Patent ID: 7223172

Claim:
A gaming device comprising: a primary game operable upon a wager by a player; at least one symbol generator in the primary game, wherein the symbol generator is adapted to generate at least one award symbol; a plurality of secondary game prize indicators, wherein each prize indicator is associated with a predetermined number of award symbols required to access said prize indicator; at least one display device adapted to display the prize indicators; and a processor operable with the symbol generator, prize indicators, and the display device to: (a) generate the award symbols in plays of the primary game; (b) accumulate the generated award symbols; (c) indicate the accumulated award symbols to the player; (d) enable the player to selectively access on demand at least one of the secondary game prize indicators if at least the required number of award symbols associated with said prize indicator are accumulated; and (e) if the player selectively accesses one of said prize indicators: (i) reduce the number of accumulated award symbols by the predetermined number of award symbols associated with said accessed prize indicator; (ii) provide the player an award based on the selectively accessed prize indicator; and (iii) enable the player to return to the primary game or selectively access on demand at least one of the secondary game prize indicators if the remaining number of award symbols at least equals the required number of award symbols associated with one of the prize indicators.