Systems and methods for executing games employing bonus amounts based on bonus characteristics

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing a player of a gaming device entitlement to a bonus amount, wherein the bonus amount may not be immediately apparent or attainable by the player. A gaming device player may acquire symbols in the context of a reel-based slot machine game. Certain symbols may entitle the player to a bonus payout, the bonus being apparent or attainable by the player at a later point in time and based on certain characteristics associated with the impending benefit. For example, gaming device players may obtain virtual representations of shares of company stock, which may only be sold (yielding a bonus to the player) under certain conditions, as dictated by the gaming device.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a wager amount from a player of a slot machine;   indicating to the player that the player is entitled to a bonus payout,
 in which the bonus payout does not include amounts of payouts from wagers; 
   initiating a plurality of spins of the gaming device;   determining symbols that have occurred on reels of the slot machine during play;   determining a value of the bonus payout based on the symbols that have occurred during play,
 in which the value of the bonus payout is greater than zero; 
   during the plurality of spins, displaying changing representations of the value of the bonus payout;
 in which the displayed representation does not convey a specific amount which corresponds to the value of the bonus payout; and 
 providing the bonus payout. 
   
     
     
         2 - 22 . (canceled)