US 12,254,747 B2
Expanding and contracting reels
Yu Chong, Reno, NV (US); Nick Hillstrom, Reno, NV (US); Nathan Ajhar, Sparks, NV (US); and Chris Peterson, Reno, NV (US)
Assigned to IGT, Las Vegas, NV (US)
Filed by IGT, Las Vegas, NV (US)
Filed on Jun. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/843,346.
Prior Publication US 2023/0410604 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. G07F 17/32 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 17/3267 (2013.01) [G07F 17/3213 (2013.01); G07F 17/3244 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gaming system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
for a first play of a game, cause a display, by a display device, of symbols at a plurality of symbol display positions associated with a plurality of reels, and
responsive to, in association with the first play of the game, an occurrence of a first reel expansion event associated with a first reel of the plurality of reels:
for a second, subsequent play of the game, cause a display, by the display device, of symbols at the plurality of symbol display positions associated with the plurality of reels and a first quantity of additional symbol display positions associated with the first reel of the plurality of reels, and
responsive to, for the second, subsequent play of the game, no occurrence of the same first reel expansion event associated with the first reel of the plurality of reels, for a third play of the game that occurs after the second play of the game and without displaying at least one of the first quantity of additional symbol display positions associated with the first reel of the plurality of reels, cause a display, by the display device, of symbols at the plurality of symbol display positions associated with the plurality of reels.