Gaming machine having compound win line

Claim 2

A gaming machine, comprising: a plurality of symbol-bearing reels; a game outcome display area; and a win line defining a single winning game outcome positioned on said display area relative to said reels so that when said reels are stationary, at least one symbol that forms a part of a winning game outcome from each reel is visually associated with said win line to indicate a winning game outcome, wherein said win line includes at least two indicating portions so that at least two symbols that form a part of a winning game outcome from one of said reels are visually associated with said win line to indicate the winning game outcome wherein the required number of symbols on said win line is at least one greater that the number of reels.

Claim 3

The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said win line includes at least three indicating portions, the first indicating portion associated with all of said reels, the second and third indicating portions each associated with less than all of said reels.

Claim 4

The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein said plurality of reels comprises at least three reels and said second and third indicating portions are each associated with only one of said reels.

Claim 5

The gaming machine of claim 3 having three reels arranged left, right and center, wherein said second and third indicating portions are each associated with said center reel.

Claim 6

The gaming machine of claim 4 wherein said three indicating portions are arranged upper, middle and lower, with said second indicating portion being upper, and said third indicating portion being lower.

Claim 7

The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein said plurality of reels comprises at least four reels, and said second and third indicating portions are each associated with only two of said reels.

Claim 8

A gaming machine, comprising: a win line having a plurality of indicating portions and defining a single winning game outcome; game display means for displaying a plurality of progressions of symbols along said win line indicating portions, wherein the combination of those symbols from each of the progressions which are visually associated with said win line define a displayed winning game outcome; and wherein at least two of said win line indicating portions are associated with the same one of the progressions of symbols, said at least two indicating portions being spaced apart to indicate at least two separate symbols of the progression, so that the displayed game outcome includes at least two symbols from the same progression, wherein the required number of symbols on said win line is at least one greater than the number progressions.

Claim 9

A gaming machine, comprising: a win line having a plurality of indicating portions and defining a single winning game outcome; game display means for displaying a plurality of progressions of symbols along said win line indicating portions, wherein the combination of those symbols from each of the progressions which are visually associated with said win line define a displayed winning game outcome; and wherein at least two of said win line indicating portions are associated with the same one of the progressions of symbols, said at least two indicating portions being spaced apart to indicate at least two separate symbols of the progression, so that the displayed game outcome includes at least two symbols from the same progression, wherein the required number of symbols on said win line is at least one greater than the number progressions.

Claim 10

The gaming machine of claim 7 wherein said game display means includes a plurality of symbol-bearing reels, and each of the progressions is the sequence of symbols displayed as a particular reel rotates.

Claim 11

The gaming machine of claim 8 wherein said win line includes at least three indicating portions, the first indicating portion associated with all of said reels, the second and third indicating portions each associated with less than all of said reels.

Claim 12

The gaming machine of claim 9 wherein said plurality of reels comprises at least three reels, and said second and third indicating portions are each associated with only one of said reels.

Claim 13

The gaming machine of claim 10 having three reels-arranged left, right and center, wherein said second and third indicating portions are each associated with said center reel.

Claim 14

The gaming machine of claim 7 wherein said game display means includes a video display which displays the progressions.

Claim 15

The gaming machine of claim 12 wherein the progressions are displayed as facsimiles of spinning reels.

Claim 16

The gaming machine of claim 7 wherein said win line includes at least three indicating portions, the first indicating portion associated with all of the progressions, the second and third indicating portions each associated with less than all of the progressions.

Claim 17

The gaming machine of claim 14 having at least three progressions, wherein said second and third indicating portion lines are each associated with only one progression.

Claim 18

The gaming machine of claim 15 having three progressions, which are arranged left, right and center, wherein said second and third indicating portions are each associated with the center progression.