Patent ID: 8702489

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) display a play of a primary game associated with a plurality of primary game reels associated with a plurality of primary game symbols; (b) display any awards associated with said displayed play of the primary game; (c) upon an occurrence of a qualification event in association with said displayed play of the primary game, provide a bonus game including a quantity of at least two free spins of a plurality of bonus game reels associated with a plurality of bonus game symbols; and (d) for each of the free spins: (i) generate and display a plurality of the bonus game symbols on the bonus game reels; (ii) display any awards associated with said displayed bonus game symbols; and (iii) if a symbol elimination event occurs: (A) designate one of the plurality of bonus game symbols as an eliminated bonus game symbol; and (B) for each of the bonus game reels, remove said eliminated bonus game symbol from said bonus game reel for any remaining free spins.