A method 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 casino bonus award distribution method for allocating promotional funds of one or more players into player directed accounts, the method comprising:
providing one or more gaming machines, each gaming machine having a primary device for playing a base game and a secondary device having a display and processor for playing bonus games;
determining distribution rules for allocating promotional funds into the one or more player directed accounts, wherein the distribution rules enable a player to select from amongst choices for that player's promotional funds allocation;
monitoring wagering performed by the player;
calculating an earned amount of promotional funds based upon the wagering; and
distributing the earned promotional funds according to the distribution rules that govern the player-selected promotional funds allocation, wherein the player-selection of the promotional funds allocation occurs after wagering by the player, wherein one of the accounts is on a first server and another of the accounts is on a second server;
wherein the promotional funds enable play of bonus games on the secondary device using the display and processor of the secondary device, wherein the promotional funds enable a player to choose which bonus game to play out of a plurality of bonus games independent of player ranking and bonus level and when to play the chosen bonus game since each of the plurality of bonus games may be immediately initiated on demand, wherein once the player chooses the bonus game to play on demand, the chosen bonus game is immediately presented to the player via the secondary device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the player-selection of the promotional funds allocation occurs before wagering by the player.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: enabling a player to choose a percentage of earned promotional funds to distribute to an account.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the accounts is not affiliated with a casino.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein extra data is collected from the player to distribute to a non-affiliated account.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the calculated amount of earned promotional funds is a percentage of the player's wagers.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distributing is done automatically.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the player chooses to initiate the tournament game by selecting a begin tournament game button on the secondary device.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the player continues to play the base game on the primary device of the gaming machine while the tournament game is displayed on the secondary device of the gaming machine.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the secondary device is a portable computer that is wirelessly connected to the system.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the secondary device is a personal computer that is connected to the system via the Internet.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the secondary device is a cellular phone.
13. A casino bonus award distribution method for allocating promotional funds of one or more players into player directed accounts, the method comprising:
providing one or more gaming machines, each gaming machine having a primary device for playing a base game and a secondary device having a display and processor for playing bonus games;
determining distribution rules for allocating promotional funds into the one or more player directed accounts, wherein the distribution rules enable a player to select from amongst choices for that player's promotional funds allocation;
monitoring wagering performed by the player;
calculating an earned amount of promotional funds based upon the wagering;
distributing the earned promotional funds according to the distribution rules that govern the player-selected promotional funds allocation, wherein one of the accounts is on a first server and another of the accounts is on a second server;
wherein the promotional funds enable play of bonus games on the secondary device using the display and processor of the secondary device, wherein the promotional funds enable a player to choose which bonus game to play out of a plurality of bonus games independent of player ranking and bonus level and when to play the chosen bonus game since each of the plurality of bonus games may be immediately initiated on demand, wherein once the player chooses the bonus game to play on demand, the chosen bonus game is immediately presented to the player via the secondary device; and
enabling a player to choose a percentage of earned promotional funds to distribute to an account, wherein the chosen percentage of earned promotional funds to distribute to an account is an actual percentage and not the entire earned promotional funds.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the player-selection of the promotional funds allocation occurs before wagering by the player.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the player-selection of the promotional funds allocation occurs after wagering by the player.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the accounts is not affiliated with a casino.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein extra data is collected from the player to distribute to a non-affiliated account.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the calculated amount of earned promotional funds is a percentage of the player's wagers.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the player chooses to initiate the tournament game by selecting a begin tournament game button on the secondary device.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the player continues to play the base game on the primary device of the gaming machine while the tournament game is displayed on the secondary device of the gaming machine.