Patent ID: 7070502

Claim:
A method for operating a slot machine including a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols on said reels, said method comprising the steps of: (a) maintaining a list of award-yielding symbol combinations of said plurality of symbols in a controller; (b) randomly generating on a plurality of paylines associated with said reels a first set of the symbols from the plurality of symbols, said first set including a plurality of symbols generated on each of a plurality of the reels, and each of the symbols in the first set of symbols is adapted for individual replacement; (c) providing a player an award for each award-yielding symbol combination appearing in said first set on any of the paylines before any of the symbols can be replaced; (d) if a designated symbol occurs in the first set, said designated symbol causing a selection of selecting a plurality but not all of the symbols in the first set for individual replacement, said selected symbols including all of the plurality of symbols generated on the reel including the designated symbol and individually replacing each said selected symbol in the first set with one of the plurality of symbols to generate a second set of the symbols, the second set of symbols displayed in place of the first set of symbols; and (e) providing the player an award for each award-yielding symbol combination appearing in said second set on any of the paylines even if any said award yielding symbol combination in the second set appeared in the first set and even if an award was provided for said symbol combination in step (c).