Gaming system and method providing keno game with a reel free activation feature

1. A gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device storing a plurality of instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

responsive to placement of a wager via an input device, cause a display, via a display device, of a play of a keno game, the play of the keno game comprising a keno board comprising a plurality of spots displayed in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, a quantity of player spots selected from the plurality of spots, and a quantity of drawn spots randomly selected from the plurality of spots; and

responsive to a triggering event occurring in association one of the player spots in the play of the keno game:

cause a display, via the display device, of a plurality of free plays of a reel game on the keno board, and

for each of the free plays of the reel game on the keno board:

cause a display, via the display device, for each player spot, one of a plurality of reels displayed at one of: (a) the column that comprises the player spot, and (b) the row that comprises the player spot;

cause a display, via the display device, each of the displayed reels spinning;

cause a display, via the display device, each of the displayed reels stopped after spinning;

determine any awards based on any of a plurality of symbols displayed by of reels; and

cause a display, via the display device, of any determined awards.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the triggering event comprises a free activation symbol displayed at one of the player spots in the play of the keno game.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, for one of the free plays of the reel game on the keno board and for one of the player spots, cause a display, via the display device, of one of the plurality of reels displayed at the column that comprises the player spot and one of the plurality of reels at the row that comprises the player spot.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, responsive to a designated reel addition event occurring in one of the free plays of the reel game, cause a display, via the display device, of an additional reel for a subsequent one of the free plays of the reel game on the keno board.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of reels comprises a credit value symbol, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processer to, for one of the free plays of the reel game on the keno board, responsive to the credit value symbol being displayed at one of the player spots, determine the award based on the credit value symbol.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 , further comprising a payment acceptor, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to, responsive to a physical item being received via the payment acceptor, establish a credit balance based on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the display device comprises part of a mobile device configured to communicate with the processor via a wireless network.

8. A gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device storing a plurality of instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

responsive to placement of a wager via an input device, cause a display, via a display device, of a play of a keno game, the play of the keno game comprising a keno board comprising a plurality of spots displayed in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, a quantity of player spots selected from the plurality of spots, and a quantity of drawn spots randomly selected from the plurality of spots; and

responsive to a triggering event occurring in association one of the player spots in the play of the keno game:

cause a display, via the display device, of a plurality of free plays of a reel game on the keno board, and

for each of the free plays of the reel game on the keno board:

cause a display, via the display device, for each player spot, one of a plurality of reels to be displayed at each spot in each column that comprises the player spot, and one of a plurality of reels to be displayed at each spot in each row that comprises the player spot;

cause a display, via the display device, each of the displayed reels spinning;

cause a display, via the display device, each of the displayed reels stopped after spinning;

determine any awards based on any of a plurality of symbols displayed by of reels; and

cause a display, via the display device, of any determined awards.

9. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the triggering event comprises a free activation symbol displayed at one of the player spots in the play of the keno game.

10. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, responsive to a designated reel addition event occurring in one of the free plays of the reel game, for a subsequent one of the free plays of the reel game on the keno board, cause a display, by the display device of an additional reel.

11. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein one of the plurality of reels comprises a credit value symbol, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processer to, for one of the free plays of the reel game on the keno board and for one of the player spots, responsive to the credit value symbol being displayed at the player spot, determine the award based on the credit value symbol.

12. The gaming system of claim 8 , further comprising a payment acceptor, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to, responsive to a physical item being received via the payment acceptor, establish a credit balance based on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

13. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the display device comprises part of a mobile device configured to communicate with the processor via a wireless network.

14. A gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device storing a plurality of instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

responsive to placement of a wager via an input device, cause a display, via a display device, of a play of a keno game, the play of the keno game comprising a keno board comprising a plurality of spots displayed in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, a quantity of player spots selected from the plurality of spots, and a quantity of drawn spots randomly selected from the plurality of spots; and

responsive to a triggering event occurring in association one of the player spots in the play of the keno game,

cause a display, via the display device, of a plurality of free plays of a reel game on the keno board, and

for one of the free plays of the reel game on the keno board:

cause a display, via the display device, for each player spot, one of a plurality of reels displayed at the player spot, each said reel including one of a plurality of different credit value symbols;

cause a display, via the display device, each of the displayed reels spinning;

cause a display, via the display device, each of the displayed reels stopped after spinning;

determine any awards based on any displayed credit value symbols displayed on the reels at the player spots;

cause a display, via the display device, of any determined awards; and

for any displayed credit value symbol on the reels at the player spots, lock the displayed credit value symbol on the reel at the player spot for a subsequent free play of the reel game on the keno board.

15. The gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the triggering event comprises a free activation symbol displayed at one of the player spots in the play of the keno game.

16. The gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, responsive to any displayed credit value symbols on the reels at the player spots, cause the processor to lock the displayed credit value symbols on the reels at the player spots for all subsequent free plays of the reel game on the keno board.

17. The gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, responsive to displayed credit value symbols at all of the player spots, cause the processor to determine an additional award and cause a display, by the display device, of the additional award.

18. The gaming system of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, responsive to displayed credit value symbols at all of the player spots, cause the processor to cause no remaining free plays of the reel game on the keno board to be provided.

19. The gaming system of claim 14 , further comprising a payment acceptor, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to, responsive to a physical item being received via the payment acceptor, establish a credit balance based on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

20. The gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the display device comprises part of a mobile device configured to communicate with the processor via a wireless network.