AU2011254048A1

AU2011254048A1 - Gaming Apparatus and Systems

Info

Publication number: AU2011254048A1
Application number: AU2011254048A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Benjamin James Ellis
Original assignee: Dynamite Games Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Desert IP Holdings BV
Priority date: 2003-10-17
Filing date: 2011-12-15
Publication date: 2012-01-19

Abstract

Gaming apparatus, e.g. an Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) (1), includes a controller (2) for implementing a game and is operable for the placement of a bet. The EGM (1) displays a gaming image on a display (5), e.g. virtual symbol reels or card hands, and receives player instructions via an input (6) or the like, e.g. to spin the reels or manage the cards. The EGM (1) includes a guarantee feature in which an event is guaranteed to trigger if a monitored event (e.g. of the same type as the guaranteed event) does not occur within a set amount of gameplay.

Description

1 Gaming Apparatus and Systems Technical Field The present invention relates to gaming apparatus and systems. It relates for 5 example to electronic gaming machines and to networked gaming systems, such as Internet-based gaming systems. Gaming machines have been a popular form of entertainment for many years. This popularity has been enhanced with the advent of electronic gaming machines and computer-based gaming systems, such as are provided over the Internet. 10 Many different types of game are playable. They include for example standard slot-machine type games with spinning reels, poker machines, keno, bingo, blackjack, roulette, pachinko and the like. A user will typically place a bet, press a button or pull a lever to begin a game, and will win or lose based upon the gaming machine's play algorithm and random 15 number generator. An aim of the present invention is to provide gaming apparatus having novel features for enhancing gameplay interest. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming 20 apparatus operable for placement of a bet, the apparatus including: a component for monitoring an amount of gameplay; a component for monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and an event guarantee component for guaranteeing that a guaranteed game event will trigger within a set amount of gameplay, the event guarantee component 25 including: a trigger component for triggering the guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered; and a reset component for resetting the monitored gameplay amount to a reset amount if either the monitored event or guaranteed game event is triggered, and wherein an aspect of the event guarantee component is variable in dependence 30 on a reset parameter. In an embodiment the aspect is the reset amount. Alternatively, the aspect 2 may be the set amount of gameplay for triggering the guaranteed game event. In an embodiment the aspect is a parameter of the guaranteed game event. 5 In an embodiment the guaranteed game event is a number of free plays of the game and wherein the parameter is the number. In an embodiment the reset parameter is associated with the monitored amount of gameplay. 10 In an embodiment the reset parameter is varied according to the amount of gameplay remaining at the time the event was triggered. In an embodiment the reset parameter is a total amount of bets placed over a 15 period of time preceding the reset. In an embodiment the reset parameter is a total amount of wins accumulated over a period of time preceding the reset. 20 In an embodiment the number of free games is increased in response to the total amount of bets placed/wins accumulated meeting a predefined threshold amount. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a 25 gaming apparatus operable for placement of a bet in a game, the apparatus including: a component for monitoring an amount of gameplay; a component for monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and an event guarantee component for guaranteeing that a guaranteed game 30 event will trigger within a set amount of gameplay provided that a gameplay criteria has been met, the event guarantee component including: a trigger component for triggering the guaranteed game event when the gameplay criteria has been met within the set guarantee gameplay amount and without the monitored event having been triggered. 35 In an embodiment the gameplay criteria is that a bet parameter value has reached or exceeded a threshold value.

3 In an embodiment the gameplay criteria is that a win parameter value has reached or exceeded a threshold value. 5 In an embodiment the gameplay criteria is that a bet parameter value and a win parameter value has not reached or exceeded a predefined threshold value. In an embodiment the gameplay criteria is that a win parameter value has not reached or exceeded a predefined threshold value. 10 In an embodiment the threshold value is set in dependence on the amount bet in one or more plays of the game. In an embodiment the bet parameter value is the total accumulated value of 15 bets placed during the monitored amount of gameplay. In an embodiment the win parameter value is the total accumulated value of wins awarded during the monitored amount of gameplay. 20 In an embodiment the win parameter value is the value of one or more predefined wins during the monitored amount of gameplay. In an embodiment the amount of gameplay is the number of plays of the game. 25 In an embodiment the event guarantee component is arranged to trigger an alternative guaranteed game event in response to determining that the gameplay criteria has not been met within the set guarantee gameplay amount and without the monitored event having been triggered. 30 In an embodiment the alternative guaranteed game event has a lesser prize potential or worth than the guaranteed game event. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a 35 gaming apparatus operable for placement of a bet in a game, the apparatus including: a component for monitoring an amount of gameplay; 4 a component for monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and an event guarantee component for guaranteeing that a guaranteed game event will trigger within a set amount of gameplay, the event guarantee component including: a trigger component for triggering the guaranteed game event when the set 5 guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered and wherein the first guaranteed game event is a second game having a higher prize potential or worth than the game in which the guaranteed game event was triggered. 10 In an embodiment the second game has at least one of a modified symbol set and paytable to the first game. In an embodiment the trigger component is arranged to trigger a further guaranteed game event when a set guarantee gameplay amount has been reached 15 in the second game without the monitored event having been triggered. In an embodiment at least one of the monitored event and set amount of gameplay in the second game is different to the monitored event/set amount of gameplay for the previous game. 20 In an embodiment the component for monitoring a game event is arranged to monitor for at least one additional game event in the second game and wherein the trigger component is arranged to trigger the further guaranteed game event when the set amount of gameplay has been reached without any of the monitored game 25 events having been triggered. In an embodiment the further guaranteed game event is a third game having a higher potential prize value or worth than the second game. 30 In an embodiment the event guarantee component further comprises a reset component for resetting play to the initial game in response to either the monitored event(s) being triggered within the set amount of gameplay or a reset criterion having been met. 35 In an embodiment the reset criterion is that a value of a monitored gameplay parameter has reached or exceeded a threshold value.

5 In an embodiment the gameplay parameter is an amount of bets accumulated in one or more plays of the game. In an embodiment the gameplay parameter is an amount of wins accumulated 5 in one or more plays of the game. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming apparatus operable for placement of a bet in a game, the apparatus including: 10 a component for monitoring an amount of gameplay; a component for monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and an event guarantee component for guaranteeing that a guaranteed game event will trigger within a set amount of gameplay, the event guarantee component including: a trigger component for triggering the guaranteed game event when the set 15 guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered and wherein the monitored game event is selected from a plurality of selectable game events, at least one of which has a different probability of being triggered in the game to another one of the selectable game events. 20 In an embodiment the monitored game event is selected by a player of the game. In an embodiment the monitored game event is randomly selected by the event guarantee component. 25 In an embodiment at least one of the type and set amount of monitored gameplay is determined, at least in part, in dependence on the selected game event. In an embodiment at least one of the type and set amount of monitored 30 gameplay is, at least in part, randomly determined by the gaming apparatus. In an embodiment a parameter of the guaranteed game event is determined, at least in part, in dependence on the selected game event. 35 In an embodiment the guaranteed game event is a number of free plays of a game and wherein the parameter is the number.

6 In an embodiment the component for monitoring a game event is further arranged to monitor for a plurality of selected game events such that the trigger component triggers the guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without any of the monitored events having been triggered. 5 In an embodiment the monitored game event is selected by the gaming apparatus in dependence on the value of a bet. In an embodiment the event guarantee component is operative only in 10 response to a supplementary bet being placed in the game. In an embodiment the apparatus further comprises an indicator for providing a non-continuous indication of the amount of gameplay remaining before the guaranteed game event will trigger, over the set amount of gameplay. 15 According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming apparatus operable for placement of a bet, the apparatus including: a component for monitoring an amount of gameplay; a component for monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and 20 an event guarantee component for guaranteeing that a guaranteed game event will trigger within a set amount of gameplay, the event guarantee component including: a trigger component for triggering the guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered; and an indicator for providing a non-continuous indication of the amount of 25 gameplay remaining before the guaranteed game event will trigger, over the set amount of gameplay. In an embodiment the indicator is operable to provide an intermittent indication of the amount of the gameplay remaining before the guaranteed game 30 event will trigger. In an embodiment the indicator is operable to provide the indication in response to a particular amount of monitored gameplay having been reached. 35 According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming apparatus operable for placement of a bet, the apparatus including: a component for monitoring an amount of gameplay responsive to a trigger 7 occurring monitoring criteria having been met; a component for monitoring the occurrence of a game event; an event guarantee component for guaranteeing that a guaranteed game event will trigger within a set amount of gameplay, the event guarantee component 5 including: a trigger component for triggering the guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered; and an indicator for providing a visual indication that the monitoring criteria has been met. 10 In an embodiment the monitoring criteria is that a trigger has occurred during play of a game. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a 15 method of gaming including: monitoring an amount of gameplay; monitoring the occurrence of a game event; triggering a guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered; and 20 resetting the monitored gameplay amount to a reset amount if either the monitored event or guaranteed game event is triggered, and wherein an aspect of the event guarantee component is variable in dependence on a reset parameter. In an embodiment the aspect is the reset amount. 25 In an embodiment the aspect is the set amount of gameplay for triggering the guaranteed game event. In an embodiment the aspect is a parameter of the guaranteed game event. 30 In an embodiment the guaranteed game event is a number of free plays of the game and wherein the parameter is the number. In an embodiment the reset parameter is associated with the monitored 35 amount of gameplay. In an embodiment the reset parameter is varied according to the amount of 8 gameplay remaining at the time the event was triggered. In an embodiment the reset parameter is a total amount of bets placed over a period of time preceding the reset. 5 In an embodiment the reset parameter is a total amount of wins accumulated over a period of time preceding the reset. In an embodiment the number of free games is increased in response to the 10 total amount of bets placed/wins accumulated meeting a predefined threshold amount. According to an eighth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of gaming including: 15 monitoring an amount of gameplay; monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and triggering a guaranteed game event when a gameplay criteria has been met within the set guarantee gameplay amount and without the monitored event having been triggered. 20 In an embodiment the gameplay criteria is that a bet parameter value has reached or exceeded a threshold value. In an embodiment the gameplay criteria is that a win parameter value has 25 reached or exceeded a threshold value. In an embodiment the gameplay criteria is that a bet parameter value has not reached or exceeded a predefined threshold value. 30 In an embodiment the gameplay criteria is that a win parameter value has not reached or exceeded a predefined threshold value. In an embodiment the threshold value is set in dependence on the amount bet in one or more plays of the game. 35 In an embodiment the bet parameter value is the total accumulated value of bets placed during the monitored amount of gameplay.

9 In an embodiment the win parameter value is the total accumulated value of wins awarded during the monitored amount of gameplay. 5 In an embodiment the win parameter value is the value of one or more predefined wins during the monitored amount of gameplay. In an embodiment the amount of gameplay is the number of plays of the game. 10 In an embodiment the method further comprises triggering an alternative guaranteed game event in response to determining that the gameplay criteria has not been met within the set guarantee gameplay amount and without the monitored event having been triggered. 15 In an embodiment the alternative guaranteed game event has a lesser prize potential or worth than the guaranteed game event. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention there is provided a 20 method of gaming including: monitoring an amount of gameplay; monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and triggering a guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered and wherein 25 the guaranteed game event is a secondary game having a higher prize potential or worth than the game in which the guaranteed game event was triggered. In an embodiment the second game has at least one of a modified symbol set and paytable to the first game. 30 In an embodiment the method further comprises triggering a further guaranteed game event when a set guarantee gameplay amount has been reached in the second game without the monitored event having been triggered. 35 In an embodiment at least one of the monitored event and set amount of gameplay in the second game is different to the monitored event/set amount of gameplay for the previous game.

10 In an embodiment the method further comprises monitoring for at least one additional game event in the second game and wherein the further guaranteed game event is triggered when the set amount of gameplay has been reached without any of 5 the monitored game events having been triggered. In an embodiment the further guaranteed game event is a third game having a higher potential prize value or worth than the second game. 10 In an embodiment the method further comprises resetting play to the initial game in response to either the monitored event(s) being triggered within the set amount of gameplay or a reset criterion having been met. In an embodiment the reset criterion is that a value of a monitored gameplay 15 parameter has reached or exceeded a threshold value. In an embodiment the gameplay parameter is an amount of bets accumulated in one or more plays of the game. 20 In an embodiment the gameplay parameter is an amount of wins accumulated in one or more plays of the game. According to a tenth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of gaming including: 25 monitoring an amount of gameplay; monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and triggering a guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered and wherein the monitored game event is selected from a plurality of selectable game events, at 30 least one of which has a different probability of being triggered in the game to another one of the selectable game events. In an embodiment the monitored game event is selected by a player of the game. 35 In an embodiment the monitored game event is randomly selected by the event guarantee component.

11 In an embodiment at least one of the type and set amount of monitored gameplay is determined, at least in part, in dependence on the selected game event. 5 In an embodiment at least one of the type and set amount of monitored gameplay is, at least in part, randomly determined by the gaming apparatus. In an embodiment a parameter of the guaranteed game event is determined, at least in part, in dependence on the selected game event. 10 In an embodiment the guaranteed game event is a number of free plays of a game and wherein the parameter is the number. In an embodiment the method further comprises monitoring for a plurality of 15 selected game events such that the guaranteed game event is triggered when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without any of the monitored events having been triggered. In an embodiment the monitored game event is selected by the gaming 20 apparatus in dependence on the value of a bet. In an embodiment the method further comprises providing a non-continuous indication of the amount of gameplay remaining before the guaranteed game event will trigger, over the set amount of gameplay. 25 According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of gaming including: monitoring an amount of gameplay; monitoring the occurrence of a game event; 30 triggering a guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered; and providing a non-continuous indication of the amount of gameplay remaining before the guaranteed game event will trigger, over the set amount of gameplay. 35 According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of gaming including: monitoring an amount of gameplay responsive to a trigger occurring 12 monitoring criteria having been met; monitoring the occurrence of a game event; triggering a guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered; and 5 providing a visual indication that the monitoring criteria has been met. Embodiments may be applied to any suitable type of gaming system or platform. It can apply to stand-alone gaming apparatus, e.g. electronic gaming machines, such as video gaming machines, to gaming machines that are linked together, e.g. via a network such as an intranet, and/or to gaming systems provided through computing 10 or other electronic devices, e.g. personal computers, PDAs, mobile telephones, digital televisions, and the like, e.g. over the Internet or other communications networks. According to a further aspect there is provided gaming software including at 15 least one instruction which, when implemented by a gaming apparatus, is arranged to implement the method according to any one of the afore-described aspects. Embodiments may be applied to gaming apparatus that plays any suitable game, e.g. slot-machine type games, poker, keno, blackjack, bingo, roulette, pachinko, or the like. 20 When part of a network, the guarantee feature of a particular gaming device may be based on gameplay only of that particular device or may be based on the gameplay of other linked devices as well, e.g. all of the devices that are taking part in a particular linked game or a subset of them. The guarantee feature may guarantee an event to an individual device or may guarantee an event to one or more (or indeed 25 all) of the devices in a communal awarding methodology. In networked games, the apparatus may include a central control for conducting games and managing the accounting and the like, and a number of remote terminals/clients that provide user input and display mechanisms. The control of the feature guarantee may be carried out at the central control or at the remote 30 terminals, or may be split between the two. For example the central control may control all features of an indicator on a remote screen, or the central control could set up the initial indicator parameters for a remote screen, and the feature guarantee could then be controlled directly by the remote terminal software without receiving any further direct instruction from the central control.

13 The present invention extends to central controls/servers and to remote terminals/clients that are configured to carry out the feature guarantee of the present invention. It should be noted that any of the features of any of the aspects mentioned 5 above may be combined with any other features mentioned above, as appropriate. Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the particularity of the drawings does not supersede the generality of the 10 preceding description of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a block diagram of gaming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a generic gaming display screen shot including a feature 15 guarantee gauge according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a generic gaming display screen shot according to another embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a flow diagram of a gaming control process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 20 Detailed Description Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a gaming apparatus, which in this case takes the form of an electronic gaming machine (EGM) 1, and which includes various standard components, such as a game controller 2 for controlling the operation of the EGM 1 and the games run on it, a note/coin/token input 3 for receiving bets, a 25 note/coin/token output 4 for paying out winnings, one or more displays 5 for displaying game screens, and player input means 6 for allowing user interaction, which may include e.g. buttons 7 and which may e.g. be provided as part of the display 5 in a touch-screen type manner. The EGM 1 also includes a player tracking and marketing means 9 having a reading device (e.g. a card scanner for reading a 30 smart card or other form of portable storage medium capable of being read by the card scanner) which communicates with a remote server for providing player tracking and loyalty type functions, as is well understood in the art. Additional hardware may 14 be included as part of the EGM 1, or hardware may be omitted as required by the specific implementation. In one form the EGM 1 may be a stand-alone machine. In another form, the EGM may be networked with other EGMs and/or a control center via a suitable 5 communications network 8, such as a LAN and/or WAN, in order to play networked (e.g. intranet or Internet) games, such as a linked jackpot. It will be appreciated that the EGM 1 may include an appropriate communications interface, such as a network card, for communicating over the communications network 8. In use, the EGM 1 will display an initial gaming screen on the display 5. A 10 player will insert bank notes, coins and/or tokens into the EGM input 3 (or may be credited with coins, credits or tokens), and will press a button 7 to initiate play of the main game provided by the EGM 1. How matters then proceed will depend on the type of main game being played. For example, Fig. 2 illustrates a game screen in which the EGM 1 displays virtual reels of symbols, and spins and stops these reels in 15 various win and lose symbol combinations on one or more paylines in accordance with a stored gaming algorithm and a random number generator. In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) the main game is a poker-type game, in which a player will receive a number of cards with which to play for a winning hand. It will be appreciated that other types of main games may be provided, such as keno, 20 blackjack, bingo, roulette, pachinko, or the like. For the purposes of this detailed description, the main focus shall be upon an embodiment providing a slot machine type main game. As used in this document, including in the claims, the terms "random", "randomly", "randomized", and the like, are to be construed as connoting either a purely random process or a "pseudo-random" process. An example of a 25 pseudo-random process includes the determination by a computer processor of a pseudo-random number in response to an output of a digital clock. The player may interact via the buttons 7, so as e.g. to spin or hold reels and otherwise play the main game. A common element will be win events, e.g. particular symbol combinations that pay out a prize. 30 Also, in order to increase interest, a game will often include feature events that may or may not relate directly to the game being played, and that generally provide a bonus of some sort. These feature events may include for example one or more free games, a respin (similar to a free game but with one or more reels held), a pick 'n' win, the chance to play for higher winnings or the like. They may be e.g. luck 15 or skills based. They may be provided as "second screen" features that display on a new screen, and may be extraneous to the basic game. Another way of adding gaming interest is to include a wild feature, such as wild symbols or wild cards that can represent more than one type of symbol or card, 5 and so can increase the chances of achieving a winning combination or the like. These win and feature events can be arranged to occur randomly or under a particular set of circumstances, e.g. under a set symbol or card combination. They may also occur due to an accumulation of circumstances across a number of games, and may occur due to the condition of a device supplemental to the EGM 1 itself, e.g. 10 they may relate to jackpot wins in linked jackpot systems comprising a plurality of EGMs under a central control. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the EGM 1 includes an event guarantee component, e.g. within the gaming algorithm. This event guarantee component monitors one or more game events to determine whether they 15 are triggered or not, and guarantees that a particular game event, or at least one of a number of possible game events, will trigger within a set amount of gameplay, if the standard conditions for triggering of the monitored game event or events are not met within that period of play. The EGM 1 generates a guarantee indicator 9 on the display 5 that indicates 20 to a player the guarantee count, i.e. the amount of gameplay remaining before the guaranteed event will be triggered. The guarantee indicator 9 may be e.g. a numerical countdown, or a virtual gauge or the like, on the display 5. Gameplay may be measured by for example a measurement of user 25 interaction with the gaming apparatus. For example, it may be based on the number of games played or the amount of bets wagered. Thus, in accordance with this embodiment, a guarantee feature is provided by which a player or potential player will know the maximum amount of gameplay that can occur before at least one event is triggered, and this amount will decrease as 30 play continues. A player or a potential player will know that even if they do not achieve the standard conditions for a monitored game event, a guaranteed game event will trigger at the end of the guarantee count.

16 The monitored event and the guaranteed feature event are in one embodiment the same event, so that a player knows that if they do not achieve the event normally, they will achieve it within the guarantee count. The monitored and guaranteed event need not however be the same event. 5 For example, the EGM could monitor a number of events, and if none occurs normally, could trigger a particular event, e.g. of a set value or type, or could trigger one event from a number of possible guarantee events that could e.g. be chosen at random. The monitored feature event may be any suitable type of event, e.g. a free 10 game, a free spin, a high payout game, or the appearance of a wild feature or other game advantage. It may be any event that can occur during the course of a game and that is advantageous and/or of interest to a player. It could also be a win event, e.g. of a particular amount or of a particular type. In one embodiment, the indicator 9 will countdown from an initial number that 15 may represent the number of games to play before an event is guaranteed to trigger or may represent the remaining bet value that must be placed before the guarantee triggers. The initial count value may be a preset amount in accordance with e.g. a look-up table or a sequence of numbers or the like, or may be randomly chosen e.g. using a random number generator operating between some minimum and maximum 20 gameplay value. If a monitored event occurs before the guarantee count has finished, then the count is reset, e.g. to its initial value, so as to start the count again. Thus, if a player triggers an event prior to the end of the guarantee count, the guarantee count is restarted. One or more aspects of the event guarantee component (e.g. the event or 25 events guaranteed) may be variable at each reset/restart in dependence on a reset parameter. In one particular embodiment the aspect is the set amount of gameplay, which may be set to a level dependent on the remaining amount of gameplay at the time the monitored event was triggered. For example, where only 10 spins (out of, for example, 200 initially set on the counter) remained at the time the monitored 30 event occurred, the reset count value may adjusted so as to provide less gameplay remaining before the next guaranteed game event than for the previous count. The adjusted amount may, for example, be directly related to the remaining amount of gameplay. Alternatively, the adjusted amount may, at least in part, be randomly determined. As yet another alternative, the adjustment may involve a predefined or 17 random amount of gameplay being added to the gameplay remaining at the time of the previous random trigger event (e.g. 100 spins could be added to the counter), again having the effect of decreasing the gameplay remaining before the next guaranteed event. 5 In one form, the varied aspect is a parameter of the guaranteed game event with the reset parameter relating to a measure of gameplay. For example, the parameter, which may relate to a value or worth of the guaranteed game event, may be sequentially increased or decreased based on an amount bet by the player during the preceding set amount of gameplay. The parameter may be varied in any suitable 10 manner (e.g. by adjusting an RTP characteristic of the event, adjusting a number of free games awarded as part of the event, changing to a higher or lower paying game, etc.). Some specific non-limiting examples for varying a parameter of the guaranteed game event as part of a reset are provided below (each example assumes that the reset was triggered based on the occurance of a monitored event during the set 15 amount of gameplay and the guaranteed game event is a series of free games): The number of free games in the guaranteed game event is (x) if the player has placed (n) bets of a defined threshold in a preceding number of spins, or placed a cumulative total of (o) bets in a preceding number of spins: For example, if the player has placed 5 individual wagers, each of at least 200 20 credits, since the previous trigger the next guaranteed event could have a greater number of free games than if the threshold had not been met. Similarly, for example, if a player has wagered a cumulative total of 1000 credits or more since the previous trigger the next guaranteed event could have a greater number of free games than if the threshold had not been met. 25 * The number of free games in the guaranteed feature event is (x) if the player has placed (p) bets in a preceding time period. For example, if the player has placed 20 or more bets within 2 minutes before the previous trigger, the next guaranteed event could have a greater number of free games than if the threshold had not been met. 30 * The number of free games in the guaranteed feature event is (x) if the guaranteed gameplay amount was (q) at the time the monitored event was triggered. For example, if there was only 10 spins left on the meter when the random trigger occurred, the next guaranteed event could have a greater number of free games than if the threshold had not been met.

18 * The number of free games in the guaranteed feature event is (x) if this is feature (r) of a period of play, or over the player's entire play history. In this non-limiting example, the gameplay history is how many feature events the player has triggered during the limited period of play or during the player's 5 entire play history. For example, the next guaranteed event being 25 free games, instead of the previous event which may have been 24 free games, based on gameplay history from either a limited period of play or a player's entire play history. Fig. 2 is a generic gaming screen shot showing one way of implementing the 10 event gauge 9. The screen shot shows a number of virtual gaming reels 10 that are spun to provide symbol combinations in accordance with the rules of the gaming algorithm run by the controller 2. It also shows the display 5 having touch buttons 11. In the top right-hand corner of the display 5, the screen includes a guarantee 15 indicator 9 in the form of a numerical display, e.g. a countdown from an initial number of spins. The indicator 9 does not specify what event is guaranteed to trigger, except that it is a feature event (rather than a win event), and when the countdown reaches zero, any appropriate feature event may be triggered in accordance with predetermined rules and/or randomly. The monitored event or events may take any 20 appropriate form, and so the gaming apparatus may determine that one of a number of feature events may be triggered by the guarantee if no win and/or feature events have occurred during the guarantee countdown or if only a win event or feature event of low value or interest where achieved during this period. The EGM 1 may provide more than one guarantee feature, and more than 25 one guarantee indicator 9 may then be displayed. For example, Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which a pair of guarantee indicators 9a, 9b are provided. In the embodiment shown, one guarantee indicator 9a relates to a feature event, whilst the other 9b relates to a win event, and the monitored event is the same 30 as the guaranteed event. Thus, indicator 9a relates to a free game feature, which will definitely occur within 105 spins, if not earlier, whilst indicator 9b relates to a "5 of a kind" win, which will definitely occur within 76 games, if not earlier.

19 It will be noted that indicator 9a measures gameplay based on spins, whilst indicator 9b measures gameplay based on "games", which in this context, means a payline played. Thus, if three paylines were played on one spin of the reels 10, count 9a would countdown by one, whilst countdown 9b would countdown by three. 5 Generally, the guarantees will count down until zero, at which time the appropriate event will trigger. If the particular event guaranteed occurs under normal play conditions, however, the guarantee indicator is reset to its initial value to begin the guarantee period again. In this regard, both indicators 9a and 9b could be reset at the same time, e.g. 10 when either of the two monitored events occurs, or each could be reset independently, e.g. when their respective events occur. As mentioned above, it would also be possible for the monitored events to be different from the guaranteed events, so that the guaranteed events will occur if no other events occur in the meantime. The guarantee indicators 9a, 9b also display the play parameters under which 15 the guaranteed events will occur. Thus, for the free game of indicator 9a, the free game will play using 20 lines at a bet of 5 credits per line, whilst the 5 of a kind will be awarded at 3 credits per line. The play parameters may be chosen in any desired manner, and may be fixed or may be randomly generated within certain ranges. In a preferred 20 embodiment, the play parameters are determined based on a user play history. Thus, the number of lines played and/or the amounts bet may be averages of the lines played and bets placed over a number of the user's previous games. In this case, the guaranteed play parameters displayed may vary with play. The averaging of a player's bet history or the like may produce a residual or 25 rounding amount not used in the awarded play parameters. For example, a player may have 104 free credits built up that are split in the play parameters as 5 bets lines of 20 credits each. In this case, the residual 4 credits may be compensated by changing the odds of a higher win or the like in the free game to favour the user, or by crediting the amount to the user. 30 The credits required for the play parameters are preferably not deducted from a player's stake, i.e. the guaranteed event is a free event. It would however also be possible to deduct the bet amounts from the player's stake, in which case the 20 guaranteed event may pay out at higher odds or the like to give the event a bonus aspect. Fig. 4 shows an example of a flowchart for the control of the gauge 9 by the controller 2. Thus, in one embodiment, the invention may be put into effect by the 5 controller 2 running software that incorporates a subroutine executing in a manner similar to that shown. The routine is entered at step S1 when gameplay, e.g. a user play of some sort, occurs, e.g. when a start button is pressed. The controller 2 then determines at step S2 whether the resulting play has triggered the monitored event. 10 If the answer is "no", control passes to step S3, where the guarantee count is decremented by one, and to step S4, where the play parameters for the guaranteed event are recalculated, e.g. the average of the lines of play and the credits bet are adjusted by the play parameters of the game just played. The controller then determines at step S5 whether the guarantee count has 15 reached zero. If no, the routine ends at step S6. If yes, the count is reset in step S7 in readiness for a new guarantee period, and the guaranteed event is triggered at step S8 before the routine ends again in step S6. In step S7, the counter may be reset to the same initial countdown value as before, or could be set to a different value, e.g. based on a random number within a 20 set range. In step S8, the guaranteed event will begin with the play parameters calculated at step S4. If the answer at step S2 is "yes", i.e. the guaranteed event has been triggered due to normal play conditions, then the guarantee count is reset in step S9, in a 25 similar manner to step S7, and the play parameters are reset at step S10, e.g. to zero or a set minimum value (which may then be modified depending on the player's subsequent bets). The routine ends in step S6. The routine shown will execute with every play of the game. It may be modified e.g. to vary the event that is guaranteed on each reset. 30 Instead of the gaming apparatus being an EGM, it may take any other suitable form, and could for example comprise a game provided on a computing or 21 other electronic device, such as on a personal computer, PDA, mobile phone, digital television, or the like. The game may be provided over an intranet, the Internet, or some other communications system, such as a mobile telephone system. The game played may take any suitable form. It could be e.g. a slot machine 5 type game, poker, keno, bingo, pachinko, blackjack, roulette or any other suitable game. The guarantee indicator 9 could be a gauge, e.g. including a pointer on a scale. The indicator need not be displayed on the screen 5, and could be displayed separately or form a physical gauge or the like. For example, the guarantee 10 indicator 9 could take the form of a clock or other suitable device implemented as a part of the EGM 1 or as a free standing separate device that is linked electronically or mechanically to the EGM. The guarantee indicator 9 may be configured so as to provide a continuous or non-continuous indication of the amount of gameplay remaining before the 15 guaranteed game event will trigger, over the set amount of gameplay. Where a non continuous indication is to be provided, the indicator 9 may, for example, provide an intermittent or periodic indication of the amount of the gameplay remaining before the guaranteed game event will trigger. Alternatively, the indicator 9 may be operable to provide the indication in response to a particular amount of monitored gameplay 20 having been reached. For example, the guaranteed gameplay component may be monitoring for events over the course of, say, 150 spins, but only showing the indication in the last 50 (or even 10, for instance). In a particular embodiment the guaranteed gameplay period may only commence in response to a trigger (e.g. a symbol driven trigger) occurring in the 25 underlying game. According to such an embodiment, the indicator 9 may be configured to provide an indication to the player that the trigger has occurred and the player is now eligible for the guaranteed game event (provided that the other relevant criterion have been met). For example, the indicator 9 may provide an indication to the player that a guaranteed gameplay period is in progress, such as a light 30 appearing next to a header reading "Guaranteed Gameplay Active", or the like. The indicator may additionally provide an indication as to the amount of monitored gameplay remaining (as discussed above).

22 The guarantee indicator need not always relate to the same game event, and could change to the monitoring of a different game event e.g. depending on the state of play. For example, the indicator may change the game event it is monitoring for with time, e.g. in view of a particular play circumstance or the like. In one particular 5 embodiment, the indicator may be configured to change the monitored event in dependence on a bet parameter. For example, the monitored event may change from something that has a certain probability of occurring to an event with a relatively higher or lower probability of occurring in response to the player's wagering history (e.g. credits bet over a set period of time, or for a particular spin). 10 In an embodiment, a predefined gameplay criteria is additionally required to be met within the set amount of gameplay in order to trigger the guaranteed game event (i.e. such that the trigger component triggers the guaranteed game event when the gameplay criteria has been met within the set guarantee gameplay amount and without the monitored event having been triggered). The gameplay criteria may, for 15 example, be that an accumulated bet amount has exceeded some predefined threshold value within the set amount of gamplay. The gameplay criteria parameters may vary from those outlined in the above example and may include: accumulated wins, single wins for a particular outcome, accumulated bets, single bets, bets per line, etc. The parameter value(s) as well as the gameplay criteria may be displayed 20 to player during play of the game on the indicator 9, or on some additional display display device. The threshold values may advantageously be set in dependence on the amount bet in the game such that the probability of triggering the guaranteed event is tied to the player bet. Some example gameplay criteria are outlined below: * The player has a maximum of 50 spins to achieve total accumulated winnings 25 of 50 times the bet amount in order to be eligible to be awarded the guaranteed feature event. * The player has a maximum of 50 spins to achieve a single win of 25 times the bet amount or higher in order to be eligible to be awarded the guaranteed feature event. 30 * By the end of 50 spins the player must have total accumulated winnings of less than 25 times the bet in order to be eligible to be awarded the guaranteed feature event.

23 * By the end of 50 spins the player must not have achieved a single win of 25 times the bet or higher in order to be eligible to be awarded the guaranteed feature event. Following on from the above described embodiment, the gaming apparatus 5 may be arranged to award an alternative guaranteed game event in response to determining that the gameplay criteria has not been met (i.e where the other requirements for triggering the guaranteed game event have nonetheless been met within the set amount of gameplay). The alternative gaming event may have a lesser value (e.g. the likelihood of prizes occurring, or the value of prizes, may be reduced) 10 than the guaranteed event. An example mode of gameplay is outlined below: * Play starts with the player having 50 spins by which to achieve total accumulated winnings of more than 100 credits in order to trigger a feature (i.e. and without having randomly triggered the feature during this time). The accumulated winnings are monitored during the 50 spins. 15 * If the 50 spins expires without the feature having been triggered and the player has accumulated more than 100 times their bet amount, a first feature game will trigger. * If the 50 spins expires without the feature having been triggered and the player has accumulated less than 20 times their bet amount, a second feature 20 game will trigger. In one form the second feature game may be the same as the first feature game In one particular embodiment the guaranteed game event is a second game which has a greater prize potential than the first game (e.g. the second game may have a higher calculated return to player percentage than the game in which the 25 guaranteed game event was triggered). The second game may take the same general form as the first game but implement, for example, a slightly modified symbol set, paytable or feature so as to achieve the improved prize potential. Alternatively, the second game may be an entirely different game to the first game. According to the afore-described embodiment, rather than resetting play after 30 the second game has played out, the trigger component may be arranged to trigger a further game when a set guarantee gameplay amount has been reached in the second game without the monitored event (e.g. feature game) having been triggered. Again, the further game may have a greater prize potential than the previous game 24 and may be in the same or different format to the previous game(s). Equally, the monitored event in the second game may be the same as or different to the monitored event for the first game. The repeated triggering of further games could continue until such times as the monitored event occurs during the set amount of 5 gameplay for the respective game, or some other reset criterion has been met. For example, the reset criterion may be that the player has accumulated a predefined number of wins or feature games during play of the triggered games, or may have had a predefined or randomly determined number of spins of the higher payout game. It will be understood that any suitable reset criteria may be set dependent 10 only on the desired implementation. An example game process flow will now be described to illustrate operation of the aforementioned embodiment: * In a first game the player has 100 spins (as counted down on the meter 9) to trigger the monitored event (in this case the feature), or else the second game is triggered 15 0 The second game has a higher calculated Return to Player (RTP) structure and has a different form to the first game (e.g. different rules, artwork, feature game, etc.). Again, the player has 100 spins to trigger the feature in this game, or else a third and final game is triggered * The third game has an even higher calculated RTP structure and again takes 20 on a different form and implements a different feature. In the third game the player receives an arbitrary 50 spins, or until they trigger the feature. If 50 spins pass without a random trigger, the feature is automatically triggered as described in preceding paragraphs. In a slightly different embodiment to that described above, new monitored 25 events are added with each triggered game so as to increase the probability of triggering a feature as play progresses. An example process flow for this embodiment is as follows: * In a first game 250 spins are set for triggering feature A (i.e. with the monitored event being the trigger symbol for feature A), or else a second 30 game is triggered. Hereafter each new game will be referred to in the context of a new "level" (e.g. game 2 corresponds to level 2) * Level 2 has a higher calculated RTP than for level 1 and introduces a new trigger symbol for triggering a feature B (i.e. such that two different triggers 25 are now monitored by the event guarantee component). In level 2, the player is given 200 spins in which to randomly trigger either feature A or B, or else play progresses to level 3. * Level 3 has a higher calculated RTP than for level 2, and introduces yet 5 another trigger symbol for triggering a feature C (i.e. so now three different triggers are monitored). In level 3, the player has 150 spins in which to trigger features A, B or C, or else play progresses to level 4. * Level 4 has a higher calculated RTP than for level 3, and introduces yet another trigger symbol for triggering a feature D (i.e. so now four different 10 triggers are monitored). In level 4, the player has 100 spins in which to trigger features A, B, C or D, or else play progresses to level 5. * The final level, Level 5, has the highest calculated RTP of all triggered levels and introduces the trigger symbol for a feature E (so now five different triggers are monitored). In level 5, the player has 50 spins in which to trigger 15 any of the monitored features. If none of the features have triggered within the 50 spins then the player is automatically awarded all five features after which play returns to level 1. For the above embodiment it will be appreciated that a monitored event which is randomly triggered before the allotted number of spins has been reached may 20 either return the player to level 1 or alternatively still allow the player to progress to the next level depending on the desired implementation (for example, the occurrence of the monitored event in level 2 or higher may reset play to the start of the current level, and then only reset to the start of level 1 when a second monitored event has occurred). It will also be understood that variables such as the number of levels, type 25 and set amount of gameplay, type and number monitored events, etc. should not be seen as being limited to that described in the example above and could be any variable within the scope of the invention as outlined herein. As yet another alternative for the embodiment where the guaranteed game event is a second game which has a higher calculated return to player percentage 30 than the first game, the meter 9 may be configured to show the amount of gameplay remaining and what the monitored event is. If the monitored event does not occur in the given gameplay, the lowest value symbol available for use in the current game is removed (resulting in a higher RTP). For example, at the start of a first game, the 26 meters 9 may show that the player has five spins in which to accumulate winnings of two times the bet amount or greater (i.e. the monitored event being the accumulated winnings reaching a particular threshold). If this does not occur, the lowest paying symbol in the game (e.g. the "9" symbol) may be removed from the set of symbols 5 available for selection in the game. For the next level of gameplay, the meters 9 may be updated to show that the player has seven spins in which to achieve accumulated winnings of three times the bet or better. If this is not achieved, then the lowest remaining paying symbol (e.g. the "10" symbol) may be removed from the symbol set. Play may continue in this fashion (with any predefined or random set gameplay 10 amount and monitored event being set for the subsequent level) until a predefined end event occurs. The predefined end event may, for example, be that no more symbols can be removed from the set at which time the player is given a set amount of gameplay to trigger the monitored event or else they are awarded a major prize such as a jackpot prize, high value feature event or the like. Play is then reset to the 15 first level (with all symbols returned to the symbol set). As per the previous embodiments, triggering of a monitored event within the set amount of gameplay will also cause play to return to the first level. In a particular embodiment, a player may be arranged to select which game event is to be monitored e.g. from a list of selectable game events. At least one of 20 the selectable game events may have a different probability of being triggered to another one of the selectable game events. According to such an embodiment the set amount of monitored gameplay and/or the type of gameplay which is to be monitored may be variable according to the selection, and may be automatically determined, at least in part, on the selected game event. For example, where the 25 selected monitored event is a relatively common event, such as the occurrence of a "3 of kind", the set amount of gameplay may be 10 spins/plays of the game. Alternatively, for example, the selection of a relatively rare monitored event, such as the occurrence of a feature game (i.e. which has far less probability of being triggered than the 3 of a kind) may instead result in the set amount of gameplay 30 being increased to 125 spins/plays. In addition to varying aspects of gameplay (or in addition thereto), a parameter of the guaranteed game event may also be varied in dependence on the event selected by the player. For example, where the guaranteed game event is a series of free games, the number of free games may be set based on the selected monitored game event. In one form more than one game 35 event may be selected for monitoring.

27 As an alternative to the embodiment described above whereby a player selects the monitored game event(s), the EGM may be configured to make this selection at random (e.g. with the aid of a random number generator). The set amount and type of gameplay as well as the guaranteed game event may also be 5 determined in a random fashion or pre-determined based on the monitored event (as above). For example, a random selection may monitor for any 4 or 5 of a kind, with a random gameplay amount set to 34 spins and the guaranteed feature event being 25 free games with triple prizes. 10 After a player has finished a playing session, the guarantee may be reset, or may continue on for the next player, or may be stored in a player's history, so that the guarantee will resume from its previous status when the player returns to the game. In some embodiments, to be described in detail below, at least one aspect of 15 the event guarantee component (which may also be referred to as an 'event guarantee means' or a 'guarantee feature') is determined in dependence upon a bet that is placed on the gaming apparatus. In some embodiments of this type, the aspect of the event guarantee component that is determined in dependence upon a bet is whether or not the event guarantee component is operable at any particular 20 point during play of the apparatus. In other words, this determines whether or not the player is entitled to a guarantee that a game event will trigger if the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered. The bet includes a main game bet component and a supplementary bet component. For example, in an embodiment for which the main game is a slot game 25 configured to provide a plurality of lines defined on an array of reels and/or rows, the main game bet component may be determined in part by a bet of a set amount per line. For example, on a 1 cent machine on which a player chooses to bet on a maximum number of 25 lines, the main game bet component would be 25 cents when playing at the 1 cent minimum per line. The supplementary bet is an additional 30 amount that may be bet for purposes other than the purpose of the main game bet or to modify the behaviour of an element existing in the main game. The supplementary bet may be placed separately from the placement of the main bet, or may be placed in consequence of the placement of the main bet. The supplementary bet may be deducted from the player's balance simultaneoulsy with, or separately from, the 35 deduction of the main bet from the player's balance. In some embodiments the 28 supplementary bet is optional and such embodiments include a user operable input configured to allow placement of a bet comprising a main game bet component and the optional supplementary bet component. In other embodiments the supplementary bet is compulsory in the sense that the supplementary bet is 5 automatically placed during play of the main game. In other embodiments the gaming apparatus may be configured to automatically include a supplementary bet component in response to placement of a main game bet component having a number of lines played that is equal to or greater than a threshold number of lines, such as 25. In this embodiment the automatically included supplementary bet 10 component is equal to a factor, such as 10 for example, multiplied by the amount bet on each line. For example, if an amount of 1 cent is bet in the main game on each of the 25 lines in this embodiment, the automatically included secondary bet component will be a total of 10 cents. Hence the total amount bet, including the main bet component and the automatically included supplementary bet component, would be 15 35 cents. Incidentally, a 'supplementary bet' may also be referred to by persons skilled in the art as a 'side bet'. The algorithm running the gaming apparatus ensures that the event guarantee component is inoperative if the player places a bet that has no supplementary bet component (i.e. a supplementary bet component equal to zero). 20 Conversely, the event guarantee component is operative in response to placement of a bet having a supplementary bet component. For embodiments in which placement of the supplementary bet is optional, this allows the player to choose whether or not to pay (via placement of a supplementary bet) for the provision of the guarantee that a game event will trigger if the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without 25 the monitored event having been triggered. In another embodiment the event guarantee component is rendered inoperative in response to placement of a bet in which the main game bet component has a number of lines played that is below a threshold number of lines. For example, the rules of a gaming apparatus that is in the form of a 25 line slot machine may 30 require the player to place a main bet on all 25 lines in order to qualify for the guarantee that a game event will trigger if the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered. Hence, in this embodiment, the threshold number of lines would be 25 and any main game bet that is placed on less than 25 lines would render the event guarantee component 35 inoperative such that the guarantee is not provided. Conversely, a bet on all 25 lines 29 would render the event guarantee component operative. In another embodiment the event guarantee component includes a reset component, which resets the guarantee gameplay amount to a reset amount. This occurs when the monitored event is triggered normally and when the guaranteed 5 event is triggered by the event guarantee component. In this embodiment the aspect of the event guarantee component that is determined in dependence upon a bet is the reset amount. For an embodiment in which the bet includes a main game bet component and a supplementary bet component, the reset amount is defined to be a higher 10 value, such as 250, for example, in response to placement of a bet having no supplementary bet component. Alternatively, the reset amount is defined to be a lower value, such as 100 for example, in response to placement of a bet having a supplementary bet component. This allows the player to choose to pay (via the placement of supplementary bets) to have the feature guarantee meter reset to a 15 lower value than would otherwise be applicable. For an embodiment in which the main game is a slot game configured to provide a plurality of lines defined on an array of reels and/or rows and in which the bet includes a main game bet component in part determined by a number of lines played on the main game, the reset amount is defined to be a higher value in 20 response to placement of a main game bet component having a number of lines played that is less than a threshold number of lines. Conversely, the reset amount is defined to be a lower value in response to placement of a main game bet component having a number of lines played that is equal to or greater than the threshold number of lines. For example, the apparatus may be configured to reward the player for 25 playing, say, 25 lines on the main game, by resetting the feature guarantee meter to the lower of two possible values the next time either a monitored event or a guarantee event is triggered. In another embodiment the event guarantee component includes an initialisation component for initialising the guarantee gameplay amount to a default 30 guarantee gameplay amount at the commencement of play. For this embodiment the aspect is the default guarantee gameplay amount. In other words, the first bet placed by the player at the commencement of play is used to determine the default guarantee gameplay amount. This default amount is defined to be a first higher value, such as 175 spins, for example, in response to placement of an initial bet 30 having no supplementary bet component and it is defined to be a second lower value, such as 75 spins, for example, in response to placement of an initial bet having a supplementary bet component. This allows the player to gain a rapid reward in response to their initial bet, rather than waiting until the next reset of the 5 meter, as is required for the embodiment described in the preceding paragraph. Similarly, the default guarantee gameplay amount may be defined to be a first higher value in response to placement of a main game bet component having a number of lines played that is less than a threshold number of lines and the default guarantee gameplay amount may be defined to be a second lower value in response to 10 placement of a main game bet component having a number of lines played that is equal to, or greater than, than the threshold number of lines. In another embodiment the aspect of the event guarantee component that is determined in dependence upon a bet is the selection of which event to monitor. In this embodiment the monitored event is defined to be a first event if a total amount 15 bet over a predefined amount of gameplay is under a threshold amount. Conversely, the monitored event is defined to be a second event if a total amount bet over a predefined amount of gameplay is equal to or over a threshold amount. The predefined amount of gameplay may take various forms, such as a set period of time, for example 10 minutes, a set number of spins, or all of the spins that comprised the 20 'set amount of gameplay' prior to the last reset of the meter. The expected frequency of occurrence of the first event is higher than the expected frequency of occurrence of the second event. Hence, in this embodiment the player is rewarded for having placed a betting total that exceeded the threshold by the selection of a monitored event that occurs with lower frequency, which therefore improves the player's 25 chances of triggering the guaranteed event. In another embodiment the aspect of the event guarantee component that is determined in dependence upon a bet is at least one play parameter of the guaranteed event. This may be any one or more of the following, for example: a multiplier used to adjust any winnings paid out during the guaranteed event; 30 a number of wild symbols available during the guaranteed event; a number of feature games provided during the guaranteed event; payout odds provided during the guaranteed event; a parameter used to provide a bonus aspect to the guaranteed event; a bet per line used during the guaranteed event; 35 a feature component not otherwise available during the guaranteed event; 31 a jackpot system not otherwise available during the guaranteed event; and/or a bonus paid based on an accumulated win during the feature event. The play parameter may be calculated with regard to a statistical treatment of the bets placed during a preceding amount of gameplay. For example, the 5 parameter may be calculated by taking an average of the amounts of all main game bets placed during the preceding 20 spins. Alternatively, an average may be taken of the amounts of all main game bets placed plus the amounts of all supplementary bets placed during the preceding 20 spins. The play parameter, such as the bet per line to be used during the guaranteed event, is then determined with reference to the 10 average value. For example, the bet per line amount may be set equal to the average value, subject to any rounding up or down that may be necessary if an integer value is required. Alternatively, or additionally, the play parameter may be calculated with regard to the bet placed on a game prior to triggering of the guaranteed event (i.e. the last game of the previous set amount of gameplay or a 15 randomly selected prior game). For example, a play parameter in the form of a multiplier may be set to a value that is dependent upon the number of lines played on the main bet that was placed on the game that was played prior to the triggering of the guaranteed event. Alternatively, the play parameter may be set to a value that is dependent upon the number of lines played on the main bet that was placed on a 20 randomly selected prior game. Alternatively, or additionally, the play parameter may be calculated with regard to a bet placed on a game that is played subsequent to the triggering of the guaranteed event, for example, a first game provided during the guaranteed event. In another variation, the guaranteed event includes the provision of a plurality of games and the player is given an opportunity to place a separate bet 25 on each of those games. In this case, the play parameter for each of the games is calculated with regard to the respective bet placed on that game. It is to be understood that various alterations, additions and/or modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the ambit of the present invention, and that, in the light of the above teachings, the present 30 invention may be implemented in software, firmware and/or hardware in a variety of manners as would be understood by a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Gaming apparatus operable for placement of a bet, the apparatus including: a component for monitoring an amount of gameplay; a component for monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and an event guarantee component for guaranteeing that a guaranteed game event will trigger within a set amount of gameplay, the event guarantee component including: a trigger component for triggering the guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered; and a reset component for resetting the monitored gameplay amount to a reset amount if either the monitored event or guaranteed game event is triggered, and wherein an aspect of the event guarantee component is variable in dependence on a reset parameter.

2. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aspect is the reset amount.

3. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aspect is the set amount of gameplay for triggering the guaranteed game event.

4. A gaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aspect is a parameter of the guaranteed game event.

5. A gaming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guaranteed game event is a number of free plays of the game and wherein the parameter is the number.

6. A gaming apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the reset parameter is associated with the monitored amount of gameplay.

7. A gaming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the reset parameter is varied according to the amount of gameplay remaining at the time the event was triggered.

8. A gaming apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the reset parameter is a total amount of bets placed over a period of time preceding the reset. 33

9. A gaming apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the reset parameter is a total amount of wins accumulated over a period of time preceding the reset.

10. A gaming apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 when dependent on claim 5, wherein the number of free games is increased in response to the total amount of bets placed/wins accumulated meeting a predefined threshold amount.

11. Gaming apparatus operable for placement of a bet in a game, the apparatus including: a component for monitoring an amount of gameplay; a component for monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and an event guarantee component for guaranteeing that a guaranteed game event will trigger within a set amount of gameplay provided that a gameplay criteria has been met, the event guarantee component including: a trigger component for triggering the guaranteed game event when the gameplay criteria has been met within the set guarantee gameplay amount and without the monitored event having been triggered.

12. A gaming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the gameplay criteria is that a bet parameter value has reached or exceeded a threshold value.

13. A gaming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the gameplay criteria is that a win parameter value has reached or exceeded a threshold value.

14. A gaming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the gameplay criteria is that a bet parameter value and a win parameter value has not reached or exceeded a predefined threshold value.

15. A gaming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the gameplay criteria is that a win parameter value has not reached or exceeded a predefined threshold value.

16. A gaming apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the threshold value is set in dependence on the amount bet in one or more plays of the game. 34

17. A gaming apparatus according to claim 12 or 14, wherein the bet parameter value is the total accumulated value of bets placed during the monitored amount of gameplay.

18. A gaming apparatus according to claim 13 or 15, wherein the win parameter value is the total accumulated value of wins awarded during the monitored amount of gameplay.

19. A gaming apparatus according to claim 13 or 15, wherein the win parameter value is the value of one or more predefined wins during the monitored amount of gameplay.

20. A gaming apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein the amount of gameplay is the number of plays of the game.

21. A gaming apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 20, wherein the event guarantee component is arranged to trigger an alternative guaranteed game event in response to determining that the gameplay criteria has not been met within the set guarantee gameplay amount and without the monitored event having been triggered.

22. A gaming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the alternative guaranteed game event has a lesser prize potential or worth than the guaranteed game event.

23. Gaming apparatus operable for placement of a bet in a game, the apparatus including: a component for monitoring an amount of gameplay; a component for monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and an event guarantee component for guaranteeing that a guaranteed game event will trigger within a set amount of gameplay, the event guarantee component including: a trigger component for triggering the guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered and wherein the first guaranteed game event is a second game having a higher prize potential or worth than the game in which the guaranteed game event was triggered. 35

24. A gaming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the second game has at least one of a modified symbol set and paytable to the first game.

25. A gaming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the trigger component is arranged to trigger a further guaranteed game event when a set guarantee gameplay amount has been reached in the second game without the monitored event having been triggered.

26. A gaming apparatus according to claim 25, wherein at least one of the monitored event and set amount of gameplay in the second game is different to the monitored event/set amount of gameplay for the previous game.

27. A gaming apparatus according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the component for monitoring a game event is arranged to monitor for at least one additional game event in the second game and wherein the trigger component is arranged to trigger the further guaranteed game event when the set amount of gameplay has been reached without any of the monitored game events having been triggered.

28. A gaming apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the further guaranteed game event is a third game having a higher potential prize value or worth than the second game.

29. A gaming apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 28, wherein the event guarantee component further comprises a reset component for resetting play to the initial game in response to either the monitored event(s) being triggered within the set amount of gameplay or a reset criterion having been met.

30. A gaming apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the reset criterion is that a value of a monitored gameplay parameter has reached or exceeded a threshold value.

31. A gaming apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the gameplay parameter is an amount of bets accumulated in one or more plays of the game.

32. A gaming apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the gameplay parameter is an amount of wins accumulated in one or more plays of the game. 36

33. Gaming apparatus operable for placement of a bet in a game, the apparatus including: a component for monitoring an amount of gameplay; a component for monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and an event guarantee component for guaranteeing that a guaranteed game event will trigger within a set amount of gameplay, the event guarantee component including: a trigger component for triggering the guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered and wherein the monitored game event is selected from a plurality of selectable game events, at least one of which has a different probability of being triggered in the game to another one of the selectable game events.

34. A gaming apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the monitored game event is selected by a player of the game.

35. A gaming apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the monitored game event is randomly selected by the event guarantee component.

36. A gaming apparatus according to any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein at least one of the type and set amount of monitored gameplay is determined, at least in part, in dependence on the selected game event.

37. A gaming apparatus according to any one of claims 33 to 36, wherein at least one of the type and set amount of monitored gameplay is, at least in part, randomly determined by the gaming apparatus.

38. A gaming apparatus according to any one of claims 33 to 37, wherein a parameter of the guaranteed game event is determined, at least in part, in dependence on the selected game event.

39. A gaming apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the guaranteed game event is a number of free plays of a game and wherein the parameter is the number.

40. A gaming apparatus according to any one of claims 33 to 39, wherein the component for monitoring a game event is further arranged to monitor for a plurality of selected game events such that the trigger component triggers the guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without any of the 37 monitored events having been triggered.

41. A gaming apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the monitored game event is selected by the gaming apparatus in dependence on the value of a bet.

42. A gaming apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the event guarantee component is operative only in response to a supplementary bet being placed in the game.

43. A gaming apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an indicator for providing a non-continuous indication of the amount of gameplay remaining before the guaranteed game event will trigger, over the set amount of gameplay.

44. A gaming apparatus operable for placement of a bet, the apparatus including: a component for monitoring an amount of gameplay; a component for monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and an event guarantee component for guaranteeing that a guaranteed game event will trigger within a set amount of gameplay, the event guarantee component including: a trigger component for triggering the guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered; and an indicator for providing a non-continuous indication of the amount of gameplay remaining before the guaranteed game event will trigger, over the set amount of gameplay.

45. A gaming apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the indicator is operable to provide an intermittent indication of the amount of the gameplay remaining before the guaranteed game event will trigger.

46. A gaming apparatus according to claim 44 or 45, wherein the indicator is operable to provide the indication in response to a particular amount of monitored gameplay having been reached.

47. A gaming apparatus operable for placement of a bet, the apparatus including: a component for monitoring an amount of gameplay responsive to a trigger occurring monitoring criteria having been met; a component for monitoring the occurrence of a game event; 38 an event guarantee component for guaranteeing that a guaranteed game event will trigger within a set amount of gameplay, the event guarantee component including: a trigger component for triggering the guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered; and an indicator for providing a visual indication that the monitoring criteria has been met.

48. A gaming apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the monitoring criteria is that a trigger has occurred during play of a game.

49. A method of gaming including: monitoring an amount of gameplay; monitoring the occurrence of a game event; triggering a guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered; and resetting the monitored gameplay amount to a reset amount if either the monitored event or guaranteed game event is triggered, and wherein an aspect of the event guarantee component is variable in dependence on a reset parameter.

50. A method of gaming according to claim 49, wherein the aspect is the reset amount.

51. A method of gaming according to claim 49, wherein the aspect is the set amount of gameplay for triggering the guaranteed game event.

52. A method of gaming according to claim 49, wherein the aspect is a parameter of the guaranteed game event.

53. A method of gaming according to claim 52, wherein the guaranteed game event is a number of free plays of the game and wherein the parameter is the number.

54. A method of gaming according to any one of claims 50 to 53, wherein the reset parameter is associated with the monitored amount of gameplay.

55. A method of gaming according to claim 54, wherein the reset parameter is 39 varied according to the amount of gameplay remaining at the time the event was triggered.

56. A method of gaming according to any one of claims 50 to 54, wherein the reset parameter is a total amount of bets placed over a period of time preceding the reset.

57. A method of gaming according to any one of claims 50 to 54, wherein the reset parameter is a total amount of wins accumulated over a period of time preceding the reset.

58. A method of gaming according to claim 56 or 57 when dependent on claim 53, wherein the number of free games is increased in response to the total amount of bets placed/wins accumulated meeting a predefined threshold amount.

59. A method of gaming including: monitoring an amount of gameplay; monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and triggering a guaranteed game event when a gameplay criteria has been met within the set guarantee gameplay amount and without the monitored event having been triggered.

60. A method of gaming according to claim 59, wherein the gameplay criteria is that a bet parameter value has reached or exceeded a threshold value.

61. A method of gaming according to claim 59, wherein the gameplay criteria is that a win parameter value has reached or exceeded a threshold value.

62. A method of gaming according to claim 59, wherein the gameplay criteria is that a bet parameter value has not reached or exceeded a predefined threshold value.

63. A method of gaming according to claim 59, wherein the gameplay criteria is that a win parameter value has not reached or exceeded a predefined threshold value.

64. A method of gaming according to any one of claims 60 to 63, wherein the 40 threshold value is set in dependence on the amount bet in one or more plays of the game.

65. A method of gaming according to claim 60 or 62, wherein the bet parameter value is the total accumulated value of bets placed during the monitored amount of gameplay.

66. A method of gaming according to claim 61 or 63, wherein the win parameter value is the total accumulated value of wins awarded during the monitored amount of gameplay.

67. A method of gaming according to claim 61 or 63, wherein the win parameter value is the value of one or more predefined wins during the monitored amount of gameplay.

68. A method of gaming according to any one of claims 59 to 67, wherein the amount of gameplay is the number of plays of the game.

69. A method of gaming according to any one of claims 59 to 68, further comprising triggering an alternative guaranteed game event in response to determining that the gameplay criteria has not been met within the set guarantee gameplay amount and without the monitored event having been triggered.

70. A method of gaming according to claim 69, wherein the alternative guaranteed game event has a lesser prize potential or worth than the guaranteed game event.

71. A method of gaming including: monitoring an amount of gameplay; monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and triggering a guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered and wherein the guaranteed game event is a secondary game having a higher prize potential or worth than the game in which the guaranteed game event was triggered.

72. A method of gaming according to claim 71, wherein the second game has at least one of a modified symbol set and paytable to the first game. 41

73. A method of gaming according to claim 72, further comprising triggering a further guaranteed game event when a set guarantee gameplay amount has been reached in the second game without the monitored event having been triggered.

74. A method of gaming according to claim 73, wherein at least one of the monitored event and set amount of gameplay in the second game is different to the monitored event/set amount of gameplay for the previous game.

75. A method of gaming according to claim 72 or 73, further comprising monitoring for at least one additional game event in the second game and wherein the further guaranteed game event is triggered when the set amount of gameplay has been reached without any of the monitored game events having been triggered.

76. A method of gaming according to any one of claims 73 to 75, wherein the further guaranteed game event is a third game having a higher potential prize value or worth than the second game.

77. A method of gaming according to any one of claims 73 to 76, further comprising resetting play to the initial game in response to either the monitored event(s) being triggered within the set amount of gameplay or a reset criterion having been met.

78. A method of gaming according to claim 77, wherein the reset criterion is that a value of a monitored gameplay parameter has reached or exceeded a threshold value.

79. A method of gaming according to claim 77, wherein the gameplay parameter is an amount of bets accumulated in one or more plays of the game.

80. A method of gaming according to claim 77, wherein the gameplay parameter is an amount of wins accumulated in one or more plays of the game.

81. A method of gaming including: monitoring an amount of gameplay; monitoring the occurrence of a game event; and triggering a guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay 42 amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered and wherein the monitored game event is selected from a plurality of selectable game events, at least one of which has a different probability of being triggered in the game to another one of the selectable game events.

82 A method of gaming according to claim 81, wherein the monitored game event is selected by a player of the game.

83. A method of gaming according to claim 81, wherein the monitored game event is randomly selected by the event guarantee component.

84. A method of gaming according to any one of claims 81 to 83, wherein at least one of the type and set amount of monitored gameplay is determined, at least in part, in dependence on the selected game event.

85. A method of gaming according to any one of claims 81 to 84, wherein at least one of the type and set amount of monitored gameplay is, at least in part, randomly determined by the gaming apparatus.

86. A method of gaming according to any one of claims 81 to 85, wherein a parameter of the guaranteed game event is determined, at least in part, in dependence on the selected game event.

87. A method of gaming according to claim 86, wherein the guaranteed game event is a number of free plays of a game and wherein the parameter is the number.

88. A method of gaming according to any one of claims 81 to 87, further comprising monitoring for a plurality of selected game events and wherein the guaranteed game event is triggered when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without any of the monitored events having been triggered.

89. A method of gaming according to claim 81, wherein the monitored game event is selected by the gaming apparatus in dependence on the value of a bet.

90. A method of gaming according to any one of claims 47 to 89, further comprising providing a non-continuous indication of the amount of gameplay remaining before the guaranteed game event will trigger, over the set amount of 43 gameplay.

91. A method of gaming including: monitoring an amount of gameplay; monitoring the occurrence of a game event; triggering a guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered; and providing a non-continuous indication of the amount of gameplay remaining before the guaranteed game event will trigger, over the set amount of gameplay.

92. A method of gaming including: monitoring an amount of gameplay responsive to a trigger occurring monitoring criteria having been met; monitoring the occurrence of a game event; triggering a guaranteed game event when the set guarantee gameplay amount is reached without the monitored event having been triggered; and providing a visual indication that the monitoring criteria has been met.