System and method for providing a game with splitting symbols

A method for providing a wagering game operable upon a wager by a player, the method carried out on a gaming machine including a display device configured to display the wagering game, a player input interface, a credit input, and a processor, the display device further configured to display a plurality of reels, each reel of the plurality of reels comprising respective pluralities of symbol positions configured to display respective symbols thereon, the display device defining a play area in which the plurality of reels are displayed, the method comprising:

• initiating a spin of the plurality of reels in response to receiving a credit wager, the spin resulting in a random selection of a subset of symbols displayed from the respective symbols on the plurality of reels;
• determining that a first occurrence of a splitting symbol is displayed at a first symbol position on a first reel of the plurality of reels;
• detecting each second occurrence of the splitting symbol displayed within one or more symbol positions of a subset of reels of the plurality of reels, wherein the subset of reels includes at least two reels of the plurality of reels and excludes the first reel of the plurality of reels and each reel of the subset of reels is positioned to the right of the first reel;
• activating a splitting symbol feature to be applied to each of the one or more symbol positions of the subset of reels in response to determining the first occurrence of the splitting symbol displayed at the first symbol position on the first reel and in response to detecting one or more second occurrences of the splitting symbol at the one or more symbol positions of the subset of reels;
• in response to the activation of the splitting symbol feature, inserting an additional symbol into each of the one or more symbol positions on the subset of reels but not the first symbol position on the first reel, such that the first symbol position includes only the first occurrence of the splitting symbol, and such that each of the one or more symbol positions includes one of the one or more second occurrences of the splitting symbol and the additional symbol;
• and
• determining an award, if any, based at least in part on the first occurrence of the splitting symbol, the one or more second occurrences of the splitting symbol, and each additional symbol.

A gaming system comprising:

• a gaming machine comprising:
• a credit input mechanism operable to receive a credit input;
• and
• a display device defining a play area that displays a plurality of reels, each reel of the plurality of reels including a plurality of symbol positions;
• and
• a server coupled to the gaining machine, the server comprising a processor, the processor executing instructions stored on a memory which cause the processor to at least:
• initiate a spin of the plurality of reels in response to receiving a credit wager, the spin resulting in in a random selection of a subset of symbols displayed on the plurality of reels;
• detect each second occurrence of the splitting symbol displayed within one or more symbol positions of a subset of reels of the plurality of reels, wherein the subset of reels includes at least two reels of the plurality of reels and excludes the first reel of the plurality of reels and each reel of the subset of reels is positioned to the right of the first reel;
• activate a splitting symbol feature to be applied to each of the one or more symbol positions of the subset of reels in response to determining the first occurrence of the splitting symbol displayed at the first symbol position on the first reel and in response to detecting the one or more second occurrences of the splitting symbol at the one or more symbol positions of the subset of reels;
• in response to activation of the splitting symbol feature, insert an additional symbol into each of the one or more symbol positions on the subset of reels but not the first symbol position on the first reel, such that the first symbol position includes only the first occurrence of the splitting symbol, and such that each of the one or more symbol positions includes one of the one or more second occurrences of the splitting symbol and the additional symbol;
• and
• determine an award, if any, based at least in part on the first occurrence of the splitting symbol, the one or more second occurrences of the splitting symbol, and each additional symbol.