Wagering gaming system with multiplier reel

Abstract

A gaming terminal having a set of primary reels and a multiplier reel on which a player can place a separate wager on the perceived likelihood that any payout associated with the primary reels will be increased by an amount revealed on the multiplier reel. The wager on the multiplier reel must be received before the game outcome associated with the primary reels is revealed to the player. Input devices are provided to allow the player to place a wager on the multiplier reel, and symbols on the multiplier reel indicate the multiplier amount or are indicative of whether the payout associated with the game outcome will be increased. These symbols can be different colors, and the player can place a wager on the probability that the multiplier reel will stop on a particular color. If it does, the payout is increased by a multiplier associated with the particular color.

1 . A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game, comprising: 
 a primary game for presenting a randomly selected game outcome in response to receiving a wager from a player;    a multiplier reel having a plurality of multiplier symbols disposed thereon, each of said multiplier symbols representing an amount by which to multiply a payout associated with said randomly selected game outcome; and    an input device adapted to receive a first input from a player of said wagering game regarding an indication that an additional wager has been wagered on the probability that one of said multiplier symbols will be selected to enhance said payout.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said primary game includes a set of primary reels.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming terminal of  claim 2 , wherein said primary reels and said multiplier reel are mechanical reels.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming terminal of  claim 2 , further comprising a second input device adapted to receive a second input from said player, said second input causing said primary reels to be set in motion.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming terminal of  claim 2 , wherein said first input is further an indication to cause said primary reels to be set in motion.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming terminal of  claim 2 , wherein said multiplier reel is adapted to spin independently of said set of primary reels.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said first input is received before presenting said game outcome.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said amount is zero.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said amount is at least double.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said amount is a fraction.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said multiplier symbols include visually distinct colors.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said multiplier symbols include an indication of the amount of the multiplier.  
   
   
       13 . A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising: 
 a gaming terminal including a display for displaying a primary wagering game having a randomly selected game outcome in response to receiving a primary wager from a player, said display further displaying a multiplier reel; and    a controller coupled to said display and being programmed to 
 associate at least one symbol on said multiplier reel with an amount by which to multiply a payout associated with said randomly selected game outcome, and  
 before displaying said randomly selected game outcome, receive a secondary wager input by said player on the probability that said multiplier reel will stop on a symbol that will increase said payout associated with said randomly selected game outcome.  
   
   
   
       14 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , wherein said randomly selected game outcome is represented by an arrangement of a plurality of symbols on a set of primary reels displayed on said display.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein said controller is further programmed to cause said set of primary reels to appear to spin independently of said multiplier reel on said display.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein said controller is externally coupled to said gaming terminal.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein said controller resides within said gaming terminal.  
   
   
       18 . A method of playing a wagering game, comprising: 
 receiving a first wager amount on said wagering game;    displaying on a display a randomly selected game outcome of said wagering game, said game outcome being associated with a payout;    prior to said displaying said game outcome, receiving a second wager amount on the probability that said payout will be greater than zero; and    in the event said payout is greater than zero, multiplying said payout by a multiplier.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising, displaying a multiplier symbol indicative of said multiplier on said display.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said multiplier symbol includes a number representing the amount of said multiplier.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said multiplier symbol includes a color visually distinguishable from at least one other indication associated with at least one other multiplier.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said game outcome is represented by an arrangement of symbols on a plurality of primary reels displayed on said display.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said multiplier is a multiplier symbol on a multiplier reel bearing said multiplier symbol and at least one other multiplier symbol.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said wagering game is graphically represented by a set of reels having a plurality of symbols thereon.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said first wager amount and said second wager amount are separate wagers.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said first wager amount and said second wager amount are respective parts of a single wager.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising randomly selecting said multiplier.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said multiplier is zero times said payout.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said multiplier is a fraction of said payout.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said multiplier is at least twice said payout.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising awarding no payout when said multiplier is zero times said payout regardless of said game outcome.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said game outcome is associated with a payout greater than zero, the method further comprising reducing said payout when said multiplier is less than one times said payout.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said game outcome is associated with a payout greater than zero, the method further comprising increasing said payout when said multiplier is greater than one times said payout.  
   
   
       34 . A method of playing a wagering game, comprising: 
 receiving a first wager amount on said wagering game;    displaying on a display a randomly selected game outcome of said wagering game, said game outcome being associated with a payout;    prior to said displaying said game outcome, receiving a second wager amount on the probability that said payout will be greater than zero;    displaying on said display a multiplier reel having a plurality of multiplier symbols each associated with a multiplier amount;    causing said multiplier reel to appear to spin and stop on a first one of said plurality of multiplier symbols; and    in the event said payout is greater than zero, multiplying said payout by the multiplier amount associated with said first one of said plurality of multiplier symbols.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said first one of said plurality of multiplier symbols is a color.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said first one of said plurality of multiplier symbols includes a number depicting said multiplier amount.