A gaming system includes a network server and a gaming manager communicatively coupled to the network server. The gaming manager having a video control unit that starts a video game running remotely with a static video portion and a user interactive video portion and a video receiving unit, coupled to the video control unit, that receives the static video portion for local display while the user interactive video portion is being initialized remotely for subsequent local game play. The gaming system further includes a local user device, coupled to the gaming manager, that initially displays the static video portion and provides a user interface for the subsequent local game play following completion of remote initialization of the user interactive video portion. A method of managing a remote game is also provided.