Abstract: A system for providing an award to a plurality of players is described herein. The system includes a plurality of gaming devices and a system controller coupled to each of the gaming devices. The system controller initiates a bonus game on a set of gaming devices. Each of the gaming devices included in the set is associated with a qualified player. The system controller selects a bonus game symbol for each qualified player from a predefined set of bonus game symbols and associates each selected bonus game symbol with the corresponding qualified player. The system controller also randomly selects a winning bonus game symbol from the predefined set of bonus game symbols, determines a number of winning qualified players associated with the winning bonus game symbol, and provides a bonus award to each of the winning qualified players.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for awarding jackpots and disseminating information regarding jackpot awards in a gaming environment. Certain embodiments provide a method for announcing jackpot awards including detecting a jackpot awarded at a gaming terminal in the gaming system, determining satisfaction of an announcement criterion by the jackpot, and transmitting, upon satisfaction of the announcement criterion, a jackpot announcement to a group of one or more players satisfying an eligibility criterion. The jackpot announcement may include, for example, an opportunity to win an additional jackpot and/or an award of an additional jackpot. In certain embodiments, the announcement criterion identifies a jackpot sufficient to trigger a jackpot announcement and opportunity for an additional jackpot award. In certain embodiments, the eligibility criterion identifies one or more groups of one or more players who qualify for an opportunity for an additional jackpot.