Patent ID: 8535143

Claim:
A gaming machine comprising: a wager-input device configured to receive a first wager from a player to play a wagering game having a basic game and a bonus game, the bonus game being triggered by a triggering event during the basic game, the bonus game including a default expected value and an enhanced expected value, the enhanced expected value being greater than the default expected value; and a display configured to display a plurality of symbols during the basic game, the symbols indicating a randomly-selected outcome of the basic game selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to the first wager; wherein at least one bonus-game-enhancement parameter is displayed and the player is provided an option of submitting a second wager, independent and distinct from the first wager, to enable the at least one bonus-game-enhancement parameter, the bonus game having the default expected value when the at least one bonus-game-enhancement parameter is not enabled and having the enhanced expected value when the at least one bonus-game-enhancement parameter is enabled, and wherein the second wager does not influence the outcome of the basic game.