Gaming System and Method for Providing A Shared Win Award

Abstract

A gaming system having a plurality of game devices, a game controller and a shared experience controller and a method for operation thereof is disclosed. Each game device allows a player to make a wager on a game and awards the respective player an award as a function as a result of a winning condition for the game played by the respective player. The game controller is coupled to the game devices for playing the game, randomly establishing the actual outcome of the game, and determining if any of the players have a winning condition. The shared experience controller is coupled to the game devices for recognizing a winning condition for one of the players and responsively providing an extra predetermined award to one or more of the other players.

1 . A gaming system, comprising: 
 a plurality of game devices, each game device for allowing a player to make a wager on a game and for awarding the respective player an award as a function as a result of a winning condition for the game played by the respective player;    a game controller coupled to the game devices for playing the game, randomly establishing the actual outcome of the game, and determining if any of the players have a winning condition;    a shared experience controller coupled to the game devices for recognizing a winning condition for one of the players and responsively providing an extra award to one or more of the other players, where the extra award is a predetermined amount.    
   
   
       2 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of game devices are grouped into subgroups, the shared experience controller for awarding the extra award to all players playing a game device within the same subgroup as the one player with a winning condition.  
   
   
       3 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the subgroups are fixed.  
   
   
       4 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the subgroups are dynamically determined.  
   
   
       5 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the players are grouped into teams, the shared experience controller for awarding the extra award to all players within the same team as the one player with a winning condition.  
   
   
       6 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 5 , the shared experience controller for automatically assigning a player to one of the teams.  
   
   
       7 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 5 , the shared experience controller for allowing a player to elect one of the teams to join.  
   
   
       8 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each game device includes a gaming controller.  
   
   
       9 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each game device includes a device controller, the game controller being located at a central location and coupled to each device controller, the device controller for controlling operation of the respective game device and for managing communications between the respective game device and the game controller.  
   
   
       10 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the game is a bingo game.  
   
   
       11 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each game device includes a signaling device for providing a visual indication of the winning condition and/or provision of the extra award.  
   
   
       12 . A method for providing a shared experience for players of a plurality of game devices, each game device for allowing a player to make a wager on a game, the method comprising the steps of: 
 playing a game and establishing an actual outcome of the game;    determining if one of the players has a winning condition as a function of the actual outcome;    awarding a main award to the one of the players if the winning condition is met; and    recognizing the winning condition for one of the players and responsively providing an extra award to one or more of the other players, where the extra award is a predetermined amount.    
   
   
       13 . A method, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of game devices are grouped into subgroups, wherein the step of responsively providing an extra award includes the step of awarding the extra award to all players playing a game device within the same subgroup as the one player with a winning condition.  
   
   
       14 . A method, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the subgroups are fixed.  
   
   
       15 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the subgroups are dynamically determined.  
   
   
       16 . A method, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the players are grouped into teams, wherein the step of responsively providing an extra award includes the step of awarding the extra award to all players within the same team as the one player with a winning condition.  
   
   
       17 . A method, as set forth in  claim 16 , including the step of automatically assigning a player to one of the teams.  
   
   
       18 . A method, as set forth in  claim 16 , including the step of allowing a player to elect one of the teams to join.  
   
   
       19 . A gaming system for a plurality of players, comprising: 
 a plurality of game devices for allowing the players to make a wager on a game and for awarding the respective player an award as a function as a result of a winning condition for the game played by the respective player;    a game controller coupled to the game devices for playing the game, randomly establishing the actual outcome of the game, and determining if any of the players have a winning condition;    a shared experience controller coupled to the game devices establishing for at least two teams, each team including at least two players and for recognizing the winning condition for one of the players on a first one of the teams and responsively providing an extra award to the other players on the first one of the teams, where the extra award is a predetermined amount.    
   
   
       20 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 19 , the shared experience controller for automatically assigning a player to one of the teams.  
   
   
       21 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 19 , the shared experience controller for allowing a player to elect one of the teams to join.  
   
   
       22 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein each game device includes a gaming controller.  
   
   
       23 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein each game device includes a device controller, the game controller being located at a central location and coupled to each device controller, the device controller for controlling operation of the respective game device and for managing communications between the respective game device and the game controller.  
   
   
       24 . A gaming system, as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the game is a bingo game.  
   
   
       25 . A method for providing a shared experience for players of a plurality of game devices, each game device for allowing a player to make a wager on a game, the method comprising the steps of: 
 establishing at least two teams, each team including at least two players;    playing a game and establishing an actual outcome of the game;    determining if one of the players has a winning condition as a function of the actual outcome;    awarding a main award to the one of the players if the winning condition is met; and,    recognizing the winning condition for one of the players on a first one of the teams and responsively providing an extra award to the other players on the first one of the teams, where the extra award is a predetermined amount    
   
   
       26 . A method, as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the step of establishing at least two teams includes the step of automatically assigning a player to one of the teams.  
   
   
       27 . A method, as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the step of establishing at least two teams includes the step of allowing a player to elect one of the teams to join.