Selectable Bonus System And Method

Abstract

A selectable bonus system and method are disclosed. A gaming machine system includes a gaming machine with a game containing a set of possible options, including a subset of options selectable by a player upon a triggering event. A bonus game is operated in accordance with the selected option.

1 . A networked gaming system including a plurality of gaming machines connected through a network to a host computer, at least one of the gaming machines including a game comprising: an interface activatable by a player; 
 at least one of a set of possible outcomes determined after activation of the interface by the player, the set of possible outcomes including a winning subset of outcomes;    a set of possible options, including a subset of options selectable by the player upon a triggering event; a selected option selected by the player from the subset of options;    and a bonus game operated in accordance with the selected option.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the triggering event is based on the determined outcome being a member of the winning subset of outcomes.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the triggering event is not based on the determined outcome being a member of the winning subset of outcomes.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the triggering event is based on the number of games played.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each option in the set of possible options is contained in the subset of selectable options.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each option in the set of possible options is not contained in the subset of selectable options.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein each option in the set of possible options has an equal probability of being contained in the subset of selectable options.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein each option in the set of possible options does not have an equal probability of being contained in the subset of selectable options.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  further including an average expected value for each option in the set of possible options, the average expected values all being equal.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  further including an average expected value for each option in the set of possible options, the average expected values not all being equal.  
   
   
       11 . A method of operating a networked gaming system, the method including the steps of: connecting a plurality of games; for one of the plurality of games, selecting one of a set of possible outcomes, the set of possible outcomes including a winning subset of outcomes; upon a triggering event, presenting a plurality of options to a player of the one game; accepting an option chosen by the player from the plurality of options; and operating a bonus game in accordance with the accepted option.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the triggering event is based on the selected outcome being a member of the winning subset of outcomes.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the triggering event is not based on the selected outcome being a member of the winning subset of outcomes.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the triggering event is based on the number of games played.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the average expected value for each option in the plurality of options is equal.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the average expected value for each option in the plurality of options is not equal.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , further including the step of selecting the plurality of options from a set of possible options.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each option in the set of possible options is included in the plurality of options presented to the player.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each option in the set of possible options is not included in the plurality of options presented to the player.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each option in the set of possible options has an equal probability of being included in the plurality of options presented to the player.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each option in the set of possible options does not have an equal probability of being included in the plurality of options presented to the player.