A gaming system and a method of operating a bonus prize awarding system, the system comprising a plurality of electronic gaming console having a console cabinet 10 including a prize display 12, a coin entry slot 13, a pay out tray 14 and internally mounted game control processor circuits. A video game is provided for play on the console in which images of objects (balls) are dropped through a series of obstacles (pins) and eventually fill a number of containers. Prizes are paid according to either the number of balls which are in each container at the end of the ball drop and/or the manner in which the pins are hit, and bonus prizes are increased progressively upon the occurrence of predetermined game events within the game or external to the game.