Multiple spin slot machine

Abstract

A slot machine offers a player an increased number of pulls on the slot machine in return for additional wager amounts at the beginning of a new game. Depending upon the amount of the additional wager, the slot machine will offer the player one or two additional pulls of the slot machine. If the additional wager is in an amount sufficient to pay for one additional pull, after the first pull occurs and the reels of the slot machine come to rest, the player is informed by the slot machine that an extra pull can be made at no additional cost. If the additional wager is in an amount sufficient to pay for two additional pulls, after the second pull, the player is again informed by the slot machine that a second extra pull can be made at no additional cost.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a game of chance on a slot machine, the slot machine having a plurality of slot reels which present a random outcome each time the slot reels spin and come to rest, the method comprising: 
 (a) receiving one or more wager units from a player to play the game; and    (b) before the slot reels begin to spin, the slot machine determining the number of spins that are to be initiated by the player without requiring receipt of an additional wager unit, based on the number of the wager units received from the player, wherein the number of spins may be greater than one depending upon the number of received wager units.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the number of wager units is proportional to the determined number of spins.  
     
     
         3 . A method of playing a game of chance on a slot machine, the slot machine having a plurality of slot reels which present a random outcome each time the slot reels spin and come to rest, the method comprising: 
 (a) receiving a wager from a player to play the game; and    (b) before the slot reels begin to spin, the slot machine determining the number of spins that are to be initiated by the player without requiring receipt of an additional wager, based on the amount of the wager received from the player, wherein the number of spins may be greater than one depending upon the amount of the received wager.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 (c) the player initiating the spinning of the slot reels a first time;  
 (d) the slot machine presenting a first random outcome when the slot reels come to rest a first time; and  
 (e) if the determined number of spins is greater than one, the slot machine prompting the player to initiate the spinning of the slot reels a second time without requiring receipt of an additional wager.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 (f) the player initiating the spinning of the slot reels a second time;  
 (g) the slot machine presenting a second random outcome when the slot reels come to rest a second time; and  
 (h) if the determined number of spins is greater than two, the slot machine prompting the player to initiate the spinning of the slot reels a third time without requiring receipt of an additional wager.  
 
     
     
         6 . A method of playing a game of chance on a slot machine, the slot machine having a plurality of slot reels which present a random outcome each time the slot reels spin and come to rest, the slot machine dispensing a payout if the presented random outcome matches one of a plurality of winning outcomes as determined by the slot machine, the method comprising: 
 (a) receiving one or more wager units from a player to play the game, the sum of the received wager units being less than or equal to a maximum wager limit;    (b) the player initiating the spinning of the slot reels a first time;    (c) the slot machine presenting a random outcome when the slot reels come to rest a first time; and    (d) dispensing a payout if the random outcome of step (c) matches one of the winning outcomes, wherein the size of the payout is larger if the sum of the received wager units is equal to the maximum limit and the random outcome matches a specific one of the winning outcomes.    
     
     
         7 . A method of playing a game of chance on a slot machine, the slot machine having a plurality of slot reels which present a random outcome each time the slot reels spin and come to rest, the method comprising: 
 (a) receiving a wager from a player to play the game; and    (b) before the slot reels begin to spin, the slot machine determining a number of extra spins of the slot reel that can be initiated by the player without requiring receipt of an additional wager, based on the amount of the wager received from the player, wherein the number of spins may be greater than one depending upon the amount of the received wager.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 (c) informing the player of the determined number of extra spins;  
 (d) the player initiating the spinning of the slot reels a first time;  
 (e) the slot machine presenting a first random outcome when the slot reels come to rest a first time; and  
 (f) if the determined number of extra spins is greater than zero, the slot machine informing the player that the spinning of the slot reels can be initiated a second time without requiring receipt of an additional wager.  
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 (g) the player initiating the spinning of the slot reels a second time;  
 (h) the slot machine presenting a second random outcome when the slot reels come to rest a second time; and  
 (i) if the determined number of extra spins is greater than one, the slot machine informing the player that the spinning of the slot reels can be initiated a third time without requiring receipt of an additional wager.  
 
     
     
         10 . A slot machine for playing a game of chance on a slot machine, the slot machine having a plurality of slot reels which present a random outcome each time the slot reels spin and come to rest, the slot machine comprising: 
 (a) means for receiving one or more wager units from a player to play the game; and    (b) means for determining, before the slot reels begin to spin, the number of spins that are to be initiated by the player without requiring receipt of an additional wager unit, based on the number of the wager units received from the player, wherein the number of spins may be greater than one depending upon the number of received wager units.    
     
     
         11 . The slot machine of  claim 10  wherein the number of wager units is proportional to the determined number of spins.  
     
     
         12 . A slot machine for playing a game of chance, the slot machine having a plurality of slot reels which present a random outcome each time the slot reels spin and come to rest, the method comprising: 
 (a) means for receiving a wager from a player to play the game; and    (b) means for determining, before the slot reels begin to spin, the number of spins that are to be initiated by the player without requiring receipt of an additional wager, based on the amount of the wager received from the player, wherein the number of spins may be greater than one depending upon the amount of the received wager.    
     
     
         13 . The slot machine of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 (c) means for prompting the player to initiate the spinning of the slot reels a second time without requiring receipt of an additional wager, after the player initiates the spinning of the slot reels a first time and if the determined number of spins is greater than one.  
 
     
     
         14 . The slot machine of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 (d) means for prompting the player to initiate the spinning of the slot reels a third time without requiring receipt of an additional wager, after the player initiates the spinning of the slot reels a second time and if the determined number of spins is greater than two.  
 
     
     
         15 . A slot machine for playing a game of chance, the slot machine having a plurality of slot reels which present a random outcome each time the slot reels spin and come to rest, the slot machine dispensing a payout if the presented random outcome matches one of a plurality of winning outcomes as determined by the slot machine, the slot machine comprising: 
 (a) means for receiving one or more wager units from a player to play the game, the sum of the received wager units being less than or equal to a maximum wager limit; and    (b) means for dispensing a payout if the random outcome matches one of the winning outcomes, wherein the size of the payout is larger if the sum of the received wager units is equal to the maximum limit and the random outcome matches a specific one of the winning outcomes.    
     
     
         16 . A slot machine for playing a game of chance, the slot machine having a plurality of slot reels which present a random outcome each time the slot reels spin and come to rest, the method comprising: 
 (a) means for receiving a wager from a player to play the game; and    (b) means for determining, before the slot reels begin to spin, a number of extra spins of the slot reel that can be initiated by the player without requiring receipt of an additional wager, based on the amount of the wager received from the player, wherein the number of spins may be greater than one depending upon the amount of the received wager.    
     
     
         17 . The slot machine of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 (c) means for informing the player of the determined number of extra spins;  
 (d) means for informing the player, after the player initiates the spinning of the slot reels a first time, that the spinning of the slot reels can be initiated a second time without requiring receipt of an additional wager if the determined number of extra spins is greater than zero.  
 
     
     
         18 . The slot machine of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 (e) means for informing the player, after the player initiates the spinning of the slot reels a second time, that the spinning of the slot reels can be initiated a third time without requiring receipt of an additional wager if the determined number of extra spins is greater than one.