Gaming method for playing a slot game, and gaming apparatus for performing the gaming method

A gaming apparatus for playing a slot game, comprising:

• a display unit;
• a memory device storing program instructions for playing a slot game;
• and
• a processing unit coupled to said display unit and said memory device, and operable to execute the program instructions to perform a gaming method for playing the slot game, the gaming method including the steps of:
• a) randomly generating a first game symbol combination, a second game symbol combination, and a middle game symbol combination, and showing the first, second and middle game symbol combination on said display unit;
• b) determining whether at least one of the first and second game symbol combinations conforms with a predetermined winning condition;
• and
• c) when it is determined that at least one of the first and second game symbol combinations conforms with the predetermined winning condition,
• c1) determining whether one of the first and second game symbol combinations that conforms with the predetermined winning condition is associated with a bonus game symbol in the middle game symbol combination, and
• c2) when the determination made in sub-step c1) is affirmative, granting a bonus award according to the bonus game symbol and the predetermined winning condition.