Patent ID: 8632388

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, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to: (a) enable a player to place a primary game wager on a play of a primary game, said play of the primary game employing a first paytable; (b) if said primary game wager is placed, determine and display a primary game outcome; (c) determine and provide any awards based on the determined primary game outcome in accordance with the first paytable; and (d) upon an occurrence of a designated triggering event: (i) initiate a bonus mode; (ii) after the bonus mode is initiated, display a plurality of options associated with a secondary game, including a first default option and at least one second different option, each of said options associated with a respective number of one or more plays of the secondary game, the number of plays of the secondary game associated with the at least one second different option being at least two; (iii) enable the player to select one of the displayed options; (iv) if the player selects the first default option, for each of the number of plays of the secondary game associated with the first default option: (A) determine and display a secondary game outcome without requiring any additional wager by the player, and (B) determine and provide any awards based on the determined secondary game outcome in accordance with a second paytable; and (v) if the player selects the at least one second different option: (A) for a first one of the plays of the secondary game associated with the at least one second different option: (1) require the player to place a required first additional wager having a first additional wager amount, (2) determine and display a secondary game outcome, and (3) determine and provide any awards based on the determined secondary game outcome in accordance with a third paytable having a third average expected payback; and (B) for a second subsequent one of the plays of the secondary game associated with the at least one second different option: (1) require the player to place a required second additional wager, an amount of the required second additional wager being greater than the first additional wager amount; (2) determine and display a secondary game outcome; and (3) determine and provide any awards based on the determined secondary game outcome in accordance with a fourth paytable having a fourth average expected payback that is greater than the third average expected payback.