Abstract: A gaming system and method utilize an electronic display device configured to display a plurality of symbol-bearing reels and an array of symbol positions. The array of symbol positions comprises a plurality of rows and columns. The plurality of symbol-bearing reels are spun and stopped to land symbols on the reels in the symbol positions of the array. Payouts are awarded for any winning symbol combinations along horizontal and vertical ways. In response to a triggering event, the array is expanded by expanding one or more of the rows of the array to add one or more symbol positions to each expanded row. The plurality of symbol-bearing reels are again spun and stopped to land symbols on the reels in the symbol positions of the expanded array. Payouts are again awarded for any winning symbol combinations along the horizontal and vertical ways.

Abstract: A gaming system and method utilize an electronic display device configured to display a plurality of symbol-bearing reels and an array of symbol positions. The array of symbol positions comprises a plurality of rows and columns. The plurality of symbol-bearing reels are spun and stopped to land symbols on the reels in the symbol positions of the array. Payouts are awarded for any winning symbol combinations along horizontal and vertical ways. In response to a triggering event, the array is expanded by expanding one or more of the rows of the array to add one or more symbol positions to each expanded row. The plurality of symbol-bearing reels are again spun and stopped to land symbols on the reels in the symbol positions of the expanded array. Payouts are again awarded for any winning symbol combinations along the horizontal and vertical ways.

Abstract: A bonus game server including game-logic circuitry that monitors a plurality of bonus ticket balances associated with a plurality of players and a bonus jackpot associated with a bonus tournament game, transmits, in response to an amount of the bonus jackpot exceeding an eligibility threshold, participation requests to player devices of eligible players for the bonus tournament game, initiates a participation timer, enters, in response to at least one of the eligible players accepting the participation request, the accepting eligible player into the bonus tournament game, generates, using a random number generator and in response to the participation timer reaching a concluding threshold, one or more random numbers to determine at least one outcome of the bonus tournament game, and awards a bonus game prize from the bonus jackpot to a winning player of the participating players identified at least partially by the determined outcome of the bonus tournament game.