Patent ID: 7837553

Claim:
A method of operating an electronic gaming device via a processor, comprising: the processor operable to display a game using a symbol matrix formed by at least one row intersecting with a plurality of columns to form symbol locations, wherein said symbol locations display a plurality of symbols; the processor operable to define a plurality of said symbol locations as designated symbol locations for a plurality of game iterations, the processor operable to accept a wager from a player to participate in said game and for each game iteration a) the processor operable to randomly rearrange the plurality of symbols in said symbol matrix; b) the processor operable to display said rearranged symbols in said symbol locations c) the processor operable to provide awards for any winning outcomes for each game iteration; d) the processor operable to determine if a predetermined symbol appears in any designated symbol location and indicating, for the remaining iterations, the designated symbol locations if said symbol is present or previously present; the processor operable to initiate a bonus event upon a predetermined number of designated locations being indicated in steps a-d.