BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and, in particular, to award redistribution in a gaming system.

In slots and other games of chance, casinos may use smaller awards to attract players, prolong games, and increase player loyalty.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an electronic gaming system in which awards, such as bonuses, are capable of being redistributed among multiple player members of a group during a group gaming session. In some embodiments, the electronic gaming system comprises a communication interface, a processor coupled with the communication interface, and a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing therein a set of instructions. The set of instructions, when executed by the processor causes the processor to form a multi-player group to play a gaming session, the multi-player group comprising first and second player members corresponding to first and second gaming devices, respectively; receive, from the first gaming device, first game play information for a first game played by the first player member on the first gaming device; determine that the first game play information comprises a first winning outcome corresponding to a first winning outcome; in response to the determination that the first player member has won the first winning outcome, allocate the first winning outcome among the first and second player members, wherein a first portion of the first price is allocated to the first player member and a second portion of the first winning outcome is allocated to the second player member; and notify the second gaming device that the second player member has received the second portion of the first winning outcome.

In some embodiments, a method for sharing player awards in a gaming system comprises forming a multi-player group to play multiple games in a group gaming session; receiving game play information for a game; determining that the game play information comprises a winning outcome corresponding to an award; in response to determining that the game play information comprises the winning outcome, allocating, the winning outcome among the player members of the multi-player group; and notifying a gaming device corresponding to each player member of the multi-player group of the share of the winning outcome allocated to the respective player member.

In some embodiments, a system is provided that includes: a user interface, a processor coupled with the user interface, and a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor causes the processor to: receive a group formation request from a player member to form a multi-player group comprising the player member, the group formation request comprising a number of player members invited to be in the multi-player group, optionally an invitation code to be input by each of the invited player members, and a predetermined rule set defining the winning outcome allocation among the player members of the multi-player group and the duration of the multi-player group; cause the user interface to notify the player member that the multi-player group has been formed; while a game of a gaming session is played by the player member, receive an award sharing message that a different player member in the group has won a winning outcome in a separate game of the gaming session and a share of the winning outcome allocated to the player member; and cause the user interface to notify the player member that the player member has won the allocable share of the winning outcome.

Additional features are described herein and will be apparent from the following Description and the figures.

