Electronic gaming system for awarding multiple of wager and method of use

1. An electronic gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, the electronic gaming machine comprising:

a player interface configured to receive a wager for a round of the wagering game;

a meter configured to record a wager amount for the round;

a game display configured to display a matrix of symbols; and

a game controller coupled to the meter and the game display, the game controller configured to:

conduct the round of the wagering game, including selecting the matrix of symbols,

detect a trigger symbol among the matrix of symbols, the trigger symbol corresponding to a multiplier feature, which defines a value by which an award to a player is multiplied, and

independent of any win condition, award a multiple of the wager amount according to the multiplier feature.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the game controller is further configured to:

detect a win condition among the matrix of symbols, the win condition corresponding to a win amount; and

award a multiple of the win amount according to the multiplier feature.

3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 2 , wherein the game controller is further configured, in detecting the win condition, to detect a plurality of symbols, among the matrix of symbols, displayed along a win-line.

4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 2 , wherein the game controller is further configured to multiply the win amount by a scalar value defined by the multiplier feature.

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 4 , wherein the game controller is further configured to award a multiple of a subsequent win amount according to the multiplier feature.

6. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the game controller is further configured to multiply the wager amount by a scalar value defined by the multiplier feature.

7. The electronic gaming machine of claim 6 further comprising a random number generator configured to generate a random number, and wherein the game controller is further configured to compute the scalar value according to the random number.

8. A method of conducting a wagering game on an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising:

receiving a wager through a player interface for a round of the wagering game;

recording a wager amount for the round in a meter;

displaying a matrix of symbols on a game display, wherein the matrix of symbols includes a trigger symbol corresponding to a multiplier feature, which defines a value by which an award to a player is multiplied;

detecting the trigger symbol; and

independent of any win condition, awarding a multiple of the wager amount according to the multiplier feature.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

detecting a win condition among the matrix of symbols, the win condition corresponding to a win amount; and

awarding a multiple of the win amount according to the multiplier feature.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting the win condition comprises detecting a plurality of symbols, among the matrix of symbols, displayed along a win-line.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising multiplying the win amount by a scalar value defined by the multiplier feature.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising awarding a multiple of a subsequent win amount according to the multiplier feature.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein awarding the multiple of the wager amount comprises multiplying the wager amount by a scalar value defined by the multiplier feature.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

generating, by a random number generator, a random number; and

computing the scalar value according to the random number.

15. A gaming system, comprising:

a server coupled to a network, the server configured to transmit a definition of a first bonus feature and a definition of a second bonus feature onto the network;

a first electronic gaming machine configured to conduct a first wagering game, the first electronic gaming machine coupled to the network and further configured to:

receive the definition of the first bonus feature of a minimum bonus award based on a wager amount,

receive a first wager for a round of the first wagering game, during which the first bonus feature is triggered, and

independent of any win condition, compute a first minimum bonus award according to an amount of the first wager and the first bonus feature; and

a second electronic gaming machine configured to conduct a second wagering game, the second electronic gaming machine coupled to the network and further configured to:

receive the definition of the second bonus feature of a minimum bonus award based on a wager amount,

receive a second wager for a round of the second wagering game, during which the second bonus feature is triggered, and

independent of any win condition, compute a second minimum bonus award according to an amount of the second wager and the second bonus feature.

16. The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the server is further configured to include a scalar value in the definition of the first bonus feature.

17. The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the first electronic gaming machine comprises a game controller configured to compute the first minimum bonus award as a product of the amount wagered and the scalar value in the definition of the first bonus feature.

18. The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the server is further configured to include a scalar value in the definition of the second bonus feature.

19. The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the first electronic gaming machine is further configured to:

determine a win amount for the round of the first wagering game; and

award a multiple of the win amount according to the first bonus feature.

20. The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the first electronic gaming machine is further configured to determine the multiple of the win amount for the round of the first wagering game is less than the wager amount.