Patent ID: 8277308

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: at least one input device; at least one display device configured to display: (a) a first column having at least X number of first unisymbol display reels, wherein X is at least three; (b) a second column having at most Y number of second unisymbol display reels, wherein Y is at least one and less than X; and (c) a third column having at least X number of third unisymbol display reels, wherein: (i) the second column is positioned between the first column and the third column, and (ii) at least one of: (A) at least one of a plurality of symbols on at least two of the first unisymbol display reels, the second unisymbol display reels and the third unisymbol display reels are different, and (B) at least two of the first unisymbol display reels, the second unisymbol display reels and the third unisymbol display reels have different probabilities of displaying at least one of the plurality of symbols; at least one processor; and at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to: (i) cause each of the plurality of unisymbol display reels of the first column, the second column, and the third column to independently display one of a plurality of symbols on said unisymbol display reel; (ii) determine if the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations; (iii) determine any awards associated with any formed winning symbol combinations; and (iv) display any said awards.