A gaming machine identifies a first pattern within a first play area including a plurality of first positions arranged in a plurality of first columns, determines whether the first pattern satisfies a predetermined first threshold based on a first position and a first symbol, identifies a second position associated with the first symbol in a second play area including a plurality of second positions arranged in a plurality of second columns, and associates the second position with a second symbol. Each first position is associated with a respective symbol of a plurality of symbols including the first symbol and the second symbol. The first pattern is associated with the first position. The first position is associated with the first symbol. Each second position is associated with a respective symbol of the plurality of symbols.