Abstract: Systems and methods for use in providing a random reward associated with at least one play-for-fun application are disclosed. One exemplary method includes crediting, at the gaming server, gaming activity directed to a play-for-fun application by a player to a player tracking account, issuing at least one coupon associated with a random reward based on at least the gaming activity credited to the player tracking account, tracking, at the gaming server, redemption of the at least one coupon, and awarding the random reward when the coupon is redeemed at a gaming machine in accordance with at least one trigger condition.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines is provided. The gaming system includes a plurality of progressive awards arranged in a hierarchy. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event or qualifying condition, a bonus game is started. A player can win a next higher progressive award by accumulating award values. If the player's total award value is greater than or equal to a trigger value for a progressive award, the player wins the progressive award. Unless a termination condition occurs, the bonus game continues. The total award value is set to the progressive award value. Alternatively, the progressive award value is added to the player's total award value. The trigger value for a progressive award can be the startup value for that progressive award.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.

Abstract: A gaming device having a bonus game with an adjacent selection feature. In one embodiment of the present invention, the gaming device provides a plurality of adjacent player selectable selections. An award is associated with each player selectable selection. The award associated with each selectable selection is not initially displayed or revealed to the player. The player selectable selections are arranged or grouped into a plurality of associated or related selection sets. In one embodiment, each selection set has a different number of player selectable selections. In one embodiment, the related plurality of selection sets are arranged adjacent to each other to enable each player selectable selection in one set to be adjacent to at least one player selectable selection from another selection set. The player's pick in each selection set limits the available selections in the subsequent selection sets.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.

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 wild 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 wild symbol for a predetermined number of free spins or until the reactivated reels display or indicate a wild symbol on the reels. The gaming device provides any outcomes associated with indicated symbols or combination of symbols. In one embodiment, if a predetermined number of wild symbols are displayed on designated reels, the gaming device re-initiates the bonus 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 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 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 set to be wild symbols. Free spins occur for each symbol acting as a wild symbol until the symbol appears on the reels in a winning format, either alone or in combination with other symbols. Then, the next symbol of the set is used in the wild symbols and so on until all symbols for the set are used. If free spins remain after all symbols of the set are used, the free spin sequence is repeated until the free spins are exhausted.

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 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 having a free spin mode or sequence with terminators and anti-terminators. For each spin or activation of a plurality of reels in the free spin mode, the gaming device determines if at least one terminator symbol or at least one anti-terminator symbol is generated. If at least one terminator symbol is generated and at least one anti-terminator symbol is not previously retained, the free spin mode ends. If at least one terminator symbol is generated and at least one anti-terminator symbol is previously retained, the retained anti-terminator symbol is utilized to nullify the free spin ending effect of the terminator symbol and the free spin mode continues. If at least one anti-terminator symbol is generated, the free spin mode continues and the generated anti-terminator symbol is retained or accumulated until a terminator symbol is subsequently generated on another spin or activation of the reels.

Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of elements and a plurality of element groups. Each of said elements is in at least two different element groups and the plurality of elements are associated with a plurality of outcomes, such as values. The gaming device also includes an element group generator that selects one of the element groups. Selection of an element group by the element group generator activates the elements in selected element group. In one embodiment, The element group generator may also select a multi-group activator that activates the elements in each of a plurality of element groups. The gaming device selects element groups until at least one element is activated a predetermined number of times wherein the predetermined number of times is at least two. The game provides an award to a player based on the outcome or value associated with the elements activated the predetermined number of times.

Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of reel sets connected where at least one of the reel sets includes concentric reels having an inner reel and an outer reel. The inner reel includes a plurality of symbols and a plurality of symbol positions where at least two of the symbols are displayed by one of the symbol positions. The outer reel defines a plurality of different viewable areas where one of the outer reel is positionable to enable a player to view at least one of the symbols through a first viewable area and a different number of the symbols through a second viewable area. A processor causes the inner reel and the outer reel to move and provides any outcome to the player based on the number of winning symbol combinations which are displayed on the reels (i.e., not based on any paylines that would have passed through such displayed winning symbol combinations).