Patent ID: 8535139

Claim:
A system for presenting a bonus game comprising: two or more gaming devices, each of the two or more gaming devices comprising a processor and player controls operatively connected to the processor; and a network connecting the two or more gaming devices; wherein: a first gaming device of the two or more gaming devices receives at least one wager via the player controls of the first gaming device; a second gaming device of the two or more gaming devices receives at least one wager via the player controls of the second gaming device; and upon occurrence of a triggering event on the first gaming device, the first gaming device transmits a first message to the second gaming device by way of the network that the triggering event has occurred on the first gaming device and that the first gaming device is initiating play of a first bonus game under control of its processor, wherein the first gaming device funds and manages the first bonus game; and upon receipt of the first message, the second gaming device transmits a second message to the first gaming device by way of the network that the second gaming device is initiating play of a second bonus game under control of its processor, wherein the second gaming device funds and manages the second bonus game; and wherein the first message and the second message coordinate at least in part a start of the first bonus game and a start of the second bonus game to create an illusion that the first and second bonus games are part of a single bonus game common to the first gaming device and the second gaming device.