Method and apparatus for collecting indicia for a secondary game from a primary wagering game

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a wagering game is described that allows a player to collect indicia from a series of individual primary games to form a winning game outcome in a single secondary game. In one embodiment, the secondary game is won through the collection of a specified number and/or type of indicia. The primary game may have its own pay table with, for example, traditional winning game outcomes for card type games. The number of primary games available to contribute toward a winning secondary game outcome may be limited to a predetermined number of primary game outcomes or a period of time during which game outcomes may be obtained. Alternatively, or in addition, collected indicia obtained from a series of primary game outcomes may expire after a predetermined duration.

1 . A method of playing a wagering game, comprising; 
 recognizing a wager;    forming a plurality of primary games, wherein forming each primary game of the plurality of primary games comprises; 
 receiving a first set of indicia;  
 discarding a subset of the first set of indicia to create a held set of indicia  
 receiving a randomly selected replacement set of indicia; and  
 forming a primary game outcome comprising the replacement set of indicia and the held set of indicia;  
   counting each occurrence of a predetermined indicium in the plurality of primary games to determine a secondary game outcome;    providing a first award for a winning primary game outcome; and    providing a second award for a winning secondary game outcome if a total count of each occurrence of the predetermined indicium satisfies a predetermined threshold.    
   
   
       2 - 16 . (canceled)