Patent ID: 7556562

Claim:
A method for converting a slot machine, the method comprising: (a) opening a slot machine after a first play of the slot machine, wherein the slot machine includes: (i) a housing, (ii) at least three reels positioned within the housing, wherein each one of the reels displays a series of symbols, and (iii) at least three motors, wherein each one of the motors is coupled to a different one of the reels so as to rotate said reel about an axis; (b) after opening the slot machine, reorienting at least one of the reels and the motor coupled to said reel within the housing such that the reoriented motor is operable to rotate the reoriented reel about a different axis which extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of at least one of the other reels, wherein the reorienting of the at least one reel includes: (i) decoupling the at least one reel from one portion of the housing; and (ii) coupling the at least one reel to another portion of the housing; (c) causing a plurality of different symbols to be displayed by the reoriented reel; and (d) closing the slot machine, wherein the closed slot machine is playable for a second play which results in: (i) a first outcome associated with at least one of the reels other than the reoriented reel; and (ii) a different, second outcome associated with the reoriented reel.