Patent ID: 8240670

Claim:
A gaming apparatus comprising: an input device; a display device; a processor; and a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to: (a) for each of a plurality of plays of a primary game: (i) randomly generate one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes, (ii) display said generated primary game outcome, and (iii) display any award associated with said displayed primary game outcome; (b) when a first bonus triggering event occurs in association with a first one of the plays of the primary game, cause a bonus value equal to at least part of an average expected value of a designated bonus award to be stored in an escrow; and (c) when a second bonus triggering event occurs in association with a second, different one of the plays of the primary game, cause at least part of any stored bonus value in the escrow to be provided to a first player.