Gaming apparatus and method having a separate but simultaneously operating bonus indicator
View Patent ↗A gaming machine and method comprising a primary game with a plurality of gaming symbols and a separate bonus indicator. Operation of the bonus indicator is automatically initiated upon commencement of the primary game and play of the bonus indicator is of approximately the same duration as play of the primary game. The outcome of the bonus indicator may be entirely independent of the outcome of the primary game. A positive outcome on the bonus indicator may yield either a prize for the player or an opportunity to play a bonus round game. In its preferred embodiment, the invention includes a five-reel slot game as the primary game and a single-reel slot game as the bonus indicator.
1. A gaming apparatus, comprising:
a primary game operable upon initiation to provide a plurality of symbols as a primary game outcome, said primary game having (i) a bonus feature, (ii) a first set of symbols for determining said primary game outcome, and (iii) a primary game award based on said primary game outcome; and
a bonus indicator separate from and non-identical to said primary game, said bonus indicator(i) having a second set of symbols from which at least one symbol is provided as an indicator outcome for determining an awarding of said bonus feature of said primary game upon a predetermined indicator outcome, (ii) activatable automatically upon initiation of said primary game, (iii) arranged to operate substantially simultaneously with the operation of said primary game and for approximately the same duration as said primary game, and (iv) arranged to indicate, independent of any outcome of the primary game, a predetermined result as to whether a player is entitled to play a bonus round of at least one additional game so as to accumulate winnings in addition to a said primary game award.
2. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said primary game contains a plurality of reels, each of which is capable of displaying a portion of the first set of symbols and wherein said primary game award is awarded when a predetermined combination of the displayed portion of the first set of symbols is achieved.
3. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said bonus indicator is a roulette type wheel.
4. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said bonus indicator is one or more reels.
5. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said primary game contains a plurality of reels, each of which is capable of displaying a portion of the first set of symbols, wherein said primary game award is won when a predetermined combination of the displayed portion of the first set of symbols is achieved, and wherein said bonus indicator is a roulette type wheel.
6. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said primary game contains a plurality of reels, each of which is capable of displaying a portion of the first set of symbols, wherein said primary game award is won when a predetermined combination of the displayed portion of the first set of symbols is achieved, and wherein said bonus indicator is at least one reel.
7. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is connected to an overall casino management system which monitors and controls said apparatus.
8. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is linked to one or more other gaming apparatuses to create a bank of hyperlinked gaming apparatuses.
9. A method of gaming for use with a gaming machine, the method comprising:
wagering credit in a primary game having a bonus feature;
initiating said primary game, said initiating including displaying said primary game including a portion of a first set of symbols;
determining a primary game award based on the portion of the first set of symbols; and
automatically initiating the operation of a separate bonus indicator when said primary game is initiated;
displaying said bonus indicator including displaying of at least one of a second set of symbols, said displaying including providing a predetermined result;
awarding said bonus feature based on said second set of symbols;
operating said separate bonus indicator substantially simultaneously with said primary game;
running said bonus indicator for approximately the same duration as said primary game; and
indicating said predetermined result as to whether a player is entitled to said bonus feature of said primary game.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said primary game contains a plurality of reels, each of which is capable of displaying a portion of the first set of symbols and wherein said primary game award is won when a predetermined combination of the displayed portion of the first set of symbols is achieved.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said bonus indicator is a roulette type wheel.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein said bonus indicator is one or more reels.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein said primary game contains a plurality of reels, each of which is capable of displaying a portion of the first set of symbols, wherein said primary game award is won when a predetermined combination of the displayed portion of the first set of symbols is achieved, and wherein said bonus indicator is a roulette type wheel.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein said primary game contains a plurality of reels, each of which is capable of displaying a portion of the first set of symbols, wherein said primary game award is won when a predetermined combination of the displayed portion of the first set of symbols is achieved, and wherein said bonus indicator is at least one reel.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein said gaming machine is connectable to an overall casino management system which monitors and controls said gaming machine.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein said gaming machine is linkable to one or more other gaming machines to create a bank of hyperlinked gaming machines.
17. A gaming apparatus, comprising:
a display;
a primary game having a bonus feature, said primary game configured to operate to produce at said display a winning primary game outcome; and
a bonus indicator for indicating a predetermined result as to whether a player is entitled to play a bonus round of at least one additional game so as to accumulate winnings in addition to a winning of said primary game, and being (i) enabled automatically upon initiation of said primary game, (ii) arranged to operate substantially simultaneously with said primary game, and (iii) displayed separately from said primary game outcome at said display.