Gaming method and system with a hidden image game piece

A gaming system comprising:

• at least one display unit;
• a game piece dispenser configured to dispense a game piece having at least one hidden image and at least one concealing image disposed thereon, the at least one concealing image limiting visibility of the at least one hidden image;
• an identification input device;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to the at least one display unit, the game piece dispenser, and the identification input device, the controller programmed to:
• receive a first wager on a first play of a game;
• cause the at least one display unit to generate an image representative of the first play of the game;
• determine an outcome of the first play of the game represented by the image;
• determine a first payout based on the outcome of the first play of the game and the first wager received;
• determine if a first trigger event has occurred based on the outcome of the first play of the game;
• cause the game piece dispenser to dispense a physical game piece if the first trigger event has occurred;
• after causing the game piece dispenser to dispense the physical game piece, receive a second wager on a second, subsequent play of the game;
• determine if a second trigger event has occurred for the second play of the game;
• if the second trigger event has occurred for the second play of the game, receive at least one identifier associated with the dispensed physical game piece resulting from the first play of the game via the identification input device;
• determine a second payout according to the at least one received identifier;
• and
• cause the at least one display unit to generate a reveal pattern based on the second trigger event such that when the physical game piece is placed adjacent to the at least one display unit, the reveal pattern cooperates with at least one concealing image of the dispensed physical game piece to make at least one hidden image of the dispensed physical game piece visible.

A gaming system comprising:

• at least one display device;
• at least one physical game piece dispenser;
• and
• at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one physical game piece dispenser to:
• (a) randomly determine if a first trigger event occurs for a first play of a game,
• (b) if the first trigger event occurs for the first play of the game:
• (i) dispense a physical game piece from a plurality of physical game pieces, the physical game piece being associated with a unique identifier, and
• (ii) store an indication of the unique identifier indicating that the dispensed physical game piece has been dispensed,
• (c) randomly determine if a second trigger event occurs for a subsequent second play of the game,
• (d) randomly determine an award based on the unique identifier associated with the dispensed physical game piece upon an occurrence of one of:
• (i) the first trigger event, and (ii) the second trigger event, and
• (e) if the second trigger event occurs for the second play of the game:
• (i) enable a player to input an indication of a physical game piece identifier associated with the dispensed physical game piece resulting from the first play of the game,
• (ii) compare the inputted indication of the physical game piece identifier with the stored indication of the unique identifier, and
• (iii) if the inputted indication of the physical game piece identifier corresponds to the unique identifier:
• (A) store an indication that the inputted indication of the physical game piece identifier is associated with the physical game piece, and
• (B) display the award associated with the unique identifier.

A gaming system comprising:

• at least one display device;
• at least one physical game piece dispenser;
• and
• at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one physical game piece dispenser to:
• (a) randomly determine if a first trigger event occurs for a first play of a game,
• (b) if the first trigger event occurs for the first play of the game:
• (i) dispense a plurality of physical game pieces, each of the physical game pieces being associated with a different unique identifier, and
• (ii) for each of the dispensed physical game pieces, store an indication the unique identifier indicating that said physical game piece has been dispensed,
• (c) randomly determine if a second trigger event occurs for a subsequent second play of the game, and
• (d) if the second trigger event occurs for the second play of the game:
• (i) enable a player to select one of the plurality of dispensed physical game pieces,
• (ii) receive an input indicating a selected game piece identifier associated with the selected game piece resulting from the first play of the game,
• (iii) compare the selected game piece identifier with the stored indications of the unique identifiers of the plurality of dispensed physical game pieces, and
• (iv) if the selected game piece identifier corresponds to the stored indication of the unique identifier of any of the dispensed physical game pieces, display the award associated with the corresponding unique identifier based on the selected physical game piece.