Patent ID: 8864574

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: at least one display device; at least one input 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, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to: (a) independent of any game outcome of any play of any game, maintain a bonus event meter, (b) during a first period of time: (i) prior to any placement of a wager on a first play of a game, select a first paytable to employ in association with the first play of the game, said first paytable selected: (A) from a plurality of predetermined paytables, and (B) at least in part, based on a first value of the bonus event meter at a first point in time, (ii) enable a first player to place the wager on the first play of the game, (iii) randomly determine a first game outcome, (iv) display the randomly determined first game outcome, (v) determine, in accordance with the selected first paytable, an award associated with the first game outcome, and (vi) display the determined award associated with the first game outcome to the first player, and (c) during a second, different period of time: (i) prior to any placement of the wager on a second play of the game, select a second, different paytable to employ in association with the second play of the game, said second paytable selected: (A) from the plurality of predetermined paytables, and (B) at least in part, based on a second, different value of the bonus event meter at a second point in time, (ii) enable a second player to place the wager on the second play of the game, (iii) randomly determine a second game outcome, (iv) display the randomly determined second game outcome, (v) determine, in accordance with the selected second paytable, an award associated with the second game outcome, and (vi) display the determined award associated with the second game outcome to the second player.