Method and system for cascading symbol games

A gaming system comprising:

• a. at least one input device;
• b. at least one display device;
• and
• c. at least one processor which is configured to:
• i. receive a request, via the input device, from a user to play a first game;
• ii. in response to the request, display, on the display device, one of a plurality of symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions, wherein the plurality of symbol display positions form at least three columns and at least three rows including a first row, a second row positions adjacent to the first row, and a third row positioned adjacent to the second row;
• iii. in response to the request, display a plurality of trigger symbols, visually located in an area separate from the plurality of symbols at each of the plurality of symbol display positions;
• iv. in response to the request, designate at least one first symbol as a trigger symbol;
• v. determine if any of the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations;
• vi. if the displayed symbols form at least one winning symbol combination, display one of a plurality of awards for each displayed winning symbol combination;
• vii. determine if any winning symbol combination corresponds with at least one designated trigger symbol;
• viii. if at least one winning symbol combination corresponds with at least one designated trigger symbol, remove at least one symbol which does not correspond with the designated trigger symbol from the plurality of symbol display positions;
• ix. for each of any symbols removed from the first row of the symbol display positions, reposition at least one of the remaining displayed symbols to at least another one of the symbol display positions to create at least one empty symbol display position;
• x. for each of any symbols removed from the second row of the symbol display positions, reposition at least one of the remaining displayed symbols to at least another one of the symbol display positions to create at least one empty symbol display position;
• xi. determine if any of the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations;
• xii. if the displayed symbols form at least one winning symbol combination, display one of a plurality of awards for each displayed winning symbol combination;
• xiii. remove the designation of the at least one first symbol as a trigger symbol and designate a different symbol as a trigger symbol;
• xiv. if any empty symbol display positions remain, display one of a plurality of symbols at each of the empty symbol display positions;
• and
• xv. repeat steps (iv) through (xiii).

A gaming system comprising:

• a. at least one input device;
• b. at least one display device;
• and
• c. at least one processor which is configured to:
• i. receive a request, via the input device, from a user to play a first game;
• ii. in response to the request, designate a first symbol as a trigger symbol;
• iii. in response to the request, display, on the display device, one of a plurality of symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions, wherein the plurality of symbol display positions form at least three columns and at least three rows including a first row, a second row positions adjacent to the first row, and a third row positioned adjacent to the second row;
• iv. determine if any of the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations;
• v. if the displayed symbols form at least one winning symbol combination, display one of a plurality of awards for each displayed winning symbol combination;
• vi. determine if any winning symbol combination corresponds with at least one designated trigger symbol;
• vii. if at least one winning symbol combination corresponds with at least one designated trigger symbol, remove at least one symbol which does not correspond with the designated trigger symbol from the plurality of symbol display positions;
• viii. for each symbol removed from the first row of the symbol display positions, reposition at least one of the remaining displayed symbols to an empty symbol display position on the first row to create at least one empty symbol display position in the second or third row;
• ix. for each symbol removed from the second row of the symbol display positions, reposition at least one of the remaining displayed symbols in the third row to any empty symbol display position on the second row to create at least one empty symbol display position in the third row;
• x. if any empty symbol display positions remain, display one of a plurality of symbols at each of the empty symbol display positions;
• xi. determine if any of the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations;
• xii. if the displayed symbols form at least one winning symbol combination, display one of a plurality of awards for each displayed winning symbol combination;
• xiii. designate an additional different symbol as a trigger symbol;
• and
• xiv. repeat steps (iv) through (xiii).