Gaming system having dynamic payback percentage as a function of enabled features
View Patent ↗A method of operating a wagering game comprises detecting receipt of a primary wager for playing a primary wagering game, and activating a first bonus feature in response to one or more first eligibility criteria, the first bonus feature having a first bonus payback percentage. The method further comprises activating a second bonus feature in response to one or more second eligibility criteria, the one or more second eligibility criteria including activation of the first bonus feature. The second bonus feature has a second bonus payback percentage higher than the first bonus payback percentage. The method further comprises displaying a randomly selected outcome of the primary wagering game, and in response to at least one triggering event associated with the first and the second bonus features, conducting the first or second bonus feature if the first and second bonus feature is active.
1. A method of operating a gaming system comprising:
receiving, via an input device, a primary wager for playing a primary wagering game;
displaying, on one or more display devices, a plurality of bonus feature elements;
activating a first bonus feature in response to a first player selection of a first one of the bonus feature elements and one or more first eligibility criteria being satisfied, the first bonus feature having a first bonus payback percentage;
activating a second bonus feature in response to a second player selection of a second one of the bonus feature elements and one or more second eligibility criteria being satisfied, the one or more second eligibility criteria including activation of the first bonus feature, the second bonus feature having a second bonus payback percentage higher than the first bonus payback percentage;
displaying, on the one or more display devices, a randomly selected outcome of the primary wagering game; and
in response to at least one triggering event associated with the first and the second bonus features, conducting the first or second bonus feature if the first and second bonus feature is active.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one triggering event is two triggering events, a first triggering event being associated with the first bonus feature, the first bonus feature being conducted if the first bonus feature is active, and a second triggering event being associated with the second bonus feature, the second bonus feature being conducted if the second bonus feature is active.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to the at least one triggering event, selecting one of the first or second bonus feature, the selected bonus feature being conducted in response to the selection.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one triggering event is a mystery trigger.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary wagering game has a primary payback percentage, the first bonus payback percentage being greater than the primary payback percentage.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first eligibility criterion comprises the primary wager being a maximum wager.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein activation of the first bonus feature further includes receiving a first bonus wager and activation of the second bonus feature further includes receiving a second bonus wager.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein a first portion of the first bonus wager and a second portion of the second bonus wager are allocated to fund a secondary bonus event.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a probability of winning an award in the secondary bonus event is increased upon activation of the second bonus feature.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the secondary bonus event is only provided in response to the receipt of at least two bonus wagers.
11. A method of operating a gaming system comprising:
receiving, via an input device, a primary wager for playing a primary wagering game;
activating a first bonus feature in response to a first eligibility criterion being satisfied and a first selection input;
activating a second bonus feature in response to a second eligibility criterion being satisfied and a second selection input;
displaying, on one or more display devices, a randomly selected outcome of the primary wagering game;
in response to a first triggering event associated with the first bonus feature, conducting the first bonus feature if the first bonus feature is active; and
in response to a second triggering event associated with the second bonus feature, conducting the second bonus feature if the second bonus feature is active;
wherein an aggregate payback percentage of the wagering game increases upon activation of the first bonus feature and further increases upon activation of the second bonus feature.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein a primary payback percentage is associated with the primary wagering game, a first bonus payback percentage is associated with the first bonus feature, and a second bonus payback percentage is associated with the second bonus feature, both the first bonus payback percentage and the second bonus payback percentage being greater than the primary payback percentage.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first bonus payback percentage and the second bonus payback percentage are substantially equal.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the aggregate payback percentage is a function of the primary payback percentage, the first bonus payback percentage, and the second bonus payback percentage.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second eligibility criterion is the activating of the first bonus feature.
16. A method of operating a gaming system comprising:
receiving, via an input device, a primary wager for playing a primary wagering game;
displaying, on one or more display devices, a plurality of bonus feature elements;
activating a first bonus feature in response to a first eligibility criterion being satisfied and a first player input selection of a first one of the bonus feature elements, the first bonus feature having a first bonus payback percentage;
activating a second bonus feature in response to a second eligibility criterion being satisfied and a second player input selection of a second one of the bonus feature elements, the second bonus feature having a second bonus payback percentage, the second bonus payback percentage being higher than the first bonus payback percentage;
displaying, on the one or more display devices, a randomly selected outcome of the primary wagering game;
in response to a first triggering event, selecting either the first bonus feature or the second bonus feature;
in response to the selection of the first or second bonus feature, conducting the selected bonus feature; and
in response to a second triggering event, conducting the other bonus feature;
wherein an aggregate payback percentage of the wagering game increases upon activation of the first bonus feature and further increases upon activation of the second bonus feature.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first eligibility criterion comprises the primary wager being a maximum wager.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second eligibility criterion is the activating of the first bonus feature.
19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising displaying, on the one or more display devices, a feature menu including a plurality of player selectable bonus features, the plurality of player selectable bonus features including the first bonus feature and the second bonus feature.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the aggregate payback percentage of the wagering game is variable from play-to-play based at least in part on the player input selections of the plurality of bonus feature elements.