Gaming machine environment having controlled audio media presentation

A gaming machine network, comprising:

• a plurality of gaming machines, each of the plurality of gaming machines having a gaming cabinet, each gaming cabinet having one or more internal cabinet speakers;
• a plurality of remote speakers positioned remotely from the plurality of gaming machines;
• and
• an audio controller electronically coupled to the plurality of remote speakers and being programmable to
• selectively control audio output from the plurality of remote speakers,
• create a desired audio ambience only within a specific portion of the gaming establishment by operating the plurality of remote speakers in conjunction with the internal cabinet speakers, and
• focus the audio output to deliver enhanced audio effects only to the specific portion of the gaming establishment.

A method of operating a plurality of gaming machines residing in a gaming establishment, comprising:

• storing a plurality of triggering events in at least one memory device;
• determining whether at least one triggering event has occurred in one or more of the gaming machines;
• in response to the at least one triggering event, actuating a plurality of remote speakers positioned in the gaming establishment remotely from the plurality of gaming machines;
• operating the plurality of remote speakers in conjunction with cabinet speakers that are located in gaming cabinets of the plurality of gaming machines;
• and
• creating a desired audio ambience by focusing audio output from the plurality of remote speakers and the cabinet speakers only to a specific portion of the gaming establishment.