Gaming system and method for redeeming a winning ticket and/or a plurality of non-winning tickets having corresponding symbols for an award

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

establish communications with a mobile device;

receive, from the mobile device, data associated with one or more virtual tickets, each virtual ticket associated with one of a plurality of different symbols;

determine whether each received virtual ticket is a winning ticket or a non-winning ticket;

responsive to a first quantity of two or more non-winning virtual tickets that have corresponding first symbols being received:

determine a first award, and cause a display, by a display device, of the determined first award; and

responsive to a second, different quantity of two or more non-winning virtual tickets that have corresponding first symbols being received:

determine and display a second, different award, and cause a display, by the display device, of the determined second, different award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, upon an occurrence of a triggering event, cause data associated with a virtual ticket to be transmitted to the mobile device.

3. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone, and wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, upon the occurrence of the triggering event, cause the data associated with the virtual ticket to be transmitted to the mobile phone via a text message.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to receive, from the mobile device, the data associated with the one or more virtual tickets following receipt of a ticket redemption input.

5. The gaming system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

cause a display, in a service window of the display device, and

enable the ticket redemption input via the service window.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, after receiving a virtual ticket purchase input, cause a virtual ticket to be provided.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein symbols correspond to one another when those symbols have a designated relationship with one another.

8. The gaming system of claim 7 , wherein matching symbols have the designated relationship with one another.

9. The gaming system of claim 1 , which includes an acceptor configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance, the physical item being a ticket associated with the monetary value or currency.

10. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

establishing communications with a mobile device;

receiving, from the mobile device, data associated with one or more virtual tickets, each virtual ticket associated with one of a plurality of different symbols;

determining, by at least one processor, whether each received virtual ticket is a winning ticket or a non-winning ticket;

responsive to a first quantity of two or more non-winning virtual tickets that have corresponding first symbols being received:

determining, by the at least one processor, a first award, and

displaying, by at least one display device, the determined first award; and

responsive to a second, different quantity of two or more non-winning virtual tickets that have corresponding first symbols being received:

determining, by the at least one processor, a second different award, and

displaying, by the at least one display device, the determined second, different award.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising, upon an occurrence of a triggering event, causing, by the at least one processor, data associated with a virtual ticket to be transmitted to the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone, and which includes, upon the occurrence of the triggering event, causing, by the at least one processor, the data associated with the virtual ticket to be transmitted to the mobile phone via a text message.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving, from the mobile device, the data associated with the one or more virtual tickets following receipt of a ticket redemption input.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising displaying, by the at least one display device, a service window and enabling the ticket redemption input via the service window.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, after receiving a virtual ticket purchase input, causing, by the at least one processor, a virtual ticket to be provided.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein symbols correspond to one another when those symbols have a designated relationship with one another.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein matching symbols have the designated relationship with one another.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving, by an acceptor, a physical item associated with a monetary value, the physical item being a ticket associated with the monetary value or currency, and establishing, by the at least one processor, a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received physical item.

19. The method of claim 11 , which is at least partially provided through a data network.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the data network is an internet.