Patent ID: 8029358

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: at least one display device; at least one input device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to: display a wagered on play of a first game, determine if a triggering event occurs, and for each and every determination that the triggering event occurs: (a) display a designated number of free plays of a second game, said designated number being at least two, and (b) for each free play of the second game, determine and display any awards for said free play of the second game based upon: (1) a plurality of symbols occurring in said free play of the second game, and (2) one of a plurality of multipliers, wherein: (i) any award for a first one of the free plays of the second game is based on a first one of the multipliers having a first value greater than zero, and (ii) any award for a second, different one of the free plays of the second game is based on a second, different multiplier having a value which is determined based on a value of said first multiplier and a randomly determined increment value greater than zero, said value of said second multiplier being determined independently of said symbols occurring in said free plays of the second game, and regardless of whether an award was paid to the player in a previous free play of the second game.