Patent ID: 8038524

Claim:
A gaming machine that provides a base game in which a player stakes a wager on an outcome of the base game, and if a winning outcome occurs, the gaming machine awards that player a prize, the gaming machine including: a display that under the control of a game controller displays a plurality of display positions for displaying combinations of symbols; the game controller controlling operation of the gaming machine, and displaying selected images on the display; and a selector operable by a player of the gaming machine to enable the player to select at least one feature which can be added to the base game, wherein the gaming machine requires the player to stake an additional wager in order to be eligible for the selected feature, the gaming machine being arranged to allow the additional wager to be staked independently of any outcome of the base game, wherein there is no guarantee that the selected feature will eventuate merely by having staked the additional wager, and wherein when the selected feature eventuates, said controller awards a series of game events from which a prize provided by the feature may be won.