Patent ID: 8342955

Claim:
A bonus game controller for use with a first gaming machine and at least one second gaming machine in networked relationship with the bonus game controller, the bonus game controller comprising: a trigger determiner arranged to determine whether a primary bonus trigger signal has occurred at the first gaming machine, the bonus game controller being arranged to implement a first bonus game when the primary bonus trigger signal occurs; and a bonus prize allocator arranged to allocate a first bonus prize to the first gaming machine based on an outcome of the first bonus game; and wherein the trigger determiner is further arranged to determine whether one or more further bonus trigger signals have occurred at the first or the at least one second gaming machines, the bonus game controller being arranged to implement a respective further bonus game for each further bonus trigger signal that occurs within a predefined qualification period; and wherein the bonus prize allocator is further arranged to combine the first bonus prize with at least one further bonus prize and allocate the combined bonus prize to the first gaming machine, wherein each further bonus prize is based at least in part on a respective outcome of a further bonus game triggered by the first or second gaming machines within the predefined qualification period.