Patent ID: 8231448

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming devices, each of said gaming devices including at least one input device and at least one display device configured to display a primary game operable upon a primary game wager; at least one processor; and at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the gaming devices to: (I) for each of the gaming devices, (a) enable a player to place the primary game wager at said gaming device to cause a play of the primary game; (b) enable said player to place a second additional wager at said gaming device to purchase a quantity of bonus opportunities, each of said bonus opportunities representing a possibility of participation in a group bonus event, said quantity of bonus opportunities being at least one; and (c) for each play of the primary game wagered on by said player, display a primary game outcome on the at least one display device of said gaming device and provide said player any awards associated with said primary game outcome; and (II) for each of a plurality of designated time intervals: (a) cause a shared random determination to occur independently of the plays of the primary game, said shared random determination also being distinct from the group bonus event, (b) determine a shared random determination outcome associated with said shared random determination, (c) if said shared random determination outcome includes a designated outcome: determine whether any of the players has at least one bonus opportunity, and (ii) if any of the players has at least one bonus opportunity: (A) enable each of said players having at least one bonus opportunity to participate in the group bonus event, (B) determine a group bonus event outcome, and (C) based on the group bonus event outcome, provide at least one bonus award to one or more of said players who participated in the group bonus event, said at least one bonus award being additional to any awards associated with the primary game outcomes, and (d) after the occurrence of the shared random determination, reduce each player's quantity of bonus opportunities by a designated number of bonus opportunities if said player had any bonus opportunities remaining upon said occurrence of the shared random determination.