Abstract: A gaming device operable having at least one input device. The processor, under control of a processor, is operable to enable a player to participate in a play of a game including a plurality of selectable indicators. Each selectable indicator is associated with an independent probability. The play of the game involves a pick of one of the selectable indicators and a determination of whether the picked selectable indicator is a success indicator or a failure indicator.

Abstract: A bonus scheme that has more than one and preferably at least three bonus games. Each bonus game provides excitement and enjoyment to the player via creative visual and audio displays. Each bonus game also has its own theme and may or may not be based upon schemes already known in the art of gaming devices. While the individual bonus games are not necessarily related to each other, the overall bonus scheme, preferably in the initial screen, ties the bonus games together in a master theme that provides flexibility for the individual bonus games to have their own themes. The preferred embodiment of the present invention automatically activates the bonus scheme upon a bonus triggering event. The game selects for the player one of three bonus games contained in the bonus scheme. The player plays the selected game and receives an award and the game returns the player to the base game.

Abstract: A gaming device including a re-initiation mode wherein the probability of extending the bonus game is increased by fixing the reel or reels displaying a locking symbol on the reel. In the re-initiation mode embodiment, the gaming device re-activates some or all of the reels except the reel displaying the locking symbol for a predetermined number of additional free spins or until the reactivated reels display or indicate a terminating symbol on the reels. The gaming device provides any outcomes associated with indicated symbols or combination of symbols. In one embodiment, if a terminating symbol is displayed on designated reels during one of the additional free spins, the gaming device re-initiates the bonus game.

Abstract: A gaming device having a game with a plurality of selections, where each selection has at least two characteristics. The gaming device is controlled by at least one processor to display a plurality of the selections; display an indication of one of the selections functioning as a base; determine at least one optimal selection from the displayed selections for providing a highest obtainable award for the game; display an indication of the optimal selection; and enable a player to input a pick of one of the plurality of displayed selections, other than the selection functioning as the base, where the picked selection has at least one characteristic that matches one of the characteristics of the selection functioning as the base.

Abstract: The present invention involves an apparatus and method for regenerating or awarding extra chances or opportunities to a player in connection with a gaming device and preferably in a bonus round of a gaming device. The present invention contemplates regenerating or awarding a plurality of extra chances or opportunities upon the occurrence of a predetermined event. More specifically, the present invention contemplates regenerating or awarding a number of extra chances or opportunities equal to the number of chances or opportunities with which the player enters or begins the game or bonus round of the present invention.

Abstract: A gaming device wherein the success or failure of a current selection directly affects the player's chances for success in a later selection and the player's chances for obtaining the highest bonus award possible.

Abstract: A gaming device and method which includes a plurality of reels having multiple symbols on the reels. The symbols include at least one activator symbol. In one embodiment, if the player obtains an activator symbol on the reels, the activator symbol activates the symbols that are adjacent to the activator symbol. Activating the adjacent symbols reveals the awards associated with the adjacent symbols. The player receives an award that equals the activator symbol award plus the awards associated with each symbol that is adjacent to the activator symbol.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a gaming device having a bonus game that provides a player with a primary set of reel symbols having a primary probability of winning and a secondary set of reel symbols having a secondary probability of winning, where the secondary probability of winning is greater than the primary probability of winning.

Abstract: A computer system operable to communicate with one or more gaming devices. The computer system has a processor and a data storage device. The data storage device stores instructions associated with a multi-round game. The instructions are executable to cause the gaming device to display a base, selections and characteristics associated therewith. The instructions are executable to enable one or more selections to be picked in multiple rounds to match characteristics of the base.

Abstract: A computer system operable to communicate with one or more gaming devices. The computer system has a processor and a data storage device. The data storage device stores instructions associated with a game. The instructions are executable to cause the gaming device to display a base, selections and characteristics associated therewith. The instructions are executable to enable one or more selections to be picked to match characteristics of the base.

Abstract: The system and method enables the player to select a choice from a plurality of choices, wherein one or more choices can trump or beat one or more other choices, and wherein one or more choices do not trump or beat but rather tie one or more other choices. The game randomly generates an outcome from a set of possible outcomes including: a win outcome, a draw outcome and a lose outcome. Based on the player's choice and the generated outcome, the game determines and displays a game choice, which when compared to the player's choice, yields the generated outcome. If positive or neutral outcome is generated, the game continues. If negative, the game ends and the player keeps any accumulated award.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a player's award in a game wherein one symbol of the gaming device changes into another. In one embodiment, all awards for predetermined symbols and combinations thereof, including winning combinations produced by a wild symbol are provided to the player. In a second step, the game awards all awards for predetermined symbols and combinations thereof produced after the wild symbol has changed one or more non-wild symbols to a wild symbol. This step includes awarding the player for combinations previously awarded in the first step, which may or may not have been the result of the wild symbol.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game. The outcome of the multi-player wagering game may be displayed to the player, along with an alternate outcome display at an alternate outcome display device. The alternate outcome display device may include a rotatable reel and a cover variably disposed in front of the rotatable reel. The gaming apparatus controller may receive a display request where the alternate outcome display device disposes a cover to visibly obscure the reel if the request is to obscure the reel, and disposes the cover to visibly display the reel if the request is to observe the reel.

Abstract: A gaming device having unisymbol display reels, wherein each symbol on a display of the gaming device represents or is included on a different reel. The structure of the paylines of the gaming device is such that the gaming device can include different reel strips having different winning symbols or different proportions of winning symbols, while still maintaining payout symbols and payout combinations that have uniform odds and uniform payouts.

Abstract: A gaming device including at least one displayed offer provided to a player, at least one input device for enabling the player to accept or reject each displayed offer provided to the player, and a hidden offer which the game does not reveal to the player during the acceptance or rejection of each of the provided displayed offers. The game provides and awards the hidden offer to the player if the player rejects each of the displayed offers. If the player accepts one of the provided displayed offers, the game awards the accepted offer to the player.

Abstract: A gaming device having unisymbol display reels, wherein each symbol on a display of the gaming device represents or is included on a different reel. The present invention structures the paylines of the gaming device in such a way that the gaming device can include different reel strips having different winning symbols or different proportions of winning symbols, while still maintaining payout symbols and payout combinations that have uniform odds and uniform payouts.

Abstract: A gaming device that enables players to accumulate awards by activating an award distributor having a plurality of award symbols and at least one selection group activator symbol. The gaming device provides the player with a plurality of activations where an award is associated with each award symbol indicated in each activation. When a selection group activator symbol is indicated, the gaming device displays at least one selection set having a plurality of selections associated with selection awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one selection and provides the associated selection award to the player. The number of available selections in the selection set decreases by one after the player picks a selection. If the selection group activator symbol is subsequently indicated, the player picks from the remaining available selections in the selection set.

Abstract: A gaming device having unisymbol display reels, wherein each symbol on a display of the gaming device represents or is included on a different reel. The present invention structures the paylines of the gaming device such that the gaming device can include different reel strips having different winning symbols or different proportions of winning symbols, while still maintaining payout symbols and payout combinations that have uniform odds and uniform payouts.

Abstract: A gaming device including a primary game having one or more symbol generators and one or more secondary games associated with the symbol generators. The gaming device activates the symbol generators for a number of activations. When the symbol generator generates one or more predetermined symbols, the gaming device operates one or more of the secondary games associated with the symbol generators. In one embodiment, the gaming device continues to activate the symbol generators until at least one of the symbol generators generates one or more termination symbols, or until there are no activations remaining in the primary game.

Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of reels with a plurality of symbols on each of the reels. At least one and preferably a plurality of the symbols on the primary reels are designated as tracking or back symbols. A tracking symbol is a symbol that, when generated on a reel, causes the gaming device to flag the outcome of the current and all tracking spins in a memory storage device. A back symbol is a symbol that, when generated on a reel, causes the gaming device to retrieve the flagged outcomes of each flagged spin and to redisplay the outcomes in a sequential manner and to provide the awards associated with the outcomes to the player. An additional embodiment of the invention automatically flags all spins of the gaming device for retrieval and display upon the generation of a back or bonus symbol. The gaming device determines if an award is associated with one or more of the symbols generated on the reels and provides any determined award to the player.