Patent ID: 7384334

Claim:
A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: a primary game operable upon a wager, controlled by the processor and including: (a) a primary game set of reels including a plurality of primary symbols, (b) a plurality of different primary game winning symbol combinations of the primary symbols, wherein said primary game has a primary game probability of winning, (c) a plurality of different primary game awards associated with said primary game winning symbol combinations, and (d) a first triggering event; a secondary game controlled by the processor, triggered upon the occurrence of the first triggering event and including: (a) a secondary game set of reels including a plurality of secondary symbols, (b) a plurality of different secondary game winning symbol combinations of the secondary symbols, wherein said secondary game has a secondary game probability of winning, and wherein the number of secondary symbols is less than the number of primary symbols such that the secondary game probability of winning is greater than the primary game probability of winning, and (c) a plurality of different secondary game awards associated with said secondary game winning symbol combinations; and a display device controlled by the processor, wherein said processor is programmed for a play of the primary game to: (a) cause the display device to display the primary game set of reels, (b) cause a determination of a plurality of the primary symbols, (c) cause the display device to display said determined primary symbols on the primary game set of reels, and (d) provide to a player any primary game awards associated with any primary game winning symbol combinations displayed on the primary reels, (e) determine if the first triggering event occurs, and (f) if the first triggering event occurs: (i) cause the display device to display the secondary game set of reels in place of the primary game set of reels, (ii) cause a determination of a plurality of the secondary symbols, (iii) cause the display device to display said determined secondary symbols on the secondary game set of reels, (iv) provide to the player any secondary game awards associated with any secondary game winning symbol combinations displayed on the secondary reels, and (v) repeat steps (ii) through (iv), if no secondary game winning symbol combinations is displayed on the secondary reels.