Patent ID: 8152630

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) maintain: (A) a balance of accumulated bonus event points and (B) a plurality of different bonus event configurations, wherein each of said maintained bonus event configurations is associated with a bonus event average expected payout; (b) enable a player to place a wager on each of a plurality of plays of a primary game; (c) accumulate a quantity of bonus event points; (d) display said plurality of primary games to the player and provide the player any primary game awards for any designated winning outcomes in any of said plurality of primary games; and (e) for one of the plays of the primary game, if a bonus event triggering condition occurs in association with said play of the primary game: (i) select one of said maintained plurality of different bonus event configurations for the triggered bonus event, said selection based on: (A) the wager placed on said play of the primary game, and (B) said maintained balance of accumulated bonus event points, (ii) randomly determine and display a bonus event award for the triggered bonus event, said bonus event award is in accordance with said bonus event average expected payout of said selected bonus event configuration and at least one random determination, (iii) provide the player the determined bonus event award, and (iv) subtract a quantity of bonus event points from said maintained balance of accumulated bonus event points, said quantity of bonus event points subtracted is based on the selected bonus game configuration.