US Patent 11972655 Electronic gaming device having expanding reel

A gaming device that incorporates an expanding mechanic on one reel of a slot-type game. The expanding reel is one example of an enhanced payout reel. Generally, although not necessarily, the expanding wild reel is a middle reel that is positioned between non-expanding slot reels. Typically, an equal number of non-expanding reels are positioned on either side of the expanding wild reel. In some embodiments, a pair of non-expanding reels may be positioned on either side of the expanding wild reel. Generally, each reel in a pair of non-expanding reels are identical. In other embodiments, multiple wild reels may be used with multiple non-expanding reels, such that the expanding reels are surrounded by, or next to, non-expanding reels.