Patent ID: 8257160

Claim:
A gaming machine for playing a wagering game, comprising: an input device for receiving a wager to play a single play of the wagering game; at least one display device operable to display a plurality of spinning reels including a first reel and a second reel, the plurality of spinning reels including a plurality of symbols for indicating a randomly selected outcome, the plurality of symbols including at least a first special award symbol and a second special award symbol, and a plurality of award ranges including a first range and a second range, the first range corresponding to and being displayed adjacent to the first reel, the second range corresponding to and being displayed adjacent to the second reel, the first range having a first average value for a first award and the second range having a second average value for a second award, the second average value having a default value and a modified value, the second range having the default value being initially displayed; and a controller in communication with the display device and programmable to cause the plurality of spinning reels to spin and stop in succession for displaying the single play of the wagering game, the first reel stopping before the second reel within the single play of the wagering game, in response to the first reel displaying the first special award symbol, (i) provide the first award randomly selected from the first range, and (ii) display the second range having the modified value, in response to the first reel not displaying the first special award symbol, (iii) continue to display the second range having the default value, and subsequent to the first award being randomly selected from the first range and in response to the second reel displaying the second special award symbol, provide the second award randomly selected from the second range, the modified value of the second range being greater than the first average value of the first range.