Abstract: A gaming device includes a plurality of symbol groups which each include a plurality of symbols. In one embodiment, each of the symbols is associated with a probability of being generated. The gaming device includes a plurality of player selectable selections. The gaming device includes a plurality of outcome pools. Each pool includes the number of designated symbols which are generated for each selection. That is, each pool determines how many symbols will be generated for the indicated group for each selection. Each time a player picks one of the selections, the gaming device selects one of the pools. The gaming device generates the designated number of symbols associated with the picked selection which is determined by the selected pool. The gaming device provides the player an outcome or award, based at least in part, on the generated symbols.

Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of reel sets where at least one of the reel sets includes an inner reel and an outer reel. The inner reel includes a plurality of first symbols and at least one designated symbol and the outer reel includes a plurality of second symbols and at least one viewable area which displays one or more of the first symbols of the inner reel. The outer reel remains stationary while the inner reel is moved or rotated. If the designated symbol is viewable or visible through the viewable area of the outer reel, the gaming device changes at least one of the second symbols of the outer reel to a wild symbol. The gaming device moves or rotates the outer reel to display or indicate one or more of the second symbols to a player. The gaming device evaluates the first and second symbols indicated by the reel sets and provides an outcome to the player for any winning symbol combinations indicated by one or more paylines associated with the reel sets.

Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of reel sets where at least one of the reel sets includes an inner reel and an outer reel. The inner reel includes a plurality of first symbols and at least one designated symbol and the outer reel includes a plurality of second symbols and at least one viewable area which displays one or more of the first symbols of the inner reel. The outer reel remains stationary while the inner reel is moved or rotated. If the designated symbol is viewable or visible through the viewable area of the outer reel, the gaming device changes at least one of the second symbols of the outer reel to a wild symbol. The gaming device moves or rotates the outer reel to display or indicate one or more of the second symbols to a player. The gaming device evaluates the first and second symbols indicated by the reel sets and provides an outcome to the player for any winning symbol combinations indicated by one or more paylines associated with the reel sets.

Abstract: A gaming machine including wagering base game or a bonus game is provided. In one embodiment, values are generated via player selection or automatically. Additional selections are presented to the player. The player picks the selections, which direct the values into groups. One of the selections results (i) in a termination of play and (ii) a mathematical operation that is used to combine the groups of values to form an award for the player.

Abstract: A gaming device in which primary game symbols are generated in association with secondary symbols. The secondary symbols if generated in a particular combination and in a particular situation, e.g., in association with winning base game symbols, provide a benefit to the player, such as a modification of a payout provided from the base or primary game win. In one embodiment, multiple secondary symbols appearing on slot machine reels are evaluated for a win. In another embodiment, a match between a secondary symbol appearing on slot machine reel and a secondary symbol appearing on a separate secondary reel yields a win. In a third embodiment, a winning combination of at least one secondary symbol appearing on slot machine reel in combination with a secondary symbol appearing on a separate secondary reel yields a win.

Abstract: A gaming device and method of operating a gaming device having a plurality of groups of elements. The gaming device indicates one of the elements. Terminators are distributed and associated with each of the elements of another one of the groups of elements. In one embodiment, an award is associated with each of the gaming elements. The gaming elements are indicated and the award associated with each indicated gaming element provided to the player until a gaming element associated with a terminator is indicated.

Abstract: A gaming device having an accumulation game with changing selections. The gaming device generates or picks, one at a time, a plurality of selections. Each generated selection is accumulated or marked and then changed to another selection. The gaming device continues generating selections, accumulating the generated selections and changing the generated selections until at least one selection is generated and accumulated a designated number of times. When at least one selection is generated and accumulated the designated number of times, an award is provided to the player wherein the award is based on the selection which was generated and accumulated the designated number of times.

Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of reels, where in an unlimited free spin mode, the gaming device causes at least one of the reels to lock or remain stationary when a locking symbol appears on that reel. At least one of the symbols on the reels is associated with each of the unlocked reels. The gaming device enables a player to pick at least one of the symbols associated with the unlocked reels to determine a modifier. The gaming device activates at least one of the unlocked reels for a number of additional free spins. Each time the selected symbol occurs on at least one of the reels, the gaming device changes or increments the value of the modifier. When there are no additional free spins remaining, the gaming device modifies any awards obtained by the player in the additional free spins by the modifier to provide the player with a modified award.

Abstract: A gaming device including a rotatable symbol display having a plurality of sections and a plurality of symbol modifying indicators. Each of the sections includes a value which is modified by a modifier generated by an activated symbol modifying indicators. The modified awards are added together and provided to the player in the game. In one embodiment, a selection display including a plurality of selections is displayed to the player. The selections are associated with each of the symbol modifying indicators. The gaming device enables the player to pick one or more of the selections to activate one or more of the symbol modifying indicators. The player picks the selections until the player picks a selection including a terminator.

Abstract: A gaming device including a free activation mode having a predetermined number of free activations wherein the probability of extending the free activation mode is increased by a triggering event which triggers an unlimited number of free activations. A termination event terminates the unlimited fee activations. A freezing event freezes the number of remaining free activations. A resetting event resets the number of remaining free activations. A locking event causes at least one symbol or at least one card to remain unchanged or lock during the unlimited free activations. The gaming device generates a plurality of symbols while not changing the locked symbol or re-deals the remaining cards an unlimited number of times until a termination event occurs.

Abstract: An poker game which provides a predetermined outcome to a player. In one embodiment, a plurality of playing cards are provided to a player wherein one or more of the provided playing cards are based on the predetermined game outcome. The player is enabled to select one or more of the initially dealt playing cards to hold or to discard. If a poker hand with an associated payout equal to the value associated with the predetermined game outcome may be obtained based on the held cards, the gaming device utilizes one or more backfill algorithms, to determine which card or cards, if any, need to be dealt to the player. The determined cards are provided to the player to replace the playing cards designated by the player to discard and the selected predetermined game outcome which is associated with a value equal to the payout of the player's poker hand is provided to the player.

Abstract: A gaming device includes a symbol generator which includes a plurality of sections. Each of the sections is associated with a symbol. Upon a triggering event, the gaming device determines which symbol to indicate. The gaming device rotates or moves the symbol generator and stops rotating the symbol generator to indicate a first point on the symbol generator. The first point is located between the section associated with the determined symbol and another section adjacent to this section. The gaming device indicates the adjacent section at least once and indicates the section associated with the determined symbol at least once. In one embodiment, the gaming device oscillates the symbol generator back and forth to indicate one section and then the other section to tease the player. The gaming device stops moving or rotating the symbol generator to indicate the section associated with the determined symbol. The gaming device provides an outcome to a player based on the determined symbol.

Abstract: A gaming device in which the player either wins that which the player does not select or the player selectively replaces one award with another award with the hopes of maximizing an ultimate award. In the embodiment wherein the player wins that which the player does not select, one or more selections are made from the plurality of symbols, and the game provides awards assigned to the unselected choices or symbols. In the replacement embodiment, the game replaces the award of a selected symbol with an alternative type of award. In one example, the awards assigned to the unselected symbols are gaming device credits, while the converted or replaced awards assigned to selected symbols are multipliers. After replacement, the game combines any credits and/or any multipliers by a mathematical operation to produce an ultimate award.

Abstract: A gaming device system in which a plurality of gaming devices are linked by a common bonus event is provided. In one embodiment, the linked gaming device system includes a shared symbol generation display that is positioned adjacent to each of a plurality of associated gaming devices and has a plurality of sections and values displayed at each section. Upon a triggering of the bonus event, any player eligible to participate in the bonus may achieve an outcome generated from the bonus event including the shared display. When the shared display is activated, it simultaneously generates a separate or individual outcome associated with each of the gaming devices. The outcomes are spatially related to one another so that a random generation of an outcome associated with one gaming device automatically generates random outcomes associated with each gaming device. Each gaming device however receives the outcome only if it has participated in the random generation.

Abstract: A gaming device system in which a plurality of gaming devices are linked by a common bonus event is provided. In one embodiment, the linked gaming device system includes a shared symbol generation display that is positioned adjacent to each of a plurality of associated gaming devices and has a plurality of sections and values displayed at each section. Upon a triggering of the bonus event, any player eligible to participate in the bonus may achieve an outcome generated from the bonus event including the shared display. When the shared display is activated, it simultaneously generates a separate or individual outcome associated with each of the gaming devices. The outcomes are spatially related to one another so that a random generation of an outcome associated with one gaming device automatically generates random outcomes associated with each gaming device. Each gaming device however receives the outcome only if it has participated in the random generation.

Abstract: A gaming device system in which a plurality of gaming devices are linked by a common bonus event is provided. In one embodiment, the linked gaming device system includes a shared symbol generation display that is positioned adjacent to each of a plurality of associated gaming devices and has a plurality of sections and values displayed at each section. Upon a triggering of the bonus event, any player eligible to participate in the bonus may achieve an outcome generated from the bonus event including the shared display. When the shared display is activated, it simultaneously generates a separate or individual outcome associated with each of the gaming devices. The outcomes are spatially related to one another so that a random generation of an outcome associated with one gaming device automatically generates random outcomes associated with each gaming device. Each gaming device however receives the outcome only if it has participated in the random generation.

Abstract: A gaming device having a plurality of player selectable selections, steps towards termination associated with each selection, a termination limit and an offer associated with each number of steps. The steps are associated with or determine the offers provided to the player. The game provides no further offers when the maximum number of offers have been awarded, the player accepts an offer, or the player's accumulated steps meet or exceed the termination limit. The game preferably provides a consolation award to the player when the player's steps meet or exceed the termination limit.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.

Abstract: A gaming device including a first player interactive game requiring one or more player inputs which result in an outcome. The outcome does not result in an award provided to the player. In one embodiment, the gaming device determines a paytable employed in the wagering game based on an outcome of the interactive game. In another embodiment, the gaming device includes a plurality of different wagering games. The gaming device determines which wagering game to provide to the player based, at least in part, on the outcome of the interactive game. Other suitable functions can be employed in the wagering game based on the outcome of the interactive game in accordance with the present invention. In any embodiment, the gaming device provides an outcome to the player for the wagering game which can result in an award.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.