Patent ID: 7682246

Claim:
A gaming device comprising: at least one display 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, upon a triggering event, to: (a) provide an initial amount of free plays of a game, said game having a plurality of symbols, a plurality of winning symbols combinations, and a plurality of awards associated with the winning symbol combinations, wherein the initial amount is at least two; (b) for each said free play of the game, provide any of the awards associated with winning symbol combinations which occur in said free play of the game; (c) for each said free play of the game, reduce the number of remaining free plays of the game; and (d) if a freezing event occurs in any of said free plays of the game, provide additional free plays of the game: (i) until a terminating event occurs; (ii) without reducing the number of remaining free plays of the game, and (iii) for each said additional free play of the game, provide any awards associated with winning symbol combinations which occur in said additional free play of the game.