The bus loads of players sojourning to Atlantic City and the marathoners living a weekend under Las Vegas' neon sun are now linked to a common pot of gold, thanks to an interstate connection that has been established between slot machines in both gambling cities.

After receiving regulatory approval from lawmakers in New Jersey and Nevada, Bally Technologies has launched its Cash Connection link across the two states.

"The division is pleased to have been at the forefront of passing regulations and reaching out to other jurisdictions to enable this expanded gaming opportunity for Atlantic City," said David Rebuck, director of New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement. "Much like multi-state lotteries, this new technology and cooperative regulatory agreements will allow combined progressive jackpots to grow, which should be very appealing to players looking for the opportunity to play for huge jackpots."

 Atlantic City and Las Vegas's common jackpot for slot machines rose to $2.2 million shortly after the progressive slot link was established, and Bally says the potential earnings are still climbing.

The link combines more than 100 slot machines in Atlantic City with over 600 in Las Vegas, but only a portion of machines' cash intake will be diverted into Cash Connection's common pool, according Bally Technologies Spokesman Mike Trask. Bally Technologies holds the diverted cash in escrow, awards it when the jackpot is hit and then begins to refill the pool.

The interstate connection between Nevada and New Jersey is the second of it's kind. Earlier in 2014, regulators in the Garden State and Montana cleared the way for the first progressive slot link to be established between the two states -- the two interstate links are unassociated.

Bally Technologies says it has connected its TITANIC, The Magic of David Copperfield, Betty Boop's Fortune Teller, Jackpot Empire, Hot Shot Progressive and slot games to Atlantic City and Las Vegas's common pool.

"Bally is excited to offer players in Nevada and New Jersey an enhanced progressive experience with the possibility of larger, more exciting rewards," says Bally Technologies' senior VP of North American Sales. "We believe that this is a great opportunity for the gaming industry: for casino operators, the potential for higher rewards drives player demand, while players will be thrilled at the chance to win an even larger jackpot."