Wagering Game System with Community Gaming System

A gaming system for conducting a wagering game including a bonus game, the gaming system comprising:

• at least one input device;
• at least one display device;
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to
• receive an indication of a wager,
• display a randomly generated outcome of the wagering game in response to the wager indication being received,
• accumulate bonus-event playing time upon satisfying at least one predetermined condition as the wagering games are played,
• initiate a bonus game in which a player is eligible to receive awards for a period of time,
• determine the accumulated playing time accrued prior to the initiation of the bonus game,
• provide the bonus game for at least as long as the accumulated playing time;
• and
• credit any awards earned by the player during their participation in the bonus game.

A computer program product comprising a non-transient computer-readable medium having an instruction set borne thereby, the instruction set being configured to cause, upon execution by one or more controllers, the acts of:

• receiving an indication of a wager;
• determining outcomes for wagering games in response to a wager indication being received, the outcomes being randomly determined from a plurality of outcomes;
• accumulating a bonus-event playing time upon satisfying at least one predetermined condition as the wagering games are played;
• initiating a bonus game in which a player is eligible to receive awards for a period of time;
• determining the accumulated playing time accrued prior to the initiation of the bonus game;
• and
• executing the bonus game for at least as long of a duration as the accumulated playing time.