Gaming system and method for providing a casual wagering game

A gaming system including:

• at least one input device;
• at least one display 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 input device and the at least one display device to, for a play of a game:
• (A) display a matrix including a plurality of positions;
• (B) display a plurality of path endpoints in association with the positions of the matrix, wherein each of a plurality of the path endpoints is associated with one of a plurality of different award symbols;
• (C) display a first one of a plurality of tiles, each of the tiles including a plurality of distinct non-intersecting path segments:
• (D) receive a selection of one of the positions not displaying any of the tiles, and display said first tile at said selected position;
• (E) determine if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any tiles displayed at the plurality of positions between two of the path endpoints that are associated with a same one of the award symbols;
• (F) when a complete path has not been formed and at least one of the plurality of positions does not display any of the tiles, display another one of the tiles and repeat (D) to (G) for said other displayed tile in association with the same matrix and the same plurality of positions;
• and
• (G) when a complete path has been formed:
• (a) determine an award associated with said one of the award symbols associated with the two path endpoints;
• and
• (b) display and provide said determined award to the player.

A gaming system including:

• at least one input device;
• at least one display 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 input device and the at least one display device to, for a play of a game:
• (A) display a matrix including a plurality of positions;
• and
• (B) for one of a plurality of tiles which each include a plurality of path segments:
• (i) display the tile;
• (ii) receive a signal from the at least one input device causing the at least one display device to display the tile at a selected position of the matrix;
• (iii) determine if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from a starting position to one or more of a plurality of path endpoints, one of the path endpoints being associated with a terminator symbol, another one of the path endpoints being associated with an award;
• (iv) if a complete path has not been formed, display another one of the tiles and repeat (ii) to (vi) for said other displayed tile;
• (v) if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from:
• (1) the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the award, and (2) the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the terminator symbol, end said play of the game without providing the player the award;
• and
• (vi) if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the award, display and provide the award to the player.

A gaming system including:

• at least one input device;
• at least one display 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 input device and the at least one display device to, for a play of a game:
• (A) display a matrix including a plurality of positions;
• and
• (B) for one of a plurality of tiles which each include a plurality of path segments:
• (i) display the tile;
• (ii) receive a signal from the at least one input device causing the at least one display device to display the tile at a selected position of the matrix;
• (iii) determine if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from a starting position to one or more of a plurality of path endpoints, one of the path endpoints being associated with advancement to a subsequent level, another one of the path endpoints being associated with an award;
• (iv) if a complete path has not been formed, display another one of the tiles and repeat (ii) to (vi) for said other displayed tile;
• (v) if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from:
• (1) the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the award, and (2) the starting position to the path endpoint associated with advancement to the subsequent level, display and provide the award to the player without advancing the player to the subsequent level;
• and
• (vi) if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with advancement to the subsequent level, advance the player to the subsequent level.