Casino game having player control of award level

A method of operating a knowledge-based casino bonus game during play of an underlying casino game of chance by a player, the method comprising:

• entering the knowledge-based casino bonus from the underlying game of chance;
• displaying a plurality of categories to the player, each of the plurality of categories having an award level, at least one of the award levels higher in value than the remaining award levels;
• receiving a category input selecting one category of the plurality of possible category inputs from the player so that the player controls the award level by selecting a category;
• displaying a query to the player in a display corresponding to the selected category, the displayed query having a plurality of possible player answer inputs;
• receiving at least one answer input of the plurality of possible answer inputs in the displayed query from the player;
• awarding the player based on the correctness of the at least one answer input and the award level of the selected category.

A method of playing a casino game comprising:

• receiving a wager from a player to play the casino game,
• displaying in the casino game a plurality of categories to the player upon the occurrence of an event in the play of the casino game, each of the plurality of categories having an award level;
• receiving a category input of the plurality of possible category inputs from the player, the received category input corresponding to a category selected by the player so that the player controls the award level;
• playing a decision-making game based upon the category input, said decision-making game having at least a first possible outcome and a second possible outcome;
• awarding the player based on the actual outcome of the decision-making game and the award level corresponding to the selected category, wherein if the actual outcome is said first possible outcome the player receives a higher award than if the actual outcome is said second possible outcome.