Patent ID: 8105145

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: an input device for receiving a wager; one or more displays for displaying a plurality of symbols arranged in an array of symbol positions, the plurality of symbols including at least one expandable symbol, the array of symbol positions including at least one expandable position indicated by a displayed expandable position indicator which is not a payline and at least one non-expandable position; and a controller including one or more processors, the controller operative to (i) vary the symbols displayed in the array of symbol positions; and (ii) if the at least one expandable symbol appears in the at least one expandable position, expand the at least one expandable symbol into at least one other symbol position in the array, outside of the at least one expandable position, to form and display at least one expanded symbol; and (iii) if the at least one expandable symbol appears in the at least one non-expandable position, do not expand the at least one expandable symbol.