Electronic gaming machine and gaming method

An electronic gaming machine comprising:

• a memory device adapted to store a plurality of instructions for playing a game and a plurality of game symbols for use in the game, the plurality of game symbols including a special symbol and a plurality of game symbol types, wherein the game symbol types includes picture symbols, wild symbols, and card symbols;
• a display adapted to display game symbols for playing a game, where predetermined winning combinations of randomly selected game symbols award prizes to a player and the plurality of game symbols are arranged in an array of predetermined groups such that one of the game symbols is displayed in each one of a plurality of visible symbol positions of each predetermined group;
• vending slots to receive physical monetary amounts inserted into the vending slots by a player;
• and
• an electronic game controller being adapted to execute the plurality of instructions:
• determine if an initial bet has been received using the vending slots to initiate play of the game,
• control the random selection and display of the plurality of the game symbols in the game on the display if the initial bet has been received,
• determine whether any predetermined winning combinations of game symbols are displayed in the game,
• if one of the predetermined winning combinations of game symbols is displayed, award one of the prizes to the player for the game,
• determine if a trigger event occurs, and when the trigger event occurs, present a first bonus play of the game and a second, subsequent bonus play of the game wherein each bonus play guarantees that at least two of the predetermined groups display the special symbol;
• wherein in the first bonus play, the electronic game controller executes the plurality of instructions to:
• select two or more first groups from the array of predetermined groups to each display the special symbol,
• for each first group, display the special symbol in at least one visible symbol position, wherein the special symbol displayed in the at least one visible symbol position of a first one of the two or more first groups is identical to the special symbol displayed in the at least one visible symbol position of the others of the two or more first groups,
• change each special symbol into a first game symbol type of the plurality of game symbol types so that each special symbol displayed in each of the first groups is replaced with the first game symbol type, wherein each of the first game symbol type is different from the special symbol and wherein each of the first game symbol type is identical to one another in each first group,
• determine whether the plurality of game symbols displayed in the first bonus play of the game cause any of the predetermined winning combinations to be displayed in the first bonus play of the game, and
• determine whether one of the predetermined winning combinations is displayed, award one of the prizes to the player for the first bonus play of the game, and
• wherein in the second, subsequent bonus play, the electronic game controller executes the plurality of instructions to:
• select two or more second groups from the array of predetermined groups to each display the special symbol, wherein at least one second group is different from the at least one of the two or more first groups of the array of predetermined groups,
• for each second group, display the special symbol in at least one visible symbol position, wherein the special symbol displayed in the at least one visible symbol position of a first one of the two or more second groups is identical to special symbol displayed in the at least one visible symbol position of the others of the two or more second groups,
• change each special symbol into a second game symbol type of the plurality of game symbol types so that each special symbol displayed in each of the second groups is replaced with the second game symbol type, wherein each of the second game symbol type is different from the special symbol and wherein each of the second game symbol type is identical to one another in each second group,
• determine whether the plurality of game symbols displayed in the subsequent bonus play of the game cause any of the predetermined winning combinations to be displayed in the second, subsequent bonus play of the game, and
• determine whether one of the predetermined winning combinations is displayed, award one of the prizes to the player for the second, subsequent bonus play of the game.