At least one gaming machine in a network of gaming machines includes displays for a main game and a bonus game. The bonus game is activated when a particular outcome of the main game is achieved. A jackpot that is common to a plurality of the gaming machines in the network may be awarded when certain criteria are achieved in the bonus game. The certain criteria may occur entirely within the bonus game, or may be distributed between the main game and the bonus game. The certain criteria may be, for example, the display of a particular symbol or symbol combination, or a particular outcome of the bonus game.