Patent ID: 7980945

Claim:
A method of awarding jackpots in a networked gaming system that includes a plurality of gaming machines, the method comprising the steps of: funding a first and a second jackpot; establishing a network of five groups of five gaming machines of the plurality of gaming machines, each of the gaming machines having a first video display and a second video display; providing a separate five-reel primary game of chance on each of the five gaming machines, each separate five-reel primary game of chance being displayed on the first video display of one of the five gaming machines across a primary payline; providing a five-reel secondary game of chance that provides, across a secondary payline, an outcome symbol combination that is independent of an outcome symbol combination of each of the separate five-reel primary games of chance on each of the five gaming machines, each one of the five reels of the secondary game having symbols displayed on the second video display of a selected one of the five gaming machines; rewarding at least one participating player of the five gaming machines all or part of the first jackpot when predetermined, reward-generating symbol combinations occur on a secondary payline collectively formed across the reels displayed on the five second video displays subsequent to an outcome of the secondary game of chance; providing a five-reel tertiary game of chance that is configured to generate a tertiary payline that is collectively formed by one symbol from the secondary payline of each group of five gaming machines; awarding at least one participating player of all or part of the second jackpot when predetermined, reward-generating symbol combinations occur on the tertiary payline subsequent to an outcome of the tertiary game of chance.