AU2006202210B2 - Gaming device have a scatter pay symbol - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 (Cth) Complete Specification IGT Invention Title Gaming device having a scatter pay symbol The invention is described in the following statement: 200897553 1 Gaming device having a scatter pay symbol BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Gaming device manufacturers strive to make gaming devices that provide as much enjoyment and excitement as possible. Providing a game in which a player has an 5 opportunity to win potentially large awards or credits is one way to enhance player enjoyment and excitement. Currently, gaming machines or devices provide games such as slot games wherein a player has one or more opportunities to obtain a winning symbol combination on mechanical or video reels. The winning symbol combination may be along the same payline 10 or on different paylines (known as a scatter pay). By providing gaming devices with more winning symbol combinations, players' have more opportunities to receive an award. One known gaming device is described in U.S. Patent No. 6,190,254. The gaming device in this patent is a slot machine that has a plurality of rotatable reels with symbols. A player spins the reels and receives an award by obtaining predetermined 15 winning symbol combinations on the reels. This gaming device also has a "special" symbol. The special symbol acts like a wildcard symbol such that when the special symbol occurs on the reels, it combines with an existing symbol combination to provide the most desirable winning symbol combination to the player in that spin. The special symbol may represent any symbol in the game and provide the most favorable winning 20 symbol combination associated with those symbols. Therefore, the special symbol increases the likelihood that a player will obtain an award. Another gaming device is described in U.S. Patent No. 6,056,642, which discloses a slot machine including several reels which pays an award when a symbol combination having three 7's occurs on a payline. If the three 7's occur on a central 25 payline or "win line," the player receives a jackpot prize. Furthermore, the winning combination of 7's is normally against a clear background. However, the background color can change and affect the award. The background color can be the same color for each symbol or each symbol can be against a different background color. The symbol combinations combined with the color combinations provide several award 30 opportunities for players. 2 200897553 1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: a game controlled by the at least one processor and having: 5 (i) a plurality of symbol displays, (ii) a plurality of different symbols on the symbol displays, said different symbols including at least one scatter pay symbol, (iii) a plurality of different predetermined winning symbol combinations of said symbols, 10 (iv) a plurality of awards associated with said predetermined winning combinations, (v) a plurality of different predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations of the symbols, and (vi) a plurality of awards associated with the predetermined scatter winning 15 symbol combinations; and said processor programmed for each play of the game to: (a) cause a plurality of the symbols to be generated and displayed on the symbol displays, (b) determine, based on said plurality of generated and displayed symbols, if 20 any of the predetermined winning symbol combinations are generated and displayed on the symbol displays, (c) provide any awards associated with any predetermined winning symbol combinations generated and displayed on the symbol displays to a player, (d) determine, based on said plurality of generated and displayed symbols, that 25 a triggering event has occurred if a predefined number of the scatter pay symbols are generated and displayed on the symbol displays, said predefined number being at least one, and (e) if said triggering event occurs: (i) determine, based on said plurality of generated and displayed 30 symbols, if any of the plurality of predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations are generated and displayed in any positions on the symbol displays, and (ii) if any of the plurality of predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations are generated and displayed in any positions on the 3 200897553 1 symbol displays, provide the award associated with at least one of said predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations to the player. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for 5 operating a gaming device, said method comprising: providing a game having: (i) a plurality of symbol displays, (ii) a plurality of different symbols on the symbol displays, said different symbols including at least one scatter pay symbol, 10 (iii) a plurality of different predetermined winning symbol combinations of said symbols, (iv) a plurality of awards associated with said predetermined winning combinations, (v) a plurality of different predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations, 15 and (vi) a plurality of awards associated with the predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations; and for each play of the game: (a) causing a plurality of the symbols to be generated and displayed on the 20 symbol displays, (b) determining, based on said plurality of generated and displayed symbols, if any of the predetermined winning symbol combinations are generated and displayed on the symbol displays, (c) providing any awards associated with any predetermined winning symbol 25 combinations generated and displayed on the symbol displays to a player, (d) determining, based on said plurality of generated and displayed symbols, that a triggering event has occurred if a predefined number of the scatter pay symbols are generated and displayed on the symbol displays, said predefined number being at least one, and 30 (e) if said triggering event occurs: (i) determining, based on said plurality of generated and displayed symbols, if any of the plurality of predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations are generated and displayed in any positions on the symbol displays, and 4 200897553 1 (ii) if any of the plurality of predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations are generated and displayed in any positions on the symbol displays, providing the award associated with at least one of said predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations to the 5 player. A preferred embodiment of the gaming device, and method for operating a gaming device, of the present invention provides a primary game that enables players to obtain larger awards and more awards in a game. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the game of the gaming device and 10 method for operating a gaming device includes a plurality of reels having a plurality of 'symbols. The different symbols preferably include at least one predetermined symbol such as a scatter pay symbol. The gaming device preferably activates or spins the reels and determines whether one or more scatter pay symbols occur on the reels (i.e., if the triggering event occurs on the reels). In one embodiment, if the triggering event occurs, 15 the gaming device provides an award for any designated winning symbol combination including two or more symbols occurring in any of the positions on the reels (i.e., a scatter pay combination) in the game. In another embodiment, a scatter pay may occur when one or more designated symbols occurs in any position or designated positions on the reels. 20 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the triggering event occurs when the scatter pay symbols appear on a payline associated with the reels in the game. In another embodiment the triggering event occurs when the scatter pay symbol or symbols appear in any position on the reels in the game. Accordingly, the triggering event causes the game in which the triggering event occurred to pay for scatter wins. 25 The scatter pay symbol enables a player to obtain more awards and larger awards in a game. In another embodiment, the gaming device provides an award for a winning symbol combination including the scatter pay symbols in the game. In one form of this embodiment, the player obtains the largest award associated with the winning 30 symbol combinations occurring in any position on the reels when one or more scatter pay symbols occurs on the reels in the game. In another form of this embodiment, the gaming device provides an award for any winning symbol combinations occurring on 5 200897553 1 the reels and also the award associated with the winning symbol combination including the scatter pay symbols that occurs on the reels, if any. Thus, the player can obtain multiple awards in a game. It is therefore an advantage of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to 5 provide a gaming device that provides several award opportunities to a player in a game. Another advantage of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a gaming device that enables a player to obtain more awards in a game. It is a further advantage of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a gaming device that includes several winning symbol combinations. 10 It is a even further advantage of the present invention in a preferred embodiment to provide gaming devices that increase the opportunities to obtain awards and increase the size of the awards. Players are attracted to games that provide several larger awards. Therefore, to increase player enjoyment and excitement, it is an advantage of this embodiment to provide new games for gaming devices. 15 Other objects, features and advantages of a preferred embodiment of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps and processes. Additional features and advantages of a preferred embodiment of the present 20 invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Fig. 1A is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention. 25 Fig. LB is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the electronic configuration of one embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention. 6 200897553 1 Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation view of one of the display device of Figs. IA and 1B, which illustrates one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a schematic view of one embodiment of an award table employed in the present invention. 5 Fig. 5A and 5B are enlarged front elevation views of an example of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 illustrating two spins by a player in the game. Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation of another embodiment of the present invention where three scatter pay symbols occur on the reels. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 10 Gaming Device and Electronics Referring now to the drawings, two embodiments of the gaming device of the present invention are illustrated in Figs. IA and lB as gaming device 10a and gaming device 10b, respectively. Gaming device 10a and/or gaming device 10b are generally referred to herein as gaming device 10. Gaming device 10 is preferably a slot machine having the controls, 15 displays and features of a conventional slot machine. It is constructed so that a player can operate it while standing or sitting, and gaming device 10 is preferably mounted on a console. However, it should be appreciated that gaming device 10 can be constructed as a pub-style table-top game (not shown) which a player can operate preferably while sifting. Furthermore, gaming device 10 can be constructed with varying cabinet and display 20 designs, as illustrated by the designs shown in Figs. IA and lB. Gaming device 10 can also be implemented as a program code stored in a detachable cartridge for operating a hand held video game device. Also, gaming device 10 can be implemented as a program code stored on a disk or other memory device which a player can use in a desktop or laptop personal computer or other computerized platform. 25 Gaming device 10 can incorporate any primary game such as slot, blackjack, poker or keno, any of the bonus triggering events and any of the bonus round games. The symbols and indicia used on and in gaming device 10 may be i n mechanical, electrical, electronic or video form. As illustrated in Figs. IA and 1B, gaming device 10 includes a coin slot 12 and 30 bill acceptor 14 where the player inserts money, coins or tokens. The player can place 7 200897553 1 coins in the coin slot 12 or paper money or ticket vouchers in the bill acceptor 14. Other devices could be used for accepting payment such as readers or validators for credit cards or debit cards. When a player inserts money in gaming device 10, a number of credits corresponding to the amount deposited is shown in a credit display 16. After 5 depositing the appropriate amount of money, a player can begin the game by pulling arm 18 or pushing play button 20. Play button 20 can be any play activator used by the player which starts any game or sequence of events in the gaming device. As shown in Figs. 1A and IB, gaming device 10 also includes a bet display 22 and a bet one button 24. The player places a bet by pushing the bet one button 24. The player 10 can increase the bet by one credit each time the player pushes the bet one button 24. When the player pushes the bet one button 24, the number of credits shown in the credit display 16 decreases by one, and the number of credits shown in the bet display 22 increases by one. A player may cash out and thereby receive a number of coins corresponding to 15 the number of remaining credits by pushing a cash out button 26. When the player cashes out, the player receives the coins in a coin payout tray 28. The gaming device 10 may employ other payout mechanisms such as credit slips redeemable by a cashier or electronically recordable cards which keep track of the player's credits. Gaming device 10 also includes one or more display devices. The embodiment 20 shown in Fig. 1A includes a central display device 30, and the alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 1B includes a central display device 30 as well as an upper display device 32. Gaming device 10 displays a plurality of reels 34 such as three to five reels 34 in mechanical or video form at one or more of the display devices. A display device can be any viewing surface such as glass, a video monitor or screen, a liquid crystal display or 25 any other display mechanism. If the reels 34 are in video form, the display device for the video reels 34 is preferably a video monitor. Each reel 34 displays a plurality of indicia such as bells, hearts, fruits, numbers, letters, bars or other images which preferably correspond to a theme associated with the gaming device 10. Furthermore, gaming device 10 preferably includes speakers 36 for 30 making sounds or playing music. 8 200897553 1 As illustrated in Fig. 2, the general electronic configuration of gaming device 10 preferably includes: a processor 38; a memory device 40 for storing program code or other data; a central display device 30; an upper display device 32; a sound card 42; a plurality of speakers 36; and one or more input devices 44. The processor 38 is 5 preferably a microprocessor or microcontroller-based platform which is capable of displaying images, symbols and other indicia such as images of people, characters, places, things and faces of cards. The memory device 40 can include random access memory (RAM) 46 for storing event data or other data generated or used during a particular game. The memory device 40 can also include read only memory (ROM) 48 for 10 storing program code which controls the gaming device 10 so that it plays a particular game in accordance with applicable game rules and pay tables. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the player preferably uses the input devices 44, such as pull arm 18, play button 20, the bet one button 24 and the cash out button 26 to input signals into gaming device 10. In certain instances it is preferable to use a touch screen 50 and an associated touch 15 screen controller 52 instead of a conventional video monitor display device. Touch screen 50 and touch screen controller 52 are connected to a video controller 54 and processor 38. A player can make decisions and input signals into the gaming device 10 by touching touch screen 50 at the appropriate places. As further illustrated in Fig. 2, the processor 38 can be connected to coin slot 12 or bill acceptor 14. The processor 38 can be programmed to require a player to deposit a certain 20 amount of money in order to start the game. It should be appreciated that although a processor 38 and memory device 40 are preferable implementations of the present invention, the present invention can also be implemented using one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's) or other hard-wired devices, or using mechanical devices (collectively or alternatively referred to 25 herein as a "processor"). Furthermore, although the processor 38 and memory device 40 preferably reside on each gaming device 10 unit, it is possible to provide some or all of their functions at a central location such as a network server for communication to a playing station such as over a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), Internet connection, microwave link, and the like. The processor 38 and memory device 30 40 is generally referred to herein as the "computer" or "controller." With reference to Figs. 1A, lB and 2, to operate the gaming device 10 in one embodiment the player must insert the appropriate amount of money or tokens at coin 9 200897553_1 slot 12 or bill acceptor 14 and then pull the arm 18 or push the play button 20. The reels 34 will then begin to spin. Eventually, the reels 34 will come to a stop. As long as the player has credits remaining, the player can spin the reels 34 again. Depending upon where the reels 34 stop, the player may or may not win additional credits. 5 In addition to winning credits in this manner, gaming device 10 also gives players the opportunity to win credits in a bonus round. This type of gaming device 10 will include a program which will automatically begin a bonus round when the player has achieved a qualifying condition in the game. This qualifying condition can be a particular arrangement of indicia on a display device. The gaming device 10 preferably 10 uses a video-based central display device 30 to enable the player to play the bonus round. Preferably, the qualifying condition is a predetermined combination of indicia appearing on one or more of a plurality of the reels 34. As illustrated in the five reel slot game shown in Figs. IA and 1B, the qualifying condition could be the number seven appearing on three adjacent reels 34 along a payline 56. It should be appreciated 15 that the present invention can include one or more paylines, such as payline 56, wherein the paylines can be horizontal, diagonal or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the present invention is employed in a bonus or secondary game triggered in a primary or base game. Scatter Pay Symbol 20 Referring to Fig. 3, the gaming device 10 includes a plurality of reels 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d and 34e in a game, which include a plurality of symbols 100 designated with the letters A, B, C, D and E. The reels also include at least one scatter pay symbol 102. Additionally, a plurality of paylines 56a, 56b and 56c are associated with the reels in a conventional manner. It should be appreciated that any suitable number of paylines 56 25 may be associated with the reels in the game. It should also be appreciated that any suitable number of reels may be used in a game. In this embodiment, the symbols 100 are letters A, B, C, D, E and F, however, the reels 34 may include any suitable symbol or symbols. In one embodiment, the reels 34a to 34e include one or more scatter pay symbols 30 102. In the game, if one or more of the scatter pay symbols 102 occur on the reels 34a to 34e (i.e., triggering event), the gaming device provides an award or awards for any predetermined winning or designated symbol or symbol combinations that occur on a 10 200897553 1 single payline or on several paylines (i.e., scatter pay combination) associated with the reels. Thus, the occurrence of the scatter pay symbol 102 causes the scatter pay and enables a player to obtain an additional award or awards, and potentially a larger award in the game. The awards may include values, prizes, free spins, free games, bonus 5 games, multipliers or any other suitable award. Referring to Fig. 4, an example of an award table which is employed in an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The award table 200 includes several predetermined winning symbol combinations 202 and awards 204 associated with those combinations in a game. In the award table 200, any combination of three identical 10 symbols on a single payline provides an award to the player in the game. In this table, three A's on a single payline provides an award of one hundred. Similarly, three B's, three C's, three D's, three E's and three F's provide awards of seventy, fifty, forty, thirty and twenty respectively. Additionally, the gaming device provides an award if three of the scatter pay symbols 102 occur on a single payline associated with the reels in the 15 game. In this example, three scatter pay symbols on a payline provides an award of ten to the player. It should be appreciated that any predetermined combinations of symbols may be designated as winning symbol combinations and any suitable awards may be associated with those combinations. Referring to Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C, an example of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 20 is illustrated where the gaming device provides the player with three spins of the reels 34a to 34e in the game. in Fig. 5A, the player uses their first spin in the game to activate the reels 34. The gaming device spins the reels and provides any awards to the player for inning symbol combinations that occur on a single payline 56a, 56b or 56c. In this example, the winning combinations are designated in the award table illustrated in Fig. 25 4. According to the award table, the player must obtain three identical symbols on a single payline or three identical symbols on several paylines, if one or more scatter symbols 102 occur on the reels, to obtain an award in the game After the first spin, the player did not obtain a winning symbol combination on any one of the paylines 56a, 56b or 56c as shown in Fig. 5A. Additionally, no scatter pay symbols 102 occurred on the 30 reels 34. Therefore, the gaming device does not provide an award to the player. If one or more scatter pay symbols 102 occur on the reels 34, the gaming device provides an award to the player for any predetermined combination shown in the award table of Fig. 4, which occurs in any position on the reels (i.e., a scatter pay combination) of symbols. 2 7 200897553 1 However, since a scatter pay symbol did not occur on the reels, the gaming device does not provide any awards for this type of combination to the player. Referring to Fig. 5B, the player uses a second spin in the game to spin or activate the reels 34. The gaming device spins or activates the reels and the reels stop and indicate 5 the symbols shown in Fig. 5B. Again, three identical symbols or a winning symbol combination did not occur on a single payline 56a, 56b or 56c. However, two scatter pay symbols 102a and 102b are indicated on paylines 56a and 56c, respectively. Although the player did not obtain three identical symbols on a single payline, the player may obtain an award for a scattered combination of symbols across two or more paylines because at least 10 one of the scatter pay symbols 102 occurred on the reels. As illustrated in Fig. 5B, three A symbols 104a, 104b and 104c are indicated on paylines 56a and 56b. Additionally, four B symbols are indicated on paylines 56a, 56b and 56c. In one embodiment, the gaming device provides the largest award associated with the winning symbol combinations indicated on the reels. In another embodiment, the gaming device provides the awards 15 associated with all of the winning symbol combinations indicated on the reels. It should be appreciated that the gaming device may provide an award for any of the winning combinations of symbols indicated on the reels as desired by the game implementor. It should also be appreciated that the gaming device may provide one or more awards associated with one or more awards associated with one or more winning symbol 20 combinations on the reels. In this example, the gaming device provides the largest award associated with the winning combinations of symbols on the reels. Therefore, the gaming device provides the player with an award of one hundred for the winning symbol combination including three A symbols (i.e., the combination associated with the largest award) as shown in the award table 200 in Fig. 4. The player does not have any spins 25 remaining in the game and therefore the game ends and the player receives the total award accumulated in the game. Referring to Fig. 6, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated where the gaming device provides an award to the player associated with a combination of symbols including the scatter pay symbols 102. In Fig. 6, the player obtained three 30 scatter pay symbols 102c, 102d and 102e on the reels in a game. Any one of the scatter pay symbols triggers the scatter pay combination in the game. As shown in Fig. 4, an award is associated with three identical symbols such as the three scatter pay symbols 102c, 102d and 102e. In Fig. 6, no other combinations occur on the reels so the player 12 200897553 1 receives the award associated with the three scatter pay symbols. In one aspect of this embodiment, the gaming device provides the largest award associated with the indicated winning symbol combinations on the reels in the game. In another aspect of this embodiment, the gaming device provides the largest award associated with the winning 5 symbol combinations indicated on the reels and the award associated with the winning combination of scatter pay symbols indicated on the reels in the game. Therefore, the player obtains multiple awards in the game. It should be appreciated that the gaming device may provide any number of awards to the player based on the winning symbol combinations indicated on the reels. In a further embodiment, the gaming device does 10 not provide any awards for the scatter pay symbols 102 occurring on the reels. It should be appreciated that in one embodiment of the present invention the triggering event can occur in one game and apply to one or more subsequent games such that scatter pays are made in one or more subsequent games or one or more of a limited number of subsequent games. 15 While the present invention is described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, and is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims. Modifications and variations in the present invention may be made without 20 departing from the novel aspects of the invention as defined in the claims, and this application is limited only by the scope of the claims. It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the 25 present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims. All publications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a 30 context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of 13 200897553 1 these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia or elsewhere before the priority date of each claim of this application. 14 200897553 1

Claims (48)

1. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: a game controlled by the at least one processor and having: 5 (i) a plurality of symbol displays, (ii) a plurality of different symbols on the symbol displays, said different symbols including at least one scatter pay symbol, (iii) a plurality of different predetermined winning symbol combinations of said symbols, 10 (iv) a plurality of awards associated with said predetermined winning combinations, (v) a plurality of different predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations of the symbols, and (vi) a plurality of awards associated with the predetermined scatter winning 15 symbol combinations; and said processor programmed for each play of the game to: (a) cause a plurality of the symbols to be generated and displayed on the symbol displays, (b) determine, based on said plurality of generated and displayed symbols, if 20 any of the predetermined winning symbol combinations are generated and displayed on the symbol displays, (c) provide any awards associated with any predetermined winning symbol combinations generated and displayed on the symbol displays to a player, (d) determine, based on said plurality of generated and displayed symbols, that 25 a triggering event has occurred if a predefined number of the scatter pay symbols are generated and displayed on the symbol displays, said predefined number being at least one, and (e) if said triggering event occurs: (i) determine, based on said plurality of generated and displayed 30 symbols, if any of the plurality of predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations are generated and displayed in any positions on the symbol displays, and 15 200897553 1 (ii) if any of the plurality of predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations are generated and displayed in any positions on the symbol displays, provide the award associated with at least one of said predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations to the 5 player.

2. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to determined that the triggering event has occurred if the predefined number of the scatter pay symbols are generated and displayed on the symbol displays in at least one designated position.

3. The gaming device of Claim 2, wherein the symbols include a plurality of scatter 10 pay symbols.

4. The gaming device of Claim 3, wherein the predefined number is at least two.

5. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the awards associated with the predetermined winning combinations are different than the awards associated with the predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations. 15

6. The gaming device of Claim 1, which includes at least one designated payline associated with the symbol displays.

7. The gaming device of Claim 6, wherein the processor is programmed to determined that the triggering event has occurred if the predefined number of the scatter pay symbols are generated and displayed on the at least one designated payline. 20

8. The gaming device of Claim 7, wherein the symbols include a plurality of scatter pay symbols.

9. The gaming device of Claim 8, wherein the predefined number is at least two.

10. The gaming device of Claim 1, which includes a plurality of designated paylines associated with the symbol displays. 25

11. The gaming device of Claim 10, wherein the processor is programmed to determined that the triggering event has occurred if the predefined number of the scatter pay symbols are generated and displayed on any of the plurality of designated paylines. 16 200897553 1

12. The gaming device of Claim 11, wherein the symbols include a plurality of scatter pay symbols.

13. The gaming device of Claim 12, wherein the predefined number is at least two.

14. The gaming device of Claim 10, wherein the processor is programmed to 5 determined that the triggering event has occurred if the predefined number of scatter pay symbols occur on any one of said designated paylines.

15. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein if the triggering event occurs, a largest one of the awards associated with predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations generated and displayed on the symbol displays is provided to the player. 10

16. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein if the triggering event occurs, a plurality of the awards associated with predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations generated and displayed on the symbol displays are provided to the player.

17. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein if the triggering event occurs, all of the awards associated with predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations generated and 15 displayed on the symbol displays are provided to the player.

18. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein at least one of the symbol displays is a reel.

19. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the award is at least one of the awards selected from the group consisting of: at least one value, at least one free play of the game, at least one bonus game, and at least one multiplier.

20 20. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein said game is a primary game operable upon a wager by the player.

21. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations are different than the predetermined winning symbol combinations. 25

22. The gaming device of Claim 1, which includes at least one award associated with the at least one scatter pay symbol, said processor programmed to provide said at least one award to the player when said at least one scatter pay symbol is generated and displayed on the symbol displays. 17 200897553 1

23. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising: providing a game having: (i) a plurality of symbol displays, (ii) a plurality of different symbols on the symbol displays, said different 5 symbols including at least one scatter pay symbol, (iii) a plurality of different predetermined winning symbol combinations of said symbols, (iv) a plurality of awards associated with said predetermined winning combinations, 10 (v) a plurality of different predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations, and (vi) a plurality of awards associated with the predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations; and for each play of the game: 15 (a) causing a plurality of the symbols to be generated and displayed on the symbol displays, (b) determining, based on said plurality of generated and displayed symbols, if any of the predetermined winning symbol combinations are generated and displayed on the symbol displays, 20 (c) providing any awards associated with any predetermined winning symbol combinations generated and displayed on the symbol displays to a player, (d) determining, based on said plurality of generated and displayed symbols, that a triggering event has occurred if a predefined number of the scatter pay symbols are generated and displayed on the symbol displays, said 25 predefined number being at least one, and (e) if said triggering event occurs: (i) determining, based on said plurality of generated and displayed symbols, if any of the plurality of predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations are generated and displayed in any positions 30 on the symbol displays, and (ii) if any of the plurality of predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations are generated and displayed in any positions on the symbol displays, providing the award associated with at least one of 18 200897553 1 said predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations to the player.

24. The method of Claim 23, which includes determining that the triggering event has occurred if the predefined number of the scatter pay symbols are generated and displayed 5 on the symbol displays in at least one designated position.

25. The method of Claim 24, wherein the symbols include a plurality of scatter pay symbols.

26. The method of Claim 25, wherein the predefined number is at least two.

27. The method of Claim 23, wherein the awards associated with the predetermined 10 winning combinations are different than the awards associated with the predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations.

28. The method of Claim 23, which includes at least one designated payline associated with the symbol displays.

29. The method of Claim 28, which includes determining that the triggering event has 15 occurred if the predefined number of the scatter pay symbols are generated and displayed on the at least one designated payline.

30. The method of Claim 28, wherein the symbols include a plurality of scatter pay symbols.

31. The method of Claim 30, wherein the predefined number is at least two. 20

32. The method of Claim 23, which includes a plurality of designated paylines associated with the symbol displays.

33. The method of Claim 32, which includes determining that the triggering event has occurred if the predefined number of the scatter pay symbols are generated and displayed on any of the plurality of designated paylines. 25

34. The method of Claim 33, wherein the symbols include a plurality of scatter pay symbols.

35. The method of Claim 34, wherein the predefined number is at least two. 19 200897553 1

36. The method of Claim 32, which includes determining that the triggering event has occurred if the predefined number of scatter pay symbols occur on any one of said designated paylines.

37. The method of Claim 23, wherein if the triggering event occurs, a largest one of the 5 awards associated with predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations generated and displayed on the symbol displays is provided to the player.

38. The method of Claim 23, wherein if the triggering event occurs, a plurality of the awards associated with predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations generated and displayed on the symbol displays are provided to the player. 10

39. The method of Claim 23, wherein if the triggering event occurs, all of the awards associated with predetermined scatter winning symbol combinations generated and displayed on the symbol displays are provided to the player.

40. The method of Claim 23, wherein at least one of the symbol displays is a reel.

41. The method of Claim 23, wherein the award is at least one of the awards selected 15 from the group consisting of: at least one value, at least one free play of the game, at least one bonus game, and at least one multiplier.

42, The method of Claim 23, wherein said game is a primary game operable upon a wager by the player.

43. The method of Claim 23, wherein the plurality of predetermined scatter winning 20 symbol combinations are different than the predetermined winning symbol combinations.

44. The method of Claim 23, which includes at least one award associated with the at least one scatter pay symbol, and which includes providing said at least one award to the player when said at least one scatter pay symbol is generated and displayed on the symbol displays. 25

45. The method of Claim 23, which is provided through a data network.

46. The method of Claim 45, wherein the data network is an internet.

47. A gaming device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 20 200897553_1

48. A method for operating a gaming device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated: 24 May 2006 5 IGT Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: BLAKE DAWSON WALDRON PATENT SERVICES 21 200897553 1