Gaming machine with wagering features

Abstract

A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display 14. The game controller is arranged to play a game 16 in which at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display 14. If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine 10 awards a prize. When a trigger condition occurs during the playing of a base game, a first feature is awarded that results in a feature prize potentially made up of a plurality of individual prizes. After completion of the first feature, a second feature occurs that enables a player to wager the feature prize for at least one other prize which is independent of a value of the feature prize.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A gaming machine having a display means and a game control means arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game in which at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, wherein, when a trigger condition occurs during the playing of a base game, a first feature is awarded that results in a feature prize potentially made up of a plurality of individual prizes and, after completion of the first feature, a second feature occurs that enables a player to wager the feature prize for at least one other prize which is independent of a value of the feature prize.  
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the first feature is a series of free games.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  in which the trigger condition governs the length of the first feature.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  in which if, during any one of the free games in the first feature, the trigger condition re-occurs, a further series of free games is added to the remaining free games of the first series of free games in the feature.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which any wins awarded during the first feature are greater than the corresponding win occurring in the base game.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which, during the playing of the first feature, a dedicated feature prize display component is displayed on the display means.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 6  in which the display component is in the form of a secondary win meter which is displayed only during the playing of the first feature.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the second feature commences automatically after completion of the first feature.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the second feature is a second screen feature where the player is granted a number of options.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  in which the options are, firstly, the player takes the feature prize and either continues playing or cashes out, secondly, the player wagers the feature prize by playing a new feature and, thirdly, the player wagers the feature prize against a mystery prize.  
     
     
         11 . The gaming machine of  claim 10  in which, if the player selects the second option, the feature prize resulting from the playing of the first feature is deleted and a new feature, with outcomes independent of, and different from, the first feature is played.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming machine of  claim 10  in which the mystery prize is one of a mystery amount of credits, a set of bonus games and a stand-alone or linked progressive prize.  
     
     
         13 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  in which, when the second feature commences, the control means indicates to the player which of the options the control means recommends the player takes.  
     
     
         14 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the second feature is implemented by way of a touch sensitive screen display with icons which are touched by the player to indicate the selection made by the player.