AU2016201752B2 - A gaming system and a method of gaming - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming devices, the gaming devices interconnected within the gaming system 5 in such a manner that when a first award is made in respect of one of the gaming devices, the gaming system conducts an independent determination for each eligible gaming device of the one or more other gaming devices of the plurality of gaming devices to determine whether to 10 provide a corresponding award to one or more eligible gaming devices. 75417291 (GHMatters) P79643.AU.3 DEBORAM 18/03/16 0) 0) 0)0)) w E~ E0 0 CD0 )C)m EE( (D0wc 0 (D0 E-c (9(D) 0 C) 0 '40-) 0)Y a)) a) ) )0 2 c) E~ S (9 (D a) DcD EE 0a) 0:) ca~ .2 (D 0 0 0 U) U) C a) - Y -o 0 C1 E E E c <~

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming system and a method of gaming.

Background

In some gaming systems, a player of an individual gaming machine can qualify to play a bonus game conducted by another gaming apparatus. For example, a particular gaming outcome may entitle the player to the bonus game.

In other gaming systems a plurality of players may qualify to play a bonus game where players compete against one another, with one or more players receiving an award based on their placing in the bonus game.

While such gaming systems provide players with enjoyment, a need exists for alternative gaming systems in order to maintain or increase player enjoyment.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect, the invention provides a gaming system 35 comprising:

a linked game controller; and a plurality of gaming devices, each of the plurality of gaming devices in data communication with the linked game controller and configured to conduct a qualifying

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2016201752 17 Jan 2018 game, the linked game controller configured to, when a first award is made in respect a first gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices, identify second gaming devices of the plurality of gaming devices that are eligible devices for the qualifying game based on communications with the plurality of gaming devices, the linked game controller further configured to:

determine which of the second gaming devices are to participate in a respective qualifying game so as to cause io an average portion of the second gaming devices to participate in the qualifying game, and communicate with each participating second device to indicate that it is to participate in the qualifying game, and wherein each of the plurality of gaming devices 15 is configured to respond to a communication from the linked game controller that indicates that the respective gaming device is to participate by conducting a respective qualifying game independently of any qualifying game conducted in respect of any other gaming device, and to determine, based on the outcome of the respective qualifying game, whether to provide a corresponding award at the respective gaming device.

In an embodiment, the corresponding award is equivalent to the first award.

In an embodiment, the first award is an award of a number of free game events.

In an embodiment, the linked game controller determines every active gaming device of the plurality of other gaming devices to be eligible.

In an embodiment, the linked game controller determines a gaming device of the plurality of other gaming devices to be eligible if a designated wager has been placed within a defined period.

In an embodiment, the linked game controller comprises a

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2016201752 17 Jan 2018 participation module which determines eligibility and participation.

In an embodiment, each participating gaming device 5 conducts the qualifying game by using a feature game generator to generate a feature game outcome and a feature game outcome evaluator to evaluate the feature game to determine whether to make the corresponding award.

io In a second aspect, the invention provides a method in a gaming system comprising a linked game controller and a plurality of gaming devices in data communication with the linked game controller and configured to conduct a qualifying game, the method comprising:

responsive to making a first award in respect of a first gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices, identifying, with the linked game controller, second gaming devices of the plurality of gaming devices that are eligible devices for the qualifying game based on communications between the linked game controller and the plurality of gaming devices;

determining, with the linked game controller, which of the second gaming devices are to participate in a respective qualifying game so as to cause an average portion of the second gaming devices to participate in the qualifying game, and communicating, by the linked controller, with each participating second device to indicate that the respective gaming device is to participate in the qualifying game, conducting a respective qualifying game at each of the participating gaming devices independently of any qualifying game conducted in respect of any other gaming device, to determine, based on the outcome of the qualifying game, whether to provide a corresponding award at the respective gaming device.

In an embodiment, the corresponding award is equivalent to the first award.

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In an embodiment, the first award is an award of a number of free game events.

In an embodiment, the method comprises determining whether a respective gaming device is eligible comprises determining whether it is active.

In an embodiment, the method comprises determining whether io a respective gaming device is eligible comprises determining whether a designated wager has been placed.

In a third aspect, the invention provides computer program code which when executed implements the above method.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a computer readable storage medium comprising the program code.

Brief Description of Drawings

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a gaming system with a linked game controller;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a stand alone gaming machine;

Figure 3 is a block diagram of the functional components of a gaming machine;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the functional 35 components of a memory;

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a network gaming system;

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Figure 6 is a block diagram of a linked game controller;

Figure 7 is a functional block diagram of a linked game controller;

Figure 8 is a flow chart of an embodiment; and

Figure 9 is a functional block diagram of a gaming device in the form of a standalone gaming machine.

Detailed Description

Overview of exemplary gaming system

Figure 1 shows an exemplary gaming system 1 where a linked game controller 150 is in data communication over a network 2, such as an Ethernet, with a bank of five gaming devices in the form of standalone gaming machines 10. When a first award is made in respect of one of the gaming machines, for example an award of 10 free games at the gaming device, the gaming system determines whether to make a corresponding award, for example, an award of 10 free games, in respect of the other gaming devices. In an embodiment, the linked game controller 150 determines for each eligible gaming device whether a qualifying game should be awarded and the qualifying game is conducted to determine whether to make the award. In an embodiment, the qualifying game is conducted at the gaming device.

Gaming devices

Gaming devices capable of participating in the gaming system and method of gaming of the embodiment can take any suitable form including stand alone gaming machines and server based gaming terminals.

A gaming device in the form of a stand alone gaming

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2016201752 17 Jan 2018 machine 10 is illustrated in Figure 2. The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12 having a display 14 on which are displayed representations of a game 16 that can be played by a player. A mid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 houses a bank of buttons 22 for enabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during game play. The mid-trim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 which in this example includes a coin input chute 24A and a bill collector 24B. Other credit input io mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card. Other gaming machines may be configured for ticket in that they have a ticket reader for reading tickets having a value and crediting the player based on the face value of the ticker. A player marketing module (not shown) having a reading device may also be provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. The player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device. In some embodiments, the player marketing module may provide an additional credit mechanism, either by transferring credits to the gaming machine from credits stored on the player tracking device or by transferring credits from a player account in data communication with the player marketing module.

A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a front panel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the front panel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.

The display 14 shown in Figure 2 is in the form of a video display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen

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2016201752 17 Jan 2018 device. Alternatively, the display 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an electromechanical device. The top box 26 may also include 5 a display, for example a video display unit, which may be of the same type as the display 14, or of a different type.

Figure 3 shows a block diagram of operative components of io a typical gaming machine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine of Figure 2.

The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor 102 mounted on a circuit board.

Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with the processor 102. Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include both volatile and nonvolatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory 103.

The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and data for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor 102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.

In the example shown in Figure 3, a player interface 120 includes peripheral devices that communicate with the game

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2016201752 17 Jan 2018 controller 101 including one or more displays 106, a touch screen and/or buttons 107 (which provide a game play mechanism), a card and/or ticket reader 108, a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and a coin output mechanism 111. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine 100, or hardware may be omitted as required for the specific implementation. For example, while buttons or touch screens are typically used in gaming machines to allow a io player to place a wager and initiate a play of a game any input device that enables the player to input game play instructions may be used.

In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a bonus controller, central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the bonus controller, central controller, server or database. In embodiments employing a player marketing module, communications over a network may be via player marketing module - i.e. the player marketing module may be in data communication with one or more of the above devices and communicate with it on behalf of the gaming machine.

Figure 4 shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplary memory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 103A, EPROM 103B and a mass storage device 103C. The RAM

103A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by the processor 102 and related data. The EPROM 103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM 103B or elsewhere.

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It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine 100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices 106,107,108,109,110,111 to be provided remotely from the game controller 101.

In a client server architecture a gaming device is provided by a gaming client and game server (and optionally other gaming network components). A gaming io client has a similar outward appearance to gaming machine 10 but the game server implements most or all of the game and as such acts as the game controller while the terminal operated by the player essentially provides only the player interface. The gaming terminal receives player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. Further details of a client/server gaming architecture can be found in WO 2006/052213 and PCT/SE2006/000559, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. In such an embodiment, a linked game controller can be provided, for example, by a dedicated server in data communication with the game server.

Figure 5 shows that a gaming device may be connected within a gaming network 200 which provides additional and/or enhanced functionality. The gaming network 200 includes a network 201, which for example may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines 202, shown arranged in three banks 203 of two gaming machines 202 in Figure 5, are connected to the network 201. The gaming machines 202 provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming machines 10,100 shown in Figures 2 and 3. While banks 203 of two gaming machines are illustrated in Figure

5, banks of one, three or more gaming machines are also envisaged.

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One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. For example, the displays 204 may be associated with one or more banks 203 of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be used to display representations associated with game play on the gaming machines 202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material.

A linked game controller can be provided within such a io network 200 by linked game server 205, such that the linked game server may implement a linked game for a plurality of different banks of gaming machines rather than a specific controller being provide for each bank of gaming machines .

A database management server 206 may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices 202 in a database 206A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server 207 will be provided to perform accounting functions for the Jackpot game. A loyalty program server 212 may also be provided.

Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of the gaming network 200, including for example a gaming floor management server 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal

210 is provided to allow an administrator to run the network 201 and the devices connected to the network.

The gaming network 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall 211.

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Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers. For example, elements may be run as a single engine on one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the game server 205 could run a random generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art io will appreciate that a plurality of game servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games as required by the terminals .

Further detail of gaming system

Figure 9 is a functional block diagram of a gaming device 900 in the form of a stand alone gaming machine. The gaming device 900 may be the same or different to gaming machine 10,100 described above. In Figure 9, the processor 930 of game controller 920 is shown implementing a number of modules based on program code and data stored in memory 940. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that various of the modules 931,932,933,934 could be implemented in some other way, for example as hardware by a dedicated circuit. In one embodiment, at least one embodiment at least one module is implemented as hardware.

The gaming device 900 includes a player interface 910 having a display 911 for displaying game outcomes to a player and a game play mechanism 912 including input devices such as touch screen or buttons to enable the player to interact with the game by placing wagers and entering any other instructions required to play the game.

Game play mechanism 912 also enables the player to interact with the gaming device to learn game rules etc. The player interface 910 includes a credit mechanism 913

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2016201752 17 Jan 2018 allowing the player to input credit into the gaming device 900 and/or be paid out any winnings or remaining credit i.e. the credit balance will be changed by playing of the game. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that other components will be present in a gaming device 900 such as those described in relation to Figures 2 to 4 above. The memory 940 includes program code for implementing a game including base game rule data 941 for implementing the rules of a base game.

The processor 930 when executing the program code stored in memory 940 is arranged to generate outcomes of the game in response to the operation of the game play mechanism 912. The outcomes are generated with the outcome generator 931. The outcome evaluator 932 evaluates the game outcomes that are generated based on the game rules (as described further below) and the wager specified with the game play mechanism 912 and updates meter data 942 which stores a credit meter and a win meter for the game.

That is, placing a wager deducts credits from the credit meter, any winnings are cumulatively added to the win meter during a play of the game. At the end of a play of the game, any winnings are transferred from the win meter to the credit meter. The processor 930 also implements a communication module 933 which is intended to communicate by communication interface 950 with the linked game controller.

In the embodiment, when the player initially operates the game play mechanism 912 the outcome generator 931 operates as a base game generator 931C to generate an outcome based on base game rules 941 and values obtained from random number generator 934 which is then evaluated by outcome evaluator 932 (which will effectively be a base game evaluator 932B). In the embodiment, the outcome evaluator 932 has a trigger monitor 932A arranged to determine whether a feature game trigger rule 943 has been satisfied

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2016201752 17 Jan 2018 such that an award is made to the player of a feature game, which may be a number of free game outcomes, a second screen feature, a re-spin feature or some other feature game known in the art. In the embodiment, the trigger monitor 932A then causes outcome generator to act as a feature game generator 931B to carry out the feature game based on feature game data 944 and generate one or more feature game outcomes evaluated by outcome evaluator 932 (which will effectively be a feature game evaluator

932C). In addition, trigger monitor advises communication module 933 that an award has been which communicates via communication interface with the linked game controller 150.

Linked game controller and its operation

Referring to Figure 6 there is shown further detail of the link game controller 150. From Figure 6 it will be apparent that link game controller 150 is in data communication with a communal display 160 on which game outcomes can be displayed to the players playing the bank of gaming machines 10 shown in Figure 1. In other embodiments, the gaming outcomes could be displayed on a top box of the individual gaming machines 10, rather than being displayed on a communal display, or in addition to such a communal display.

Referring to Figure 6, the constitution of the linked game controller 150 is similar to that of the gaming device illustrated in relation to Figures 2 to 4 and 9 in that it has a processor 151 arranged to implement the linked game based on program code stored in memory 152 and a display driver 154 for driving the display 160 to show the linked game outcome. The linked game controller 150 also includes a communication interface 153 which is designed to enable the processor 151 to communicate with each of the gaming devices 10.

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Persons skilled in the art will appreciate the above components are the core components for implementing a linked game but other components may be present in a linked game controller. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the implementation of the linked game controller is analogous to the implementation of bonus controllers in existing gaming systems and reference may be made to such bonus controllers for further details of implementation. While the linked game controller 150 is shown in Figure 1 as a separate entity to the gaming devices 10, on an alternative embodiment, it could be provided by one of the gaming machines incorporating a server module arranged to implement the linked game controller in the manner described in Australian patent application 2008205413 filed 13 August 2008.

Figure 7 is a functional block diagram of the linked game controller 150 which shows that the processor 151 implements a number of modules in a similar manner to the processor of the gaming device shown in Figure 9. AS above, in one embodiment, at least one module 703,704,705 is implemented by a dedicated circuit - e.g. the RNG 705. The processor executes program code stored in memory 152 to instantiate a participation module 703 which communicates via data communication interface 153 with each of the gaming devices 10/900. Participation module 703 includes a trigger monitor 703A which is designed to monitor for receipt of a trigger signal from one of the gaming devices indicative that an award has been made on that device and identifying the award. The participation module 703 has an eligibility module 703B that determines which of the gaming devices are eligible based eligibility rule data 711. An eligibility rule may be that a gaming device has been active within a defined period or has been both active and had a qualifying bet placed, for example a max bet or an ante bet. In one example, this is achieved

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2016201752 17 Jan 2018 by polling each of the gaming devices. In another example the gaming devices may regularly communicate their eligibility over the network and the eligibility module 703B may process data received over the network from each of the individual gaming devices to determine which machine are eligible.

In any event, once eligibility has been determined, the participation module 703 determines based on participation rule data 712 which gaming devices will be eligible to participate in a qualifying game for the award. In one embodiment, participation rule data 712 specifies that all gaming devices will be eligible to participate. In another embodiment, participation rule data 712 causes participation module to employ random number generator 705 to determine which gaming machines of the plurality of connected gaming machines (other than the triggering gaming machine) will participate. For example, the participation rules may be cause the participation module

703 to select on average three machines out of four to participate .

Participation module 703 then communicates with at least the participating gaming devices to instruct them to conduct a qualifying game. It may optionally advise the non-participating gaming devices that they are not to participate. If necessary to the embodiment, participation module 703 also communicates the award which is to be made if the gaming device qualifies. That is in one embodiment the same award may always be made such that it is not necessary to communicate its identity. In other embodiments the award may vary, for example a varying number of free games may be awarded depending on the award on the triggering machine. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the award need not be identical on each gaming machine or identical to the triggering award but in one advantageous embodiment it is the same.

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Operation of gaming device in response to participation

Referring again to Figure 9, when the communication module 5 933 of game controller 920 receives participation data via communication interface indicating that it is to participate. Award initiator 933A waits until an appropriate time, such as completion of a current play and then advises the player that a qualifying game is to begin io and causes outcome generator 931 to act as a qualifying outcome generator 931C based on qualifying game data 945. In one example, the qualifying game is a game of chance where the player has defined odds, such as 1 in 4, of winning the qualifying game. Qualifying outcome evaluator

932D of outcome evaluator 932 determines whether the player qualifies. If the player qualifies, game controller 920 implements the award, in this example by feature game outcome generator 931B conducting the communicated award (in the form of a feature game) which is evaluated by feature game evaluator 932C of outcome evaluator 932 with any prizes reflected in meter data 942.

The method of embodiment is summarised in Figure 8 which shows that the method involves a gaming device receiving

810 an award, determining 820 eligible gaming devices, determining 830 which of these will participate, and conducting 840 any necessary qualifying games to determine 850 whether an award is made. An award is then made 860, for example by carrying out the feature game.

Further aspects of the method will be apparent from the above description of the system. It will be appreciated that at least part of the method will be implemented digitally by a processor. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method could be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a tangible computer

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2016201752 17 Jan 2018 readable storage medium, such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal (for example, by transmitting it from a server). Persons skilled in the art, will appreciate that program code provides a series of instructions executable by the processor.

Herein the term processor is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server. That is a processor may be provided by any suitable logic circuitry for receiving inputs, processing them in accordance with instructions stored in memory and generating outputs (for example on the display). Such processors are sometimes also referred to as central processing units (CPUs). Most processors are general purpose units, however, it is also know to provide a specific purpose processor using, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, in particular it will be apparent that certain features of embodiments of the invention can be employed to form further embodiments .

For example, an award can be other than by gaming machine, for example, a system component such as a jackpot controller 205 may make an award, this may be communicated via the gaming device to the controller 150 or directly to the controller 150. In this example, the award may be, for example, a consolation award of five free spins. Other free game events may be awarded such as re-spins (where

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2016201752 17 Jan 2018 some reels are held while others are re-spun).

In addition, it is described above that a qualifying game is conducted by each gaming device. In another embodiment a qualifying game may be conducted in some other manner, for example by the linked game controller individually for each device or as a group game. Person skilled in the art will appreciate that an embodiment above, two separate random determinations are made which decide whether the award is made. In other embodiments a single random determination may be made. In an alternative embodiment the award may be made solely based on eligibility criteria.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art in any country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word comprise or variations such as comprises or comprising is used in an inclusive sense,

i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

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Claims (8)

1. THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

   1. A gaming system comprising:

   a linked game controller; and

   5 a plurality of gaming devices, each of the plurality of gaming devices in data communication with the linked game controller and configured to conduct a qualifying game, the linked game controller configured to, when a first award is made in respect a first gaming device of io the plurality of gaming devices, identify second gaming devices of the plurality of gaming devices that are eligible devices for the qualifying game based on communications with the plurality of gaming devices, the linked game controller further configured to:

   15 determine which of the second gaming devices are to participate in a respective qualifying game so as to cause an average portion of the second gaming devices to participate in the qualifying game, and communicate with each participating second device to

   20 indicate that it is to participate in the qualifying game, and wherein each of the plurality of gaming devices is configured to respond to a communication from the linked game controller that indicates that the respective gaming device is to participate by conducting a respective

   25 qualifying game independently of any qualifying game conducted in respect of any other gaming device, and to determine, based on the outcome of the respective qualifying game, whether to provide a corresponding award at the respective gaming device.
2. 2. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the corresponding award is equivalent to the first award.
3. 3. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2,

   35 wherein the first award is an award of a number of free game events .
4. 4. A gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the linked game controller determines every

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   2016201752 17 Jan 2018 active gaming device of the plurality of other gaming devices to be eligible.
5. 5. A gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 4, wherein the linked game controller determines a gaming device of the plurality of other gaming devices to be eligible if a designated wager has been placed within a defined period.

   10 6. A gaming system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to

   5, wherein the linked game controller comprises a participation module which determines eligibility and participation.

   15 7. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each participating gaming device conducts the qualifying game by using a feature game generator to generate a feature game outcome and a feature game outcome evaluator to evaluate the feature game to determine whether to make the

   20 corresponding award.

   8. A method in a gaming system comprising a linked game controller and a plurality of gaming devices in data communication with the linked game controller and

   25 configured to conduct a qualifying game, the method comprising:

   responsive to making a first award in respect of a first gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices, identifying, with the linked game controller, second

   30 gaming devices of the plurality of gaming devices that are eligible devices for the qualifying game based on communications between the linked game controller and the plurality of gaming devices;

   determining, with the linked game controller, which

   35 of the second gaming devices are to participate in a respective qualifying game so as to cause an average portion of the second gaming devices to participate in the qualifying game, and communicating, by the linked controller, with each

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   2016201752 17 Jan 2018 participating second device to indicate that the respective gaming device is to participate in the qualifying game, conducting a respective qualifying game at each of 5 the participating gaming devices independently of any qualifying game conducted in respect of any other gaming device, to determine, based on the outcome of the qualifying game, whether to provide a corresponding award at the respective gaming device.

   9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the corresponding award is equivalent to the first award.

   10. A method as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein 15 the first award is an award of a number of free game events .

   11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein determining whether a respective gaming device is

   20 eligible comprises determining whether it is active.

   12. A method as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein determining whether a respective gaming device is eligible comprises determining whether a designated wager

   25 has been placed.

   13. Computer program code which when executed implements the method of any one of claims 8 to 12.

   30 14. A computer readable storage medium comprising the program code of claim 13.

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