Patent ID: 7722460

Claim:
A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising: receiving a player parameter selection at a slot machine from a player at the slot machine; and initiating an automated play mode of said slot machine for the player based on said player parameter selection while the player is at the slot machine, the automated play mode being a mode of operation of the slot machine in which a new reel spin is commenced after termination of a prior reel spin without receiving any input from the player that requests the new reel spin at the slot machine, said new reel spin being independent of said prior reel spin, each reel spin of the automated play mode being associated with a distinct wager associated with said slot machine: (i) randomly generating a plurality of symbols, (ii) displaying the randomly generated symbols and (iii) providing any award associated with the randomly generated symbols, wherein when the automated play mode is initiated, the automated play mode is associated with a then unknown quantity of reel spins.