Gaming system with layered award wheels

A method of operating a gaming system comprising:

• receiving, by a value acceptor, a monetary value;
• determining, by a processor, an amount of credit of a player based on a monetary value received by the value acceptor;
• receiving, by the processor via the player input device, a wager;
• decreasing, by the processor, the amount of credit by the wager;
• generating, by the processor, a plurality of first feature symbols by randomly selecting game symbols of one or more first feature symbol sets using the random number generator;
• displaying, by the processor using a one or more display devices, the plurality of first feature symbols in one or more first symbol display areas;
• determining, by the processor, that the plurality of first feature symbols includes an initiator symbol;
• determining, by the processor, that the plurality of first feature symbols includes one or more activator symbols;
• determining, by the processor, a quantity of the one or more activator symbols;
• initiating, by the processor, one or more second feature displays based on the determination that the initiator symbol is included in the plurality of first feature symbols and the determination that the one or more activator symbols are included in the plurality of first feature symbols, wherein a quantity of the one or more second feature displays initiated corresponds to the quantity of the one or more activator symbols;
• generating, by the processor, a plurality of second feature symbols by randomly selecting symbols of one or more second symbol sets using the random number generator, wherein one or more symbols or combinations of the symbols in the one or more second symbol sets correspond to one or more predetermined second awards;
• displaying, by the processor using the one or more display devices, the plurality of second feature symbols;
• determining, by the processor, that the displayed plurality of second feature symbols include at least one of the one or more symbols or the combinations of the symbols corresponding to one or more second feature awards;
• converting, by the processor, the one or more of the second feature symbols or the one or more combinations of the second feature symbols into the one or more second feature awards;
• displaying, by the processor using the one more display devices, the values of the one or more second feature awards;
• determining a second feature continuation status by randomly selecting from one of the second symbol sets that include a continuation symbol and a terminator symbol;
• updating the amount of the credit with the one or more second feature awards;
• and
• issuing, by the processor using the value dispenser, another monetary value based on the updated amount of the credit balance upon receipt of a cash out signal.

A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer-readable device storing program instructions that, when executed by a processor of a gaming system, cause the gaming to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• receiving, by a value acceptor, a monetary value;
• determining, by a processor, an amount of credit of a player based on a monetary value received by the value acceptor;
• receiving, by the processor via the player input device, a wager;
• decreasing, by the processor, the amount of credit by the wager;
• generating, by the processor, a plurality of first feature symbols by randomly selecting game symbols of one or more first feature symbol sets using the random number generator;
• displaying, by the processor using a one or more display devices, the plurality of first feature symbols in one or more first symbol display areas;
• determining, by the processor, that the plurality of first feature symbols includes an initiator symbol;
• determining, by the processor, that the plurality of first feature symbols includes one or more activator symbols;
• determining, by the processor, a quantity of the one or more activator symbols;
• initiating, by the processor, one or more second feature displays based on the determination that the initiator symbol is included in the plurality of first feature symbols and the determination that the one or more activator symbols are included in the plurality of first feature symbols, wherein a quantity of the one or more second feature displays initiated corresponds to the quantity of the one or more activator symbols;
• generating, by the processor, a plurality of second feature symbols by randomly selecting symbols of one or more second symbol sets using the random number generator, wherein one or more symbols or combinations of the symbols in the one or more second symbol sets correspond to one or more predetermined second awards;
• displaying, by the processor using the one or more display devices, the plurality of second feature symbols;
• determining, by the processor, that the displayed plurality of second feature symbols include at least one of the one or more symbols or the combinations of the symbols corresponding to one or more second feature awards;
• converting, by the processor, the one or more of the second feature symbols or the one or more combinations of the second feature symbols into the one or more second feature awards;
• determining a second feature continuation status by randomly selecting from one of the second symbol sets that include a continuation symbol and a terminator symbol;
• displaying, by the processor using the one more display devices, the values of the one or more second feature awards;
• updating the amount of the credit with the one or more second feature awards;
• and
• issuing, by the processor using the value dispenser, another monetary value based on the updated amount of the credit balance upon receipt of a cash out signal.