Patent ID: 8491381

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 which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to: (a) if an individual bonus game triggering event occurs at a first point in time: (i) determine one of a plurality of different individual bonus games, (ii) enable a player to select any one of: (A) a play of the determined individual bonus game, (B) a play of a community game, wherein at the first point in time, the play of the community game is associated with a first average expected payout, and (C) a deferral of the play of the community game, (iii) if the player selects the play of the determined individual bonus game: (A) determine an individual bonus game award, (B) provide the determined individual bonus game award to the player, and (C) not provide any community game award to the player, (iv) if the player selects the play of the community game: (A) determine a first community game award, (B) provide the determined first community game award to the player, and (C) not provide any individual bonus game award to the player, and (v) if the player selects the deferral of the play of the community game: (A) accumulate a community game entry for the player, and (B) not provide any individual bonus game award to the player; (b) at a second, subsequent point in time: (i) enable the player to redeem any accumulated community game entries for a play of the community game, wherein at the second point in time, the play of the community game is associated with a second average expected payout; (ii) if the player redeems an accumulated community game entry for the play of the community game: (A) determine a second community game award, and (B) provide the determined second community game award to the player; and (c) at a third, subsequent point in time: (i) enable the player to redeem any accumulated community game entries for a play of the community game, wherein at the third point in time, the play of the community game is associated with a third average expected payout; (ii) if the player redeems an accumulated community game entry for the play of the community game: (A) determine a third community game award, and (B) provide the determined third community game award to the player.