Gaming machine and method for providing a bonus award

1. A method for allowing a player to play a game on a gaming machine, the gaming machine having a main display and a user interface, the game having a main game and a bonus game, the method comprising the steps of:

allowing the player to place a wager on the main game;

playing the main game and randomly establishing a result of the main game;

awarding the player an award as a function of a paytable if the result of the main game is a win;

detecting the occurrence of a bonus trigger event during the play of the main game and awarding the player a number of free plays of the main game in response to detecting the occurrence of the bonus trigger event;

playing the free plays of the main game;

detecting an appearance of a trigger bonus symbol during the free plays of the main game and randomly selecting one unique bonus symbol of a set of unique bonus symbols;

displaying an animation in place of the appearance of the trigger bonus symbol;

displaying the randomly selected one of a set of bonus symbols in place of the animation; and

awarding the player a bonus award if all of the unique bonus symbols are selected during the free plays of the main game.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , the method including the steps of displaying the set of unique bonus symbols and providing an indication when each unique bonus symbol has been selected.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the animation after the appearance of the trigger bonus symbol shows the collection of the randomly selected unique bonus symbol.

4. A method, as set forth in 3 , wherein the gaming machine includes a main display, the main game being displayed on the main display.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the unique bonus symbols and the indication of when the unique bonus symbols have been selected are displayed on the main display.

6. A method, as set forth in claim 3 , the gaming machine includes a secondary display, wherein the unique bonus symbols and the indication of when the unique bonus symbols have been selected are displayed on the secondary display.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , including the step of awarding the player an intermediate award when the unique bonus symbol is randomly selected.

8. A method, as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the intermediate award is chose from a fixed amount award, a standalone jackpot, a link progressive jackpot, free games, multiplier, a bonus game, increased chance of winning, additional wilds, additional bonus symbols, or additional scatter symbols.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the size of the intermediate award is dependent on the unique bonus symbol randomly selected.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , including the step of awarding the player an intermediate award when a combination of unique bonus symbols are randomly selected.

11. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bonus award is a fixed amount.

12. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bonus award is one of a standalone jackpot or a linked progressive jackpot.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bonus award is one of: a number of free games, an award multiplier, a bonus game, increased chance of winning the main game, an increased number of wild symbols in the main game, a scatter win, increased paytable for the main game and group or tournament play.

14. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the main game is a video slot game.

15. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the main game is a mechanical stepper slot game with a secondary video display overlay.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the main game is a video poker game.