AU2019203958A1

AU2019203958A1 - A gaming system and a method of gaming

Info

Publication number: AU2019203958A1
Application number: AU2019203958A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Allan Shai-Hee
Original assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-10-08
Filing date: 2019-06-06
Publication date: 2019-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-02
Also published as: AU2019203958B2; AU2015210368A1; AU2017204846A1

Abstract

Abstract A gaming system comprising: a display; a memory storing reel data defining a plurality of reels, each reel 5 comprising a set of symbols in a symbol sequence; and a game controller arranged to: select symbols from the reel data for display at a plurality of display positions, the selection of at least two symbols of at least one reel being performed independently of the symbol sequence; 10 display the selected symbols at respective separate display positions on the display; and control display of spinning of the reels on the display such that for each reel for which symbols are selected independently of the symbol sequence: after the reel is stopped, the at least 15 two selected symbols of each reel are displayed in their respective display positions; and during at least part of the display of spinning, the reel is displayed as spinning in the symbol sequence relative to the display positions. I1413695_1(GHMatters)P72649.AU.7

Description

- 1 Title

A GAMING SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF GAMING

Related Application

This application is a divisional application of Australian patent application number 2017204846, which in turn is a divisional application of Australian patent application number 2015210368, which in turn is a divisional application of Australian patent application number 2013273806, which in turn is a divisional application of Australian patent application number 2011211456, which in turn is a divisional application of Australian patent application number 2010202914, which in turn is a divisional application of Australian patent application number 2008229755. The disclosures of each of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

Field

The present invention relates to a gaming system, a method of gaming, a game controller and computer program code.

Background to the Invention

It is known to provide a gaming system such as a video slot machine wherein symbols are displayed as a plurality of virtual reels on a video display. Each reel comprises 30 a plurality of symbols arranged in a predetermined sequence. Typically, when a reel stops, a plurality of symbols of each reel are visible on the display. For example, three symbols of each reel. While the stopping position of the reel can be chosen in a number of different ways, in all cases, the symbols which stop in the display are adjoining symbols in the symbol sequence. Typically, when spinning of the reels is simulated,

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 2 symbols before the stopped symbols in the symbol sequence will be visible at least as the reel comes to a stop.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect the invention provides a gaming machine comprising:

a display;

a memory storing reel data defining a plurality of reels, each reel comprising a set of symbols in a symbol sequence; and a game controller arranged to:

select symbols from the reel data for display on the display in a plurality of columns associated with respective ones of the plurality of reels, each column comprising three display positions, the selection of each symbol of at least one reel being performed independently of each other symbol of the at least one reel by:

spinning each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another to a first stop position to select a first symbol from the set of symbols of the respective reel;

after the reel is stopped at the first stop position, removing the first symbol from the sequence so that symbols of the sequence that previously neighboured the first symbol now neighbour each other;

spinning the remaining symbols of each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another to a second stop position to select a second symbol from the set of symbols of the respective reel;

after the reel is stopped at the second stop position, removing the second symbol from the sequence so that symbols of the sequence that previously neighboured the second symbol now neighbour each other; and spinning the remaining symbols of each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another to

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 3 a third stop position to select a third symbol from the set of symbols of the respective reel.

In an embodiment, for each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another, the respective reel is displayed as continuing to spin in the symbol sequence until the third symbol has been displayed as stopping in its stopping position.

In an embodiment, for each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another, the respective reel is displayed as spinning behind any stopped symbols such that the symbols of a respective reel are not visible as they pass each stopped symbol.

In an embodiment, there are five columns and five reels.

In a third aspect the invention provides a method of gaming comprising:

selecting symbols for each of a plurality of reels each for display at a plurality of display positions, each reel defined by a set of symbols in a symbol sequence, the selection of at least two symbols for at least one of a plurality of reels being made independently of one another;

displaying the selected symbols at separate respective display positions on a display for each reel; and controlling display of spinning of the reels on 30 the display such that for each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another:

after the reel is stopped, the at least two selected symbols of each reel are displayed in

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 4 their respective selected display positions;

during at least part of the display of spinning, the reel is displayed as spinning in the symbol sequence relative to the display positions; and a first symbol of the at least two symbols is displayed as stopping at the symbol's display position and subsequently a corresponding reel is displayed as continuing to spin in the symbol sequence.

In an embodiment, the method comprises, for each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another, continuing to display the respective reel as spinning in the symbol sequence until the third symbol has been displayed as stopping in its stopping position.

In an embodiment, the method comprises, for each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another, displaying the respective reel as spinning behind any stopped symbols such that the symbols of a respective reel are not visible as they pass each stopped symbol.

In a third aspect, the invention provides computer program code which when executed implements the above methods.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a computer readable storage medium comprising the program code.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in relation to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of the core components of a

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 5 gaining system;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a gaming machine;

Figure 3 is a block diagram of the functional components of a gaming machine;

Figure 4 is a block diagram representing the structure of a memory;

Figure 5 is a diagram schematic of a networked gaming system;

Figure 6 is a further block diagram of the gaming system;

Figure 7 is a flowchart of an embodiment;

Figure 8 shows how symbols may be held while a reel continues to spin; and

Figure 9 shows an exemplary outcome for one reel.

Detailed Description

The embodiment provides a gaming system of the type that implements a spinning reel game where there are a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols in a designated symbol sequence. The gaming system has a game controller which implements a game where one or more symbols are selected independently of the symbol sequence for display whereby the displayed symbols of each reel may be non-adjacent symbols. The display of spinning of the reels is controlled such that during at least part of the display of spinning, the reel is displayed as spinning in the symbol sequence relative to the display positions. In an embodiment, this is achieved by displaying each selected symbol as stopping independently while the

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 6 remainder of the reel is displayed as continuing to rotate. In one embodiment, symbols are selected for each reel independently of the symbol sequence. In other embodiments, symbols may be selected independently for a subset of reels.

In a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine. 10

In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some of the components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components required for implementing the 15 game are located remotely relative to the gaming machine.

For example, a thick client architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a thin client architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player.

However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming machine and the 30 gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, thick client mode or thin client mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons 35 skilled in the art.

Irrespective of the form, the gaming system comprises

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- Ί several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player interface 50 and a game controller 60 as illustrated in Figure 1. The player interface is arranged to enable manual interaction between a player and 5 the gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/output components required for the player to enter instructions and play the game.

Components of the player interface may vary from 10 embodiment to embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism 52 to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays 54, a game play mechanism 56 that enables a player to input game play instructions, and a speaker 58.

The game controller 60 is in data communication with the player interface and typically includes a processor 62 that processes the game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the 20 display. Typically, the game play instructions are stored as program code in a memory 64 but can also be hardwired. Herein the term processor is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server.

A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming 30 machine 10 is illustrated in Figure 2. The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12 having a video display 14 on which is displayed representations of a game 16 that can be played by a player. A mid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 houses a bank of buttons 22 for enabling a 35 player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during game play. The mid-trim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 which in this example includes a coin

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 8 input chute 24A and a bill collector 24B. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card. A player marketing module may be provided having a 5 reading device may also be provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. The player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device.

A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a front 15 panel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the front panel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.

The display 14 shown in Figure 2 is in the form of a video 20 display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the display 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit. The top box 26 may also include a display, for example a video display unit, which may be of the same 25 type as the display 14, or of a different type.

Figure 3 shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gaming machine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine of Figure 2.

The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor 102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with the processor 102.

Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 9 represented by the memory 103.

The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring 5 player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and data 10 for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor 102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers. 15

In the example shown in Figure 3, a player interface 120 includes peripheral devices that communicate with the game controller 101 including one or more displays 106, a touch screen and/or buttons 107, a card and/or ticket reader 20 108, a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and a coin output mechanism 111. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine 100, or hardware may be omitted as required for the specific implementation. 25

In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information 30 to a central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the central controller, server or database.

Figure 4 shows a block diagram of the main components of 35 an exemplary memory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 103A, EPROM 103B and a mass storage device 103C. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds program files for

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019 execution by the processor 102 and related data. The EPROM 103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM 103B or elsewhere.

It is also possible for the operative components of the 10 gaming machine 100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices 106,107,108,109,110,111 to be provided remotely from the game controller 101.

Figure 5 shows a gaming system 200 in accordance with an 15 alternative embodiment. The gaming system 200 includes a network 201, which for example may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines 202, shown arranged in three banks 203 of two gaming machines 202 in Figure 5, are connected to the network 201. The gaming machines 202 provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming machines 10,100 shown in Figures 2 and 3, or may have simplified functionality depending on the requirements for implementing game play. While banks 203 of two gaming machines are illustrated in Figure 5, banks of one, three or more gaming machines are also envisaged.

One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. The displays 204 may, for example, be associated with one or more banks 203 of gaming machines.

The displays 204 may be used to display representations associated with game play on the gaming machines 202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material.

In a thick client embodiment, game server 205 implements part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 implements part of the

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 11 game. With this embodiment, as both the game server and the gaming device implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game controller. A database management server 206 may manage storage of game programs 5 and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices 202 in a database 206A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server 207 will be provided to carry out the accounting in respect of the Jackpot game. A loyalty 10 program server 212 may also be provided.

In a thin client embodiment, game server 205 implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server 205 provides the game controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components.

Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of the gaming network 200, including for example a gaming floor management server 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal

210 is provided to allow an administrator to run the network 201 and the devices connected to the network.

The gaming network 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate 35 network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall 211.

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 12 Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers. For example, elements 5 may be run as a single engine on one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the game server 205 could run a random generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art 10 will appreciate that a plurality of games servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games as required by the terminals .

The embodiment provides a spinning reel type game. Spinning reel type games typically allow a player to select how many win lines of a plurality of win lines they will play in each game -i.e. a minimum of one win line up to the maximum number of win lines allowed by the game.

Persons, skilled in the art, will appreciate that in other embodiments, the player may select a number of reels to play. In most games, each win line is formed by a set of symbol positions consisting of one symbol position from each reel. That is, a symbol position within the display 25 which corresponds to a reel is assigned to a win line.

The symbol positions that constitute each of the win lines are usually advertised to the player by markings on the display or diagrams showing the symbol positions that correspond to each win line. Some of the win lines will 30 be horizontal or diagonal lines but others may be other combinations of symbols. Typically, the win lines will be constituted by symbol positions in the visible window. A game outcome is determined based on the symbols on the win lines and a prize table that specifies awards. Many 35 modern games have five reels and three symbols of each reel are displayed when the reels stop.

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 13 In prior art implementations, the game controllers of such gaming machines select symbols by employing a stop determining function that randomly determines the stop position for each reel. For example, if there are five 5 reels, each having twenty symbols in a designated symbol, the stop determining function might determine that the stop positions are positions: 3, 13, 7, 9 and 17. The spinning of the reels is then controlled so that each symbol designated by the stop position comes to a stop in 10 the same row, typically a predetermined row in a window visible to the player on the display that corresponds to a player playing a single win line - e.g. the middle row.

The other symbols that are visible in the display will be adjacent symbols in the symbol sequence - e.g. if the 15 determined stop position is 3, then the symbols allocated to positions 2 and 4 will also be visible if three symbols of each reel are displayed.

The gaming system of the embodiment departs from the prior 20 art by selecting at least one of the symbols independently of the symbol sequence while still displaying the symbols as virtual reels that spin in the symbol sequence.

The game controller 60 of the embodiment is shown in more 25 detail in Figure 6. It will be apparent that the processor 62 implements a number of modules, for example random number generator module 621 by executing software routines. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that not all modules need be implemented by processor 62. For 30 example, the random number generator module 621 could be implemented by a separate circuit or by a random number generator server.

Referring to Figure 6, in the embodiment, the symbol 35 selector 622 is arranged to select a plurality of symbols for each reel independently of the symbol order Si to Sn specified in the reel data of each reel, reel 1 to reel N

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 14 641a, 641b, 641n.

The symbol selector 622 sends data which indicates the order in which the symbols of each reel were selected to the display controller 624.

The display controller 624 controls display of spinning and stopping of the symbols of each reel such that the three symbols stop in their display positions independently of one another. Accordingly it includes a symbol holder function 624a which is arranged to control the display 54 so that display of stopped symbols is maintained while the remainder of the reel is display as spinning until all the selected symbols stop. The symbol holder function 624a is also arranged to adjust the display of the reels such that on subsequent rotations of the reels symbols which were previously either side of a stopped symbol in the symbol sequence are shown as adjacent. In this manner, non-adjacent symbols in the symbols set may be stopped in adjacent display positions on the display. That is, the symbols are displayed in a sequence, for example from Si to Sn and then continues from Si.

It will be appreciated that the technique has application provided for at least one reel, the reel can continue spin in the symbol sequence after at least one symbol has been stopped. In one embodiment, a subset of one or more of the reels may have symbols that are selected independently of the stop sequence. In one embodiment, a subset of one or more of the symbols of each reel may be selected independently of the sequence. For example, if there are three display positions for each reel, the top position could be selected independently of the sequence for each reel. The reels would then be spun and the top symbol of each reel stopped while the remainder of the reel continues to spin with the remaining symbols coming to a

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 15 stop in the symbol sequence.

In a typical implementation, there will be five reels and three display positions for each reel as indicated by the

5x3 matrix of display positions 810 in Figure 8.

Accordingly, in an example where a reel contains symbols from Si to S30, i.e. Si is the first symbol position, S30 is the last and any other symbol in between such as S10 represents the 10^th position in that reel. This reel is to spin within a reel column size of three symbols. Let the following symbols be defined as:

5₈ = TEN [10]

5₉ = ACE [A]

S10 = JACK [J]

S15 = QUEEN [Q] S21 = KING [K]

As the reel spin moves down, symbol S9 [ACE] 830 stops at 20 the middle reel position as shown in Figure 8.

The grid 810 defines the reel stop positions. The ACE symbol stops 830 on the middle reel stop position but the symbols TEN 840 and JACK 850 continue to move along with 25 the reel spin as shown by their partial visibility. The

TEN symbol 840 moves behind the ACE and the JACK 850 moves outside the reel column boundary. The shaded area 860 is where the ACE symbol used to be positioned on that reel but is now blank as the ACE is stuck onto the middle 30 stop reel position. This blank position may be removed from sight when the reel spins on subsequent revolutions

i.e. S₈ will follow S10 on subsequent spinning. As the reel continues to spin, the symbol S21 [KING] 910 stops at the top reel position and will visually operate in the same 35 way as was done for the ACE 820 symbol - i.e. the reel will continue to spin. Finally, symbol S15 [QUEEN] 930 stops at the bottom reel position. The reel column will

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 16 then appear as KING, ACE, QUEEN as shown in Figure 9.

Thus, symbols displayed on the reel column do not follow the symbol order on the original reel.

After the symbols have all stopped as indicated in Figure 9, the prize is evaluated by the prize evaluator 623 based on the prize evaluation rules. The prize outcomes will depend on the symbol combinations that appear on win 10 lines.

It will be appreciated in the above example the game controller determines the stopping order of the symbols by the order in which they are selected. In other embodiments, the symbol selector may be arranged to select symbols for particular positions and the game rules may specify the stopping positions assigned to those display positions .

The method 700 is summarised in Figure 7 which shows that at least one symbol is selected for at least one reel 710 to stop independently of the symbol sequence. Depending on the embodiment, the display position and reel may also be selected. A selected symbol is then displayed as stopping at a display position 720. It is then determined whether all symbols have been stopped 730 such that at least on the initial spin, spinning of the reel continues 740. The process continues until all symbols have been displayed as stopped after which time a prize is awarded

750.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of variations may be made to the above method including that the symbols on each of the reels may be stopped independently of one another or the reels may stop one at a time. Further, one symbol of each reel may be stopped and then a subsequent symbol of each reel stopped.

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

- 17 2019203958 06 Jun 2019

Other variations would be apparent to persons skilled in the art and should be considered as falling within the scope of the invention described herein. In particular, further embodiments can be formed from the features described above.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word comprise or variations such as comprises or comprising is used in an inclusive sense,

i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Further aspects of the method will be apparent from the above description of the gaming system. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method could be o embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a computer readable medium, such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal (for example, by downloading it from a server).

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A gaming machine comprising: a display;

5 a memory storing reel data defining a plurality of reels, each reel comprising a set of symbols in a symbol sequence; and a game controller arranged to: select symbols from the reel data for

10 display on the display in a plurality of columns associated with respective ones of the plurality of reels, each column comprising three display positions, the selection of each symbol of at least one reel being performed independently of each other symbol of the at

15 least one reel by:

spinning each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another to a first stop position to select a first symbol from the set of symbols of the respective reel;

20 after the reel is stopped at the first stop position, removing the first symbol from the sequence so that symbols of the sequence that previously neighboured the first symbol now neighbour each other;

spinning the remaining symbols of each reel for

25 which symbols are selected independently of one another to a second stop position to select a second symbol from the set of symbols of the respective reel;

after the reel is stopped at the second stop position, removing the second symbol from the sequence so

30 that symbols of the sequence that previously neighboured the second symbol now neighbour each other; and spinning the remaining symbols of each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another to a third stop position to select a third symbol from the

35 set of symbols of the respective reel.
2. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019

- 19 for each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another, the respective reel is displayed as continuing to spin in the symbol sequence until the third symbol has been displayed as stopping in its stopping

5 position.
3. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein for each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another, the respective reel is displayed as

10 spinning behind any stopped symbols such that the symbols of a respective reel are not visible as they pass each stopped symbol.
4. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of claims

15 1 to 3, wherein there are five columns and five reels.
5. A method of operating a gaming machine comprising a display, the method comprising:

selecting symbols for each of a plurality of

20 reels each for display on the display in a plurality of columns associated with respective ones of the plurality of reels, each column comprising three display positions, the selection of each symbol of at least one reel being performed independently of each other symbol of the at

25 least one reel by:

spinning each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another to a first stop position to select a first symbol from the set of symbols of the respective reel;

30 after the reel is stopped at the first stop position, removing the first symbol from the sequence so that symbols of the sequence that previously neighboured the first symbol now neighbour each other;

spinning the remaining symbols of each reel for

35 which symbols are selected independently of one another to a second stop position to select a second symbol from the set of symbols of the respective reel;

11413695-1 (GHMatters) P72649.AU.7

2019203958 06 Jun 2019 after the reel is stopped at the second stop position, removing the second symbol from the sequence so that symbols of the sequence that previously neighboured the second symbol now neighbour each other; and

5 spinning the remaining symbols of each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another to a third stop position to select a third symbol from the set of symbols of the respective reel.

10
6. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising, for each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another, continuing to display the respective reel as spinning in the symbol sequence until the third symbol has been displayed as stopping in its stopping position.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6 comprising, for each reel for which symbols are selected independently of one another, displaying the respective reel as spinning behind any stopped symbols such that the symbols of a

20 respective reel are not visible as they pass each stopped symbol.
8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein there are five columns and five reels.
9. Computer program code which when executed implements the method of any one of claims 6 to 8.
10. A computer readable medium comprising the program 30 code of claim 9.