Gaming technique incorporating a plurality of wheels

Abstract

Various embodiments of games having payout wheels are described herein. In one embodiment, in a main or primary game, a plurality of reels displays a combination of symbols. A second game forming part of the gaming system consists of a plurality of wheels that are initiated upon the display of a predetermined combination of symbols on the reels in the primary game. At least one outcome of a first wheel indicates that the payout will be decided by an additional wheel, having higher payouts than the first wheel. The invention may be implemented using video techniques or electromechanical techniques.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gaming method comprising: 
 displaying results of a primary game, first ones of said results representing an award to a player, second ones of said results representing an opportunity to play a secondary game, said secondary game comprising at least a first display of a first selector of first indicia and an additional display of at least one additional selector of additional indicia;    if said results of said primary game comprise said second ones of said results, displaying activation of said first selector of first indicia, some of said first indicia representing award amounts and at least one of said first indicia representing that said at least one additional selector of additional indicia is to select an award to a player, said additional indicia representing, on average, awards higher than awards represented by said first indicia;    if said at least one of said first indicia is selected, displaying selecting said additional indicia by said at least one additional selector; and    displaying an award to a player represented by selection of said first indicia or said additional indicia.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming method of  claim 1  wherein said first selector comprises a first wheel, and said at least one additional selector comprises a second wheel.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming method of  claim 1  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector comprise rings.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming method of  claim 3  wherein said rings are rectangles.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming method of  claim 1  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector are adjacent one another.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector are displayed on a video screen.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector are mechanical wheels.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said at least one additional selector comprises at least a second selector of second indicia and a third selector of third indicia, said third indicia representing awards, on average, higher than awards represented by said second indicia, at least one of said second indicia representing that said third selector is to select an award to a player, said method further comprising: 
 displaying said second selector and said third selector.  
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein at least one of said third indicia represents a jackpot award.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said additional indicia represents a jackpot award.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector comprise concentric wheels.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector are displayed on a video screen.  
     
     
         13 . A tangible medium containing a gaming software program for carrying out the following method: 
 displaying results of a primary game, first ones of said results representing an award to a player, second ones of said results representing an opportunity to play a secondary game, said secondary game comprising at least a first display of a first selector of first indicia and an additional display of at least one additional selector of additional indicia;    if said results of said primary game comprise said second ones of said results, displaying activation of said first selector of first indicia, some of said first indicia representing award amounts and at least one of said first indicia representing that said at least one additional selector of additional indicia is to select an award to a player, said additional indicia representing, on average, awards higher than awards represented by said first indicia;    if said at least one of said first indicia is selected, displaying selecting said additional indicia by said at least one additional selector; and    displaying an award to a player represented by selection of said first indicia or said additional indicia.    
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 13  wherein said first selector comprises a first wheel, and said at least one additional selector comprises a second wheel.  
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 13  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector comprise rings.  
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 15  wherein said rings are rectangles.  
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 13  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector are adjacent one another.  
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 13  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector are displayed on a video screen.  
     
     
         19 . The medium of  claim 13  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector are mechanical wheels.  
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 13  wherein said at least one additional selector comprises at least a second selector of second indicia and a third selector of third indicia, said third indicia representing awards, on average, higher than awards represented by said second indicia, at least one of said second indicia representing that said third selector is to select an award to a player, said method further comprising: 
 displaying said second selector and said third selector.  
 
     
     
         21 . The medium of  claim 20  wherein at least one of said third indicia represents a jackpot award.  
     
     
         22 . The medium of  claim 13  wherein at least one of said additional indicia represent a jackpot award.  
     
     
         23 . The medium of  claim 13  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector comprise concentric wheels.  
     
     
         24 . The medium of  claim 23  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector are displayed on a video screen.  
     
     
         25 . A data transmission transmitting a gaming software program for carrying out the following method: 
 displaying results of a primary game, first ones of said results representing an award to a player, second ones of said results representing an opportunity to play a secondary game, said secondary game comprising at least a first display of a first selector of first indicia and an additional display of at least one additional selector of additional indicia;    if said results of said primary game comprise said second ones of said results, displaying activation of said first selector of first indicia, some of said first indicia representing award amounts and at least one of said first indicia representing that said at least one additional selector of additional indicia is to select an award to a player, said additional indicia representing, on average, awards higher than awards represented by said first indicia;    if said at least one of said first indicia is selected, displaying selecting said additional indicia by said at least one additional selector; and    displaying an award to a player represented by selection of said first indicia or said additional indicia.    
     
     
         26 . A gaming device comprising: 
 at least one processor for controlling a display device to display results of a primary game, first ones of said results representing an award to a player, second ones of said results representing an opportunity to play a secondary game, said secondary game comprising at least a first display of a first selector of first indicia and an additional display of at least one additional selector of additional indicia;    if said results of said primary game comprise said second ones of said results, said at least one processor controlling said display device to display activation of said first selector of first indicia, some of said first indicia representing award amounts and at least one of said first indicia representing that said at least one additional selector of additional indicia is to select an award to a player, said additional indicia representing, on average, awards higher than awards represented by said first indicia;    if said at least one of said first indicia is selected, said at least one processor controlling said display device to display selecting said additional indicia by said at least one additional selector; and    said at least one processor controlling said display device to display an award to a player represented by selection of said first indicia or said additional indicia.    
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26  wherein said first selector comprises a first wheel, and said at least one additional selector comprises a second wheel.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 26  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector comprise rings.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28  wherein said rings are rectangles.  
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 26  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector are adjacent one another.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 26  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector are displayed on a video screen.  
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 26  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector are mechanical wheels.  
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 26  wherein said at least one additional selector comprises at least a second selector of second indicia and a third selector of third indicia, said third indicia representing awards, on average, higher than awards represented by said second indicia, at least one of said second indicia representing that said third selector is to select an award to a player.  
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 33  wherein at least one of said third indicia represents a jackpot award.  
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 26  wherein at least one of said additional indicia represents a jackpot award.  
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 26  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector comprise concentric wheels.  
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36  wherein said first selector and said at least one additional selector are displayed on a video screen.  
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 26  further comprising said display device.