Gaming Device and Method of Use

Abstract

A gaming apparatus includes a gaming device configured to allow a player to place a wager and to play a primary game. A display device is mounted in association with the gaming device and a controller is in communication with the gaming device and the display device. The controller is configured to allow a player to place a wager and initiate a primary game. A primary game outcome and a bonus prize are determined. The controller causes the display device to display the bonus prize before displaying the primary game outcome. The primary game outcome is displayed after the bonus prize has been displayed. If a bonus qualifying event has occurred, the bonus prize is awarded to the player. A method of gaming using the gaming apparatus is also disclosed.

1 . A gaming apparatus comprising:
 (A) at least one gaming device configured to allow a player to place a wager and to play at least one game;   (B) a display device mounted in association with the gaming device; and   (C) a controller in communication with the gaming device and the display device, the controller being configured to:
 (a) allow a player to place a wager and initiate a primary game; 
 (b) determine a primary game outcome and a bonus prize; 
 (c) cause the display device to display the bonus prize before displaying the primary game outcome; 
 (d) display the primary game outcome after the bonus prize has been displayed; and 
 (e) if a bonus qualifying event has occurred, awarding the bonus prize to the player. 
   
   
   
       2 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the player is allowed to select the bonus prize. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bonus prize is displayed for every primary game played on the gaming device. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising awarding the first game outcome. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to:
 (A) allow the player to place a secondary wager on the gaming device to determine a secondary outcome of the primary game, the secondary outcome comprising a modifier; and   (B) if the primary game outcome is a winning outcome, modify the primary game outcome by the secondary outcome.   
   
   
       6 . A method of gaming, comprising steps which, unless otherwise indicated, are not all necessarily in the order shown, of:
 (A) allowing a player to place a wager and initiate a primary game;   (B) determining a primary game outcome;   (C) determining a bonus prize;   (D) displaying the bonus prize before displaying the primary game outcome, regardless of the outcome of the primary game;   (E) displaying the primary game outcome after displaying the bonus prize;   (F) determining if a bonus qualifying event has occurred; and   (G) if a bonus qualifying event has occurred, awarding the bonus prize.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the bonus prize is displayed for each and every primary game that is played. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising allowing the player to select the bonus prize. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the player is allowed to select the bonus prize using a player input device. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6  comprising:
 (A) allowing a player to place a secondary wager on the gaming device;   (B) determining a secondary outcome of the primary game, the secondary outcome comprising a modifier;   (C) determining a primary game outcome; and   (D) if the primary game outcome is a winning outcome, modifying the primary game outcome by the secondary outcome.   
   
   
       11 . A gaming apparatus comprising:
 (A) a primary gaming device configured to allow a player to place a wager and to play a primary game, the primary game being adapted to display a primary game prize;   (B) a bonus gaming device mounted in association with the primary gaming device, the bonus gaming device being adapted to display a bonus prize; and   (C) a controller in communication with the primary gaming device and the bonus gaming device, the controller being configured to:
 (a) determine a primary game outcome and a bonus prize; 
 (b) display the bonus prize; 
 (c) allow the player to play the primary game; 
 (d) display the primary game outcome after the bonus prize has been displayed; and 
 (e) award the bonus prize, if a bonus qualifying event has occurred. 
   
   
   
       12 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the player is allowed to select the bonus prize from a plurality of bonus prizes. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the bonus prize is displayed for each and every primary game that is played. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising awarding the primary game outcome. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a player input device is in communication with the controller, the player input device allowing the player to select the bonus prize. 
   
   
       16 . A method of gaming comprising steps, not all necessarily in the order shown, of:
 (A) allowing a player to place a wager;   (B) displaying a bonus prize;   (C) allowing the player to play a primary game, the primary game having a primary game prize;   (D) displaying an outcome from the primary game after the bonus prize has been displayed;   (E) determining if a bonus awarding event has occurred;   (F) if the bonus awarding event has occurred, awarding the bonus prize; and   (G) awarding the primary game prize.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the player is allowed to view the bonus prize for each and every primary game that is played. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising allowing the player to select the bonus prize that is displayed. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the player is allowed to select the bonus prize using a player input device. 
   
   
       20 . A gaming apparatus comprising:
 (A) means for allowing a player to place a wager and play a primary game, the primary game being adapted to display and award a primary game prize;   (B) means for displaying a possible bonus prize during each and every primary game;   (C) means for determining a primary game outcome and a bonus game outcome;   (D) means for displaying the primary game outcome, after the possible bonus prize has been displayed; and   (E) means for awarding the bonus prize, if a bonus qualifying event has occurred.   
   
   
       21 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the player is allowed to select the possible bonus prize from a plurality of bonus prizes. 
   
   
       22 . A method of playing a game comprising steps, not all necessarily in the order shown, of:
 (A) allowing a player to place a primary wager at a gaming device and play a primary game on the gaming device;   (B) allowing a player to place a secondary wager on the gaming device;   (C) determining a secondary outcome of the primary game, the secondary outcome comprising a modifier;   (D) determining a primary game outcome; and   (E) if the primary game outcome is a winning outcome, modifying the primary game outcome by the secondary outcome.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  comprising displaying the primary game outcome, the secondary outcome and the primary game outcome modified by the secondary outcome on the gaming device. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  comprising determining the secondary outcome on the gaming device prior to determining the primary game outcome. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  comprising displaying the secondary outcome to the player prior to displaying the primary game outcome to the player. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the modifier comprises a multiplier, the method comprising:
 (A) multiplying the primary game outcome by the multiplier to determine an award; and   (B) awarding the award to the player.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  comprising determining the multiplier in proportion to an amount of the secondary wager. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the proportion is non-linear. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the proportion of the multiplier to the secondary wager increases as the secondary wager increases. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26  comprising determining the multiplier randomly. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 26  comprising determining the multiplier randomly within a range, the range being dependent on the amount of the secondary wager. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 22  comprising:
 (A) determining a bonus prize;   (B) displaying the bonus prize before displaying the primary game outcome, regardless of the outcome of the primary game;   (C) displaying the primary game outcome after displaying the bonus prize;   (D) determining if a bonus qualifying event has occurred; and   (E) if a bonus qualifying event has occurred, awarding the bonus prize.   
   
   
       33 . A gaming apparatus comprising:
 (A) at least one gaming device configured to allow a player to place a wager and to play at least one game;   (B) a display device mounted in association with the gaming device; and   (C) a controller in communication with the gaming device and the display device, the controller being configured to:
 (a) allow a player to place a primary wager at a gaming device and initiate a primary game on the gaming device; 
 (b) allow the player to place a secondary wager on the gaming device to determine a secondary outcome of the primary game, the secondary outcome comprising a modifier; 
 (c) determine a primary game outcome; and 
 (d) if the primary game outcome is a winning outcome, modify the primary game outcome by the secondary outcome. 
   
   
   
       34 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the controller is configured to cause the display device to display the secondary outcome prior to displaying the primary game outcome. 
   
   
       35 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the controller is configured to award the primary game outcome modified by the secondary outcome to the player. 
   
   
       36 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the modifier comprises a multiplier and wherein the controller is configured to:
 (A) multiply the primary game outcome by the multiplier to determine an award; and   (B) award the award to the player.   
   
   
       37 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 36  wherein the controller is configured to determine the multiplier in proportion to an amount of the secondary wager. 
   
   
       38 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 37  wherein the proportion is non-linear. 
   
   
       39 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the proportion of the multiplier to the secondary wager increases as the secondary wager increases. 
   
   
       40 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 36  wherein the controller is configured to determine the multiplier randomly. 
   
   
       41 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 36  wherein the controller is configured to determine the multiplier randomly within a range, the range being dependent on the amount of the secondary wager. 
   
   
       42 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the controller is configured to:
 (a) determine a bonus prize;   (b) display the bonus prize;   (c) display the primary game outcome after the bonus prize has been displayed; and   (d) award the bonus prize, if a bonus qualifying event has occurred.