Patent ID: 11967209
Assignee: LNW GAMING, INC.
Field: Control (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A gaming system comprising:
a gaming machine primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game, the gaming machine including an electronic display device and one or more electronic input devices, the electronic display device configured to display an active array of symbol positions for a first game level; and
game-logic circuitry configured to perform the operations of:
detecting, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;
initiating the casino wagering game in response to an input indicative of a wager drawn from the credit balance;
spinning and stopping symbol-bearing reels through one or more spins to place special symbols borne by the stopped reels in the active array;
in response to a first predetermined number of the special symbols appearing in the active array over the one or more spins, progressing from the first game level to a second game level by displaying, via the electronic display device, animation of expansion of the active array to include additional symbol positions and repeating the spinning and stopping operation with the expanded active array for one or more additional spins;
providing an award based on the special symbols and current game level, wherein the provided award is a first jackpot value associated with the first game level and the provided award is a second jackpot value associated with the second game level, and wherein the first jackpot value is not an available award after progressing to the second game level; and
receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.