Abstract: A system and method for facilitating participation by a player in a bonus event of a slot machine. A reel configuration associated with the slot machine is presented, and symbols are presented in each of the active reel segments. At least some of the symbols are discontinue symbols which, if presented in an active reel segment, causes that reel segment to be deactivated, thereby eliminating it from the bonus event. The presentation of symbols and subsequent deactivation of symbols associated with discontinue symbols continues until a predetermined number of the active reel segments have been deactivated.

Abstract: A floating reel strip gaming activity involves randomly arranging first symbols on a plurality of gaming reels in response to a gaming event. Second symbols are randomly arranged on a floating reel in response to the gaming event. The floating reel is positioned over the plurality of gaming reels in response to the gaming event so that at least one of the second symbols are superimposed on at least one of the first symbols. A payout is determined in response to the gaming event based on the arrangement of the first symbols in combination with the second symbols.

Abstract: A gaming activity involves a plurality of gaming reels each having a plurality of first symbols that are randomly arranged in response to a gaming event. The gaming apparatus also includes a plurality of second symbols that are each randomly arranged so that each of the second symbols adjacent to an associated one of the first symbols. A payout device of the apparatus determines a payout based on the arrangement of the first symbols in combination with a payline formed by the associated second symbols in response to the gaming event.

Abstract: A manner for presenting payouts in gaming activities. The invention may be used in connection with primary gaming activity and/or in connection with secondary/bonus activity. The invention provides a controllable selection and/or item capture mechanism used to identify full or partial payout values, and/or other play parameters such as multipliers, continue/discontinue identifiers, etc. The system and/or the user can control the selection/capture mechanism. In one embodiment, a platform typically concealed from the participant is moved to a location proximate the item capture mechanism, and a particular selectable item determined by the RNG is retrieved by the item capture mechanism among the otherwise perceivable selectable items.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating participation by a player in a bonus event of a slot machine. A reel configuration associated with the slot machine is presented, and symbols are presented in each of the active reel segments. At least some of the symbols are discontinue symbols which, if presented in an active reel segment, causes that reel segment to be deactivated, thereby eliminating it from the bonus event. The presentation of symbols and subsequent deactivation of symbols associated with discontinue symbols continues until a predetermined number of the active reel segments have been deactivated.