Patent ID: 8628403

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a display device; an input device; a processor; and a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to: (a) for a first game session: (i) cause a player to be identified; and (ii) for each of a first plurality of plays of a wagering game: (A) enable the identified player to wager on said play of the wagering game, (B) display a randomly determined outcome of said play of the wagering game, and (C) if the displayed outcome is a designated outcome, associate one of a plurality of different symbols with one of a plurality of bonus positions; (b) following the first game session: (i) automatically cause any of the plurality of symbols associated with any of the plurality of bonus positions from the first game session to be stored in association with the identified player, and (ii) disassociate any of the plurality of symbols associated with any of the plurality of bonus positions from the first game session; and (c) for a second, subsequent game session: (i) cause the player to be identified; (ii) associate any of the plurality of stored symbols from the first game session with any of the plurality of bonus positions; (iii) for each of a second plurality of plays of the wagering game: (A) enable the identified player to wager on said play of the wagering game, (B) display a randomly determined outcome of said play of the wagering game, and (C) if the displayed outcome is the designated outcome, associate one of the plurality of symbols with one of the plurality of bonus positions; and (iv) if a bonus event triggering condition occurs: (A) display a play of a bonus event, the play of the bonus event including a random indication of one of the plurality of bonus positions, said random indication being: (i) distinct from any random determination of any displayed outcome of any of the plays of the wagering game, and (ii) distinct from any association of any of the plurality of symbols with any of the plurality of bonus positions, and (B) if one of the symbols is associated with the randomly indicated bonus position, provide a bonus award to the identified player, said bonus award based at least in part on the symbol associated with the randomly indicated bonus position.