GAMING DEVICE HAVING INCREASED AWARD FREQUENCY
Embodiments of this invention are directed to gaming devices having increased award frequency and methods of operating gaming systems and gaming devices to provide more frequent awards. These more frequent awards, or secondary awards, may be provided on gaming devices or systems with multiple gaming devices to keep player interest and involvement high. The secondary awards are arranged to have a fairly common or easily achievable triggering criterion or condition and can include awards ranging from non-cashable credits to casino service comps to prize money.
1 . A method of operating a gaming device, the method comprising:
determining a game outcome on the gaming device responsive to a game initiating event;
providing an award associated with a winning outcome when it is determined that the game outcome is a winning outcome; and
providing a secondary prize when it is determined that the game outcome is a near-miss outcome meeting a predefined criterion.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the secondary prize is non-cashable credits.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the secondary prize is a free game.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the secondary prize is a re-spin of a game reel.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the gaming device receives a player input in determining which reel to re-spin.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the gaming device automatically selects a reel to respin.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the gaming device automatically re-spins a reel having a stopped location that prevents a winning combination of game symbols from aligning on a payline.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined criterion is a defined sub-set of possible near-miss outcomes.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the defined subset of possible near-miss outcomes includes those near-miss outcomes associated with winning outcomes having an award value greater than a predefined value.
10 . A method of operating a gaming device, the method comprising:
determining a game outcome on the gaming device responsive to a game initiating event;
determining whether the game outcome is a winning game outcome associated with an award;
determining whether the game outcome is a near-miss game outcome;
providing the award associated with a winning outcome when it is determined that the game outcome is a winning outcome; and
providing a secondary prize when it is determined that the game outcome is a near-miss outcome.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining whether the near-miss game outcome meets a predefined criterion when it is determined that the game outcome is a near-miss game outcome, wherein providing a secondary prize when it is determined that the game outcome is a near-miss outcome includes providing the secondary prize only if the near-miss game outcome is determined to meet the predefined criterion.
12 . A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming devices; and
a bonus controller connected to the plurality of gaming devices through a network, the bonus controller configured to award a secondary bonus to a winning one of the gaming devices responsive to the winning gaming device achieving a near-miss gaming outcome meeting a predefined criterion.
13 . The gaming system of claim 12 , wherein the predefined criterion is a defined sub-set of possible near-miss outcomes.
14 . The gaming system of claim 13 wherein the defined subset of possible near-miss outcomes includes those near-miss outcomes associated with winning outcomes having an award value greater than a predefined value.
15 . The gaming system of claim 12 , further comprising a common bonus display connected to the bonus controller.
16 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the common bonus display shows a numerical value awarded to the winning gaming device.
17 . The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the numerical value is an amount of non-cashable credits provided to the winning gaming device.
18 . The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the numerical value is incremented during game play of the gaming devices.
19 . The gaming system of claim 12 , wherein the bonus controller includes at least two different types of secondary bonus games that may be selected for implementation on the gaming system by a casino operator.
20 . The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the bonus controller may be configured to automatically implement one of the secondary bonus games in response to triggering condition.