Gaming machine with screen split and merge feature

1. A gaming machine, the gaming machine being communicatively coupled to a gaming server, the gaming machine comprising;

a random number generator;

an accepting device configured to accept an item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance that is increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity;

a cashout device configured to receive an input to cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance;

a display device; and

a processor programmed to:

receive a first game display signal from the gaming server;

cause the display device to display a first game using a first frame;

transmit a game play initiation signal to the gaming server, indicating that a player operating the gaming machine has initiated play of the first game;

detect a first trigger condition during play of the first game in the first frame;

transmit a game data signal to the gaming server to cause the gaming server to distribute the first game into a plurality of second games, said game data signal based on at least one of a player input and the trigger condition;

receive a second game display signal from the gaming server that causes the gaming machine to display a second frame on the display device;

based on the first trigger condition, display a second game of the plurality of second games in the second frame on the display device;

display a secondary bet display and a secondary credit display within the second frame, wherein the secondary credit display shows at least one secondary credit amount derived from a number of available credits allocated by the gaming server; and

enable simultaneous play of the first game in the first frame and the second game in the second frame.

2. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first trigger condition is a request from a player to display the second game in the second frame.

3. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:

detect a second trigger condition during play of the first game or the second game;

based on the second trigger condition, merge one of the following: the first frame into the second frame or the second frame into the first frame; and

enable continued play of a respective game within the merged frames.

4. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 3 , wherein merging one of the following: the first frame into the second frame or the second frame into the first frame comprises combining credits associated with the first game and the second game.

5. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to divide the second frame into a plurality of third frames in response to a third triggering condition, wherein each third frame separately enables continued play of the second game.

6. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 5 , wherein, in response to a fourth trigger condition, the processor is further programmed to merge the plurality of third frames into the second frame.

7. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 6 , wherein merging the plurality of third frames into the second frame comprises merging credits associated with the third frames into the second frame.

8. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine comprising a random number generator, an accepting device configured to accept an item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance that is increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity, a cashout device configured to receive an input to cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance, and a display device; and

a gaming server communicatively coupled to the gaming device, the gaming server configured to:

cause the display device to display a first game using a first frame;

receive a game play initiation signal from the gaming machine, indicating that a player operating the gaming machine has initiated play of the first game;

store credit display data and bet display data in the database for the first game;

detect a first trigger condition during play of the first game in the first frame;

distribute the first game into a plurality of second games based on at least one of a player input and a trigger condition occurring within the first game;

generate a plurality of second frames that correspond to one of the plurality of second games, wherein each second frame includes a secondary credit display and a secondary bet display;

based on the first trigger condition, display a second game of the plurality of second games in a second frame of the plurality of second frames on the display device;

display a secondary bet display and a secondary credit display within the second frame, wherein the secondary credit display shows at least one secondary credit amount derived from a number of available credits allocated by the gaming server; and

enable simultaneous play of the first game in the first frame and the second game in the second frame.

9. A gaming system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the first trigger condition is a request from a player to display the second game in the second frame.

10. A gaming system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the gaming server is further configured to:

detect a second trigger condition during play of the first game or the second game;

based on the second trigger condition, merge one of the following: the first frame into the second frame or the second frame into the first frame; and

enable continued play of a respective game within the merged frames.

11. A gaming system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein merging one of the following: the first frame into the second frame or the second frame into the first frame comprises combining credits associated with the first game and the second game.

12. A gaming system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the gaming server is further configured to divide the second frame into a plurality of third frames in response to a third triggering condition, wherein each third frame separately enables continued play of the second game.

13. A gaming system in accordance with claim 12 , wherein, in response to a fourth trigger condition, the processor is further programmed to merge the plurality of third frames into the second frame.

14. A gaming system in accordance with claim 13 , wherein merging the plurality of third frames into the second frame comprises merging credits associated with the third frames into the second frame.

15. A method for use with a gaming machine having a display device and in communication with a gaming server, the method comprising:

receiving a first game display signal from the gaming server;

in response to receiving the game display signal, displaying, on the display device, a first game using a first frame;

transmitting a game play initiation signal to the gaming server, indicating that a player operating the gaming machine has initiated play of the first game;

detecting a first trigger condition during play of the first game in the first frame;

transmitting a game data signal to the gaming server to cause the gaming server to distribute the first game into a plurality of second games, wherein the game data signal is based on at least one of a player input and the trigger condition;

receiving a second game display signal from the gaming server that causes the gaming machine to display a second frame on the display device;

based on the first trigger condition, displaying a second game of the plurality of second games in the second frame on the display device;

displaying a secondary bet display and a secondary credit display within the second frame, wherein the secondary credit display shows at least one secondary credit amount derived from a number of available credits allocated by the gaming server; and

enabling simultaneous play of the first game in the first frame and the second game in the second frame.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the first trigger condition is a request from a player to display the second game in the second frame.

17. A method in accordance with claim 15 , further comprising:

detecting a second trigger condition during play of the first game or the second game;

based on the second trigger condition, merging one of the following: the first frame into the second frame or the second frame into the first frame; and

enabling continued play of a respective game within the merged frames.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the second trigger condition is a request from a player to merge one of the following: the first frame into the second frame or the second frame into the first frame.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising dividing the second frame into a plurality of third frames in response to a third triggering condition, wherein each third frame separately enables continued play of the second game.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 , wherein, in response to a fourth trigger condition, the processor is further programmed to merge the plurality of third frames into the second frame including credits associated with each of the third frames.