Patent ID: 8231456

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: at least one display device; at least one input device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to: (a) for each play of a primary game, the primary game including a plurality of free activation symbols: (i) receive a primary game wager from a player; (ii) enable the player to place a side wager in addition to the primary game wager; (iii) display said play of the primary game; (iv) provide the player any awards based on said play of the primary game; and (v) if the player places the side wager, and if a designated quantity of the free activation symbols is indicated in said play of the primary game, the designated quantity being at least one, for each indicated free activation symbol: (A) provide the player with a quantity of free activations, wherein the quantity of free activations is not usable until after a triggering event occurs, and wherein the quantity of free activations is at least one; and (B) add the quantity of free activations to an accumulated quantity of free activations; (b) display the accumulated quantity of free activations; and (c) for each play of the primary game, upon the occurrence of the triggering event: (i) regardless of whether the player has accumulated any free activations, initiate a play of the secondary game, the secondary game including an initial quantity of free activations usable in the secondary game in addition to any accumulated quantity of free activations, the initial quantity of free activations being at least one, and (ii) if the accumulated quantity of free activations is at least one, enable the player to make an input to indicate whether to use any of the accumulated quantity of free activations in the play of the secondary game.