Gaming machine having an enhanced game play scheme
View Patent ↗A gaming machine having an enhanced game play scheme is provided where, in response to receipt of a second wager to select an option, a player is provided with enhanced game play. Enhanced game play may include (1) providing more frequent bonus game play, (2) providing a larger bonus game value payout, (3) providing more frequent bonus game play and providing a larger bonus game value payout, (4) providing a larger or multiplied game value payout, (5) providing a guaranteed value payout for a non-winning outcome, (6) providing game features (7) providing a larger game value payout based on a partial game outcome, (8) providing an extra wild symbol capable of repositioning, and (9) providing a possibility of an additional reel movement to reposition an extra reel symbol or (10) providing a possibility of an extra pay line to include an extra reel symbol to increase a value payout.
1. A gaming machine for playing a wagering game including a base game and a bonus game, the gaming machine comprising:
a display for displaying the wagering game; and
a controller coupled to the display and operative to
detect a first wager placed on winning outcomes of the wagering game;
detect a second wager enabling enhanced game play if a bonus-triggering event occurs during the wagering game, wherein the enhanced game play includes increasing the expected value of payouts associated with the bonus game initiated by the bonus-triggering event;
in response to the bonus-triggering event occurring during the wagering game in which the second wager is placed, initiate and conduct the bonus game including the increased expected value of payouts; and
award a payout for any of the winning outcomes of the wagering game.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein rules of the bonus game are different from rules of the base game.
3. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the bonus-triggering event is an occurrence of at least one selected symbol via the display during the wagering game.
4. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller increases the expected value of payouts associated with the bonus game by decreasing the likelihood of an occurrence of a bonus game terminating event.
5. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the wagering game includes a symbol array comprised of a plurality of spin-able, symbol-bearing reels in visual association with designated pay lines.
6. The gaming machine of claim 5 , wherein the controller increases the expected value of payouts associated with the bonus game by increasing a number of free reel spins awarded during the bonus game.
7. The gaming machine of claim 5 , wherein the controller increases the expected value of payouts associated with the bonus game by designating an extra pay line on the symbol array.
8. The gaming machine of claim 5 , wherein the controller increases the expected value of payouts associated with the bonus game by repositioning a symbol in the symbol array to display a winning symbol combination during the bonus game.
9. The gaming machine of claim 5 , wherein the controller increases the expected value of payouts associated with the bonus game by activating a wild symbol that can substitute for another symbol in the symbol array to display a winning symbol combination during the bonus game.
10. A gaming system comprising:
an input device configured to detect wagers from a player;
a display configured to display images associated with a wagering game, the wagering game including a base game and a bonus game; and
a controller operatively coupled to the input device and the display, the controller operative to
detect, via the input device, a first wager placed on winning outcomes of the wagering game;
detect, via the input device, a second wager enabling enhanced game play if a bonus-triggering event occurs during the wagering game, wherein the enhanced game play includes increasing the expected value of payouts associated with the bonus game initiated by the bonus-triggering event;
in response to the bonus-triggering event occurring during the wagering game in which the second wager is placed, initiate and conduct the bonus game including the increased expected value of payouts; and
award a payout for any of the winning outcomes in the wagering game.
11. The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the controller increases the expected value of payouts associated with the bonus game by decreasing the likelihood of an occurrence of a bonus game terminating event.
12. The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein rules of the bonus game are different from rules of the base game.
13. The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the bonus-triggering event is an occurrence of at least one selected symbol displayed during the wagering game.
14. A gaming system for playing a wagering game, the wagering game including a base game according to base game rules and a bonus game according to bonus game rules, the bonus game rules being different from the base game rules, the bonus game being initiated by a bonus-triggering event during the base game, the gaming system comprising:
an input device adapted to detect wagers and other gaming decisions by a player;
a display adapted to display images associated with the wagering game; and
a controller coupled to the input device and the display, the controller operative to
detect, via the input device, a first wager from the player on a play of the wagering game;
allow the player to place a second wager enabling enhanced game play that increases the expected value of payouts of the bonus game;
in response to the bonus-triggering event occurring during the play of the wagering game in which the second wager is not placed, initiate and conduct the bonus game with a first expected value of payouts; and
in response to the bonus-triggering event occurring during the play of the wagering game in which the second wager is placed, initiate and conduct the bonus game with a second expected value of payouts, the second expected value of payouts being greater than the first expected value of payouts.
15. The gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the controller increases the expected value of payouts associated with the bonus game by decreasing the likelihood of an occurrence of a bonus game terminating event.
16. The gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the bonus-triggering event is an occurrence of at least one selected symbol via the display during the wagering game.
17. A method of conducting a wagering game via a gaming machine, the wagering game including a base game and a bonus game, the bonus game being initiated by a bonus-triggering event during the base game, the method comprising:
detecting, via an input device, a first wager by a player on a play of the wagering game;
allowing the player to place a second wager, via the input device, enabling enhanced game play that increases the expected value of payouts of the bonus game;
in response to the bonus-triggering event occurring during the play of the wagering game in which the second wager is not placed, using a controller to initiate and conduct the bonus game with a first expected value of payouts;
in response to the bonus-triggering event occurring during the play of the wagering game in which the second wager is placed, using the controller to initiate and conduct the bonus game with a second expected value of payouts, the second expected value of payouts being greater than the first expected value of payouts; and
displaying the wagering game via a display device.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein rules of the bonus game are different from rules of the base game.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the bonus-triggering event is an occurrence of at least one selected symbol via the display device during the wagering game.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second expected value of payouts is greater than the first expected value of payouts as a result of a decrease in likelihood of an occurrence of a bonus game terminating event.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the wagering game includes a symbol array comprised of a plurality of spin-able, symbol-bearing reels in visual association with designated pay lines.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second expected value of payouts is greater than the first expected value of payouts as a result of an increase in a number of free reel spins awarded during the bonus game.
23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second expected value of payouts is greater than the first expected value of payouts as a result of designating an extra pay line on the symbol array.
24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second expected value of payouts is greater than the first expected value of payouts as a result of repositioning a symbol in the symbol array to display a winning symbol combination during the bonus game.
25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second expected value of payouts is greater than the first expected value of payouts as a result of activating a wild symbol that can substitute for another symbol in the symbol array to display a winning symbol combination during the bonus game.
26. One or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a set of one or more processors causes the set of one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
detecting, via an input device, a first wager from the player on a play of a wagering game, the wagering game including a base game and a bonus game, the bonus game being initiated by a bonus-triggering event during the base game;
allowing the player to place a second wager enabling enhanced game play that increases the expected value of payouts of the bonus game;
in response to the bonus-triggering event occurring during the play of the wagering game in which the second wager is not placed, initiating and conducting the bonus game with a first expected value of payouts; and
in response to the bonus-triggering event occurring during the play of the wagering game in which the second wager is placed, initiating and conducting the bonus game with a second expected value of payouts, the second expected value of payouts being greater than the first expected value of payouts.