Electronic gaming machine and method for adding one or more rows of symbol positions to an array of symbol positions in an electronic wagering game

A method of electronic gaming implemented on an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising:

• controlling, by a processor of the electronic gaming machine, a display device of the electronic gaming machine to display an initial arrangement of symbol positions, the initial arrangement of symbol positions including a plurality of rows of symbol positions;
• populating, by the processor, each symbol position in the initial arrangement of symbol positions with a first plurality of symbols;
• evaluating, by the processor, the first plurality of symbols displayed in the initial arrangement of symbol positions to determine whether to provide a first game award;
• adding, by the processor and in response to a first designated symbol being populated in the first symbol position, a new row of symbol positions to the initial arrangement of symbol positions;
• and
• populating, by the processor, each symbol position of the new row of symbol positions with a second plurality of symbols.

An electronic gaming machine comprising:

• a display device;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to at least:
• control the display device to simulate spinning and stopping of a plurality of reels to display a first plurality of symbols in an array of symbol positions, the array of symbol positions including a plurality of rows;
• evaluate the first plurality of symbols to determine whether a first designated symbol is displayed in the array of symbol positions;
• expand, in response to determining that the first designated symbol is displayed, the array of symbol positions by adding a new row of symbol positions to the array of symbol positions;
• and
• control the display device to simulate spinning and stopping of the plurality of reels to display a second plurality of symbols in each remaining symbol position of the expanded array of symbol positions except the symbol position of the first designated symbol.