MEANS FOR ENHANCING GAME PLAY OF GAMING DEVICE
Embodiments of the present concept provide gaming devices and gaming systems that are configured to implement means for enhancing game play. Here, various embodiments of this concept use game insertion techniques to enhance the game play experience for players. These game insertion techniques include placing bonus spins, free games, or other incentives within traditional game play. In one model, a gaming device may use a bonus spin routine to replace a losing game outcome with a winning game outcome. Here, the player may be shown the initial losing game outcome and then be notified that a bonus spin has been awarded, which ultimately results in the winning game outcome.
1 . A method of operating a gaming device having a plurality of spinning reels, the method comprising:
receiving a game initiating input;
spinning the game reels to initiate a gaming event in response to the received game initiating input;
ascertaining if the gaming event is associated with a bonus spin;
stopping the spinning reels to display a game outcome when the gaming event is not associated with a bonus spin; and
executing a bonus spin routine when the gaming event is associated with a bonus spin, the bonus spin routine including:
stopping the spinning reels to display a preliminary game outcome,
displaying a notification to the player that a bonus spin has been awarded,
receiving an input to respin the reels, and
spinning and stopping the reels to show a bonus spin outcome.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving an input to respin the reels include receiving an input from a player to respin the reels.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving an input to respin the reels include receiving a signal that the preliminary game outcome has been displayed for a predefined amount of time.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein ascertaining if the gaming event is associated with a bonus spin includes:
determining if a selected game outcome is a losing game outcome; and
indicating that the gaming event is not associated with a bonus spin when a selected game outcome is determined to not be a losing game outcome.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein ascertaining if the gaming event is associated with a bonus spin further includes:
selecting a bonus spin value; and
indicating that the gaming event is not associated with a bonus spin when the selected bonus spin value does not meet a predefined criterion.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein ascertaining if the gaming event is associated with a bonus spin further includes indicating that the gaming event is associated with a bonus spin when the selected game outcome is determined to be a losing game outcome and when the selected bonus spin value does meet the predefined criterion.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting a winning outcome as a bonus spin outcome when a gaming event is associated with a bonus spin.
8 . A method of operating a video poker gaming device, the method comprising:
receiving a game initiating input to wager on a gaming event;
dealing an initial hand of cards;
receiving one or more player inputs to hold cards and draw cards;
ascertaining if the gaming event is associated with a bonus spin;
displaying a final hand when the gaming event is not associated with a bonus spin; and
executing a bonus spin routine when the gaming event is associated with a bonus spin, the bonus spin routine including:
selecting draw cards to make a final hand a winning hand, and
displaying a final hand with the selected draw cards.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
selecting draw cards for any cards not held by the player when an input is received to draw cards;
determining if a final hand with the selected draw cards is a winning hand; and
indicating that the gaming event is not associated with a bonus spin when the final hand with the selected draw cards is determined to be a winning hand.
10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising indicating that the gaming event is not associated with a bonus spin when a player holds all of the cards in the initial hand.