Variably bound secondary or bonus game play for games of chance
View Patent ↗The present invention provides new player excitement during the play of a game of chance by providing a controlled random event during the execution of a secondary or bonus round. When bonus game play is invoked during play of the primary game, an amount to be issued during secondary game play is generated. This amount is not awarded directly; instead a plurality of possible winnings is available, each equal to or less than the amount to be issued. A random event separate from the primary game is used to pick one of the plurality of possible winnings which is awarded to a player. The separate random event may be a mechanical event or an electronic event. The difference between the amount given to a player and the original amount to be issued may be used to generate further bonus game play, or may be used to fund a progressive.
1. A gaming system, comprising:
a primary game;
a secondary game that includes a plurality of outcomes, wherein the secondary game is initiated in response to a predetermined event occurring in the primary game, and wherein the secondary game is a wheel game that includes a means for restricting the plurality of outcomes of the wheel to a subset of outcomes;
means for generating a potential award and an actual award for the secondary game;
means for presenting a secondary game outcome corresponding to the actual award;
means for applying any non-zero remainder credits to a future game outcome or a progressive jackpot, wherein the remainder credit is a difference between the potential award amount and the actual award; and
means for issuing payouts for the primary game and the secondary game.
2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the means for restricting the plurality of outcomes is a physical barrier provided on a wheel of the wheel game.
3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the primary game and secondary game are housed in separate gaming devices.
4. The gaming system of claim 3 , wherein the primary game and the secondary game are in wired communication, wireless communication, or via an instrument bearing communication that is a ticket, magnetic strip card, or smart card.
5. The gaming system of claim 3 , wherein a plurality of the primary game devices are in communication with a single gaming device housing the secondary game.
6. A method for managing a secondary game having a variably-bound, secondary game outcome, the method comprising:
presenting a primary game;
initiating a secondary game having a plurality of outcomes in response to a triggering event occurring during game play of the primary game, wherein the secondary game is a wheel game that includes a means for restricting the plurality of outcomes of the wheel to a subset of outcomes;
generating a potential award amount for the secondary game, wherein the potential award amount defines a maximum value of an actual award issued to a player;
randomly generating the actual award for the secondary game, wherein the actual award is a value less than or equal to the potential award amount;
presenting a secondary game outcome that corresponds to the actual award;
determining whether a remainder credit exists, wherein the remainder credit is a difference between the potential award amount and the actual award; and
if the remainder credit is greater than zero, applying the remainder credit to a progressive jackpot, a future payout of the primary or secondary game, or a supplemental bonus payout at the end of the secondary game.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the potential award amount for the secondary game is generated by the primary game.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the potential award amount for the secondary game is generated by the secondary game.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising continuing to present the secondary game until the remainder credit is zero.
10. A gaming system, comprising:
a primary game;
a secondary wheel game including a plurality of outcomes, wherein the secondary wheel game is initiated in response to a predetermined event occurring in the primary game;
means for generating an upper limit for an award for the secondary wheel game;
means for presenting a secondary wheel game outcome;
means for restricting the plurality of outcomes of the secondary wheel game to a subset of outcomes;
means for applying any non-zero remainder credits to a future game outcome or a progressive jackpot, wherein the remainder credit is a difference between the upper limit for the award and the secondary wheel game outcome; and
means for issuing payouts for the primary game and the secondary game.
11. The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the means for restricting the plurality of outcomes is a physical barrier provided on the wheel of the secondary wheel game.
12. The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the primary game and secondary wheel game are housed in separate gaming devices.
13. The gaming system of claim 12 , wherein the primary game and the secondary wheel game are in wired communication, wireless communication, or via an instrument bearing communication that is a ticket, magnetic strip card, or smart card.
14. The gaming system of claim 12 , wherein a plurality of the primary game devices are in communication with a single gaming device housing the secondary game.