Patent ID: 7594849

Claim:
A gaming apparatus comprising: at least one display device having a separate symbol display area for each of a plurality of reels; at least one input device; at least one processor configured to operate with the at least one display device and at least one input device to: (a) display the plurality of reels, each of the plurality of reels displaying a plurality of symbols; (b) display a plurality of different pay lines associated with the plurality of reels, each of the pay lines including one location from each of the separate symbol display positions; (c) before displaying any symbols which are generated for a play of a game, receive a wager for a designated quantity of the plurality of pay lines which will be evaluated for winning symbol combinations for the play of the game, said designated quantity being at least one and less than a number equal to all of the pay lines; (d) before enabling a player to select one of the plurality of pay lines for at least one of the designated quantity of the plurality of pay lines which will be evaluated for winning symbol combinations for the play of the game, cause a first group of the plurality of reels to display symbols which are generated for the play of the game by the first group of reels, the first group of reels including at least one and less than all of the plurality of reels; (e) after the symbols which are generated for the play of the game by the first group of reels are displayed and before causing a second group of the plurality of reels to display symbols which are generated for the play of the game by the second group of reels, the second group of reels including at least one and less than all of the plurality of reels, the second group of reels not including any of the reels of the first group, receive a selection of one of the plurality of pay lines for at least one of the designated quantity of the plurality of pay lines which will be evaluated for winning symbol combinations for the play of the game; (f) after the selection of one of the plurality of pay lines for the at least one of the designated quantity of pay lines is received, cause the second group of reels to display symbols which are generated for the play of the game by the second group of reels; and (g) determine a pay out by evaluating each selected pay line for any winning symbol combinations.