| CPC G07F 17/3223 (2013.01) [G07F 17/3225 (2013.01); G07F 17/3262 (2013.01); G07F 17/3267 (2013.01); G07F 17/3288 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A gaming system, comprising:
a center display configured to display video images of a simulated horse race including a plurality of virtual horses;
a center field unit including a model racetrack and a plurality of horse race models configured to travel along the model racetrack;
a plurality of gaming stations positioned adjacent the center field unit, each gaming station including a cabinet, a display unit mounted to the cabinet, and a control panel mounted to the cabinet; and
a center control unit coupled to the center display, the center field unit, and to each of the gaming stations, the center control unit including one or more processors programmed to execute an algorithm including the steps of:
executing the simulated horse race by:
rendering a race screen on the display unit of each gaming station displaying images of each virtual horse included in the simulated horse race;
randomly determining an outcome of the simulated horse race from a plurality of potential race outcomes including a winning virtual horse;
randomly selecting one or more eligible gaming stations for a progressive bonus game from the plurality of gaming stations;
randomly selecting a progressive bonus chance virtual horse from the plurality of virtual horses and assign the randomly selected progressive bonus chance virtual horse to each selected eligible gaming station;
modifying a corresponding race screen associated with each selected eligible gaming station to display a progressive bonus chance symbol overlayed onto a corresponding image of the progressive bonus chance virtual horse;
generating a race video associated with the randomly determined outcome of the simulated horse race;
simultaneously displaying the race video on the center display and on the display unit of each gaming station;
operating each of the horse race models to travel around the model racetrack based on the randomly determined outcome of the simulated horse race; and
rendering a progressive bonus game display window on each selected eligible gaming station upon determining the progressive bonus chance virtual horse matches the winning virtual horse of the randomly determined outcome of the simulated horse race.
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