Linked game play on gaming machines

A gaming system comprising:

• a plurality of electronic gaming devices, each electronic gaming device having:
• a housing;
• at least one display device supported by the housing for displaying outcomes of games played on the gaming device;
• a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, including:
• a device for generating indicia related to the identity of a player of the electronic gaming device,
• an actuator for initiating a game on the electronic gaming device,
• an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value,
• a validator configured to identify the physical item, and
• a bet input device operable to receive a wager from the player,
• a cashout device configured to receive an input to cause an initiation of a payout associated with a credit balance, and
• a credit meter for receiving credits responsive to acceptance of the physical item associated with a monetary value by the acceptor;
• and
• at least one non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to:
• receive a wager via the gaming device from a first player at a first gaming device;
• receive a wager via the gaming device from a second player at a second gaming device;
• display a first video poker hand on a display at the first gaming device;
• display a second video poker hand on a display at the second gaming device;
• display an indicator to designate one of the first or second players to provide an option of switching a dealt video poker hand with a video poker hand dealt to the other one of the first or second player;
• award a prize associated with a first gaming outcome displayed at the first gaming device;
• and
• award a prize associated with a second gaming outcome displayed at the second gaming device.