Gaming device having free game bonus with a changing multiplier

A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

• establishing, by at least one processor, a credit balance based on a monetary value of a physical item responsive to receipt, via an acceptor, of the physical item;
• placing, by the at least one processor, a wager on a play of a first game responsive to receipt, via at least one input device, of a wager input, the credit balance decreasable by the wager;
• determining, by the at least one processor, an outcome for the play of the first game;
• causing, by the at least one processor, at least one display device to display the outcome for the play of the first game;
• determining, by the at least one processor, any awards associated with the play of the first game;
• causing, by the at least one processor, the at least one display device to display any determined awards for the play of the first game, the credit balance increasable by any determined awards;
• responsive to an occurrence of a triggering event:
• determining, by the at least one processor, an outcome for a first play of a second game;
• causing, by the at least one processor, the at least one display device to display the outcome for the first play of the second game;
• determining, by the at least one processor, whether the outcome for the first play of the second game is one of a plurality of winning outcomes;
• responsive to determining that the displayed outcome for the first play of the second game is one of the plurality of winning outcomes, determining, by the at least one processor, and causing, by the at least one processor, the at least one display device to display a first award for the first play of the second game based on the outcome for the first play of the second game and a randomly determined one of a first plurality of modifiers, the credit balance increasable by any determined first award;
• determining, by the at least one processor, an outcome for a second play of the second game;
• causing, by the at least one processor, the at least one display device to display the outcome for the second play of the second game;
• determining, by the at least one processor, whether the outcome of the second play of the second game is one of the winning outcomes;
• determining, by the at least one processor, whether a condition is satisfied;
• responsive to determining that the outcome for the second play of the second game is one of the winning outcomes and that the condition is satisfied, determining, by the at least one processor, and causing, by the at least one processor, the at least one display device to display a second award for the second play of the second game based on the outcome for the second play of the second game and a randomly determined one of a second plurality of modifiers, the credit balance increasable by any determined second award, wherein an average value of the second plurality of modifiers is greater than an average value of the first plurality of modifiers and wherein none of the second plurality of modifiers is less than any of the first plurality of modifiers;
• and
• responsive to determining that the displayed outcome for the second play of the second game is one of the winning outcomes and that the condition is not satisfied, determining, by the at least one processor, and causing, by the at least one processor, the at least one display device to display a third award for the second play of the second game based on the outcome for the second play of the second game and a randomly determined one of the first plurality of modifiers, the credit balance increasable by any determined third award;
• and
• initiating, by the at least one processor, a payout responsive to receipt, via the at least one input device, of a cashout input.

A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

• establish a credit balance based on a monetary value of a physical item responsive to receipt, via an acceptor, of the physical item;
• place a wager on a play of a first game responsive to receipt, via at least one input device, of a wager input, the credit balance decreasable by the wager;
• determine an outcome for the play of the first game;
• cause at least one display device to display the outcome for the play of the first game;
• determine any awards associated with the play of the first game;
• cause the at least one display device to display any determined awards for the play of the first game, the credit balance increasable by any determined awards;
• responsive to an occurrence of a triggering event:
• determine an outcome for a first play of a second game;
• cause the at least one display device to display the outcome for the first play of the second game;
• determine whether the outcome for the first play of the second game is one of a plurality of winning outcomes;
• responsive to determining that the outcome for the first play of the second game is one of the plurality of winning outcomes, determine and cause the at least one display device to display a first award for the first play of the second game based on the outcome for the first play of the second game and a randomly determined one of a first plurality of modifiers, the credit balance increasable by any determined first award;
• determine an outcome for a second play of the second game;
• cause the at least one display device to display the outcome for the second play of the second game;
• determine whether the outcome for the second play of the second game is one of the winning outcomes;
• determine whether a condition is satisfied;
• responsive to determining that the outcome for the second play of the second game is one of the winning outcomes and that the condition is satisfied, determine and cause the at least one display device to display a second award for the second play of the second game based on the outcome for the second play of the second game and a randomly determined one of a second plurality of modifiers, the credit balance increasable by any determined second award, wherein an average value of the second plurality of modifiers is greater than an average value of the first plurality of modifiers and wherein none of the second plurality of modifiers is less than any of the first plurality of modifiers;
• and
• responsive to determining that the outcome for the second play of the second game is one of the winning outcomes and that the condition is not satisfied, determine and cause the at least one display device to display a third award for the second play of the second game based on the outcome for the second play of the second game and a randomly determined one of the first plurality of modifiers, the credit balance increasable by any determined third award;
• and
• initiate a payout responsive to receipt, via the at least one input device, of a cashout input.