A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. The game controller causes a special symbol to be displayed on the display, the special symbol, when a payline passes through that special symbol, causing the payline to split into a main payline and at least one branch payline.