Gaming system and method having premium play period

Abstract

A method of playing a video gaming system which includes the steps of inputting at least one credit, displaying at least one game; and activating a premium event initiator to initiate a premium play period for at least one game play. A video gaming system is also provided which includes a video display, an input device for receipt of credits, a central processor to display on the video display at least one game, and a premium event initiator to initiate a premium play period for at least one game play.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a video gaming system, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) inputting at least one credit    (b) displaying at least one game; and    (c) activating a premium event initiator to initiate a premium play period for at least one game play.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of activating the premium event initiator initiates the premium play period for a single game play.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of activating the premium event initiator initiates the premium play period for a designated number of additional game plays.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of activating the premium event initiator initiates the premium play period having an increased payout percentage and wherein the method further includes the step of increasing a bet size as compared to times other than during the premium play period.  
     
     
         5 . A method of playing a video gaming system, comprising: 
 (a) inputting at least one credit;    (b) displaying at least one game;    (c) activating a premium event initiator to initiate a premium play period for at least one game play;    (d) inputting of at least one additional credit for each game play of the premium play period; and    (e) increasing a payout percentage during the premium play period.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of activating the premium event initiator initiates the premium play period for a single game play.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of activating the premium event initiator initiates the premium play period for a designated number of additional game plays.  
     
     
         8 . A method of playing a video slot gaming system, comprising: 
 (a) inputting at least one credit;    (b) displaying at least one slot game;    (c) activating a premium event initiator to initiate a premium play period for at least one game play which requires inputting of at least one additional credit per game play during the premium play period;    (d) inputting the at least one additional credit for each game played during the premium play period; and    (e) changing at least one reel of the slot game during the premium play period to increase a payout percentage.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of activating the premium event initiator initiates the premium play period for a single game play.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of activating the premium event initiator initiates the premium play period for a designated number of additional game plays.  
     
     
         11 . A method of playing a video gaming system, comprising: 
 (a) inputting at least one credit;    (b) displaying at least one game;    (c) activating a premium event initiator to initiate a premium play period for at least one game play which requires inputting of at least one additional credit per game play;    (d) inputting the at least one additional credit per game play during the premium play period; and    (e) converting at least one group of indicia in the slot display that was a losing group of indicia prior to the premium play period to be a winning group of indicia, during the premium play period.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of activating the premium event initiator initiates the premium play period for a single game play.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of activating the premium event initiator initiates the premium play period for a designated number of additional game plays.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , including the steps of inputting of at least one additional credit per game play and increasing a payout percentage during the premium play period.  
     
     
         15 . A method of playing a video slot gaming system, comprising: 
 (a) inputting at least one credit;    (b) displaying at least one slot game having a plurality of slot symbols displayed;    (c) activating a premium event initiator to initiate a premium play period for at least one slot game play which requires inputting of at least one additional credit per game play; and    (d) retaining at least one slot symbol of the slot game in position during all game plays of the premium play period.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of activating the premium event initiator initiates the premium play period for a single game play.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of activating the premium event initiator initiates the premium play period for a designated number of additional game plays.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , including the steps of inputting of at least one additional credit per game play and increasing a payout percentage during the premium play period.  
     
     
         19 . A method of playing a video gaming system, comprising: 
 (a) inputting at least one credit;    (b) displaying at least one game;    (c) activating a premium event initiator to initiate a premium play period for at least one game play which requires inputting of at least one additional credit per game play during the premium play period; and    (d) increasing speed of every game played during the premium play period relative to play at other times.    
     
     
         20 . The video gaming system of  claim 19 , wherein the premium event initiator initiates the premium play period for a single game play.  
     
     
         21 . The video gaming system of  claim 19 , wherein the premium event initiator initiates the premium play period for a designated number of additional game plays.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , including the steps of inputting of at least one additional credit per game play and increasing a payout percentage during the premium play period.  
     
     
         23 . A video gaming system, comprising: 
 (a) a video display;    (b) an input device for receipt of credits;    (c) a central processor adapted to display on the video display at least one game; and    (d) a premium event initiator to initiate a premium play period for at least one game play.    
     
     
         24 . The video gaming system of  claim 23 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a single game play.  
     
     
         25 . The video gaming system of  claim 23 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a designated number of additional game plays.  
     
     
         26 . The video gaming system of  claim 23 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period having an increased payout percentage and an increased bet size compared to play at times other than during the premium play period.  
     
     
         27 . A video gaming system, comprising: 
 (a) a video display;    (b) an input device for receipt of credits;    (c) a first pay table associated with a first bet amount;    (d) a second pay table associated with a second bet amount, wherein said second bet amount is higher the first bet amount;    (e) a central processor adapted to display on the video display at least one game;    (f) a premium event initiator adapted to initiate a premium play period for at least one game play wherein said premium play period uses the second pay table.    
     
     
         28 . The video gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a single game play.  
     
     
         29 . The video gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a designated number of additional game plays.  
     
     
         30 . A video slot gaming system, comprising: 
 (a) a video slot display;    (b) an input device for receipt of credits;    (c) a first pay table associated with a first bet amount;    (d) a second pay table associated with a second bet amount, wherein said second bet amount is higher the first bet amount;    (e) a central processor adapted to display on the video display at least one game; and    (f) said premium play period adapted to include changing at least one virtual reel of the video slot display to increase a payout percentage.    
     
     
         31 . The video gaming system of  claim 30 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a single game play.  
     
     
         32 . The video gaming system of  claim 30 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a designated number of additional game plays.  
     
     
         33 . A video gaming system, comprising: 
 (a) a video display;    (b) an input device for receipt of credits;    (c) a first pay table associated with a first bet amount;    (d) a second pay table associated with a second bet amount, wherein said second bet amount is higher the first bet amount;    (e) a central processor adapted to display on the video display at least one game; and    (f) said premium play period including an increased bet amount and the second pay table having an increased payout percentage relative to the first pay table.    
     
     
         34 . The video gaming system of  claim 33 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a single game play.  
     
     
         35 . The video gaming system of  claim 33 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a designated number of additional game plays.  
     
     
         36 . A video slot gaming system, comprising: 
 (a) a video slot display;    (b) an input device for receipt of credits;    (c) a first pay table associated with a first bet amount;    (d) a second pay table associated with a second bet amount, wherein said second bet amount is higher the first bet amount;    (e) a central processor adapted to display on the video display at least one game;    (d) a premium event initiator to initiate a premium play period for at least one game play; and    (e) said premium play period adapted to require an additional bet amount wherein certain losing groups of slot symbols of a nonpremium player period are considered winning groups of slot symbols during the premium play period.    
     
     
         37 . The video gaming system of  claim 36 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a single game play.  
     
     
         38 . The video gaming system of  claim 37 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a designated number of additional game plays.  
     
     
         39 . A video slot gaming system, comprising: 
 (a) a video slot display;    (b) an input device for receipt of credits;    (c) a first pay table associated with a first bet amount;    (d) a second pay table associated with a second bet amount, wherein said second bet amount is higher the first bet amount;    (e) a central processor adapted to display on the video display at least one game;    (f) a premium event initiator to initiate a premium play period for at least one game play; and    (g) said premium play period adapted to retain at least one slot symbol in position on the video slot display during the premium play period.    
     
     
         40 . The video gaming system of  claim 39 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a single game play.  
     
     
         41 . The video gaming system of  claim 39 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a designated number of additional game plays.  
     
     
         42 . A video gaming system, comprising: 
 (a) a video display;    (b) an input device for receipt of credits;    (c) a first pay table associated with a first bet amount;    (d) a second pay table associated with a second bet amount, wherein said second bet amount is higher the first bet amount;    (e) a central processor adapted to display on the video display at least one game; and    (f) a premium event initiator to initiate a premium play period for at least one game play, and wherein the premium play is played at an increased speed relative to play at other times.    
     
     
         43 . The video gaming system of  claim 42 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a single game play.  
     
     
         44 . The video gaming system of  claim 42 , wherein the premium event initiator is adapted to initiate the premium play period for a designated number of additional game plays.