Bonus gaming system and method

Abstract

A system and method for awarding prizes to a player. If a bonus qualifying event occurs, the player is allowed to select between a first prize of a known value and a second prize of an unknown value. The device may display the best possible second prize or subsequent prizes. The value of the second prize may be dependent on the value of the first prize. The player may continue to select between a prize of a known value and a prize of an unknown value until certain events occur.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for playing a game, the method comprising: 
 (A) allowing a player to play a game;    (B) defining a bonus qualifying event;    (C) if a bonus qualifying event occurs, determining a first prize;    (D) presenting the first prize to the player;    (E) allowing the player to select between being awarded the first prize or determining a second prize, the second prize being unknown to the player;    (F) determining the second prize, the value of the second prize being dependent on the value of the first prize;    (G) if the player selects receiving the first prize, awarding the first prize to the player; and    (H) if the player selects determining the second prize, presenting the second prize to the player.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising presenting a possible value of the second prize.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the possible value is a highest possible value.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the second prize comprises multiplying the first prize by a number.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the multiplier is less than one.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the multiplier is one.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the multiplier is greater than one.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the second prize comprises adding a number to the first prize.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the number is a negative number.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the number is zero.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the number is greater than zero.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the second prize comprises selecting from a plurality of different predetermined selection methods, the selection methods comprising: 
 (A) multiplying the first prize by a multiplier; and  
 (B) adding a number to the first prize.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein if step H is performed further comprising: 
 (A) allowing the player to select between receiving the second prize or determining a third prize, the third prize being unknown to the player;  
 (B) determining the third prize;  
 (C) if the player selects receiving the second prize, awarding the second prize to the player; and  
 (D) if the player selects determining the third prize, presenting the third prize to the player.  
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (A) if step H is performed, substituting the second prize for the first prize and repeating steps E through H.  
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising allowing the step I  claim 14  to be performed a predetermined number of times.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising awarding the player the second prize after the step I has been repeated the predetermined number of times.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the predetermined number of times depends on the size of the wager.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the steps in  claim 13  are only performed if the player has placed a wager of at least a predetermined value.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising presenting a possible third prize to the player.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising presenting a highest possible prize for the predetermined number of times.  
     
     
         21 . A method for playing a game, the method comprising: 
 (A) allowing a player to play a game;    (B) defining a bonus qualifying event;    (C) if a bonus qualifying event occurs, determining a first prize;    (D) presenting the first prize to the player;    (E) presenting a possible second prize to the player;    (F) allowing the player to select between being awarded the first prize or determining a second prize, the second prize being unknown to the player;    (G) determining the second prize;    (H) if the player selects receiving the first prize, awarding the first prize to the player; and    (I) if the player selects determining the second prize, presenting the second prize to the player.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the possible second prize is a highest possible value.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the second prize comprises multiplying the first prize by a number.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the multiplier is less than one.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the multiplier is one.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the multiplier is greater than one.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of determining the second prize comprises adding a number to the first prize.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the number is a negative number.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the number is zero.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the number is greater than zero.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of determining the second prize comprises selecting a calculation method from a plurality of different predetermined calculation methods, the calculation methods comprising: 
 (A) multiplying the first prize by a multiplier; and  
 (B) adding a number to the first prize.  
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21  wherein if step H is performed, further comprising: 
 (A) allowing the player to select between receiving the second prize or determining a third prize, the third prize being unknown to the player;  
 (B) determining the third prize;  
 (C) if the player selects receiving the second prize, awarding the second prize to the player; and  
 (D) if the player selects determining the third prize, presenting the third prize to the player.  
 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the steps in  claim 32  are only performed if the player had placed a wager of at least a predetermined value.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising if step H is performed, substituting the second prize for the first prize and repeating steps E through H.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising: 
 (A) allowing the step in  claim 21  to be performed a predetermined number of times; and  
 (B) awarding the player the second prize after the step I has been repeated the predetermined number of times.  
 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the predetermined number of times depends on a size of a wager.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the predetermined number of times is proportional to a size of a wager.  
     
     
         38 . The method  claim 21  wherein steps C through H are only performed if the player places a wager that is at least a pre-determined value.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising presenting a highest possible prize for the predetermined number of times.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising presenting a possible third prize to the player.  
     
     
         41 . A method of awarding a prize, the method comprising: 
 (I) providing a game;    (J) defining a prize qualifying event;    (K) allowing a player to play the game;    (L) if the prize qualifying event occurs, allowing the player to select between receiving a known prize or an unknown prize; and    (M) if the player selects the known prize, awarding the known prize to the player; and    (N) if the player selects the unknown prize, determining the unknown prize, the unknown prize being dependent on the known prize.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the unknown prize is substantially equivalent to the first prize.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the unknown prize is a multiple of the known prize.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the unknown prize is randomly determined.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the unknown prize is selected from a group of predetermined prizes.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising after the unknown prize is determined, allowing the player to select between keeping the unknown prize and a second unknown prize.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising: 
 (I) if the player selects the unknown prize, awarding the unknown prize to the player; and  
 (J) if the player selects the second unknown prize, determining the second unknown prize.  
 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 (I) before the player selects between the known prize and the unknown prize, determining the at least one possible unknown prize; and    (J) displaying the possible unknown prize to the player.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the possible unknown prize is a possible prize with the highest value.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the possible unknown prize is a possible prize with the highest probability of occurrence.  
     
     
         51 . A method of playing a game, the method comprising: 
 (A) determining a first prize;    (B) presenting the first prize to a player;    (C) presenting a possible second prize to the player;    (D) allowing the player to select between: 
 (a) receiving the first prize; and  
 (b) receiving a second prize, the second prize being unknown to the player;  
   (E) if the player selects receiving the first prize, awarding the first prize to the player; and    (F) if the player selects receiving a second prize: 
 (a) determining the second prize; and  
 (b) presenting the second prize to the player.  
   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51  further comprising: 
 (A) substituting the second prize for the first; and  
 (B) repeating steps (C) through (F) of  claim 51 .  
 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising repeating the steps in  claim 52  wherein the steps in  claim 22  are repeated until the player selects receiving the first prize.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising repeating the steps in  claim 52  wherein the steps in  claim 22  are repeated until the player selects receiving the first prize or the steps are repeated a predetermined number of times.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising: 
 (A) determining a possible second prize that may occur if the steps in  claim 52  are repeated a predetermined number of times;  
 (B) presenting the possible second prize to the player.  
 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the possible second prize is a prize with the highest possible value.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising repeating the steps in  claim 52  wherein the steps in  claim 52  are repeated until the player selects receiving the first prize or the second prize has a lower value than the first prize.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 58  further comprising the step of awarding the first prize to the player when the first prize is lower than the second prize.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the possible second prize is a prize with a highest possible value.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the second prize is randomly determined.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the second prize is a function of the first prize.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the second prize is a multiple of the first prize.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 51  further comprising: 
 (A) providing a game, the game being adapted to award a prize, wherein the prize awarded by the game is the first prize; and  
 (B) allowing the player to play the game.