A system provides a player tracking system and system gaming apparatus for playing non-base games by funding the credit side of a gaming cycle. The system further includes at least one gaming device having a base game. The player tracking system and system gaming apparatus includes a player tracking user interface. The player tracking user interface provides a player with an opportunity to select and play a non-base game that may be promotional-funded or player-funded.
1. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines each capable of playing a base game using wagered funds, wherein at least a first gaming machine enables play of a first base game that has a first theoretical payout percentage, and wherein at least a second gaming machine enables play of a second base game that has a second theoretical payout percentage; and
a player tracking system including a system gaming apparatus for playing tournament games associated with each base gaming machine, wherein each player tracking system is operatively coupled to its associated gaming machine, and wherein each system gaming apparatus includes a display screen and a processor, and enables a player to play a tournament game using the display screen and processor of the system gaming apparatus;
wherein the gaming system provides a tournament game and awards a tournament prize to at least one tournament winner, wherein calculation of each tournament score uses the theoretical payout percentage from each respective base game, and wherein a player's tournament score increases in correspondence with a distance from an expected payout for the player's wager amount and a theoretical win for the player's wager amount.
2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the player tracking system provides the player with a choice from a selection of tournament games.
3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the player tracking system provides the player with a choice from a selection of tournament game parameters.
4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the activation of the tournament game on the player tracking system is funded on a credit side of a gaming cycle, thereby funding a right to play a game, rather than funding the tournament game on an award side of the game cycle, thereby funding an awarded prize itself.
5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the gaming system further comprises at least one server.
6. The gaming system of claim 5 , wherein the server enables the player to activate the tournament game.
7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the funds to activate the tournament game are stored in a player associated account.
8. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines each capable of playing a base game using wagered funds, wherein each gaming machine enables play of a base game that has a theoretical payout percentage;
a player tracking user interface and a system gaming apparatus for playing tournament games that are operatively coupled to each gaming machine, wherein each player tracking user interface and system gaming apparatus enable a player to play a tournament game;
wherein the gaming system provides a tournament game and awards a tournament prize to at least one tournament winner, wherein calculation of each tournament score uses the theoretical payout percentage from each respective base game, and wherein a player's tournament score increases in correspondence with a distance from an expected payout for the player's wager amount and a theoretical win for the player's water amount.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tournament game is played concurrently with the base game.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tournament game is chosen by the player while the base game is being played.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the tournament game is played concurrently with the base game.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the tournament game is chosen by the player while the base game is being played.