Patent ID: 7465227

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: at least one input device; at least one display device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to: (i) accept an input of a wager on a number of a plurality of paylines; (ii) after input of the wager, display a combination of symbols at a plurality of symbol positions associated with a plurality of reels, wherein the plurality of paylines are associated with the plurality of reels; (iii) determine if a designated combination of symbols has been displayed along one of the paylines, wherein odds of generating the designated combination of symbols vary based on the wager per payline; and (iv) if the designated combination of symbols has been displayed along one of the paylines, initiate a bonus game having a plurality of levels and associated with a bonus award, wherein: (a) a first one of the levels has odds contributing to a generation of the bonus award that vary based on the number of paylines wagered on and do not vary based on the wager per payline, and (b) a second one of the levels has odds contributing to the generation of the bonus award that vary also based on the number of paylines wagered on and do not vary based on the wager per payline.