Patent ID: 8012011
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A gaming device configured to operate under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising: a plurality of reels arranged in a plurality of reel columns, each reel including a plurality of symbols, wherein at least one of said reel columns includes a plurality of said reels and each reel is adapted to be selectively activated by the processor; and at least one input device; wherein the processor is configured to operate with the at least one input device and the plurality of reels to: (a) receive a wager associated with a number of reels greater than one, wherein different wagers are associated with different numbers of reels; (b) for each wagered on reel, generate and display one of said symbols of said reel at an active symbol position; (c) identify each of the symbols at active symbol positions for a first of said reel columns and a second of said reel columns; (d) determine if any of said identified symbols for the first reel column are related to any of said identified symbols for the second reel column, wherein each occurrence of related symbols forms a string of related symbols; (e) for each string of related symbols: (f) repeat (e) until either each of the strings of related symbols is complete or there are no additional reel columns adjacent to the last reel column which includes one of the related symbols; and (g) provide to a player any awards based on any strings of related symbols which correspond with at least one winning combination of said symbols.