Slot machine with opportunity to earn extra line(s)

Abstract

A slot machine that can award an extra line or lines as an incentive to the player for playing a predetermined amount of coins. If the player plays the predetermined amount of coins, a random line that is not originally available to the player can be highlighted to the player and activated. If a winning combination appears on the random line, the player wins an award as if the combination appeared on a line the player originally paid for.

1 . A method of implementing a slot machine game, the method comprising: 
 receiving a wager from a player comprising a player selected amount of coinage to wager on a chosen set of lines and a line wager for each of the chosen set of lines;    determining if the amount of coinage exceeds a predetermined threshold; and    awarding, if the determining determines that the amount of coinage exceeds the predetermined threshold, at least one extra line to the player not included in the chosen set of lines.    
   
   
       2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an extra line wager is equal to the line wager for each of the chosen set of lines.  
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein predetermined threshold is equal to a maximum amount of coins the player is allowed to wager.  
   
   
       4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the extra line is not available for direct wagering by the player.  
   
   
       5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extra line is available for direct wagering by the player.  
   
   
       6 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extra line is selected from a plurality of available of extra lines at random.  
   
   
       7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 highlighting the at least one extra line.    
   
   
       8 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extra line comprises two or more lines.  
   
   
       9 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extra line is determined randomly to be either one extra line or more than one extra lines.  
   
   
       10 . A slot machine apparatus, the apparatus comprising: 
 a receiving unit comprising a coin slot to receive a wager from a player comprising a player selected amount of coinage to wager on a chosen set of lines and a line wager for each of the chosen set of lines;    a determining unit comprising a processor to determine if the amount of coinage exceeds a predetermined threshold; and    an awarding unit, if the determining unit determines that the amount of coinage exceeds the predetermined threshold, comprising an output device to highlight and award at least one extra line to the player not included in the chosen set of lines.    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein an extra line wager is equal to the line wager for each of the chosen set of lines.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein predetermined threshold is equal to a maximum amount of coins the player is allowed to wager.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one extra line is not available for direct wagering by the player.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one extra line is available for direct wagering by the player.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one extra line is selected from a plurality of available of extra lines at random.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a highlighting unit to highlight the at least one extra line.    
   
   
       17 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one extra line comprises two or more extra lines.  
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one extra line is determined randomly to be either one extra line or more than one extra lines.  
   
   
       19 . A slot machine apparatus, the apparatus comprising: 
 means for receiving a wager from a player comprising a player selected amount of coinage to wager on a chosen set of lines and a line wager for each of the chosen set of lines;    means for determining if the amount of coinage exceeds a predetermined threshold; and    means for awarding, if the determining determines that the amount of coinage exceeds the predetermined threshold, at least one extra line to the player not included in the chosen set of lines.