Gaming Device with Dynamically Awardable Prizes Based on Collective Position State of Symbols

A method of controlling a level of return-to-player in a gaming system including an end user device comprising a communication interface coupled to a server, a processor in data communication with a memory storing a plurality of reel strips associated a first symbol set and a second symbol set, the method comprising:

• controlling the end user device to initiate a game instance;
• accessing the memory for a threshold determined from a number of active symbol positions in a first column of display positions;
• activating on the end user device a first reel strip of the plurality of reel strips for use with the first column of display positions based on the threshold to control a probability of activation of a first background of a first symbol position in the first column of display positions when the first symbol set is selected for the first symbol position;
• transmitting data from the server via the communication interface indicative of a plurality of symbols selected from the first reel strip activated being animated in the first column of display positions on the end user device based on a random value obtained from a random number generator;
• in response to the first symbol position animating a first symbol from the first symbol set, activating on the end user device a background of the first symbol position and to retain the background activated for a subsequent game instance;
• and
• in response to a predetermined plurality of backgrounds in the first column of display positions having been activated, activating on the end user device a first award associated with the first column of display positions and the plurality of symbols displayed.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a plurality of reel strips associated a first symbol set and a second symbol set, and instructions, for controlling a level of return-to-player in a gaming system including an end user device comprising a communication interface coupled to a server, a processor in data communication with the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

• in response to a game instance having been initiated, retrieving data indicative of a threshold determined from a number of active symbol positions in a first column of display positions from the non-transitory computer-readable medium;
• controlling a probability of activation of a first background of a first symbol position in the first column of display positions when the first symbol set is selected for the first symbol position with a first reel strip of the plurality of reel strips based on the threshold;
• receiving data transmitted from the server via the communication interface indicative of a plurality of symbols selected from the first reel strip activated being animated on the first column of display positions on the end user device based on a random value obtained from a random number generator;
• in response to the first symbol position animating a first symbol from the first symbol set, controlling the end user device to activate a background of the first symbol position and to retain the background activated for a subsequent game instance;
• and
• in response to a predetermined plurality of backgrounds in the first column of display positions having been activated, controlling the end user device to activate a first award associated with the first column of display positions and the plurality of symbols displayed.