Gaming machine bonus

摘要

A bonus game having multiple levels of play includes credit-based and jackpot awards at one or more of the levels. The jackpot awards remain at a constant value regardless of the wager made. The expected return at the jackpot award level is generally held constant despite varying wagers through the use of a feature that provides for early termination of the bonus game at one or more levels played prior to that of jackpot award level. A reduced probability of reaching the jackpot award compensates for increased wagers and maintains the expected return constant or increasing with wager.

主权项

1. A gaming device comprising:
(a) an input module for receiving a wager requisite for playing a game of chance having a plurality of selectable paylines; (b) a processor for processing instructions stored at one or more memory storage locations; (c) an input device for providing data for use by the processor; and (d) a display module for displaying the game of chance; wherein
(i) the instructions stored in the one or more memory storage locations are executed by the processor after input of the wager through the input module and the input of data through the input device; the data including aspects of the wager comprising a selected denomination from a plurality of denominations, one or more selected paylines from the plurality of selectable paylines; and an amount associated with each of the one or more selected paylines;(ii) a trigger condition in the game of chance causes a bonus game to be displayed in the display module when the trigger condition is met, the bonus game comprising a plurality of levels with each level having a distinct outcome, at least one level providing credit-based awards and one level providing a jackpot award wherein the at least one level providing credit-based awards precedes the jackpot award level and the distinct outcome at the at least one level providing credit-based awards includes an advance to the next level in the plurality of levels or a termination of the bonus game, wherein the probability of achieving the distinct outcome associated with an advance to the next level increases with an increase in wager and the credit-based awards increase in value with an increase in the wager associated with each of the one or more selected paylines while the jackpot award is of constant value and a constant expected return irrespective of the wager or the number of one or more selected paylines.