Method of gaming, a game controller and a gaming system

Abstract

A method of gaming comprising: conducting a game requiring a player to make a choice between at least one optimal action and at least one sub-optimal action having a lower return to player than the optimal action such that the difference between the sub-optimal action and the optimal action represents a lost return to player; receiving a player choice of an action; and conducting a trial for an award in which the probability of success is controlled to provide an expected return to player from the trial that compensates the player for the lost return to player in response to determining that the choice is a sub-optimal action.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a player interface comprising a credit input mechanism configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value for credit input and establishing a credit balance;   a game play input to provide a plurality of inputs; and   a game controller executing instructions which cause the game controller to least:
 receive, via the game play input, a first input; 
 determine that the first input corresponds to a sub-optimal action; 
 determine a loss in a return-to-player based on the sub-optimal action and an optimal action; 
 increase a probability of success in winning an award for at least one play of a game; 
 receive, via the game play input, a second input for the at least one play of the game; and 
 determine whether the second input qualifies for an award for the at least one play of the game with the increased probability of success. 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the first input is received for a first play of the game and the at least one play of the game is at least a second play of the game that is subsequent to the first play of the game. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the game is a bonus game, and wherein the first input is received for a first play of the bonus game. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one play of the game comprises a second play of the bonus game subsequent to the first play of the bonus game. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the loss in the return-to-player is determined based on a return-to-player corresponding to the optimal action as compared to the sub-optimal action. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein an expected return-to-player is equivalent to the loss in the return-to-player when the first input corresponds to the sub-optimal action. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the award is a progressive jackpot. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 7 , wherein the game controller is configured to add the loss in the return-to-player to a pool of the progressive jackpot. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 7 , wherein the game controller is configured to add a first portion of the loss in the return-to-player to a pool of the progressive jackpot and a second portion of the loss in the return-to-player to a hidden meter. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 9 , wherein the game controller is configured to fund the pool of the progressive jackpot with at least a portion of an amount stored at the hidden meter when the award is paid out from the pool of the progressive jackpot. 
     
     
         11 . A method of conducting a game in a gaming system having a player interface comprising a credit input mechanism configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value for credit input and establishing a credit balance, a game play input to provide a plurality of player inputs, and a gaming controller configured to execute instructions, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the game controller via the game play input, a first player input;   determining, by the game controller, that the first player input corresponds to a sub-optimal action;   determining, by the game controller, a loss in a return-to-player based on the sub-optimal action and an optimal action;   increasing, by the game controller, a probability of success in winning an award for at least one play of the game;   receiving, by the game controller via the game play input, a second player input for the at least one play of the game; and   determining, by the game controller, whether the second player input qualifies for an award for the at least one play of the game with the increased probability of success.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first player input is received for a first play of the game and the at least one play of the game is at least a second play of the game that is subsequent to the first play of the game. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the game is a bonus game, and wherein the first player input is received for a first play of the bonus game. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one play of the game comprises a second play of the bonus game subsequent to the first play of the bonus game. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the loss in the return-to-player is determined based on a return-to-player corresponding to the optimal action as compared to the sub-optimal action. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein an expected return-to-player is equivalent to the loss in the return-to-player when the first player input corresponds to the sub-optimal action. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the award is a progressive jackpot. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising adding, by the game controller, the loss in the return-to-player to a pool of the progressive jackpot. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising adding, by the game controller, a first portion of the loss in the return-to-player to a pool of the progressive jackpot and a second portion of the loss in the return-to-player to a hidden meter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising funding, by the game controller, the pool of the progressive jackpot with at least a portion of an amount stored at the hidden meter when the award is paid out from the pool of the progressive jackpot.