Patent ID: 8702500

Claim:
A method of playing a game by a gaming machine including a controller and a display device, the method comprising: executing, by the controller, a game; displaying, by the controller, a plurality of symbols on the display device; each time a predetermined symbol or a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed on the display device as a result of the game, cumulatively adding, by the controller, a predetermined point to a cumulative point; setting, by the controller, a specific combination of symbols to which a payout rate that is greater than one is applied; increasing, by the controller, the payout rate from a first payout rate to a second payout rate when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the predetermined condition including the cumulative point exceeding a reference value; and paying, by the controller, a product of a normal award for the specific combination of symbols and the payout rate when the specific combination of symbols is displayed in a next game, wherein setting the specific combination of symbols includes changing the specific combination of symbols from a combination of first symbols to a combination of second symbols when the cumulative point exceeds a second reference value.