Video gaming equipments with alternative purchaseable bonus events

A method of playing a wagering game on gaming apparatus comprising:

• providing a gaming apparatus comprising a processor, a 3display and gaming input system;
• the processor recognizing a wager at the gaming input system;
• the processor executing code to play a first wagering game and display images associated with the first wagering game on the display;
• the images on the display comprising symbols;
• when the processor recognizes a predefined set of symbols, the processor executes code to enter bonus play of a second game different from the first wagering game;
• the processor identifies bonus points accumulated during bonus play and displays a total of bonus points distinct from any wagering credits displayed by the processor on the gaming apparatus;
• the processor displays at least two distinct bonus events comprising a first bonus event to be played on the first wagering game and a second bonus event to be played on the first wagering game, the first bonus event and the second bonus event being activated by the processor diminishing accumulated bonus points, wherein an amount of bonus points needed to activate the first bonus event is different from an amount of points needed to activate the second bonus event;
• upon diminishing accumulated points, at least one of the first bonus event and the second bonus event is activated for execution of code by the processor in playing at least one game of the first wagering game;
• wherein the bonus game comprises the processor executing code to simulate a visual display on a video display screen of a ball drop game in which multiple virtual balls are dropped through a virtual random event path towards multiple virtual columns as collection positions, wherein at least some of the multiple virtual columns represent different numbers of bonus points.