Gaming Apparatus

Abstract

A gaming apparatus includes a player terminal operable by a player to simulate a slots game, and a random event generator for generating a random event upon which an outcome of the slots game is based. The slots game has a plurality of successful outcomes, each associated with a corresponding prize. A wagering facility enables the player to place a wager on the occurrence of any specific successful outcome of the slots game, or to make a plurality of different wagers, each corresponding to a different specific one of the successful outcomes of the slots game. The different specific successful outcomes include a favourable outcome and a number of intermediate outcomes. The prize corresponding to the favourable outcome is a jackpot prize. The prize corresponding to an intermediate outcome is repayment of the player's wager at fixed odds inversely proportional to the probability of that intermediate outcome occurring.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A gaming apparatus, comprising:
 a player terminal operable to simulate a multi-reel slots game, the multi-reel slots game having a set of possible outcomes corresponding to the possible combinations of indicia displayable on the simulated reels, the set of possible outcomes including a plurality of independently selectable outcomes; and   a wagering facility that enables a player to make independent wagers on any of the independently selectable outcomes for a turn of the game,   wherein the player terminal is operable to display a randomly determined outcome of the turn of the game from the set of possible outcomes, wherein the player wins a payout on any independent wager made on an independently selectable outcome that corresponds to the randomly determined outcome and the player loses any independent wager made on an independently selectable outcome that does not correspond to the randomly determined outcome.   
     
     
         18 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the wagering facility is operable to display a representation of each of the independently selectable outcomes. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the wagering facility is further operable to display, for each of the independently selectable outcomes, (i) an activatable icon that enables the player to make an independent wager on the independently selectable outcome, and (ii) the size of any independent wager made on the independently selectable outcome. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the wagering facility is further operable to display, for each of the independently selectable outcomes, (iii) odds for the independently selectable outcome, and (iv) a payout for any independent wager made on the independently selectable outcome. 
     
     
         21 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of independently selectable outcomes includes a favorable outcome and a number of intermediate outcomes, and wherein the favorable outcome is associated with a fixed jackpot prize or a progressive jackpot prize. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein each intermediate outcome is associated with a prize corresponding to repayment of an independent wager made on that intermediate outcome at fixed odds inversely proportional to the probability of that intermediate outcome occurring. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the multi-reel slots game is a three-reel slots game having about ten independently selectable outcomes, the independently selectable outcomes including a plurality of intermediate outcomes with fixed odds between 5:1 and 250:1. 
     
     
         24 . A method, comprising:
 displaying, on a player terminal, a simulation of a multi-reel slots game, the multi-reel slots game having a set of possible outcomes corresponding to the possible combinations of indicia displayable on the simulated reels, the set of possible outcomes including a plurality of independently selectable outcomes;   providing, on the player terminal, a wagering facility that enables a player to make independent wagers on any of the independently selectable outcomes for a turn of the game; and   displaying, on the player terminal, a randomly determined outcome of the turn of the game from the set of possible outcomes, wherein the player wins a payout on any independent wager made on an independently selectable outcome that corresponds to the randomly determined outcome and the player loses any independent wager made on an independently selectable outcome that does not correspond to the randomly determined outcome.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the wagering facility is operable to display a representation of each of the independently selectable outcomes. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the wagering facility is further operable to display, for each of the independently selectable outcomes, (i) an activatable icon that enables the player to make an independent wager on the independently selectable outcome, and (ii) the size of any independent wager made on the independently selectable outcome. 
     
     
         26 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the wagering facility is further operable to display, for each of the independently selectable outcomes, (iii) odds for the independently selectable outcome, and (iv) a payout for any independent wager made on the independently selectable outcome. 
     
     
         27 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of independently selectable outcomes includes a favorable outcome and a number of intermediate outcomes, and wherein the favorable outcome is associated with a fixed jackpot prize or a progressive jackpot prize. 
     
     
         28 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein each intermediate outcome is associated with a prize corresponding to repayment of an independent wager made on that intermediate outcome at fixed odds inversely proportional to the probability of that intermediate outcome occurring. 
     
     
         29 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the multi-reel slots game is a three-reel slots game having about ten independently selectable outcomes, the independently selectable outcomes including a plurality of intermediate outcomes with fixed odds between 5:1 and 250:1.