Patent ID: 7585219

Claim:
A gaming device operated under the control of a processor, said gaming device comprising: at least one input device; a symbol display associated with a primary game controlled by the processor; and wherein the processor is configured to operate with the symbol display and the at least one input device for each play of the primary game to: (a) enable a player to wager one of: (i) a first wagerable amount associated with a first group of designated symbols from a plurality of different activatable symbols, said first group including at least two designated symbols, and (ii) a second wagerable amount associated with a second group of designated symbols from the plurality of different activatable symbols, wherein the second wagerable amount is greater than the first wagerable amount, at least one of the designated symbols from the second group is different from each of the designated symbols from the first group, the second group has a greater number of designated symbols than the first group, and the plurality of activatable symbols includes at least one scatter symbol; (b) if the player wagers the first wagerable amount, activate each designated symbol of the first group of the plurality of activatable symbols; (c) if the player wagers the second wagerable amount, activate each designated symbol of the second group of the plurality of activatable symbols; (d) for each one of a designated number of symbol display positions, generate and display a randomly determined one of the activatable symbols at said symbol display position regardless of whether said symbol is any one of said activated symbols; (e) if the player wagers the first wagerable amount or the second wagerable amount, for each activated designated symbol, determine if any winning symbol combinations of said designated symbol are generated and displayed at the designated number of symbol display positions, wherein each and every winning symbol combination of said designated symbol must include at least a predetermined number of said designated symbols displayed at adjacent positions of the designated number of symbol display positions, the predetermined number being at least two, and wherein each and every occurrence of the predetermined number of said designated symbol displayed at adjacent positions is a winning symbol combination; (f) determine if any scatter symbols are generated; (g) if a designated number of scatter symbols is generated, provide a number of the bonus games to the player based on the number of generated scatter symbols; and (h) provide any awards to the player based on any determined winning symbol combinations and any provided bonus games.