Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for enhancing gaming payouts based on payout occurrence frequency. In one embodiment, symbols are associated with a counter value or other tracking measure. The counter value changes in connection with certain events, such as when the respective symbol is involved in a game result that wins and/or provides a payout. When the counter value for a particular symbol or group of symbols reaches a threshold, that particular payout is made subject to a payout modifier.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods of operating these devices or systems to provide game play that utilizes operations of collection features in gaming devices. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to provide a piggy bank or other collection feature that collects and stores tokens, small credit wins, or bonus icons during game play. At particular intervals, or at a player's choice, the collection can be used, opened, or otherwise cashed-in to reveal awards, multipliers, game event features, to enhance game play on the gaming device.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for utilizing virtual pull tabs or other gambling tickets to provide or enhance awards in gaming activities. Embodiments include maintaining a listing of available gambling ticket awards and their respective quantities available for awarding. The listing is displayed so the player can know which pull tabs or analogous tickets remain available to receive as an award. When an available gambling ticket is selected, it is awarded for use to the player, and the listing is updated to reflect the change in quantity of awarded gambling tickets. Embodiments involve forcing certain characteristics in gaming activities, such as forcing a symbol combination on a slot game grid, when the gambling ticket awards such a guaranteed gaming outcome.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for increasing potential payout opportunities using multiple card indicia representing multiple cards. One embodiment involves determining whether any one or more of a plurality of cards of a poker game having multiple poker hands are to be randomly provided with multiple card indicia representing multiple cards, presenting the plurality of cards of the poker hands, including the one or more of the plurality of cards determined to be randomly provided with multiple card indicia, and identifying a plurality of resulting hands for each of the multiple poker hands that include a multiple card indicia, where each of the plurality of resulting hands includes a different subset of a total of the indicia of the other cards in the respective poker hand and any cards provided with multiple card indicia.

Abstract: Reel-based wagering games comprise displaying spinning reels at a default spinning rate and reducing a spinning rate of a target reel from the default spinning rate toward or to a slowed spinning rate responsive to a predetermined symbol or set of symbols of the target reel being displayed or about to be displayed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for bonusing symbols in subsequent games of gaming devices based on a current game outcome. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to initiate and display a first gaming event on a game display of the gaming device. If one or more symbols appear as part of a predefined criterion, such as being part of a winning symbol combination, the one or more symbols may be associated with a modifier, such as a multiplier, in one or more subsequent gaming events.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for providing a symbol blocking and respin feature. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to receive a first game initiation signal and spin reels on the display to show a first game outcome. The gaming device then determines if the results of the first game outcome are associated with a multi-reel symbol trigger condition. When it is determined that the trigger condition is satisfied, a multi-reel symbol is formed from symbols associated with the triggering condition by locking the symbols together. The game device then spins a reel with in the block symbol location with various modifier subsymbols, or other block symbols, to provide additional award opportunities. A second game outcome may be determined when the spinning block reel stops and any modifiers or other symbols are evaluated with the other symbols on the game grid.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for overriding gaming results, to provide particular gaming awards or payouts more often than the natural odds of such particular gaming awards/payouts may otherwise statistically allow. A particular gaming event has a natural probability of occurring during game play, and a separate random event may be established to cause the particular gaming event outcome to occur more frequently than the particular gaming event would occur naturally. If the separate random event occurs, the particular gaming event is forced to occur even though it may not have otherwise occurred.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the use of game modifiers between game stages of a game played on a gaming device. According to some embodiments, a gaming device is configured to play a multi-stage game of chance. After a first stage is completed and a result for the first stage is determined, a game modifier is altered and applied to a second stage of the game when a predefined criterion is satisfied. The game modifier may modify prizes associated with the second stage of the game by, for example, applying a multiplier to prizes associated with a second stage result, the modifier may alter an aspect of the second stage of the game by, for example, adding or replacing one or more game elements used in evaluating the second stage outcome for prizes, or the modifier may trigger a bonus event.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for increasing potential payout opportunities using multiple card indicia representing multiple cards. One embodiment involves determining whether any one or more of a plurality of cards of a poker game having multiple poker hands are to be randomly provided with multiple card indicia representing multiple cards, presenting the plurality of cards of the poker hands, including the one or more of the plurality of cards determined to be randomly provided with multiple card indicia, and identifying a plurality of resulting hands for each of the multiple poker hands that include a multiple card indicia, where each of the plurality of resulting hands includes a different subset of a total of the indicia of the other cards in the respective poker hand and any cards provided with multiple card indicia.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for bonusing symbols in subsequent games of gaming devices based on a current game outcome. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to initiate and display a first gaming event on a game display of the gaming device. If one or more symbols appear as part of a predefined criterion, such as being part of a winning symbol combination, the one or more symbols may be associated with a modifier, such as a multiplier, in one or more subsequent gaming events.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the use of game modifiers between game stages of a game played on a gaming device. According to some embodiments, a gaming device is configured to play a multi-stage game of chance. After a first stage is completed and a result for the first stage is determined, a game modifier is altered and applied to a second stage of the game when a predefined criterion is satisfied. The game modifier may modify prizes associated with the second stage of the game by, for example, applying a multiplier to prizes associated with a second stage result, the modifier may alter an aspect of the second stage of the game by, for example, adding or replacing one or more game elements used in evaluating the second stage outcome for prizes, or the modifier may trigger a bonus event.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for implementing bonus features using subsymbols during game play. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to randomly overlay or otherwise associate zero, one, or more subsymbols on game symbols used in a game of chance. When subsymbols appear on game symbols that are randomly determined to be part of the game outcome, a bonus feature is triggered that may be used to modify awards provided from the game outcome. The presence of the subsymbols themselves may act as a trigger for a secondary bonus feature or event, or the subsymbols themselves may show random indicia within the subsymbol that provides a bonus modifier or other award.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for providing mutable awards in gaming devices. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to include processes where various properties, functions, characteristics, displays, or other award components have some dynamic variability between game play events on a gaming system or within a gaming device. Although not all, or even one, of the award components needs to be changed or mutated between game play events, the processes are configured to allow such award components to be changed or mutated within a predefined time frame, within a defined game event, or within another measurable criterion.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for awarding an enhancement value(s) in connection with a gaming event occurring at a first time or sequence position, and applying that enhancement value to a payout result occurring at a second time or sequence position. Embodiments include applying a presently-obtained enhancement value(s) to a previously-obtained payout result(s).

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for enhancing gaming awards in gaming activities. At least one payout modifier is awarded, and its use is deferred. During the deferment period, the payout modifier is allowed to increase to create an increased payout modifier. An end of the deferral period is randomly determined, and the increased payout modifier is awarded for use in the gaming activity. Embodiments further provide the player an option to keep the originally awarded payout modifier, or to surrender it to allow it to be deferred with potential growth.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods to facilitate a conditional replay of some portion of the game elements used in playing a wagering game. In a representative slot game embodiment, symbols are presented in a grid, and a symbol location(s) is randomly identified for symbol substitution. If it is determined that any one or more available candidate substitute symbols could create or improve a result on a payline on which the randomly identified symbol location resides, a substitute symbol is selected from the candidate substitute symbols and substituted at the randomly identified symbol location. Other embodiments include, for example, dynamically creating the available candidate substitute symbols based on other symbols on the payline.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for enhancing payouts in gaming activities. One or more payout modifiers may be presented in the game play area, where portions of the game play area identified by the one or more payout modifiers are made eligible for award enhancement for awards occurring on paylines or other pay areas that pass through or otherwise use the identified portions of the game play area that are currently eligible for the award enhancement. In various embodiments, the payout modifiers may identify different volumes of the portions of the game play area to be eligible for the award enhancement, and/or may move about the play area, and/or intersect to form new and potentially more lucrative payout modifiers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for providing a symbol blocking and respin feature. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to receive a first game initiation signal and spin reels on the display to show a first game outcome. The gaming device then determines if the results of the first game outcome are associated with a multi-reel symbol trigger condition. When it is determined that the trigger condition is satisfied, a multi-reel symbol is formed from symbols associated with the triggering condition by locking the symbols together. The game device then spins a reel with in the block symbol location with various modifier subsymbols, or other block symbols, to provide additional award opportunities. A second game outcome may be determined when the spinning block reel stops and any modifiers or other symbols are evaluated with the other symbols on the game grid.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for facilitating gaming payout enhancements through player purchase of a desired number of options to qualify to receive a commensurate quantity of a randomly-generated number of payout award enhancements. A player can purchase some number of payout enhancement options for a gaming event. A number of payout enhancement awards may be randomly granted. A number of the symbol upgrade awards that does not exceed the number of symbol upgrade options purchased are activated for use, and the initial gaming event results are updated with the activated number of the symbol upgrade awards. The gaming event, as modified, is then analyzed for payout results using any symbol upgrades.