A gaming machine having a standard game play mode and a bonus feature play mode that include winning and non-winning reel set spins. The gaming machine includes a housing having a user interface and a display attached to the housing to enable games having standard and bonus game play modes. Standard game play mode displays a matrix of symbols including scatter symbols. The gaming machine evaluates scatter symbols in the matrix, whereby appearance of a predetermined number of scatter symbols in the matrix triggers bonus feature play mode and initializes a win chain counter. During bonus game play mode a winning reel set spin enables a new reel set spin while leaving the value of the win chain counter unchanged and a non-winning reel set spin decrements the win chain counter. When the win chain counter reaches a threshold value then bonus game play mode terminates.