Methods and apparatus for three-dimensional gaming

A gaming apparatus, comprising:

• a display unit that is capable of generating video images;
• a user input device;
• a value input device;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said user input device, and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
• said controller being programmed to cause a three-dimensional video image of a casino game to be generated on said display unit, said three-dimensional video image including a plurality of layers, each layer depicting a game surface such that the game surface appears to be on a different plane than the game surfaces of other layers, each game surface including a plurality of game indicia;
• said controller being programmed to receive a player selected game option from said user input device, the player selected game option being indicative of only one of a first win evaluation method or a second win evaluation method, wherein the first win evaluation method is different than the second win evaluation method, and wherein the first win evaluation method is a three-dimensional win evaluation method associated with game indicia of game surfaces of different layers and the second win evaluation method is a two-dimensional win evaluation method associated with game indicia of a game surface of one of the plurality of game layers, the player selected game option including a selection of any one of the plurality of layers on which the second win evaluation method is to be performed if the second win evaluation method is selected;
• said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,
• said controller being programmed to perform the first win evaluation method to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said casino game if the player selected game option is indicative of the first win evaluation method;
• and
• said controller being programmed to perform the second win evaluation method to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said casino game in the any one of the plurality of layers selected if the player selected game option is indicative of the second win evaluation method.