A gaming device having a processor to control a display to display a set of prize levels having a bottom level, a variable level associated with a variable prize, and an intermediate level. In each of a plurality of game instances, the processor selects a plurality of symbols, control the display to display the selected symbols, determines whether the symbols displayed include increment symbols, upon the symbols displayed including the increment symbols, increments the variable prize by respective amounts of the increment symbols, evaluates symbols displayed for a winning combination, and the symbols displayed including the winning combination, increments from a current prize level to a different prize level in the set of prize levels provided the different prize level is not a top level. At an end of the plurality of game instances, the processor awards a current prize of the current prize level.

A gaming machine comprises a display and an electronic controller for playing a first game. The electronic controller is configured to randomly determine whether to display one or more bonus symbols in the first game, each bonus symbol being associated with a bonus value award. Where a trigger event occurs during the first game, such as the appearance of a predetermined order of bonus symbols, electronic controller is configured to display an array of the bonus symbols on the display or optionally on another display. Where bonus symbols appear in further plays of the first game or plays of a second game, the bonus symbols are added to the array and bonus symbols present on the array are sequentially transferred to a win meter, which increments by the amount of the associated bonus value award of each transferred bonus symbol.

Electronic gaming machines and systems are disclosed that provide for a symbol-based main game that features an array of symbol positions that may, if an array growth condition is met, increase in size. Determining whether the array growth condition is met may involve determining how many array growth symbols are shown in association with a game play. A further determination may be made as to whether a feature game trigger condition is met and, if so, a feature game may be presented that utilizes the same array of symbol positions that were present in the main game when the feature game was triggered. Additional array growth may occur in the feature game if the array growth condition is met again.

A gaming system may provide a slot game in which multiple reel strips are “spun” in order to generate game outcomes based on the award symbols that are displayed on the reels. Different award symbols may be associated with different payout values, and different reel strips may have different sets of award symbols, leading to some reel strips having a higher potential payout than others. In some cases, some reel strips may include special symbols that have a significant impact on the potential payout, such as by cumulatively multiplying other earned awards. In order to manage game characteristics like return-to-player (“RTP”) and volatility while providing special symbols like award value multipliers, the gaming system may select from predefined sets of reel strips and position the reel strips in particular locations in a symbol matrix of the game

In various embodiments a single reel on a gaming device contains multiple symbols.

A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more multiple symbol display position elements. Each multiple symbol display position element is configured to occupy or span a plurality of symbol display positions of a symbol display position matrix. For a generated multiple symbol display position element to be removed from the symbol display matrix, each of the individual symbols of the multiple symbol display position element must individually qualify to be removed from the symbol display matrix.

The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods which utilize a player identification device to provide to electronic gaming machines certain gaming system functionality and features otherwise not associated with or available in association with the electronic gaming machines existing gaming establishment management systems.

There is provided a gaming system, gaming machine, and method that presents a plurality of symbols in an array corresponding to a plurality of symbol-bearing reels. Game-logic circuitry positions a persistent symbol at a first symbol position in the array. Using a random number generator, the game logic-circuitry spins and stops the reels. Concurrently with the moving of the reels, the game-logic circuitry moves the persistent symbol from the first symbol position in the array to a second symbol position in the array. The game-logic circuitry moves the persistent symbol in a direction toward a win zone outside of the array. The game-logic circuitry further determines whether a catalyst symbol appears in the win zone. In response to determining that the catalyst symbol appears in the win zone, the game-logic circuitry awards a value associated with the persistent symbol.

An electronic gaming machine (EGM) is provided. The EGM includes a processor circuit and a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor circuit, cause the processor circuit to perform operations. Operations include displaying, by a display device of a gaming device, a graphical interface for a wagering game including multiple reels, multiple prize disks and an unlock symbol that includes a first unlock symbol that corresponds to an unlock function of one of the prize disks. Operations include determining that the unlock symbol comprises the first unlock symbol that causes one of the prize disks to become unlocked, determining that one of the primary game symbols includes a secondary game symbol that corresponds to user access to the secondary game, and awarding the user with a bonus game award based on a combination of corresponding bonus game symbols.

A gaming system comprises game-logic circuitry and a display device that presents a wagering game having a plurality of states, where each state has substantially the same expected value, the same set of available outcomes, and a respective unique set of weight parameters associated with the set of available outcomes. The game-logic circuitry selects a first state for a first duration that has a first set of weight parameters, generates at least one game outcome from the available outcomes based on the first set of weight parameters and one or more random values, causes the display device to present the generated at least one game outcome, randomly selects a state for a second duration following the first duration, and generates one or more game outcomes through the second duration based on the respective set of weight parameters associated with the randomly selected state and one or more random values.