Special symbol remains in position until used in a winning combination

1. A method performed by a gaming device, the gaming device comprising a processor executing instructions stored in memory, comprising:

emulating spinning and randomly stopping virtual reels to display symbols in a matrix of symbol positions;

granting any awards to a player based upon winning combinations of symbols displayed in the matrix, some of the symbols on the reels being special symbols;

if a special symbol is displayed in a position in the matrix, and the special symbol is not used in a winning combination of symbols, then, for a next game, holding the special symbol in its position in the matrix and spinning all reels to randomly display symbols in all positions in the matrix other than in the special symbol position, wherein the machine may continue to hold the special symbol for an unlimited number of games until used in a winning combination as long as an enabling condition is met;

if a special symbol is displayed in a position in the matrix, and the special symbol is used in a winning combination of symbols, then, for a next game, spinning all reels to randomly display symbols in all positions in the matrix; and

enhancing an award for a winning symbol combination containing one or more held special symbols when a certain condition occurs, wherein conducting multiple games while a special symbol is held without being used in a winning combination increases chances of the certain condition occurring.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the special symbol is a wild symbol.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the special symbol is a scatter symbol.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the certain condition comprises a symbol on a reel, after the reel is spun and stopped, at a first matrix position being another special symbol that aligns with a previously held special symbol at the first matrix position.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the certain condition comprises obtaining a winning combination of symbols that includes a special symbol that has been held for at least one spin of the reels.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the certain condition comprises obtaining a winning combination of symbols that includes a special symbol that has been held for at least two spins of the reels.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the certain condition comprises obtaining a winning combination of symbols that includes a special symbol that has been held for at least one spin of the reels, wherein a multiplier of an award for a winning combination of symbols including the special symbol depends on a number of games that the special symbol is held.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the certain condition comprises obtaining a winning combination of symbols that includes a plurality of special symbols.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the player placing a maximum bet to play a game, wherein the enabling condition for holding the special symbol in its position in the matrix until it is used in a winning symbol combination is if the player placed a maximum bet for at least the game in which the special symbol is displayed in the matrix.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the player placing an extra bet, in addition to a bet for spinning and randomly stopping the virtual reels, wherein the enabling condition for holding the special symbol in its position in the matrix until it is used in a winning symbol combination is if the player placed an extra bet for at least the game in which the special symbol is displayed in the matrix.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the enabling condition occurs automatically for every game.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the enabling condition is a triggering event based on a certain symbol combination occurring.

13. A method performed by a gaming device, the gaming device comprising a processor executing instructions stored in memory, comprising:

emulating spinning and randomly stopping virtual reels to display symbols in a matrix of symbol positions;

granting any awards to a player based upon winning combinations of symbols displayed in the matrix, some of the symbols on the reels being special symbols;

if a special symbol is displayed in a position in the matrix, and the special symbol is not used in a winning combination of symbols, then, for a next game, holding the special symbol in its position in the matrix and spinning all reels to randomly display symbols in all positions in the matrix other than in the special symbol position, wherein the machine may continue to hold the special symbol for an unlimited number of games until used in a winning combination as long as an enabling condition is met; and

if a special symbol is displayed in a position in the matrix, and the special symbol is used in a winning combination of symbols, then, for a next game, spinning all reels to randomly display symbols in all positions in the matrix.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the special symbol is a wild symbol.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the special symbol is a scatter symbol.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising enhancing an award for a winning combination of symbols including a held special symbol, wherein a level of enhancement increases as additional games are played while the special symbol is held before being used in a winning combination of symbols.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the player placing a maximum bet to play a game, wherein the enabling condition for holding the special symbol in its position in the array until it is used in a winning symbol combination is if the player placed a maximum bet for at least the game in which the special symbol is displayed in the matrix.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising the player placing an extra bet, in addition to a bet for spinning and randomly stopping the virtual reels, wherein the enabling condition for holding the special symbol in its position in the matrix until it is used in a winning symbol combination is if the player placed an extra bet for at least the game in which the special symbol is displayed in the matrix.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the enabling condition occurs automatically for every game.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the enabling condition is a triggering event based on a certain symbol combination occurring.

21. A gaming machine comprising:

a display device for displaying a game; and

at least one programmed processor for carrying out a game program and controlling the display, the processor carrying out the method comprising:

emulating spinning and randomly stopping virtual reels to display symbols in a matrix of symbol positions;

granting any awards to a player based upon winning combinations of symbols displayed in the matrix, some of the symbols on the reels being special symbols;

if a special symbol is displayed in a position in the matrix, and the special symbol is not used in a winning combination of symbols, then, for a next game, holding the special symbol in its position in the matrix and spinning all reels to randomly display symbols in all positions in the matrix other than in the special symbol position, wherein the machine may continue to hold the special symbol for an unlimited number of games until used in a winning combination as long as an enabling condition is met; and

if a special symbol is displayed in a position in the matrix, and the special symbol is used in a winning combination of symbols, then, for a next game, spinning all reels to randomly display symbols in all positions in the matrix.

22. The machine of claim 21 wherein the enabling condition for holding the special symbol in its position in the matrix until it is used in a winning symbol combination is if the player placed a maximum bet for at least the game in which the special symbol is displayed in the matrix.

23. The machine of claim 21 wherein the enabling condition for holding the special symbol in its position in the matrix until it is used in a winning symbol combination is if the player placed an extra bet for at least the game in which the special symbol is displayed in the matrix.