Distributed side wagering methods and systems

A casino side wagering system comprising:

• at least one memory device;
• at least one interface operable to provide a communication link to at least another network device in a gaming network of a casino, said gaming network including a plurality of wager-based gaming devices including a first wager-based gaming device;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• (a) receive, from a first player at one of:
• a first gaming machine and a first gaming table, a first side wager request to place a first side wager relating to game play activities of a second, different player at one of:
• a second, different gaming machine and a second, different gaming table, wherein:
• (i) the first player is playing a first game,
• (ii) the second player is playing a second, different game,
• (iii) the first game is independent of the second game,
• (iv) the first gaming machine includes:
• (A) a first gaming machine acceptor of a first physical item, wherein when the first physical item is received via the first gaming machine acceptor a first gaming machine credit balance is established based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received first physical item, and
• (B) a first gaming device cashout device, wherein when a cashout input is received via the first gaming machine cashout device, an initiation of any payout associated with the first gaming machine credit balance is caused, and
• (v) the second gaming machine includes:
• (A) a second gaming machine acceptor of a second physical item, wherein when the second physical item is received via the second gaming machine acceptor a second gaming machine credit balance is established based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received second physical item, and
• (B) a second gaming device cashout device, wherein when a cashout input is received via the second gaming machine cashout device, an initiation of any payout associated with the second gaming machine credit balance is caused;
• (b) determine an identity of the first player associated with the first side wager request;
• and
• (c) in response to receipt of the first side wager request:
• (i) initiate a search for one or more available side wagering opportunities at a target, wherein the one or more available side wagering opportunities are filtered based on one or more criteria specified by the identified first player;
• (ii) automatically determine the one or more available side wagering opportunities to be presented to the identified first player;
• and
• (iii) automatically initiate a first side wager session, wherein the initiation of the first side wager session includes:
• (A) automatically placing the first side wager in the gaming network, wherein:
• (I) the placed first side wager includes first side wager criteria,
• (II) the placed first side wager is on a game play-related event associated with the second player, and
• (III) an outcome of the game play-related event is influenced by an action of the second player;
• and
• (B) associating the placed first side wager with the identified first player.