Gaming machine and method including a multi-array persistent element bonus

A gaming machine comprising:

• a presentation assembly;
• a value input device configured to accept a physical item associated with a monetary value to establish a credit balance;
• a value output device configured to dispense a payout from the credit balance in response to a cashout input;
• and
• game-logic circuitry configured to perform the operations of:
• displaying, via the presentation assembly, a plurality of base game arrays, each base game array comprising a plurality of cells and a plurality of reels bearing a plurality of symbols;
• displaying, via the presentation assembly, a first plurality of persistent elements, each persistent element associated with a bonus enhancement;
• conducting a plurality of base game cycles, each base game cycle comprising:
• spinning and stopping the reels to newly land a symbol in the plurality of cells of the plurality of base game arrays;
• in response to an accumulation symbol landing in a cell, increasing a value associated with one of the first plurality persistent elements associated with the accumulation symbol;
• in response to a bonus game triggering event, conducting a bonus game, the bonus game comprising:
• activating at least one of the bonus enhancements;
• creating and displaying, via the presentation assembly, an initial bonus array, the initial bonus array comprising a plurality of bonus reels;
• for a plurality of bonus game cycles:
• spinning and stopping the bonus reels to create a bonus spin outcome;
• applying the at least one activated bonus enhancement to the bonus spin outcome;
• in response to the bonus game outcome comprising an array triggering event, cloning the original bonus array to create an additional displayed bonus array that adds additional bonus reels to the plurality of bonus reels;
• and
• in response to a bonus game termination event, ending the bonus game.