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.

An electronic gaming system is capable of forming a multi-player group to play a game; receiving, from a first gaming device, first game play information for a first game played by a first player member of the multi-player group on the first gaming device; determining that the first game play information comprises a first winning outcome corresponding to a first winning outcome; in response, allocating the first winning outcome among the first and second player members; and notifying a second gaming device of the second player member that the second player member has received the second portion of the first winning outcome.

A first list of available players is provided to each individual user who then selects a first fantasy lineup, where selections by another individual user does not preclude other individual users from also selecting the same player. First fantasy lineups are received from each individual user, the fantasy lineups comprising one or more players selected from the first list of available players. Each individual user may provide a replacement lineup prior to the end of a game. A subsequent list of available players is provided to each user and does not include players from the first fantasy lineup. Subsequent fantasy lineups from each individual user are received comprising only players selected from the subsequent list of available players. None of the players of the first fantasy lineup for an individual user is included in any subsequent fantasy lineup of the individual user.

Systems and methods are provided for an automatic user or friend recommendation system that matches players that have compatible play styles, play schedules, or the like. Behavioral data is collected or entered from players, and a profile of each player is created and compared to calculate a compatibility score. If the compatibility score exceeds a predetermined threshold, then the players are marked as compatible, or a degree of compatibility may be calculated and displayed as well. Users can edit their profile, e.g., on a web application or in-game. Users may also interact with optional and incremental demographic survey questions as they log in. A notification of compatible players may be provided via the web application or via an in-game indication. For example, a glow may appear around a compatible player, or compatible players may be displayed in a list, such as an instant messaging client.

A gaming apparatus, method and system enables communication between members of a social group using machines belonging to the system. Members of a social group are thereby enable to share benefits from members' participation or winnings, by altering operation of gaming machines in use by member of the social group. A license to a progressively increasing portion of an audio-video work may be awarded in response to continuing game play by one or more members of the social group.

An electromechanical gaming system for a maze chase hybrid game, including an entertainment system engine constructed to: provide an entertainment game; display a first icon in a user interface of the entertainment game; communicate an indication when the first icon is consumed; display a second icon, different in appearance from the first icon; communicate the second icon is consumed; a real world engine constructed to: receive the wager of real credits; and communicate the wager outcome of real credits; and the game world engine connected to the entertainment system engine and the real world engine using a communication link, and constructed to: receive the indication when the first icon is consumed; communicate the wager of real credits; receive the indication when the second icon is consumed; and communicate the random outcome of in-game objects.

A method of playing a team bingo game includes dividing a group of people into at least two teams wherein each team will play an independent bingo game. Each team selects a captain and the team bingo game begins with each captain utilizing a competition mechanism to determine the amount of bingo balls each team will draw per turn. A team wins the team bingo game when a member of one of the teams achieves a bingo. A person may play a separate bingo game while watching the team bingo game by first choosing a team to play along with. The person will then use that team's bingo balls and attempt to achieve a bingo. The balls selected will be placed in a tier of bingo balls, and the person playing along will be awarded a prize based on which tier of bingo balls their winning bingo ball falls into.

Specialized gaming systems and methods for providing secure gaming features in which payouts are based upon the presence and identification of patterns of letters within an arrangement of letters, said pattern matching a word or phrase within a pre-defined dictionary.

A gaming system and method including a plurality of gaming devices that may participate in a shared secondary or bonus game and a controller operable to communicate with said plurality of gaming devices. At least one of the plurality of gaming devices is programmed to generate and accumulate collectors upon an occurrence of a first triggering event. Upon an occurrence of a second triggering event at one of the gaming devices, the controller enables a player of said gaming device to redeem a quantity of accumulated collectors in a bonus event. The controller also enables the player to invite other gaming devices from the plurality of gaming devices to redeem accumulated collectors and participate in said bonus event. The odds of each player earning a higher-valued total award in the bonus event increases with the total number of accumulated collectors redeemed in the bonus event.

A service device provides a multiplayer game which a user can enjoy by a new technique. The server device includes a storage unit for storing information on at least one predetermined team operated by a predetermined player corresponding to a terminal device and made up of a plurality of characters; a first control unit for transmitting to the terminal device information on other players corresponding to other terminal devices located within a predetermined distance from the location of the terminal device; and a second control unit for controlling a game between the at least one predetermined team and an opponent character, and transmitting information on a specified character selected from among a plurality of characters constituting at least one other team operated by the other players to the terminal device as a candidate for an additional character to be added to the at least one predetermined team.