Method of playing game and gaming games with an additional payout indicator

Abstract

Gaming devices comprising a standard gaming unit, e.g., three reels, and a discernible additional payout indicator, e.g., a rotatable wheel. A preferred bonus payout indicator is clearly visible by the player and is actuatable when the reels of the slot machine stop on certain predetermined indicia. A preferred embodiment further comprises a payout multiplier which displays a plurality of values by which a payout may be multiplied.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of conducting a gaming activity, comprising: 
 providing at least one player an opportunity to place a wager on at least one primary game;    generating a random outcome from play of said at least one primary game and displaying said random outcome on a display associated with said at least one primary game;    responsive to said random outcome of said primary game, qualifying said at least one player for play of a secondary game comprising a TIC-TAC-TOE game and displaying said TIC-TAC-TOE game on a three-by-three matrix display;    providing said at least one player an opportunity to select at least one indicia and displaying said at least one selected indicia on said three-by-three matrix display; and    generating an outcome of said TIC-TAC-TOE game, wherein said outcome is determined at least in part by said selection of said at least one indicia by said at least one player.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said outcome of said TIC-TAC-TOE game is randomly generated.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said qualifying for said play of said secondary game comprises obtaining an indicia or combination of indicia in said random outcome from play of said at least one primary game.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one indicia selected by said at least one player comprises an X or an O.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing an opportunity for said at least one player to have a payout generated by play of said at least one primary game or said TIC-TAC-TOE game multiplied by a multiplication factor, wherein said opportunity is responsive to said random outcome of said at lesat one primary game or said outcome of said TIC-TAC-TOE game.    
     
     
         6 . A gaming device, comprising: 
 a first display for displaying randomly selected indicia of a primary game;    a second display comprising a three-by-three matrix of boxes for displaying indicia of a TIC-TAC-TOE game;    an input device for enabling a player to select at least one indicia during play of said TIC-TAC-TOE game;    means for generating an outcome of said TIC-TAC-TOE game, wherein said means is operatively connected to said input device such that said generation of said outcome is responsive to said player's selection of said at least one indicia.    
     
     
         7 . The gaming device of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one indicia selectable by said player comprises an X or an O.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming device of  claim 6 , wherein said second display is configured to illuminate boxes during play of said TIC-TAC-TOE game.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming device of  claim 6 , further comprising a payout multiplier.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming device of  claim 6 , wherein said secondary display comprises a video display.  
     
     
         11 . A method of conducting a gaming activity, comprising: 
 providing an opportunity for at least one player to place a wager on a card game;    responsive to a combination of cards received by said at least one player, qualifying for an opportunity to participate in a secondary game;    conducting said secondary game; and    responsive to an outcome of said secondary game, providing a bonus payout.    
     
     
         12 . The method of conducting a gaming activity according to  claim 11 , wherein said bonus payout is dependent upon said wager placed in said card game.  
     
     
         13 . The method of conducting a gaming activity according to  claim 11 , wherein said card game comprises five card stud poker, five card draw poker, seven card draw poker, or black jack.  
     
     
         14 . The method of conducting a gaming activity according to  claim 11 , wherein said secondary game comprises spinning a wheel and allowing said wheel to stop spinning, such that a pointer points to one of a plurality of randomly selected bonus payouts represented by indicia on said wheel.  
     
     
         15 . The method of conducting a gaming activity according to  claim 11 , wherein said bonus payout comprises a monetary award, a non-monetary award, a losing outcome, or a prize reduction.  
     
     
         16 . The method of conducting a gaming activity according to  claim 11 , wherein said bonus payout comprises at least one opportunity to double an initial payout of said card game or lose said initial payout.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 responsive to said combination of cards or said outcome of said secondary game, providing said at least one player an opportunity to activate a payout multiplier, wherein said payout multiplier enhances or reduces a payout from said card game or said secondary game.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said secondary game comprises a TIC-TAC-TOE game, wherein said TIC-TAC-TOE game is played by randomly selecting indicia of said TIC-TAC-TOE game and displaying said selected indicia on a three-by-three matrix display.  
     
     
         19 . A gaming device, comprising: 
 a gaming table configured for play of a card game comprising a dealer play area and a player play area;    a bonus payout indicator; and    an actuation switch for placing said bonus payout indicator in an operable mode.    
     
     
         20 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein said actuation switch is only accessible to said dealer, further comprising: 
 at least one player switch for activating said bonus payout indicator, wherein said player switch is accessible to players of said card game and said player switch only activates said bonus payout indicator when said actuation switch is in said operable mode.    
     
     
         21 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein said table is configured for play of five card stud poker, five card draw poker, seven card draw poker, or black jack.  
     
     
         22 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein said bonus payout indicator comprises a wheel for visually indicating one of a plurality of possible indicia, wherein said plurality of possible indicia represent a plurality of bonus payout prizes.  
     
     
         23 . The gaming device of  claim 22 , wherein said plurality of possible payouts comprise indicia representing a monetary award, a non-monetary award, a losing outcome, or a prize reduction.  
     
     
         24 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , further comprising a chip rack, a card shoe, a discard shoe, a wager slot, and at least one betting area.  
     
     
         25 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein said table comprises a board game.  
     
     
         26 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein said bonus payout indicator comprises a three-by-three matrix for indicating a TIC-TAC-TOE game, such that a bonus prize is determined by a result of said TIC-TAC-TOE game.  
     
     
         27 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a payout multiplier, wherein said payout multiplier is configured to enhance or reduce a payout from said card game or a bonus payout generated by said bonus payout indicator.