are disclosed, the random bonus feature may be allowed, and the player permitted to make the wager. If the hand or next hand is not a Bonus Feature event, a standard game of baccarat is played. In a preferred embodiment, if the hand or the 10 next hand is a Bonus Feature event, then in the bonus event hand, before all cards are exposed in the initial Banker hand (two cards) and Player Hand (two cards), a single Banker card is exposed. After viewing this single card, but no other cards in the initial two hands, the player is allowed to increase his original wager by a second wager on a same winning event (Player hand 15 or Banker hand), usually by a fixed amount (e.g., 1X, 2X, 3X the original first wager amount). The game of baccarat is continued according to standard rules, and the original wager and second wager are resolved according to standard baccarat rules. In other examples of the invention, the player is permitted to increase his wager or make a second wager when more 20 than one card is randomly revealed. For example, a player may be permitted to increase his wager or make a side wager on the random occurrence of two or three cards being revealed. The number of cards that are revealed upon the occurrence of the random event in one embodiment is determined on a random basis.

13 The nature of the random event can be provided in various ways depending upon the game format. Even in a fully or substantially fully live game, a random number generator can be used with a display to provide an indicator that the present hand or the next hand will be a bonus event. Such 5 a random number generator and associated display that may be modified according to the practices of the present invention are shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,275,411 (Breeding). Even dice may be used, with only certain numbers in the desired range of probabilities (e.g., a roll of 11 with a 1/18 probability, or a roll of 10 with a 1/12 probability) to determine when the 10 present hand or next hand is a bonus event. It is desirable in any such forecasting of the bonus event in a live game that only players playing in the previous game (when the bonus event was signaled) or already in the game when the signal appears can take advantage of and play in the baccarat round with the bonus event. This will prevent players from waiting around tables 15 (without playing) for the bonus event to be signaled and only then entering the game. This control would be important especially in multiple player formats such as live table games, hybrid games, VegasStar® game systems, TableMaster@ games systems, internet gaming systems and other formats in which multiple players can play the same hand. An example of a suitable 20 gaming platform is disclosed in U.S. Patent Numbers 6,607,443 and 7,128,651, and Publication Number US2005-0164759-Al. In another preferred format, the bonus feature is provided as a feature of a stand-alone video gaming machine. The gaming machine may execute a separate game of baccarat or be linked to other gaming machines that 25 participate in a common game.

14 The invention also includes an electronic computerized apparatus for playing a wagering game of baccarat. The apparatus has at least a processor, a video monitor and player input controls. The processor enables a) display and play of a game of baccarat on the apparatus, b) accepting wagers from 5 the player on the wagering game of baccarat, c) determination of random addition of a bonus event to the play of the wagering game of baccarat, wherein the bonus event comprises allowing the player after a first wager has been made on the wagering game of baccarat to see at least one card in play in the wagering game of baccarat. After seeing the at least one card, the 10 player is allowed to optionally place a second wager on the wagering game of baccarat. The processor also resolves all wagers placed on the wagering game of baccarat. The apparatus player input controls may comprise a player control that enables placing the second wager after the bonus event is offered on the apparatus. The player controls may include a designated 15 region on a touchscreen, or a button which may be used solely for placing the second wager or a button or screen area which may be used for placing the second wager and for indicating another player input. For example, there may be a single wager entry button which can be used for the first wager, and then when the bonus event is randomly activated, the same 20 button may be then used for input of the second wager. The dedicated player control may comprise a second wager increase input control and a second wager decline input control. The apparatus may have the processor default to a player decision declining the wager opportunity if no player input is received within a predetermined time.

15 The game will be illustrated in examples on a single player video game with the understanding that this example should not be considered as limiting the scope of the generic concept of the invention. 5 Example 1 A single player has entered credits in a stand-alone, single player video wagering apparatus with a processor and video monitor that is enabled with rules of play for baccarat. The Player begins play by making a wager on the banker hand, player hand or tie hand. In addition to these rules of 10 play, the processor randomly determines when a present game or a next game is to be provided with a bonus event according to the present invention. If the bonus event is made available, the player will view the first revealed player card and elect to double his/her wager or stay in the game. The processor may have a random number generator that is programmed 15 with a probability based event determiner. For example, if the device wants to provide the bonus event approximately 1/20 times the game is played, 1000 stops or events may be provided to the random number generator and 50 of the 1000 numbers (50/1000 = 1/20) will be assigned an bonus event initiating effect. By randomly selecting one stop or event with bonus event 20 initiating stops or events having a 1/20 probability, approximately 1/20 events will be a bonus event. During, before or after each game event is initiated, the random number generator selects one of the 1000 stops or events. When the bonus event initiator is not selected, a normal baccarat event is played at the 25 interval (game interval) affected by the selection process. When the bonus 16 event indicator is selected, an indication is provided to the player that an identified event (e.g., the present event or the next event) will be a bonus event baccarat game. The signal can be anything that clearly identifies the occurrence of the bonus event. The notice may be audio, visual, vibratory, 5 alphanumeric display on a screen, bulb lighting and the like. In Figure 1, a screen shot 2 for a bonus event is displayed. The backs of playing cards 4, 8 and 10 are shown and during the bonus event and the revealed Player hand card 6 is displayed as the seven of clubs. The bonus event was previously indicated by the musical notes symbols 12 and 10 accompanied by an electronic musical audio output that is broadcast so that the player is alerted to the bonus event occurrence. In the displayed game, it will be assumed that the player has made a $10.00 baccarat wager on the Player hand. The player views the displayed player card to determine if the information favors winning the baccarat wager. 15 The count of seven is a good final count and the presence of a zero card (10, J, Q or K) would cause the seven-count to remain fixed. An ace (1) or two would improve the count to 8 and 9, respectively. Cards of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 would worsen the final count. As 7 of 13 possible cards maintain or improve the present count of 7 to a final count of 7, 8 or 9, and 6 20 of 13 cards worsen the present count of 7 to the final count of less than 7, a distinct advantage is provided to the player. The player in this example elects to increase the first wager. The player uses touchscreen or button controls to enter the additional wager. After entering the additional wager or declining the additional wager, the processor proceeds to complete the 25 revelation of cards to display an initial two-card Player hand and two-card 17 Banker hand. The processor then completes Player and Banker hands according to the rules of baccarat embedded in the processor and executed by game logic or game processing capability in the system. If the Player hand count is higher than the Banker hand count, according to the 5 conventional rules of baccarat, the player wins both the first wager and the additional wager. If the counts of the Player hand and Banker hand are equal, both wagers push. If the Player hand count is lower than the Banker hand count, according to the conventional rules of baccarat, the player loses both the first wager and the additional wager. 10 Example 2 In Figure 1, a screen shot 2 for a bonus event is displayed. The backs of playing cards 4, 8 and 10 are shown and during the bonus event and the revealed Banker hand card 6 is displayed as the seven of clubs. The bonus 15 event was previously indicated by the musical notes symbols 12 and accompanied by an electronic musical audio output that is broadcast so that the player is alerted to the bonus event occurrence. In the displayed game, it will be assumed that the player has made a $10.00 baccarat wager on the Player hand. The player views the displayed banker card to determine if the 20 information favors winning the baccarat wager. The count of seven is a good final count for the banker hand, and the presence of a zero card (10, J, Q or K) would cause the seven-count to remain fixed. An ace (1) or two would improve the count to 8 and 9 respectively. Cards of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 would worsen the final count. As 7 of 13 possible cards maintain or 25 improve the present count of 7 to a final count of 7, 8 or 9 and 6 of 13 cards 18 worsen the present count of 7 to the final count less than 7, a distinct advantage is provided to the Banker hand. It is likely that the player would elect not to increase the first wager. The player would use touchscreen or button controls to indicate that the player would not enter the additional 5 wager. After not entering the additional wager or declining the additional wager, the processor proceeds to complete the revelation of cards to display an initial two-card Player hand and two-card Banker hand. The processor may automatically default to not increasing the initial wager if there is no active decision (yes additional wager or no additional wager) is made by the 10 player within a predetermined time period, such as 10, 15 or 20 seconds after the indication has been given that a bonus option is available. The processor then completes the Player and Banker hands according to the rules of baccarat embedded in the processor and executed by game logic or game processing capability in the system. If the Player hand count is higher than 15 the Banker hand count according to the conventional rules of baccarat, the player wins on the first wager. If the counts of the Player hand and Banker hand are equal, the baccarat wager pushes. If the Player hand count is lower than the Banker hand count according to the conventional rules of baccarat, the player loses the baccarat wager. 20 There are some variations that can be accepted as within the scope of the present technology as variations and alternatives within the skill of the artisan. For example, the player may be allowed to make tie wagers or increase tie wagers after seeing the first card. Other variants are contemplated. The amount of the additional wager 25 may be restricted to multiples of existing wagers (e.g., IX or 2X or 3X an 19 existing wager). The additional wager may be applied to either the Player hand or Banker hand, without regard to what hand the initial baccarat wager was applied. It is also possible for a player to place a side bet in exchange for 5 allowing the bonus event to occur. This amount may be a wager, or may be a commission that is kept by the house without respect to game outcome. The amount of commission or the fixed price (relative to the maximum additional wager allowed) would be set at a level that would assure a house advantage on the event, in spite of the apparent advantage provided to the 10 player by allowing a player to see one or more Banker cards (or Player cards) before making the additional wager. It is also possible to allow the player to see one or more cards from each hand to be viewed. There are hundreds of available computer languages that may be used to implement embodiments of the invention, among the more common being 15 Ada; Algol; APL; awk; Basic; C; C++; Cobol; Delphi; Eiffel; Euphoria; Forth; Fortran; HTML; Icon; Java; Javascript; Lisp; Logo; Mathematica; MatLab; Miranda; Modula-2; Oberon; Pascal; Perl; PL/I; Prolog; Python; Rexx; SAS; Scheme; sed; Simula; Smalltalk; Snobol; SQL; Visual Basic; Visual C++; and XML. 20 Any commercial processor may be used to implement the embodiments of the invention either as a single processor, serial or parallel set of processors in the system. Examples of commercial processors include, but are not limited to MercedTM, PentiumTM, Pentium IITM, XeonTM, CeleronTM, Pentium ProTM, EfficeonTM, Athlon, AMD and the like.

20 Display screens may be segment display screen, analogue display screens, digital display screens, CRTs, LED screens, Plasma screens, liquid crystal diode screens, and the like. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific 5 examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms. Comprises/comprising and grammatical variations thereof when used in this specification are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof, but do not preclude the 10 presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims (14)

1. A method of providing a game of baccarat, said method including the steps of: determining whether a random trigger event has occurred, wherein 5 enhanced play of baccarat is enabled for the next baccarat game; receiving a first wager from a player in accordance with the normal rules of baccarat prior to the display of any cards in said next game; determining whether said player is eligible for said enabled enhanced play, wherein said player is determined to be eligible if said player was a participating 10 player at the time the random trigger event occurred; displaying at least one card to be used in at least one of an initial Player hand or Bank hand; if said player is determined to be an eligible player then, following the display of said at least one card, permitting said player to place a second wager; 15 following said step of permitting said player to place a second wager, providing said baccarat game to its conclusion in accordance with the normal rules of baccarat; determining and awarding any winnings owed to said player on the basis of all wagers placed by said player. 20

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said random trigger event occurs on the basis of hand play frequency by a player over the course of previous games.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said random trigger event is a predetermined event or sequence of events occurring in one or more previous 25 games.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one card is a single card dedicated to the Banker hand.

5. The method according to any one of claim 1 to 3, wherein said at least one card is a single card dedicated to the Player hand. 22

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second wager is limited to a whole number multiple of said first wager.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said second wager is limited to being equal to said first wager. 5

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second wager is restricted to being placed on a same game outcome as said first wager.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said player is alerted as to whether said player is eligible for said enabled enhanced 10 play prior to said player placing a first wager.

10. An electronic apparatus for providing a game of baccarat, said apparatus including: a video monitor; player input controls; and 15 a game processor enabled to provide the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said player input controls includes a touchscreen.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said player input controls 20 includes a button dedicated only to the placement of said second wager.

13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein said player input controls includes means for allowing said player to decline placing a second wager.

14. The apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein said 25 processor defaults to consider that no second wager has been placed by said 23 player in the event that no player input is received within a predetermined period of time. STARGAMES CORPORATION PTY LIMITED WATERMARK PATENT & TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS P31159AU00