Technology for operating a gaming system is disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated progressive controller is maintained within each one of a plurality of electronic gaming machines (EGMs) in the gaming system. Progressive award information then may be distributed, by each integrated progressive controller within each of the plurality of EGMs to each integrated progressive controller within each remaining EGM of the plurality of EGMs, such that the progressive award information is kept consistent between each integrated progressive controller within each of the plurality of EGMs in the gaming system.