Patent ID: 8262456

Claim:
A gaming system for playing a community wagering game comprising: a plurality of linked gaming machines being operable to receive wagers from players, each linked gaming machine including a display for displaying a base wagering game having a plurality of symbols; and a community display for displaying a community bonus game, the community display in communication with the linked gaming machines; wherein upon the occurrence of a special event at any one of the plurality of linked gaming machines, each player at an eligible linked gaming machine being allowed to participate in the community bonus game, the community bonus game including a free spin feature for awarding a community free spin award to all players at the eligible linked gaming machines, the community free spin award including a number of free spins; wherein once the free spin feature is triggered, at least one of the players at the eligible linked gaming machines is randomly selected to interact with the free spin feature of the community bonus game by activating a player-input device on the individual gaming machine to determine the community free spin award to all players at the eligible linked gaming machines.