Abstract: The gaming device provides a number of selections. When the player chooses a selection, the gaming device randomly generates a value and randomly places the value into one of a number of adjacent slots. When the bottom of each slot is covered with values, the game removes the values and provides an award to the player. In one embodiment, the award includes a value from each slot and in a preferred embodiment the award includes the smallest value from the slots. The gaming device subtracts the lowest value from the remaining values and the player chooses another selection. The process continues until one of a plurality of possible endings occurs.

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 re-display 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.

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 re-display 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.

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 re-display 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.

Abstract: A gaming device having a game involving a plurality of selections and at least one progressive game increment associated with at least one of the selections. The gaming device has a progressive award which is displayable if the player picks a selection associated with a progressive game increment.

Abstract: A bonus game that operates in combination with a slot machine base game is provided. The bonus game includes a series of free spins or free evaluations in which symbols of a set of symbols are generated. The free spins also generate executor symbols that alone or in accumulation cause one of the symbols of the set to be eliminated or replaced. In either case the symbols remaining in the set have a higher probability of being generated and a higher probability exists that a larger award paying combination of the remaining symbols will be generated. The elimination sequence can be repeated a number of times further increasing the probability of generating a higher paying award for the player. The present invention is operable with different types of base games such as slot and poker.

Abstract: A gaming device having a game involving a plurality of selections and at least one progressive game increment associated with at least one of the selections. The gaming device has a progressive award which is displayable if the player picks a selection associated with a progressive game increment.

Abstract: A primary and secondary game for a wagering gaming machine. In one embodiment, the number of lines wagered or a slot machine makes the player eligible for a bonus game, and a wager made per payline effects how many moves or positions on a meter the player advances upon achieving the bonus triggering symbol or combination of symbols. When the player advances the meter to the end, the gaming device displays a payout event. The payout event can be any type of bonus gaming event that potentially provides an award to the player.

Abstract: A gaming device having a bonus round with multiple selection groups is provided. The gaming device provides a plurality of selection groups including a final selection group. Each non-final selection group includes selections that yield awards and at least one selection that yields an advance indicator. The advance indicator signals the end of a player's picking from one selection group and the start of the player's picking from a subsequent selection group. The gaming device provides the player with a total number of picks. The player uses the picks to advance through as many selection groups as possible, wherein the awards increase as the player advances.

Abstract: A primary and secondary game for a wagering gaming machine. In one embodiment, the number of lines wagered or a slot machine makes the player eligible for a bonus game, and a wager made per payline effects how many moves or positions on a meter the player advances upon achieving the bonus triggering symbol or combination of symbols. When the player advances the meter to the end, the gaming device displays a payout event. The payout event can be any type of bonus gaming event that potentially provides an award to the player.

Abstract: A gaming device including a free spins game having a plurality of reels with a plurality of symbols. The symbols include at least one prize symbol, where a physical prize is associated with the prize symbol. In one embodiment, the gaming device activates or spins the reels for a designated number of spins in a game. The gaming device spins the reels in the game and accumulates any prize symbols indicated on the reels. If the accumulated number of prize symbols reaches a designated number of prize symbols necessary to win the physical prize, the gaming device awards the physical prize to the player.

Abstract: A gaming device having a bonus scheme wherein an accumulator accumulates bonus re-triggering symbols until a pre-determined number of bonus re-triggering symbols are obtained by the player in the bonus game. The accumulated bonus re-triggering symbols are preferably the same symbol. In one embodiment, the bonus re-triggering symbols in the bonus game are the same symbol as the bonus triggering symbols in the primary game. In another embodiment, the bonus re-triggering symbols in the bonus game are different symbols than the bonus trigger symbols in the primary game. The bonus scheme of the present invention is preferably employed in conjunction with one or more other re-trigger bonus schemes. In another embodiment, the accumulator is employed as a bonus re-triggering event in the bonus game.

Abstract: A bonus game that operates in combination with a slot machine base game is provided. The bonus game includes a series of free spins or free evaluations in which symbols of a set of symbols are generated. The free spins also generate executor symbols that alone or in accumulation cause one of the symbols of the set to be eliminated or replaced. In either case the symbols remaining in the set have a higher probability of being generated and a higher probability exists that a larger award paying combination of the remaining symbols will be generated. The elimination sequence can be repeated a number of times further increasing the probability of generating a higher paying award for the player. The present invention is operable with different types of base games such as slot and poker.

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: 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 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: 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: An apparatus and method for operating a wagering gaming device that enables a player to accept a discounted game element when a triggering event occurs during a primary wagering game. The discounted game element includes may be a discounted reinitiation of the primary wagering game or a discounted component or function of the primary wagering game.

Abstract: A gaming device includes a symbol generator having a plurality of adjacently arranged sections. A plurality of the sections are each associated with or display one or a plurality of characteristics. The sections associated with the characteristics are each associated with or display a symbol or an award. At least one of the sections is a designated section and is not initially associated with a characteristic. The designated section is operable to sequentially display one, more or each of the characteristics associated with the other non-designated sections. When the symbol generator indicates one of the sections that displays an award and is associated with a characteristic, the gaming device provides the player with the award associated with the section. When the symbol generator indicates the designated section, the gaming device sequentially associates or displays a plurality of the characteristics associated with the other sections with the designated section.

Abstract: A gaming device and a method for operating a gaming device which increases the possibility of obtaining a winning combination of symbols on reels. In one embodiment, the gaming device rearranges one or more sets of indicated symbols on the reels to potentially generate additional combinations of symbols on a payline. In another embodiment, the gaming device rearranges one or more sets of symbols displayed along a rearrangement path to potentially generate additional combinations of symbols on a payline. The rearranged symbols may move to different reels and different paylines in the rearrangement. The gaming device, in one embodiment performs an evaluation of the rearranged symbols after each rearrangement to give each rearrangement a chance to generate a winning combination of symbols on the reels.