Patent ID: 9607482
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: G07F

Claim:
1. A gaming system comprising: a display screen displaying an upper set of reels, a lower set of reels, and a larger shared reel that extends between the upper set of reels and the lower set of reels and is positioned to include one upper reel on each side thereof and directly adjacent thereto in the upper set of reels and to include one lower reel on each side thereof and directly adjacent thereto in the lower set of reels, the shared reel containing special symbols not contained by the upper set of reels and the lower set of reels, wherein symbols on an upper section of the shared reel are combinable with symbols on the upper set of reels; and wherein symbols on a lower section of the shared reel are combinable with symbols on the lower set of reels; a payment component that is configured to receive a first payment and/or to provide second payment; and a game processing system programmed to: establish a credit balance based on the first payment; detect receipt of a wager; reduce the credit balance based on a wager amount; display rotation and stopping of the upper set of reels, the lower set of reels, and the shared reel; and determine winning symbol combinations using combinations of symbols formed by the symbols on the upper section of the shared reel and the symbols on the upper set of reels, and formed by the symbols on the lower section of the shared reel and the symbols on the lower set of reels, determine an award amount, if any, based on the winning symbol combinations, increase the credit balance based on at least a portion of the award amount, if any, and on receipt of a cash out input, provide the second payment, wherein the second payment is based at least a portion of the credit balance.