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 display interface for real-time ranking of players in a tournament in a gaming system, each gaming machine with the gaming system having a display interface, the gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines, 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;
a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines; and
a secondary display device operatively connected to each gaming machine, wherein the secondary display device is capable of displaying a plurality of second games;
a tournament controller connected to the communication link, wherein the tournament controller generates and pushes real-time tournament scores/rankings to at least one gaming machine for presentation on a secondary display device;
wherein calculation of each tournament score uses the theoretical payout percentage from each respective base game.
2. A display interface incorporated into each gaming machine in a gaming system, the gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines each having a display screen, 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;
a secondary display device operatively connected to each gaming machine, wherein the secondary display device is capable of displaying a plurality of second games; and
wherein each display screen presents information regarding cashable and non-cashable credits;
wherein calculation of each tournament score uses the theoretical payout percentage from each respective base game.
3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the tournament controller is configured to execute the tournament and calculate a score for each player, and wherein the score calculation for each player is at least partially based upon a mathematical comparison between an actual payout and a theoretical payout.
4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the tournament controller is configured to execute the tournament, and wherein at least a first and a second of the gaming machines are configurable to combine their scores into one player in the tournament.
5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the tournament controller is configured to execute the tournament and calculate a score for each player, and wherein the score calculation for each player is at least partially based upon a weighting factor determined by a game skill and play history for the player.
6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the tournament controller is configured to terminate participation of a gaming machine that has a lowest score in the tournament.
7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the operable connections between the gaming machines and the secondary display devices are wireless connections.
8. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary display devices are wireless-enabled, handheld devices.
9. The gaming system of claim 7 , wherein the secondary display devices include geo-location technology.
10. The gaming system of claim 9 , wherein the ranked tournament scores are displayed on the player tracking display device.
11. The gaming system of claim 9 , wherein at least one highest ranked player wins a tournament prize.
12. The gaming system of claim 2 , further comprising a tournament controller configured to execute a tournament and calculate a score for each player, and wherein the score calculation for each player is at least partially based upon a mathematical comparison between an actual payout and a theoretical payout.
13. The gaming system of claim 12 , wherein the tournament controller is configured to execute the tournament, and wherein at least a first and a second of the gaming machines are configurable to combine their scores into one player in the tournament.
14. The gaming system of claim 12 , wherein the tournament controller is configured to execute the tournament and calculate a score for each player, and wherein the score calculation for each player is at least partially based upon a weighting factor determined by a game skill and play history for the player.
15. The gaming system of claim 12 , wherein the tournament controller is configured to terminate participation of a gaming machine that has a lowest score in the tournament.
16. The gaming system of claim 12 , wherein the operable connections between the gaming machines and the secondary display devices are wireless connections.
17. The gaming system of claim 12 , wherein the secondary display devices are wireless-enabled, handheld devices.
18. The gaming system of claim 12 , wherein the secondary display devices include geo-location technology.
19. The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein the ranked tournament scores are displayed on the player tracking display device.
20. The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein at least one highest ranked player wins a tournament prize.