Linked game play on gaming machines

Abstract

Embodiments of the present concept provide gaming devices configured for linked game play. First and second gaming devices that are separately playable by first and second players are electronically linked so that a gaming event being played at the first gaming device may also be being played at the second gaming device. Also provided is a method of sharing game play across multiple gaming devices, where the method includes receiving a wager from a first player at a first gaming device, receiving a wager from a second player at a second gaming device, initiating a gaming event that is displayed at the first and second gaming devices, and awarding prizes associated with gaming outcomes displayed at the first and second gaming devices. These and other arrangements of the present concept may allow cooperative or competitive game play between the first and second player.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a first video poker gaming device, a first link token;   receiving, from a second video poker gaming device, a second link token;   linking, based on the first link token and the second link token, the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device; and   based on linking the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device, displaying an indicator configured to designate one of a first player at the first video poker gaming device or a second player at the second video poker gaming device to provide an option of switching a first dealt video poker hand with a second video poker hand dealt to the other one of the first player or the second player.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first link token comprises one or more of: a first identifier associated with a first user, a first user identification card, or a first credit card and wherein the second link token comprises one or more of: a second identifier associated with the a second user, a second user identification card or a second credit card. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device are via a network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein linking the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device comprises:
 determining a first identifier associated with the first video poker gaming device;   determining a second identifier associated with the second video poker gaming device; and   associating the first identifier and the second identifier.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, based on gameplay at one or more of the first video poker gaming device or the second video poker gaming device, a cashout event; and   causing an indication to be output on one or more of the first video poker gaming device or the second video poker gaming device, the indication configured to indicate the cashout event.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the first video poker gaming device, an opt-out indication; and   disassociating, based on the opt-out indication, the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the first video poker gaming device, an identifier associated with the second video poker gaming device; and   receiving, from the second video poker gaming device, an identifier associated with the first video poker gaming device.   
     
     
         8 . One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing processor executable instructions thereon, that when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 receive, from a first video poker gaming device, a first link token;   receive, from a second video poker gaming device, a second link token;   link, based on the first link token and the second link token, the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device;   based on linking the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device, display an indicator configured to designate one of a first player at the first video poker gaming device or a second player at the second video poker gaming device to provide an option of switching a first dealt video poker hand with a second video poker hand dealt to the other one of the first player or the second player.   
     
     
         9 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the first link token comprises one or more of: a first identifier associated with a first user, a first user identification card, or a first credit card and wherein the second link token comprises one or more of: a second identifier associated with the a second user, a second user identification card or a second credit card. 
     
     
         10 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device are via a network. 
     
     
         11 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the processor executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to link the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device, further cause the at least one processor to:
 determine a first identifier associated with the first video poker gaming device;   determine a second identifier associated with the second video poker gaming device; and   associate the first identifier and the second identifier.   
     
     
         12 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the processor executable instructions, that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 determine, based on gameplay at one or more of the first video poker gaming device or the second video poker gaming device, a cashout event; and   cause an indication to be output on one or more of the first video poker gaming device or the second video poker gaming device, the indication configured to indicate the cashout event.   
     
     
         13 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
 receive, from the first video poker gaming device, an opt-out indication; and   disassociate, based on the opt-out indication, the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device.   
     
     
         14 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
 receive, from the first video poker gaming device, an identifier associated with the second video poker gaming device; and   receive, from the second video poker gaming device, an identifier associated with the first video poker gaming device.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:   receive, from a first video poker gaming device, a first link token;   receive, from a second video poker gaming device, a second link token;   link, based on the first link token and the second link token, the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device;   based on linking the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device, display an indicator configured to designate one of a first player at the first video poker gaming device or a second player at the second video poker gaming device to provide an option of switching a first dealt video poker hand with a second video poker hand dealt to the other one of the first player or the second player.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first link token comprises one or more of: a first identifier associated with a first user, a first user identification card, or a first credit card and wherein the second link token comprises one or more of: a second identifier associated with the a second user, a second user identification card or a second credit card. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device are via a network. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the at one or more processors to link the first video poker gaming device and the second video poker gaming device, further cause the one or more processors to:
 determine a first identifier associated with the first video poker gaming device;   determine a second identifier associated with the second video poker gaming device; and   associate the first identifier and the second identifier.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 determine, based on gameplay at one or more of the first video poker gaming device or the second video poker gaming device, a cashout event; and   cause an indication to be output on one or more of the first video poker gaming device or the second video poker gaming device, the indication configured to indicate the cashout event.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 receive, from the first video poker gaming device, an identifier associated with the second video poker gaming device; and   receive, from the second video poker gaming device, an identifier associated with the first video poker gaming device.