methods and apparatus for providing an award based on a multiplicity of game outcomes . in one implementation the invention provides a method for providing a game . the method includes placing a bet by a player , playing of a game to produce a game outcome , evaluating a primary game outcome , paying a direct award if the primary outcome merits it , advancing a bonus accumulator if the primary outcome merits it , and if the bonus accumulator has advanced sufficiently , paying a bonus award to the player and clearing the bonus accumulator .