Bonus accumulator for chance game

Abstract

A game of chance comprises a game play engine with a bonus accumulator. In response to a wager, the game play engine is executed to randomly select an outcome from a plurality of possible outcomes. The bonus accumulator accumulates bonus elements based on predetermined criteria. The bonus elements are redeemable by a player for an award during any game play cycle defined as starting with the wager and ending with a succeeding wager triggering the game play engine.

1 .- 30 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         31 . A method of conducting a wagering game at a gaming terminal, comprising: 
 receiving wagers from a player to purchase respective plays of said wagering game;    randomly selecting an outcome from a plurality of possible outcomes for each of said plays;    providing an accumulation feature in said wagering game that persists over the course of said plays, said accumulation feature yielding various possible awards for the player and including indicia that indicate an award level, said indicia are accumulated in response to the occurrence of predetermined criteria in said plays of said wagering game; and    in response to a demand by a player that is received during any one of said plays, permitting the player to redeem said accumulation feature for an award associated with said award level.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further including displaying said indicia on a display of said gaming terminal.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said displaying includes continuously displaying and updating said indicia.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said predetermined criteria is the occurrence of certain outcomes during said plays.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said award level includes game credits and further including allowing said player to conduct additional plays at said gaming terminal with said game credits.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said award level includes free plays of said wagering game.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said predetermined criteria is the wagering amount during said plays.  
     
     
         38 . A gaming terminal for conducting a wagering game, comprising: 
 an input device for receiving inputs from a player;    a wager input device for receiving wagers for respective plays of said wagering game;    at least one display for displaying a randomly selected outcome from a plurality of possible outcomes for each of said plays;    an accumulation feature for said wagering game that yields an award for the player, said accumulation feature having a registry displayed on said at least one display and depicting indicia accumulated over the course of said plays, said indicia being indicative of a level of said award and being added to said registry in response to an occurrence of predetermined criteria in said plays; and    a processor coupled to said input device, said wager-input device, and said at least one display, said processor controlling said accumulation feature and being operative to, 
 control the display of said indicia on said registry, and  
 provide the player with the level of said award that is associated with said depicted indicia in response to a demand input received from the player via said input device during any one of said plays.  
   
     
     
         39 . The gaming terminal of  claim 38 , wherein said controller is further operative to continuously display and update said indicia.  
     
     
         40 . The gaming terminal of  claim 38 , wherein said predetermined criteria is the occurrence of certain outcomes during said plays.  
     
     
         41 . The gaming terminal of  claim 38 , wherein said award level includes game credits.  
     
     
         42 . The gaming terminal of  claim 38 , wherein said award level includes free plays of said wagering game.  
     
     
         43 . The gaming terminal of  claim 38 , wherein said registry is continuously displayed on said at least one display during said plays.  
     
     
         44 . A method of conducting a wagering game at a gaming terminal, comprising: 
 receiving wagers from a player to purchase respective plays of said wagering game;    randomly selecting an outcome from a plurality of possible outcomes for each of said plays;    persisting an accumulation feature over the course of said plays, said accumulation feature having an award level that increases in response to the occurrence of predetermined criteria in said plays; and    in response to a demand by a player that is received during any one of said plays, permitting the player to redeem said accumulation feature for an award associated with said award level.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said award includes game credits and further including allowing said player to conduct additional plays at said gaming terminal with said game credits.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said award includes free plays of said wagering game.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , further including displaying indicia corresponding to said award level on a display of said gaming terminal.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said displaying includes continuously displaying said indicia on a registry.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said predetermined criteria is the occurrence of certain outcomes during said plays.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said predetermined criteria is the wagering amount during said plays.