Patent Publication Number: US-7591726-B2

Title: Gaming device having discounted activations or wagers

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to a gaming device, and more particularly to a gaming device having discounted activations or wagers. 
     Base or primary wagering games such as slot machines, video poker machines, blackjack machines, and keno machines are well-known. Typically, these machines employ a credit system, wherein one credit is equal to the listed monetary denomination of the machine. For example, one credit is equal to one dollar on a dollar machine. Thus, a player inserts money into the machine and receives the corresponding number of credits. 
     A player can bet one credit per game played. Alternatively, a player can bet more than one credit per game up to a maximum number of credits wagered per game. Awards that the player receives during game play are sometimes based on the number of credits wagered. In such games, betting a larger number of credits results in larger awards. Generally, in such gaming machines, the maximum award can only be obtained if the player is betting the maximum number of credits per game. 
     In certain wagering games, a player can place multiple wagers. For example, a player may be able to bet on multiple paylines during a slot game. As another example, a player may be able to bet on multiple hands during a game of video poker or blackjack. Generally, a player can bet one credit per hand or payline up to a maximum number of credits wagered per hand or payline. Again, betting a larger number of credits results in larger awards and the maximum award can only be obtained if a player is wagering the maximum number of credits per hand or payline. 
     Certain wagering games award one or more free activations of the primary game to a player upon the occurrence of a triggering event. Typically, the triggering event is a predetermined symbol or a combination of symbols. For instance, a player may be awarded free spins upon the occurrence of a triggering event in a slot game. Alternatively, a player may be awarded one or more free activations of a secondary or bonus game upon the occurrence of a triggering event. In either case, the free activations are automatically awarded to the player upon the occurrence of the triggering event. It should also be appreciated that the player does not wager any additional credits during the free activations. 
     It is desirable to provide players with new and different wagering gaming devices with new and different activation schemes for the enjoyment and entertainment of the players. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus and method for operating a wagering gaming device. Specifically, the present invention provides a gaming device that enables a player to accept an offer of a discounted game element upon the occurrence of a triggering event. A game element includes a primary game and any suitable components or functions of the primary game, such as a payline in a slot game or a hand or a card in a poker or blackjack game. The gaming device of the present invention includes any suitable primary game such as slot, poker, keno or blackjack. The triggering event occurs randomly or periodically in the primary game or in a secondary game. For example, the triggering event could be a symbol on a reel in a slot game or a symbol on a card in a poker game or a blackjack game. Upon the occurrence of the triggering event, the gaming device offers the discounted game element to the player. If a player accepts the offer, the gaming device activates the discounted game element. 
     In one embodiment, the discounted game element offered to the player is at least one discounted activation or reinitiation of the primary game. The activations are discounted in that the gaming device offers each reinitiation of the primary game for a wager that is less than the amount the player is currently wagering on the primary game. For example, if the player is wagering one credit on the primary game, the gaming device may offer the player five reinitiations of the primary game for only four total credits. Thus, in the above described example, the player would be considered to be wagering one credit per primary game for award purposes. However, less than one credit would be subtracted from the player&#39;s balance per primary game played (i.e., only four total credits wagered to play five primary games). 
     In the embodiment described above, the player is offered at least one reinitiation of the primary game for a wager that is less than the amount the player is currently wagering on the primary game. However, it should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, the gaming device may offer the player discounted activations of at least one primary game wherein the wagered amount is more or less than the amount the player is currently wagering on the primary game. For example, if the player is wagering one credit on the primary game, the gaming device may offer the player one reinitiation of a two credit primary game for only one credit. Thus, the player is considered to be wagering two credits for award purposes, but only one credit is subtracted from the player&#39;s balance. 
     In another embodiment, the discounted game element is any suitable component of the primary game. For example, the discounted game element could be a discounted payline in a slot game, a discounted hand in a poker or blackjack game or a discounted card in a keno game. It should be appreciated that the player may be offered more than one discounted component up to a maximum number of discounted components available in the primary game. 
     Generally, discounted components would be applied to at least one future primary game. For example, assuming that a player is wagering two credits on only one payline in a slot game, the gaming device may offer the player an additional discounted payline for a wager of only one credit. The additional discounted payline would to be applied to at least one future game. Thus, in the above described example, the player would be considered to be wagering four credits for award purposes (i.e., two on each payline). However, only three credits would be subtracted from the player&#39;s balance (i.e., two credits for the original payline and one credit for the discounted payline). It should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, a discounted component could be offered for use in an ongoing primary game rather than a future game. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for operating a gaming device. The method includes a number of steps for offering and initiating a discounted game element. The discounted game element includes a primary game or secondary game and any suitable components of the primary game or the secondary game, such as a payline in a slot game or a hand in a poker game. The method begins by initiating a first game. In one embodiment, the first game is a primary game and in an alternative embodiment, the first game is a secondary or bonus game. The method continues by offering at least one discounted game element upon the occurrence of a triggering event in the first game. Subsequently, the gaming device initiates the discounted game element if the discounted game element offer is accepted. 
     In a further alternative embodiment of the present invention, the gaming device provides a plurality of options or offers to the player upon the occurrence of the triggering event. In one such embodiment, the player is provided an offer to accept a number of credits as a win (or award) or to play a discounted game which employs such credits as all or part of the wager in discounted game. Thus, the present invention could be implemented through an offer/acceptance game. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, the gaming device provides a discounted game to the player upon the occurrence of a triggering event associated with the primary game which includes the player making a wager on the game which is at a predetermined level such as the maximum wager possible on the primary game. The discount is provided by not charging the player credits at the predetermined level or charging the player the predetermined amount and returning or crediting the player the amount of the discount, or part or component of the player&#39;s wager. 
     It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a gaming device and method for its operation, which offers discounted activations and wagers upon the occurrence of a triggering event. 
     Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the Figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of alternative embodiments of the gaming device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of the electronic configuration of one embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3A to 3D  are enlarged front elevation views of one of the display devices of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrating embodiments of a slot game having discounted activations or wagers. 
         FIGS. 4A to 4D  are enlarged front elevation views of one of the display devices of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrating embodiments of a poker game having discounted activations or wagers. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for operating a gaming device adapted for offering discounted activations or wagers. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Gaming Device and Electronics 
     Referring now to the drawings, two embodiments of the gaming device of the present invention are illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  as gaming device  10   a  and gaming device  10   b , respectively. Gaming device  10   a  and/or gaming device  10   b  are generally referred to herein as gaming device  10 . Gaming device  10  is preferably a slot machine having the controls, displays and features of a conventional slot machine. It is constructed so that a player can operate it while standing or sitting, and gaming device  10  is preferably mounted on a console. However, it should be appreciated that gaming device  10  can be constructed as a pub-style table-top game (not shown) which a player can operate preferably while sitting. Furthermore, gaming device  10  can be constructed with varying cabinet and display designs, as illustrated by the designs shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . Gaming device  10  can also be implemented as a program code stored in a detachable cartridge for operating a hand-held video game device. Also, gaming device  10  can be implemented as a program code stored on a disk or other memory device which a player can use in a desktop or laptop personal computer or other computerized platform. 
     Gaming device  10  can incorporate any primary game such as slot, poker, blackjack or keno, any of their bonus triggering events and any of their bonus round games. The symbols and indicia used on and in gaming device  10  may be in mechanical, electrical or video form. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , gaming device  10  includes a coin slot  12  and bill acceptor  14  where the player inserts money, coins or tokens. The player can place coins in the coin slot  12  or paper money or ticket vouchers in the bill acceptor  14 . Other devices could be used for accepting payment such as readers or validators for credit cards, debit cards, or smart cards. When a player inserts money in gaming device  10 , a number of credits corresponding to the amount deposited is shown in a credit display  16 . After depositing the appropriate amount of money, a player can begin the game by pulling arm  18  or pushing play button  20 . Play button  20  can be any play activator used by the player which starts any game or sequence of events in the gaming device. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , gaming device  10  also includes a bet display  22  and a bet one button  24 . The player places a bet by pushing the bet one button  24 . The player can increase the bet by one credit each time the player pushes the bet one button  24 . When the player pushes the bet one button  24 , the number of credits shown in the credit display  16  decreases by one, and the number of credits shown in the bet display  22  increases by one. The gaming device could also include a conventional bet max button. 
     A player may cash out and thereby receive a number of coins corresponding to the number of remaining credits by pushing a cash out button  26 . When the player cashes out, the player receives the coins in a coin payout tray  28 . The gaming device  10  may employ other payout mechanisms such as credit slips redeemable by a cashier or electronically recordable cards (i.e. smart cards) which keep track of the player&#39;s credits. 
     Gaming device  10  also includes one or more display devices. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A  includes a central display device  30 , and the alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 1B  includes a central display device  30  as well as an upper display device  32 . Gaming device  10  preferably displays a plurality of reels  34 , preferably three to five reels  34  in mechanical or video form at one or more of the display devices. A display device can be any viewing surface such as glass, a video monitor or screen, a liquid crystal display or any other display mechanism. If the reels  34  are in video form, the display device for the video reels  34  is preferably a video monitor. 
     Each reel  34  displays a plurality of indicia such as bells, hearts, fruits, numbers, letters, bars or other images which preferably correspond to a theme associated with the gaming device  10 . Furthermore, gaming device  10  preferably includes speakers  36  for making sounds or playing music. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the general electronic configuration of gaming device  10  preferably includes: a processor  38 ; a memory device  40  for storing program code or other data; a central display device  30 ; an upper display device  32 ; a sound card  42 ; a plurality of speakers  36 ; and one or more input devices  44 . The processor  38  is preferably a microprocessor or microcontroller-based platform which is capable of displaying images, symbols and other indicia such as images of people, characters, places, things and faces of cards. The memory device  40  can include random access memory (RAM)  46  for storing event data or other data generated or used during a particular game. The memory device  40  can also include read only memory (ROM)  48  for storing program code which controls the gaming device  10  so that it plays a particular game in accordance with applicable game rules and pay tables. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the player preferably uses the input devices  44 , such as pull arm  18 , play button  20 , the bet one button  24  and the cash out button  26  to input signals into gaming device  10 . In certain instances it is preferable to use a touch screen  50  and an associated touch screen controller  52  instead of a conventional video monitor display device. Touch screen  50  and touch screen controller  52  are connected to a video controller  54  and processor  38 . A player can make decisions and input signals into the gaming device  10  by touching touch screen  50  at the appropriate places. As further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the processor  38  can be connected to coin slot  12  or bill acceptor  14 . The processor  38  can be programmed to require a player to deposit a certain amount of money in order to start the game. 
     It should be appreciated that although a processor  38  and memory device  40  are preferable implementations of the present invention, the present invention can also be implemented using one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC&#39;s) or other hard-wired devices, or using mechanical devices (collectively or alternatively referred to herein as a “processor”). Furthermore, although the processor  38  and memory device  40  preferably reside on each gaming device  10  unit, it is possible to provide some or all of their functions at a central location such as a network server for communication to a playing station such as over a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), Internet connection, microwave link, and the like. The processor  38  and memory device  40  are generally referred to herein as the “computer.” 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2 , to operate the gaming device  10  in one embodiment the player must insert the appropriate amount of money or tokens at coin slot  12  or bill acceptor  14  and then pull the arm  18  or push the play button  20 . The reels  34  will then begin to spin. Eventually, the reels  34  will come to a stop. As long as the player has credits remaining, the player can spin the reels  34  again. Depending upon where the reels  34  stop, the player may or may not win additional credits. 
     In addition to winning credits in this manner, in one embodiment gaming device  10  also gives players the opportunity to win credits in a bonus round. This type of gaming device  10  will include a program which will automatically begin a bonus round when the player has achieved a qualifying condition in the game. This qualifying condition can be a particular arrangement of indicia on a display device. The gaming device  10  preferably uses a video-based central display device  30  to enable the player to play the bonus round. Preferably, the qualifying condition is a predetermined combination of indicia appearing on a plurality of reels  34 . As illustrated in the five reel slot game shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the qualifying condition could be the number seven appearing on three adjacent reels  34  along a payline  56 . It should be appreciated that the present invention can include one or more paylines, such as payline  56 , wherein the paylines can be horizontal, diagonal or any combination thereof. 
     Discounted Activations or Wagers 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3A , a central display device  30  generally illustrates one embodiment of the present invention. The central display device  30  preferably is a touch screen display device. The game in this embodiment is a slot game. The slot game in this embodiment includes a set of video reels  34  having a plurality of symbols  58  on each reel  34 . Further, the slot game includes at least one payline, for example, horizontal payline  56 . The paylines in a slot game may include any adjacent horizontal, diagonal or combination of horizontal and diagonal symbol positions. Horizontal payline  56  is illustrated here for the sake of illustration. The payline  56  in this embodiment includes five symbol positions. 
     A player may bet or wager any suitable number of credits up to a maximum number of credits. The player must bet at least one credit. The player places a bet by pressing bet one button  64 . The current number of credits being wagered is reflected in bet display  22 . The player increases the bet by one credit each time the bet one button  64  is pressed. Thus, when the player pushes the bet one button  64 , the number of credits shown in credit display  16  decreases by one, and the number of credits shown in the bet display  22  increases by one. The player can bet the maximum number of credits by pressing bet max button  65 . The player in this embodiment is betting one credit as shown in the bet display  22 . 
     The video reels  34  in this embodiment randomly display symbols  58  for each symbol position on the video reels  34 . The player activates or spins the video reels  34  by, for example, pressing spin button  62 . Alternatively, pressing the bet max button  65  or the play button (not shown) could activate the video reels  34 . When the video reels  34  have come to rest, payline  56  is analyzed to determine whether a winning combination has been produced. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3B , a winning combination triggering a discounted game element according to an embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the winning combination is the occurrence of the three discounted games symbols  60  along payline  56 . The discounted game element in this embodiment is the primary game, that is, at least one discounted activation or reinitiation of the primary game. Thus, the triggering event for the discounted activations of the primary game in this embodiment is the occurrence of three discounted games symbols  60  along payline  56 . 
     In this embodiment, three symbols trigger the discounted activations, but it should be appreciated that any predetermined combination and/or number of symbols can act as the triggering event. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that in one preferred embodiment, the triggering event could occur along any of the paylines on which the player is wagering. In this embodiment, the triggering event must occur along payline  56  because that is the only active payline. 
     Upon the occurrence of the triggering event, the player is offered a chance to purchase discounted activations of the primary game. In this embodiment, the player is wagering one credit for one spin of the reels, as shown in bet display  22 . However, it should be appreciated that the player could wager any suitable number of credits per spin of the reels. As shown in offer window  66 , the player is offered the chance to purchase ten discounted spins for only five credits. Thus, the player has the option to keep wagering one credit per spin but need only pay one-half credit per spin (i.e., five credits divided by ten spins). However, the player must affirmatively accept the offer by, for example, pressing yes indicator or button  67 . 
     If the player accepts the offer, the ten discounted spins are then provided to the player. Thus, the player realizes a savings of one-half credit per spin, that is, the player has essentially purchased each spin for one-half credit. Alternatively, the player can choose to decline the offer by pressing no indicator or button  68 . If the player declines the offer, game play will proceed as before, for example, with the player having the ability to wager a suitable number of credits on each spin, as shown in  FIG. 3A . 
     In this embodiment, the player is offered ten spins for five credits. However, it should be noted that the player could be offered the opportunity to purchase any number of discounted spins for any number of discounted credits. For instance, the player might be offered five spins for four credits or twenty spins for fifteen credits. Furthermore, in this embodiment, credits are used as the wagering unit. As described above, a credit is merely a symbolic wagering unit and it should be noted that any suitable type of wager may be used. For example, a player may wager using a smart card, actual currency, or the wager may be tied to a concurrent winning amount. Thus, a player might be offered five spins for $4.80 (rather than $5.00) and the player could have the wager amount deducted from a smart card or a debit account, the player could insert the appropriate currency into the gaming device or the player could have the amount deducted from concurrent winnings. 
     In this embodiment, the player has the opportunity to purchase discounted activations of the primary game for a wager that is less than the amount the player is currently wagering on the primary game. In an alternative embodiment, the player is presented with the opportunity to purchase discounted activations where the wagered amount is more than the amount the player is currently wagering on the primary game. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3C , the bet display  22  indicates that the player is currently wagering one credit on the game. However, a winning combination of discounted games symbols  60  has been produced along payline  56 . Accordingly, the player is presented with the opportunity to purchase a discounted activation of the primary game. Offer window  66  indicates that the player may wager two credits on the primary game for the cost of only one credit. The player must affirmatively accept the offer by pressing the yes button  67 . If the player accepts the offer, the player receives a two credit wager on the primary game, but only has to pay a discounted rate of one credit for the activation of the primary game. 
     Alternatively, the player can choose to decline the offer by pressing no button  68 . If the player declines the offer, game play will proceed as before, for example, with the player having the ability to wager a suitable number of credits on each spin, as shown in  FIG. 3A . 
     In the above-described embodiments, the discounted game element was a reinitiation of the entire primary game. In alternative embodiments, the discounted game element is any suitable component of the primary game. In one embodiment, the discounted game element is at least one discounted payline in a slot game. In  FIG. 3A , the player is wagering one credit on payline  56  in the primary game. The player spins the video reels  34  by pressing the spin button  62 . When the video reels  34  come to rest, payline  56  is analyzed to determine whether a winning combination has been produced. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3D , discount paylines symbols  60  along payline  56  signal that a winning combination has been produced. Accordingly, the player is presented with the opportunity to purchase at least one discounted game element. In this embodiment, the player has the chance to purchase discounted paylines, that is, discounted wagers on paylines  55 ,  56  and  57  as indicated by offer window  66 . The player must affirmatively accept the offer by pressing the yes button or indicator  67 . If the player accepts the offer, the player receives a one credit wager on each of the paylines  55 ,  56  and  57 , but only two total credits are subtracted from the player&#39;s remaining balance which is shown in credit display  16 . Alternatively, the player can choose to decline the offer by pressing no button or indicator  68 . If the player declines the offer, game play will proceed as described above with reference to  FIG. 3A . 
     In this embodiment, the player has the opportunity to activate two discounted paylines  55  and  57 . However, it should be appreciated that the player could be offered the chance to activate any suitable number of discounted paylines. For example, the player could be offered the chance to wager one credit on each of five paylines for only four total credits. Alternatively, the player could be offered the chance to choose the number of discounted paylines to activate. In further alternative embodiments, the player may even be offered an increased wager on the discounted paylines. For example, a player wagering one credit on a payline might be offered the chance to wager three credits on three paylines for a total cost of only five credits. 
     It should also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, several alternatives may be presented to the player for their selection. For instance, the player might be offered five discounted game elements for four credits, ten discounted game elements for seven credits or fifteen discounted game elements for ten credits. Thus, the player would have the ability to select the number of the discounted game elements that they would like to purchase. Further, the discount could be increased, as in the above example, when a larger number of discounted game elements are offered. 
     In the above described embodiment, the discounted game element was a payline in a slot game. It should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, the discounted game element could be any suitable component in the primary game. For example, the discounted game element could be a discounted hand in a poker or blackjack game or a discounted number in a keno game. It should also be appreciated that the player may be offered more than one discounted component up to a maximum number of discounted components available in the primary game. 
     It should be noted that the primary game is not limited to slots. The primary game could be any suitable primary game such as keno, blackjack or poker. Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a central display device  30  generally illustrates one embodiment of the present invention where the primary game is video poker. Bet display  22  indicates that the player is currently wagering one credit on each video poker game. However, a player may bet or wager any suitable number of credits up to a maximum number of credits. The player must bet at least one credit. The player places a bet by pressing bet one button  64 . The player increases the bet by one credit each time the bet one button  64  is pressed. Thus, when the player pushes the bet one button  64 , the number of credits shown in credit display  16  decreases by one, and the number of credits shown in the bet display  22  increases by one. The player can bet the maximum number of credits by pressing bet max button  65 . 
     The video poker game in this embodiment includes a number of cards  70 . Predetermined combinations of the cards  70  result in winning combinations. The payoff for a winning combination is tied to the number of credits the player is wagering. The player must wager the maximum amount of credits to achieve the maximum payoff. In this embodiment, the player is wagering the minimum amount of one credit. 
     To start the video poker game, the player presses the deal button  72 . After pressing the deal button, the player will be presented with a new hand of cards  70 . If a winning combination is produced, the player receives the corresponding payoff.  FIG. 4B  shows an embodiment where the player has received a winning combination. Three of the cards  70  are a queen, meaning that the player has received a three of kind. In this embodiment, status window  76  indicates that a three of kind pays eight credits for a one credit wager. 
     In addition to the three of a kind, a triggering event for a discounted game element was also produced. The triggering event in this embodiment is discount hands symbol  74 . Thus, the player has the chance to purchase a discounted game element. In this embodiment, the discounted game element is at least one discounted video poker hand. In this embodiment, the number of discounted hands offered to the player depends on the card associated with the discount hands symbol  74 . Since the discount hands symbol  74  appeared on the card  70  having the number four, the player is offered four discounted hands for three credits as shown in status window  76 . 
     In this embodiment, the player has the ability to deduct the cost for the discounted hands from the player&#39;s concurrent winnings. Thus, the player can deduct the three credits for the four discounted hands from the eight credits that were won on this hand for the three of a kind. The player must press the yes indicator or button  78  to accept the discounted hands offer. If the player decides to accept the discounted hands offer, then in one embodiment, the player plays a multi-hand video poker game as shown in  FIG. 4C . The hands could alternatively be provided sequentially instead of concurrently. 
     In this embodiment, the multi-hand video poker game includes the four discounted hands  82 . The hands are discounted in that the player is wagering one credit one each hand as shown by bet display  22 , but only paid or tendered a total of three credits. The three credits were paid out of the player&#39;s eight winning credits. Thus, the five remaining winning credits are added to the player&#39;s remaining balance as shown by credit display  16 . 
     If the player does not accept the discount hands offer, then player resumes normal game play as shown in  FIG. 4D . Credit display  16  shows that the player&#39;s eight winning credits are added the player&#39;s remaining balance. The player can cash out by pressing the cash out button (not shown) or the player can continue to wager any suitable amount on the video poker game. 
     It should be appreciated in alternative embodiments, the number of discounted hands offered to player does not need to be tied to the card associated with the triggering event. The number of discounted hands may be any predetermined or random number. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a method for operating a gaming device is described. As described above, the gaming device can include any type of primary game. For example, the primary game may be slots, video poker, blackjack, or keno. The method starts at block  100  and continues to decision diamond  102  where a check is made to see if the appropriate monetary unit is received. For example, the gaming device might require one credit for one initiation of the primary game. If the gaming device does not receive the appropriate monetary unit, the decision diamond  102  repeats the check until the appropriate monetary unit is received. 
     If the appropriate monetary unit is received, a check is made as indicated by decision diamond  104  to see if input is received to wager at least one credit. In this embodiment, one credit is wagered, but it should be noted that any suitable number of credits may be wagered during game play. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the wagering unit does not have to be a credit. For example, the gaming device might have actual currency amounts as the wagering unit. If input to wager a credit is not received, the decision diamond  104  repeats the check until the input to wager a credit is received. 
     If the input to wager a credit is received, then the primary game is initiated as indicated by block  106 . A check is made to see if a winning combination appears as indicated by decision diamond  108 . If a winning combination appears, the player is awarded the appropriate award at indicated at block  110 . After awarding the appropriate award to the player, an inquiry is made to see if a discounted game element trigger appears as indicated by decision diamond  112 . Alternatively, if a winning combination does not appear, then the discounted game element trigger inquiry is made immediately as indicated by step  112 . If the discounted game play trigger appears, then an inquiry is made to see if input to accept the discounted game element is received as indicated by decision diamond  114 . The discounted game element trigger in this embodiment is a triggering event as indicated in the above-described embodiments. 
     If an input accepting the discounted game element is received, then the discounted game element is initiated as indicated by block  116 . The discounted game element includes a primary game and any suitable components of the primary game, such as a payline in a slot game or a hand in a poker game. 
     After the discounted game element is initiated as indicated by block  116 , an inquiry is made as to whether any winning combinations have been produced as indicated by the decision diamond  108 . The procedure between decision diamond  108  and decision diamond  112  is the same as described above and is therefore omitted. A check will be made again as indicated by decision diamond  112  to see if a discounted game element trigger appears. If the discounted game element trigger does not appear or if the discounted game element is not accepted, then a check will be made as indicated by decision diamond  118  to see if the input to cash out is received. 
     If the input to cash out is received, then the remaining balance is paid out as indicated by block  120 . The remaining balance can be paid by, for example, actual currency or tokens, or the a debit account or a smart card could be credited, or an attendant can be alerted to pay the balance. Once the remaining balance has been paid, game play is ended as indicated by terminator  122 . If the input to cash out is not received, then a check is again made as indicated by decision diamond  102  to see if the appropriate monetary unit is received. Thus, game play repeats in the fashion described above. 
     The triggering event for discounted game play occurs in the primary game of each of the embodiments described above. In alternative embodiments, it should be appreciated that the triggering event may occur in a secondary game such a bonus game. Thus, the player could be offered discounted reinitiations or activations of the primary game while playing a bonus game. Alternatively, the player might be offered discounted game elements in the bonus game, such as discounted paylines or keno cards. 
     As indicated above, in one alternative embodiment of the present invention, the gaming device provides a plurality of options or offers to the player upon the occurrence of a triggering event. In one example embodiment, upon the occurrence of a triggering event such as a win in a primary game, the gaming device offers the player a value or award such as a plurality of credits to the player or the opportunity to play one or more discounted games. For example, the gaming device could offer the player four-hundred credits or to play ten plays of a nine-line five bet game where the maximum wager is forty-five coins. Thus, the player could take the win of four-hundred credits or could take the discounted games offered to the player in place of the four-hundred credits. If the player accepts the discounted offer, the player receives each game at a discount, but makes or is provided the maximum wager in each game. 
     In a further alternative embodiment, the triggering event is a predetermined level of wager by the player for the primary game. In one such embodiment, the triggering event could be the player making the maximum wager in the primary game. The option could be provided on every play of the primary game, on a predetermined number of games per a set of games, randomly determined or otherwise suitably determined. In one embodiment, when the player makes the maximum wager of credits, an amount of credits less than the maximum wager is deducted from the player&#39;s credits and the player plays the game with the maximum wager. In another embodiment, the maximum wager is deducted from the player&#39;s credit and then the discounted amount of credits is provided or credited back to the player. The processor could cause the display device to display the amount of the discount or amount credited to the player. In one alternative embodiment, the discounted game is provided to the player in a subsequent game. 
     It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.