Shared game presentation arrangement for gaming systems

A shared game display system for a gaming system including two or more gaming machines connected to a communication system, the shared game display system including:

• (a) a shared display arrangement in a viewable position relative to the two or more gaming machines;
• (b) a communication connection operable to be connected to the communication system to facilitate communications with each of the two or more gaming machines;
• and
• (c) a shared display server operably connected to the shared display arrangement, the shared display server being operable to:
• (i) receive a first hand-off communication from a first one of the two or more gaming machines, the received first hand-off communication being associated with a first game play which has been initiated at the first one of the two or more gaming machines,
• (ii) responsive to the first hand-off communication, direct a first shared display control signal to the shared display arrangement to cause the shared display arrangement to present a portion of the first game play,
• (iii) receive a second hand-off communication from a second one of the two or more gaming machines, the received second hand-off communication being associated with a second game play which has been initiated at the second one of the two or more gaming machines,
• (iv) responsive to the second hand-off communication, direct a second shared display control signal to the shared display arrangement to cause the shared display arrangement to present a portion of the second game play, wherein the portion of the second game play is distinct from the portion of the first game play.

A method including:

• (a) receiving a first play initiating input entered at a player input system of a first gaming machine included in a set of two or more gaming machines, and receiving a second play initiating input entered at a second player input system of a second gaming machine included in the set of two or more gaming machines;
• (b) responsive to the first play initiating input, displaying a first portion of a first game play with a display system of the first gaming machine, and responsive to the second play initiating input, displaying a first portion of a second game play with a display system of the second gaming machine;
• (c) responsive to a first shared display condition occurring for the first game play, making a first hand-off communication from the first gaming machine to a shared display server connected for communication with the first gaming machine and with the second gaming machine, and responsive to a second shared display condition occurring for the second game play, making a second hand-off communication from the second gaming machine to the shared display server;
• (d) after receipt of the first hand-off communication, displaying a presentation for a second portion of the first game play at a shared display arrangement under control of the shared display server in lieu of displaying the presentation of the second portion of the first game play at the first gaming machine, and after receipt of the second hand-off communication, displaying a presentation for a second portion of the second game play at the shared display arrangement under control of the shared display server in lieu of displaying the presentation of the second portion of the second game play at the second gaming machine;
• and
• (e) upon completion of the first and second portions of the first game play awarding a payout for the first and second portions of the first game play though a payout system of the first gaming machine, and upon completion of the first and second portions of the second game play awarding a payout for the first and second portions of the second game play though a payout system of the second gaming machine.