Patent ID: 8469796

Claim:
A gaming system comprising a game controller and a memory storage device comprising game data, the game controller and the memory storage device being arranged such that the game controller can process the game data to effect play of a game, wherein the play of a game comprises: placing a plurality of symbols in a plurality of symbol positions to create a game outcome, wherein at least one winning outcomes of the game is defined based on at least one of a plurality of paylines associated with the symbol positions; determining whether the game outcome comprises a predefined arrangement of the symbol; and, if so selecting at least one of the paylines; removing the selected at least one of the paylines to thereby reduce a total number of the paylines used in the play of the game; replacing the removed selected at least one of the paylines with a non-pay-line-based criterion such that the at least one winning outcome is defined based on a concurrent use of the plurality of paylines and the non-pay based criterion; and continuing said selecting, said removing and said replacing in subsequent plays of the game until all paylines are replaced with the non-pay-line based criterion.