Wagering game terminal and method of operating same are disclosed in which players collect symbols and/or symbol combinations that are indicative of a randomly selected outcome. The symbols and/or symbol combinations may be collected anytime they appear on the wagering game terminal, or they may be collected only if they appear in a certain manner or at a certain time. Players who manage to complete a predefined collection of symbols and/or symbol combinations are awarded a special event game, such as a bonus game, a jackpot, and the like. The players may carry over the symbols and/or symbol combinations they have collected across multiple gaming sessions and multiple gaming terminals. In this way, the players may retain the benefit of their previous gaming experiences.