Patent ID: 7410420

Claim:
A gaming machine comprising: at least one input device that receives input from a player for play of a game; a bet input device that receives a bet for play of the game; a display device; and a processor configured to operate with the at least one input device, the bet input device, and the display device to: a) display a plurality of columns where each column has multiple types of symbols which are displayed through a window in a changing manner of a fixed direction in the column, wherein at least one symbol is displayed on each column of symbols in the window to provide at least one row of symbols to display a normal state of the game; b) evaluate whether at least one row of symbols in the normal state of the game does not result in a winning combination of symbols, wherein if it is determined that no winning combination is achieved, determining if a quantity of symbols displayed through the window needs to be changed based on an optional additional bet input operation by the player to provide a special state of the game; c) if the additional bet input operation is received from the player, allowing the player to select at least one of the columns to be expanded in which an area of the at least one column will be increased to show additional symbols above and below the column; d) activate a mechanical cover having an upper cover portion and a lower cover portion to facilitate the expanding of the area of the at least one column by simultaneously opening both the upper and lower portions of the cover to show the additional symbols above and below the column, wherein expanding the one or more columns occurs in the special state of the game, and wherein the multiple types of symbols displayed in the normal state of the game remain in their original positions within each column throughout the special state of the game; e) evaluate the symbols in the special state of the game including evaluating a combination of symbols displayed in the normal state of the game with additional symbols displayed in the special state of the game to determine if a winning combination has been achieved; and f) award the player a payout based on any winning combinations achieved in the special state of the game.