Gaming machine having an enhanced game play scheme

Abstract

A gaming machine having an enhanced game play scheme is provided where, in response to receipt of a second wager to select an option, a player is provided with enhanced game play. Enhanced game play may include (1) providing more frequent bonus game play, (2) providing a larger bonus game value payout, (3) providing more frequent bonus game play and providing a larger bonus game value payout, (4) providing a larger or multiplied game value payout, (5) providing a guaranteed value payout for a non-winning outcome, (6) providing game features (7) providing a larger game value payout based on a partial game outcome, (8) providing an extra wild symbol capable of repositioning, and (9) providing a possibility of an additional reel movement to reposition an extra reel symbol or (10) providing a possibility of an extra pay line to include an extra reel symbol to increase a value payout.

1 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the wagering game having a plurality of winning outcomes, the gaming machine including a display device and a gaming machine controller having a processor and a memory, the display device displaying a first array of symbols, the method comprising: 
 providing at least one buy-a-multiplier option to a player, the at least one buy-a-multiplier option corresponding to a buy-a-multiplier outcome having a multiplier number;    detecting a buy-a-multiplier wager, the buy-a-multiplier wager indicating player selection of the at least one buy-a-multiplier option;    displaying a game outcome of the wagering game; and    multiplying a value payout award by the multiplier number to form a multiplied value payout if the game outcome includes the buy-a-multiplier outcome.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising awarding the multiplied value payout to the player.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the buy-a-multiplier outcome comprises a predetermined outcome.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the buy-a-multiplier outcome comprises at least one of the plurality of winning outcomes.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the buy-a-multiplier outcome is randomly determined by the gaming machine controller.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the buy-a-multiplier outcome is randomly determined by a server operatively coupled to the gaming machine, the server having a server controller.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting a game wager to play the wagering game prior to the step of displaying the game outcome.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wagering game is selected from the group consisting of a slot game, a video keno game, a video poker game and a video black jack game.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting a game wager to play the wagering game prior to the step of providing the buy-a-multiplier option to the player.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the game wager includes a minimum criteria.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein displaying the game outcome includes rotating and stopping a plurality of symbol bearing reels to place symbols on the reels in a second array of symbols, and wherein the minimum criteria includes player activation of a maximum number of pay lines.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising detecting a qualifying event.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the qualifying event includes one or more of a time of day, a day of the week, a player tracking card insertion in the gaming machine, an identity of the player and a minimum wager amount.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the buy-a-multiplier wager includes a game wager to play the wagering game.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multiplier number is randomly determined by the gaming machine controller.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multiplier number is randomly determined by a server operatively coupled to the gaming machine, the server having a server controller.  
   
   
       17 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the wagering game having a plurality of winning outcomes, the gaming machine including a display device and a controller having a processor and a memory, the display device displaying a first array of symbols, the method comprising: 
 detecting a first wager from a player to play the wagering game;    providing a buy-a-multiplier option to the player, the buy-a-multiplier option corresponding to a pre-determined symbol having a multiplier number;    detecting a second wager, the second wager indicating player selection of the buy-a-multiplier option;    displaying a game outcome; and    multiplying a value payout by the multiplier number to form a multiplied value payout if the game outcome includes one of the plurality of winning outcomes having the pre-determined symbol.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising awarding the multiplied value payout to the player.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein detecting the first wager includes detecting a first credit amount corresponding to wagering game play, and wherein detecting the second wager includes detecting a second credit amount corresponding to the buy-a-multiplier option.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first wager includes a minimum criteria.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein displaying the game outcome includes rotating and stopping a plurality of symbol bearing reels to place symbols on the reels in a second array of symbols, and wherein the minimum criteria includes player activation of a maximum number of pay lines.  
   
   
       22 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the wagering game having a plurality of winning outcomes, the gaming machine including a display device and a controller having a processor and a memory, the display device displaying a first array of symbols, the method comprising: 
 detecting a first wager from a player to play the wagering game;    providing a plurality of buy-a-multiplier options to the player, each of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options corresponding to a like pre-determined symbol and one of a plurality of multiplier numbers, each of the plurality of multiplier numbers corresponding to a different second wager amount;    detecting a second wager, the second wager indicating player selection of one of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options;    displaying a game outcome; and    multiplying a portion of a value payout by the multiplier number corresponding to the buy-a-multiplier option selected by the player to form a multiplied value payout if the game outcome includes one of the plurality of winning outcomes having the like pre-determined symbol.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising awarding the multiplied value payout to the player.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of multiplier numbers comprise increasing number values, each of the increasing number values corresponding to a respective increasing second wager amount.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein detecting the first wager includes detecting a first credit amount corresponding to wagering game play, and wherein detecting the second wager includes detecting a second credit amount corresponding to the multiplier number of the one of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options selected by the player.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first wager includes a minimum criteria.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein displaying the game outcome includes rotating and stopping a plurality of symbol bearing reels to place symbols on the reels in a second array of symbols, and wherein the minimum criteria includes player activation of a maximum number of pay lines.  
   
   
       28 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the wagering game having a plurality of winning outcomes, the gaming machine including a display device and a controller having a processor and a memory, the display device displaying a first array of symbols, the method comprising: 
 detecting a first wager from a player of the wagering game;    providing a plurality of buy-a-multiplier options to the player, each of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options corresponding to one of a plurality of pre-determined symbols having a corresponding multiplier number;    detecting a second wager, the second wager indicating player selection of one of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options, the one of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options including a first pre-determined symbol and a corresponding multiplier number;    displaying a game outcome; and    multiplying a portion of a value payout award by the corresponding multiplier number to form a multiplied value payout if the game outcome includes one of the plurality of winning outcomes having the first pre-determined symbol.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising awarding the multiplied value payout to the player.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of pre-selected symbols comprises the first array of symbols.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein detecting the first wager includes detecting a first credit amount corresponding to wagering game play, and wherein detecting the second wager includes detecting a second credit amount corresponding to the one of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options selected by the player.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first wager includes a minimum criteria.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein displaying the game outcome includes rotating and stopping a plurality of symbol bearing reels to place symbols on the reels in a second array of symbols, and wherein the minimum criteria includes player activation of a maximum number of pay lines.  
   
   
       34 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the wagering game having a plurality of winning outcomes, the gaming machine including a display device and a controller having a processor and a memory, the display device displaying a first array of symbols, the method comprising: 
 detecting a first wager from a player of the wagering game;    providing a plurality of buy-a-multiplier options to the player, each of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options corresponding to one of a plurality of pre-determined symbols, each of the plurality of pre-determined symbols having a plurality of multiplier numbers, each of the plurality of multiplier numbers corresponding to a different second wager amount;    detecting a second wager, the second wager indicating player selection of one of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options, the one of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options including a first pre-determined symbol and a first multiplier number associated with the first pre-determined symbol;    displaying a game outcome; and    multiplying a portion of a value payout award by the first multiplier number to form a multiplied value payout if the game outcome includes one of the plurality of winning outcomes having the first pre-determined symbol.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising awarding the multiplied value payout to the player.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of multiplier numbers comprise increasing number values, each of the increasing number values corresponding to a respective increasing second wager amount.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of pre-determined symbols comprises the first array of symbols.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein detecting the first wager includes detecting a first credit amount corresponding to wagering game play, and wherein detecting the second wager includes detecting a second credit amount corresponding to the one of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options selected by the player.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the first wager includes a minimum criteria.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein displaying the game outcome includes rotating and stopping a plurality of symbol bearing reels to place symbols on the reels in a second array of symbols, and wherein the minimum criteria includes player activation of a maximum number of pay lines.  
   
   
       41 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the wagering game having a plurality of winning outcomes, the gaming machine including a display device and a controller having a processor and a memory, the display device displaying a first array of symbols, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of buy-a-multiplier options to a player, each of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options corresponding to one of a plurality of pre-determined symbols, each of the plurality of pre-determined symbols having a plurality of multiplier numbers, each of the plurality of multiplier numbers corresponding to a different second wager amount;    detecting a second wager, the second wager indicating player selection of a first buy-a-multiplier option of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options, the first buy-a-multiplier option including a first pre-determined symbol and a first multiplier number associated with the first pre-determined symbol;    detecting a third wager, the third wager indicating player selection of a second buy-a-multiplier option of the plurality of buy-a-multiplier options, the second buy-a-multiplier option including a second pre-determined symbol and a second multiplier number associated with the second pre-determined symbol;    displaying a game outcome;    multiplying a first portion of a value payout award by the first multiplier number to form a first multiplied value payout if the game outcome includes one of the plurality of winning outcomes having the first pre-determined symbol; and    multiplying a second portion of the value payout award by the second multiplier number to form a second multiplied value payout if the game outcome includes one of the plurality of winning outcomes having the second pre-determined symbol.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising awarding the first multiplied value payout to the player.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising awarding the second multiplied value payout to the player.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein detecting the first wager includes detecting a first credit amount corresponding to wagering game play, wherein detecting the second wager includes detecting a second credit amount corresponding to the first buy-a-multiplier option, and wherein detecting the third wager includes detecting a second credit amount corresponding to the second buy-a-multiplier option.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the first wager includes a minimum criteria.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein displaying the game outcome includes rotating and stopping a plurality of symbol bearing reels to place symbols on the reels in a second array of symbols, and wherein the minimum criteria includes player activation of a maximum number of pay lines.  
   
   
       47 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a slot machine, the slot machine including a plurality of rotating symbol bearing reels, a display device and a controller having a processor and a memory, the method comprising: 
 providing an option for manual reel set-up;    detecting a manual reel set-up wager from a player, the manual reel set-up wager indicating player selection of the manual reel set-up option;    in response to detecting the manual reel set-up wager, enabling manual reel set-up by the player; and    detecting manual rotation of the symbol bearing reels by the player to place symbols on the reels in a first symbol array, the first symbol array selected by the player.    
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 rotating and stopping the plurality of symbol bearing reels in a second symbol array, the second symbol array selected by the controller; and    awarding a value payout if the second symbol array includes one of a plurality of winning symbol combinations of the wagering gaming.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 rotating and stopping the plurality of symbol bearing reels in a second symbol array, the second symbol array selected by the controller; and    awarding a value payout if a portion of the second symbol array includes a portion of the first symbol array.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising detecting a game wager to play the wagering game prior to the step of providing the option for manual reel set-up.  
   
   
       51 . An gaming machine for conducting an enhanced wagering game, the gaming machine comprising: 
 display device;    a value input device; and    a controller coupled to the display device and the value input device, the controller having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the controller being programmed to: 
 provide at least one buy-a-multiplier option to a player, the at least one buy-a-multiplier option corresponding to a buy-a-multiplier outcome having a multiplier number,  
 detect a buy-a-multiplier wager, the buy-a-multiplier wager indicating player selection of the at least one buy-a-multiplier option,  
 display a game outcome of the wagering game, and  
 multiply a value payout award by the multiplier number to form a multiplied value payout if the game outcome includes the buy-a-multiplier outcome corresponding to the at least one buy-a-multiplier option.  
   
   
   
       52 . The gaming machine of  claim 51 , wherein the controller is further programmed to award the multiplied value payout to the player.  
   
   
       53 . The gaming machine of  claim 51 , wherein the display device comprises a video display.  
   
   
       54 . The gaming machine of  claim 51 , wherein the display device comprises a flat panel transmissive display positioned in front of mechanical spinning reels of the gaming machine.