Wagering game with positional feedback for mechanical reels

A method of verifying proper reel strip usage in an electronic gaming machine (“EGM”), the method comprising:

• storing game software on a memory of the EGM that is executable by one or more processors of the EGM to play a wagering game on the EGM, the game software being associated with a first plurality of symbols;
• providing a strip of symbols on each one of a plurality of reel cages in the EGM for use in playing the wagering game, thereby forming a plurality of symbol bearing reels;
• spinning, using one or more motors of the EGM, the plurality of symbol bearing reels under the control of at least one of the one or more processors of the EGM;
• monitoring, during the spinning, using one or more video cameras of the EGM, the plurality of symbol bearing reels;
• in response to the monitoring, generating image data associated with each of the symbol bearing reels;
• comparing, using at least one of the one or more processors of the EGM, the generated image data associated with each of the symbol bearing reels with the first plurality of symbols associated with the game software stored on the memory of the EGM;
• and
• based on the comparing, verifying if the provided strip of symbols on each one of the reel cages corresponds with the first plurality of symbols associated with the game software.

A gaming system for conducting a wagering game, the gaming system comprising:

• one or more symbol bearing reels;
• one or more motors;
• one or more video cameras;
• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to:
• receive, via an input device of the gaming system, a wager to conduct the wagering game;
• spin the one or more symbol bearing reels using the one or more motors;
• during the spinning, monitor the symbols on a first one of the symbol bearing reels using the one or more video cameras to generate image data associated with the symbols on the first symbol bearing reel;
• compare the generated image data associated with the symbols on the first symbol bearing reel with master image data associated with the wagering game;
• and
• based on the comparing, determine if the symbols on the first symbol bearing reel are associated with the wagering game being conducted on the gaming system.