Patent ID: 7500915

Claim:
A gaming apparatus operable under control of a processor, said gaming apparatus comprising: a primary wagering game operable upon a wager by a player; a plurality of outcomes associated with the primary wagering game, said plurality of outcomes including a plurality of winning outcomes and a plurality of losing outcomes; a plurality of award amounts associated with the plurality of winning outcomes; a threshold award amount, said threshold award amount being greater than zero; and a display device adapted to display said primary game; wherein the processor is programmed to operate with said display device to control a play of the primary wagering game by: (a) displaying one of the outcomes associated with the primary wagering game; and (b) if the displayed outcome is a designated one of the winning outcomes: (i) communicating data to a network computer, wherein said communicated data is based on the award amount associated with the displayed designated winning outcome; (ii) receiving data from the network computer, wherein said received data is based on if the award amount associated with the displayed designated winning outcome is at least equal to the threshold award amount; (iii) if the received data from the network computer indicates that the award amount associated with the displayed designated winning outcome is at least equal to the threshold award amounts, providing the player at least part, but not all of the award amount associated with the displayed designated winning outcome, wherein the network computer identifies at least another gaming apparatus which will provide at least part, but not all of the award amount associated with the displayed designated winning outcome and the network computer displays a shared award message to a player at said identified gaming apparatus; and (iv) if the received data from the network computer indicates that the award amount associated with the displayed designated winning outcome is less than the threshold award amount, providing the player the award amount associated with the displayed designated winning outcome.