J2SE Version (please include all output from java -version flag):
java version "1.6.0_31"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_31-b05)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 20.6-b01, mixed mode, sharing)

However also noticed this same problem with 1.7.4 and 1.7.3

Does this problem occur on J2SE 6ux or 7ux? Yes / No (pick one)
Yes

Operating System Configuration Information (be specific):
 Win7 Enterprise Service Pack 1 64-bit OS

Hardware Configuration Information (be specific):
  RAM 12GB Intel® Xeon® CPU ###@###.###GHz

Bug Description:

Creating multiple applets in a frameset occasionally causes a separate JVM to be created.
This causes share state in public static variables to no longer be shared between
applets in the frame set.

Might be related to the following old issues:
http://www.java.net/external?url=http://bugs.sun.com/bugdatabase/view_bug.do?bug_id=6871285
http://www.java.net/external?url=http://bugs.sun.com/bugdatabase/view_bug.do?bug_id=6871287

It would be awesome if there was a must_use_same_jvm parameter as the issue we are
seeing is caused by two parts of a game being loaded in different JVMs and then
not being able to communicate to each other via public static variables. If there
is no such parameter then at least a more concrete explanation about what parameters
would cause a separate JVM to load.

Steps to Reproduce (be specific):

Navigate to www.pogo.com/games/spades. Insure that you are not signed in.
Play a game until an intermission ad occurs (happens at the end of a hand every
5-10 minutes). Watch a second JVM spawn after the intermission follow shortly
by the game crashing.

Attached is a list of applet tags(applet tags.txt) that are loaded throughout
the game play.