Systems and methods for facilitating variation and adjustment of payouts during participation of a gaming feature. From the player's perspective, gaming payout enhancements may involve fluctuating beneficial and non-beneficial adjustments. One embodiment involves providing an initial award modifier, and a plurality of selectable items. Some of the selectable items have a positive or negative modifier adjustment value associated therewith, and at least one of the selectable items includes an awarded value that also terminates further modifier adjustment. The player selects the selectable items, and an accumulated modifier is adjusted based on the positive or negative modifier adjustment values associated with the selected items. Adjustment of the accumulated modifier value is discontinued in response to player selection of the awarded value and the termination of modifier adjustment. The accumulated modifier at the time of termination of modifier adjustment is applied to the awarded value to provide a modified awarded value.