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 casino gaming system, comprising:
a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device enabling play of a base game and including a secondary display device having a secondary bonus game displayed thereon, wherein at least a first gaming device enables play of a first base game that has a first theoretical payout percentage, and wherein at least a second gaming device enables play of a second base game that has a second theoretical payout percentage; and
a promotional credit accrual engine; wherein the engine accrues promotional credits in response to amounts of base game wagering;
wherein the play of the secondary bonus game is activate-able using the accrued promotional credits, wherein the secondary bonus game is a tournament game and awards a tournament prize to at least one tournament winner, and wherein calculation of each tournament score uses the theoretical payout percentage from each respective base game.
2. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines each capable of playing a base game and including a player tracking user interface operatively coupled to the gaming machine, wherein each player tracking user interface is capable of playing a plurality of secondary games, 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;
wherein the secondary game is 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;
wherein the activation is funded using player funds or promotional funds.
3. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the secondary game is player funded.
4. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the secondary game is promotionally funded.
5. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the funding for the activation of the second game is player-determined.
6. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the funding for the activation of the second game follows a hierarchy of ordering rules.
7. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the gaming system further comprises at least one server.
8. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary bonus game is player funded.
9. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary bonus game is promotionally funded.
10. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the funding for the activation of the secondary bonus game is player-determined.
11. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the funding for the activation of the secondary bonus game follows a hierarchy of ordering rules.
12. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the gaming system further comprises at least one server.