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 system for enabling casino tournament gaming, comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines, wherein at least a first gaming machine enables play of a first base game, wherein at least a second gaming machine enables play of a second base game, wherein the first base game has a first set of parameters and the second base game has a second set of parameters, and wherein the first base game with the first set of parameters is a different game theme from second base game with the second set of parameters;
a plurality of game monitoring units associated with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each game-monitoring unit monitors corresponding base game play data;
a plurality of player tracking display device, wherein each player tracking display device is associated with a corresponding gaming machine; and
a tournament controller in communication with the gaming machines;
wherein each gaming machine base game play data is converted into a normalized tournament score that is designed to substantially equalize differences resulting from the base games that have differing sets of parameters, wherein calculation of the normalized tournament score uses monitored data spanning multiple base game plays;
wherein calculation of the tournament score also uses the theoretical payout percentage for the base game in determining player ranking.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the normalization of the tournament score includes normalizing for player wager amounts.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the normalized tournament scores are grouped and ranked.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ranked tournament scores are displayed on the player tracking display device.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one highest ranked player wins a tournament prize.
6. A system for enabling dynamic-grouped competitive gaming, comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines, wherein at least a first gaming machine enables play of a first base game, wherein at least a second gaming machine enables play of a second base game, wherein the first base game has a first set of parameters and the second base game has a second set of parameters, and wherein the first base game with the first set of parameters is a different game theme from second base game with the second set of parameters;
a plurality of game monitoring units associated with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each game-monitoring unit monitors corresponding base game play data; and
a dynamic-grouping game controller in communication with the gaming machines, wherein the system enables a player to choose a dynamic-grouped competitive game to play out of a plurality of dynamic-grouped competitive games;
wherein each gaming machine base game play data is converted into a normalized dynamic-grouped game score that is designed to substantially equalize differences resulting from the base games that have differing sets of parameters, wherein calculation of the normalized dynamic-grouped game score uses monitored data spanning multiple base game plays;
wherein calculation of the dynamic-grouped game score also uses the theoretical payout percentage for the base game in determining player ranking.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the normalization of the tournament score includes normalizing for player wager amounts.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the normalized dynamic-grouped game scores are grouped and ranked.
9. A system for enabling casino tournament gaming, comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines, wherein at least a first gaming machine enables play of a first base game, wherein at least a second gaming machine enables play of a second base game, wherein the first base game has a first set of parameters and the second base game has a second set of parameters, and wherein the first base game with the first set of parameters is a different game theme from second base game with the second set of parameters;
a plurality of game monitoring units associated with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each game-monitoring unit monitors corresponding base game play data; and
a tournament controller in communication with the gaming machines, wherein the system enables a player to choose a tournament game to play out of a plurality of tournament games, and wherein the system enables the player to choose when the chosen tournament game is activated for game play;
wherein each gaming machine base game play data is converted into a normalized tournament score that is designed to substantially equalize differences resulting from the base games that have differing sets of parameters, wherein calculation of the normalized tournament score uses monitored data spanning multiple base game plays;
wherein calculation of the tournament score also uses the theoretical payout percentage for the base game in determining player ranking.