Gaming apparatus, system and method

Abstract

A gaming apparatus configured to provide a main game and being capable of triggering at least one game event includes a component for storing a main game wager value. A player operable input means provided by the apparatus is operable to allow a player to place a wager which is supplementary to the wager placed on the main game and which has a value which is variable by the player in independence of the main game wager value. A processor is responsive to the supplementary wager value so as to determine a characteristic of the game event.

The claims defining the invention are as follows: 
     
         1 . A gaming apparatus configured to provide a main game and being capable of triggering at least one game event, the gaming apparatus including:
 a component for storing a main game wager value;   a player operable input means being operable to allow a player to place a wager which is supplementary to the main game wager, a value of the supplementary wager being variable by the player in independence of the main game wager value; and   a processor responsive to the supplementary wager value so as to determine a characteristic of the game event.   
     
     
         2 . A gaming apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the player operable input means is further operable to allow the player to vary the supplementary wager value. 
     
     
         3 . A gaming apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the player operable input means is operable to allow the player to vary the supplementary wager value from either a wager value previously selected by the player or an initial supplementary wager value determined by the gaming apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . A gaming apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the initial supplementary wager value is associated with a denomination setting for the gaming apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . A gaming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator for providing to the player information indicative of the characteristic and wherein the information is adjusted in response to an adjustment of the supplementary wager value. 
     
     
         6 . A gaming apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the game event includes awarding a bonus game. 
     
     
         7 . A gaming apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the game event includes one or more free games. 
     
     
         8 . A gaming apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the characteristic is a probability of the game event being triggered in association with the main game. 
     
     
         9 . A gaming apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the processor is configured to determine the probability such that the probability increases in response to an increase in the supplementary wager value. 
     
     
         10 . A gaming apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the gaming apparatus is capable of triggering a plurality of different game events and wherein the characteristic defines a subset of said plurality that are triggerable in association with the game. 
     
     
         11 . A gaming apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the player operable input means is operable to adjust the supplementary wager value in predefined increments and wherein each increment is associated with inclusion or exclusion of a different number of game events within the subset. 
     
     
         12 . A gaming apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the player operable input means is operable to allow players to place a plurality of supplementary wagers, with each wager being associated with a different characteristic of the game event. 
     
     
         13 . A method of gaming in which at least one game event is capable of being triggered, the method comprising:
 storing a main game wager value for play of a main game;   allowing a player to place a wager which is supplementary to the main game wager, a value of the supplementary wager being variable by the player in independence of the main game wager value; and   determining a characteristic of the game event responsive to the supplementary wager value.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  further comprising providing the player with an indication of the characteristic and wherein the indication is varied in response to a variation of the supplementary wager value. 
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the game event comprises awarding a bonus game or jackpot prize such that the determined characteristic is a probability of triggering the game event during play of the main game. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the probability increases in relation to the supplementary wager value. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of different game events are triggerable during the game and wherein the characteristic defines a subset of said plurality that will apply for the wagered game. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising allowing the player to adjust the supplementary wager value in predefined increments and wherein each increment is associated with the inclusion of a particular game event within the subset. 
     
     
         19 . A method of gaming comprising:
 providing a player with an opportunity to place a supplementary wager on a game, the supplementary wager operable to allow a game event to be triggerable during play of the game;   displaying a probability of triggering the game event based on a default supplementary wager value; and   allowing the player to vary the default supplementary wager value in independence of a base wager value, to thereby increase or decrease the probability of triggering the game event during the game.   
     
     
         20 . Computer readable medium implementing computer program code which, when executed by a computing system, implements the method according to  claim 13 .