Patent ID: 8246436

Claim:
A method for presenting a bonus game to two or more gaming devices connected to a network of gaming devices, each gaming device comprising a processor and player controls operatively connected to the processor, the method comprising: receiving at least one wager via the player controls of a first gaming device in the network; receiving at least one wager via the player controls of a second gaming device in the network; sending a message to the second gaming device by way of the network that a 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 the processor of the first gaming device, wherein the first gaming device funds and manages the first bonus game; receiving a response to the message from the second gaming device that the second gaming device is initiating a second bonus game under control of the processor of the second gaming device, wherein the second gaming device funds and manages the second bonus game; and coordinating a start of the first bonus game and a start of the second bonus game by way of network messages to create a visual 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; presenting the first bonus game on the first gaming device; and presenting the second bonus game on the second gaming device.