Patent ID: 8550895

Claim:
One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with instructions for directing a gaming system to perform a method comprising: receiving a wager from a player to play a wagering game, the wagering game having an overall payback percentage, a portion of the wagering game having a default expected value; offering an option to the player to play a gamble feature prior to play of the portion of the wagering game but after receiving the wager, the gamble feature having a possibility of a successful outcome or an unsuccessful outcome, the outcome of the gamble feature affecting the default expected value for the portion of the wagering game; receiving an input from the player to exercise the option to play the gamble feature; in response to the receiving, displaying on a display a plurality of game symbols associated with play of the gamble feature; indicating the outcome of the gamble feature with the plurality of game symbols; altering the default expected value of the portion of the wagering game based on the outcome of the gamble feature; and conducting the portion of the wagering game using the altered expected value.