Patent ID: 8562423

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including: at least one input device; at least one display device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to control a play of a primary wagering game by: (a) randomly determining and displaying one of a plurality of outcomes of the primary wagering game, wherein a plurality of awards are associated with the plurality of outcomes of the primary wagering game, (b) if a designated one of the outcomes of the primary wagering game is displayed and a value of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is at least equal to a threshold value greater than zero, displaying and providing to a player of said gaming machine a first part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome, wherein said first part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is less than the entire award associated with the displayed designated outcome, and (c) if the designated one of the outcomes of the primary wagering game is displayed and the value of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is less than the threshold value, displaying and providing the award associated with the displayed designated outcome to the player of said gaming machine; and at least one controller configured to communicate with said gaming machines, wherein if the value of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome for at least a first one of said gaming machines is at least equal to the threshold value, the at least one controller is programmed to cause at least another one of said gaming machines to display and provide to a player of said other gaming machine a second part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome, wherein said second part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is less than the entire award associated with the displayed designated outcome.