A player insert for a gaming machine, the player insert comprising: an electronically controllable screen, a controller for said electronically controllable screen, an interface adapted to communicate between said controller and a host system associated with said player insert and with further player inserts, said controller being adapted to receive signals from a said host system via said interface and to thereby effect a display on said electronically controllable screen synchronized with at least one further display on at least one further player insert. The electronically controllable screen can be controlled to operate in a first state in which it is transparent and permits a separate display provided behind the screen to be viewed by the player and in a second state in which it is adapted to effect the display as stated above. The description and claims also relate to a gaming system including a plurality of gaming machines each having a respective player insert and to a method of operating such a gaming system.