Patent ID: 8105156
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: G06F,G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising: enabling a player to place a wager on a play of a primary game; causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display the play of the primary game; when a triggering event occurs in association with the play of the primary game, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a play of a bonus round; causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to receive an indication of a request by the player to take a tour of the bonus round; causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a number of times the player has previously taken the tour within a designated period of time, wherein said determination of the number of times the player has previously taken the tour within the designated period of time is independent of any amount of credits associated with any credit balance; causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether the number of times the player has previously taken the tour within the designated period of time is greater than a predetermined maximum number of tours allowed; and when the number of times the player has previously taken the tour within the designated period of time is not greater than the predetermined maximum number of tours allowed, without any occurrence of the triggering event, enabling the player to take the tour.