Patent ID: 7862429

Claim:
A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising: causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine, prior to a wager being placed on a play of a primary game, an expected amount of play of a gaming device, the gaming device configured to enable a player to place the wager on the play of the primary game and to provide at least one input to: (a) play the primary game, and (b) play a bonus round upon an occurrence of a triggering event in the primary game; causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, based on the determined expected amount of play of the gaming device, whether to enable the player to tour the bonus round of the gaming device, the tour including at least one tour play of the bonus round, the at least one tour play of the bonus round provided without any occurrence of the triggering event; and if the determination is to enable the player to tour the bonus round: (a) causing a display device to display an offer to tour the bonus round, (b) enabling the player to provide an input indicative of an acceptance of the offer to tour the bonus round, (c) causing the display device to display the at least one tour play of the bonus round, (d) receiving an indication of at least one player selection made using an input device of the gaming device during the tour of the bonus round, (e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an outcome of the at least one tour play of the bonus round based on the received indication of the at least one player selection, and (f) providing a prize associated with the determined outcome to the player.