Randomly enabled bonus game with controllable frequency of occurence

Abstract

Method of conducting a game of chance having a randomly enabled bonus game with controllable frequency of occurrence, including the steps of: making a wager to initiate play on a base game; initiating a random bonus enablement determination which is separate from base game outcome; and allowing bonus game play only if the bonus is enabled.

1 . A method of conducting a game of chance having a bonus game comprising the steps of: 
 a. making a wager to initiate play on a base game;    b. initiating a random bonus enablement determination which is separate from base game outcome; and    c. allowing bonus game play if the bonus is enabled.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein bonus game play occurs prior to initiation of base game play.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein bonus game play occurs during base game play.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein bonus game play occurs after completion of base game play.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the random bonus enablement is triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the predetermined event is selected from the group of occurrences consisting of start of base game play cycle, credit deposit, credit deposit magnitude, credit exhaustion, wager, wager of certain magnitude, base game play cycle, base game symbol outcome, base game win, base game win magnitude, specific time, specific date, passage of window of time, rate of game play, level of House defined activity, House evaluating strength of competing gaming houses, and player historical wagering parameters.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the base game is selected from the group of games consisting of slot machines, video poker machines, and video slot machines.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bonus game play is automatically initiated after bonus enablement.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bonus game play is initiated by human activation after bonus enablement.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of playing the bonus game.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bonus game is selected from the group of games consisting of slot machines, video poker machines, rotatable mechanical wheel games, spinning wheel video games, pachinko game machines, pinball game machines, Monopoly® games, race car games, and horse race games,  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of randomly paying a bonus award.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bonus award is paid in addition to a base game award.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bonus award is paid in place of a base game award.  
   
   
       15 . A method of conducting a game of chance having a bonus game comprising the steps of: 
 a. making a wager to initiate play on a base game wherein the base game is selected from the group of games consisting of slot machines, video poker machines, and video slot machines;    b. initiating a random bonus enablement which is separate from base game outcome wherein bonus enablement is triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event; and    c. allowing bonus game play if the bonus is enabled.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein bonus game play requires human activation.  
   
   
       17 . A method of conducting a game of chance wherein the game includes a spinning mechanical wheel bonus game comprising multiple award segments and an award pointer, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. making a wager to initiate play on a base game selected from the group of gaming machines consisting of video slot machines, video poker machines, three reel slot machines and five reel slot machines;    b. initiating a random bonus enablement which is separate from base game outcome wherein the bonus enablement is triggered by a predetermined event;    c. allowing bonus game play if the bonus is enabled;    d. randomly selecting a bonus award is to be paid when the spinning wheel bonus game is played; and    e. indicating the selected bonus award wherein the spinning wheel comes to rest and the award pointer indicates the selected bonus award.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the predetermined event is the start of base game play.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein bonus game play requires human activation.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein bonus game play is automatically initiated after bonus enablement.