A gaming system and method which displays a plurality of symbol displays having symbol sets distributed about circumferential paths thereof. The gaming system enables the player to select one or more directions of spin or circumferential paths for the symbol displays, and then spins the symbol displays in the selected direction(s) or along the selected circumferential paths. After the gaming system stops the spinning, each symbol display displays at least one randomly generated symbol of the symbol set extending along the circumferential path of that symbol display which corresponds to the direction of spin of that symbol display. The gaming system evaluates the displayed symbols for any winning combinations. The gaming system provides the player any awards associated with the displayed winning combinations.