Gaming device and method with bonus and displayed winning probabilities

Abstract

A game device and method are set forth where a bonus event includes at least one bonus level including a plurality of player choices to receive a bonus. For each choice there is displayed for the player, and prior to the player making their selection, the probabilities associated with the choice for obtaining a winning outcome, at least two of the choices having differently configured probabilities and awards inversely related to those probabilities.

1 . An electronic device for a player to play a casino game of the type including a video display, apparatus for accepting a wager, apparatus for randomly selecting and presenting a base game outcome at the display representing combinations of game symbols, a processor configured to compare selected game symbol combinations to determine winning or losing combinations and to issue an award for obtaining a winning, base game combination, said device comprising; 
 said processor configured to detect an outcome including a bonus trigger and in response thereto provide a display of at least two bonus selections;    means for providing for each bonus selection a different, statistical chance of producing a winning outcome; and    said processor configured to control the display to display for each selection said statistical chance prior to selection by a player;    apparatus for a player to input a selection;    said processor configured to, in response to said player making a bonus selection, selecting and displaying one of a bonus winning or losing outcome according to said statistical chance of said selection; and    said processor configured to issue an award in response to a winning outcome.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  comprising a data structure including for each bonus selection a plurality of data addresses each associated with a winning or losing outcome and arranged such that said winning outcome addresses being of a number, when compared to all addresses define said statistical probability of selecting a winning outcome, at least one of said processor and data structure configured, for each selection, to provide an award and means for randomly selecting an address in response to the player choosing the selection and if the selected address is a winning outcome to issue the award to the player.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  comprising at least one of the processor and data structure configured to provide for each selection an award inversely related to the statistical chance of said selection producing a winning outcome.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  comprising at least one of said processor and data structure configured to include, where the selection produces a losing outcome, a consolation prize.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3  comprising at least one of said processor and data structure configured to define for one bonus selection a statistical probability of producing a winning outcome of approximately 50/50.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3  comprising at least one of said processor and data structure configured to provide four bonus selections each having a different, displayed, statistical probability of producing a winning outcome.  
     
     
         7 . The device  claim 1  comprising at least one of said processor and data structure configured to display a first preliminary round display with a plurality of selections, each having a concealed, statistical probability of producing a winning outcome and said processor configure to, in response to a preliminary round winning outcome, control the display to display said at least two bonus selections.  
     
     
         8 . A method for playing a casino game of the type including providing a display, inputting a wager, randomly selecting and presenting a base game outcome at the display representing combinations of game symbols, providing a processor for comparing selected game symbol combinations to determine winning or losing combinations and for issuing an award for obtaining a winning, base game, combination, said method comprising; 
 configuring said processor to detect an outcome including a bonus trigger and in response thereto provide a display of at least two bonus selections;    providing for each bonus selection a different, statistical chance of producing a winning outcome and to display for each selection said statistical chance prior to selection by a player;    the player selecting one of said bonus selections;    configuring said processor to, in response to said player making a bonus selection, select and display one of a bonus winning or losing outcome according to said statistical chance of said selection; and    issuing an award for a winning outcome    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  comprising, for each selection, providing data addresses each associated with a winning or losing outcome, arranging the distribution of addresses associated with winning outcomes to define said statistical chance and, upon selection by the player, randomly selecting a data address to define a winning or losing outcome.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  comprising providing said award value to be inversely related to said statistical chance.