Patent ID: 7828649

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including: a display device, an input device, a processor, and a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, wherein each gaming device is associated with a distinct accumulated bonus event pool which is based on the wagers placed at said gaming device during a designated period; and a controller configured to communicate with each of said gaming devices, wherein upon a triggering of a secondary event, the controller is programmed to: (a) designate one of the gaming devices as a triggering gaming device and designate each of the remaining gaming devices as auxiliary gaming devices; (b) determine a secondary event award, wherein the determined secondary event award is based, at least in part, on the wager placed at said triggering gaming device; (c) cause a first portion of the determined secondary event award to be provided to the player of the triggering gaming device; and (d) for each auxiliary gaming device: (i) determine a second portion, if any, of the determined secondary event award based on the accumulated bonus event pool for said auxiliary gaming device relative to the wagers placed for a plurality of said gaming devices during the designated period, such that if the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for a first auxiliary gaming device is different from the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for a second, different auxiliary gaming device, the determined second portion for the first auxiliary gaming device is different from the determined second portion for the second auxiliary gaming device; and (ii) cause said auxiliary gaming device to provide any determined second portion.