Computer system based gaming device, system and method

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming device configured to enable a player to place a wager for play of a wagering game, the at least one gaming device comprising:

a display configured to display a wagering game; and

a credit input mechanism including at least one of a card reader, a ticket reader, a bill validator, or a coin input mechanism; and

at least one player tracking/marketing module (PTM) communicatively coupled to the at least one gaming device, the at least one PTM comprising a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive a player selection of at least two avatars of a plurality of avatars, the at least two avatars including a player selected first avatar and a player selected second avatar;

designate one of the player selected first avatar and the player selected second avatar as an active avatar for play of the wagering game;

record, in response to designating the player selected first avatar as the active avatar, a first portion of an award associated with a winning outcome occurring during the wagering game against the player selected first avatar and a second portion of the award associated with the winning outcome against the player selected second avatar; and

record, in response to designating the player selected second avatar as the active avatar, the first portion of the award associated with a winning outcome occurring during the wagering game against the player selected second avatar and the second portion of the award associated with the winning outcome against the player selected first avatar.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to determine the first portion of the award and the second portion of the award based on at least one of a user input and a lookup table stored in the memory.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each player selected avatar is associated with a player identifier associated with a player account, whereby in response to a payout request, awards recorded for the at least two player selected avatars are applied to the associated player account.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the player selected first avatar and second avatar are each associated with a first player identifier.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the player selected first avatar is associated with a first player identifier and the player selected second avatar is associated with a second player identifier.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one gaming device includes a first gaming device and a second gaming device, wherein the player selection of at least two avatars includes a first player selection of the player selected first avatar received from the first gaming device and a second player selection of the player selected second avatar received from the second gaming device.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the at least two avatars includes a third player selected avatar associated with a pooled account, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to record a third portion of the award associated with a winning outcome during the wagering game against the third player selected avatar.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein in response to a payout request, awards recorded for the third player selected avatar are applied to the associated pooled account.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to designate the active avatar in response to a user input.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to designate the active avatar in accordance with avatar rules.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to change the active avatar in response to an outcome of a random process.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to provide an additional game, independent of the wagering game, in which the player selected avatars compete against each other.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the avatars compete to be designated as the active avatar or for allocation of the award.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first portion is greater than the second portion.

15. A method of gaming comprising:

receiving, by a player tracking/marketing module (PTM) in communication with at least one gaming device, a player selection of at least two avatars of a plurality of avatars, the at least two avatars including a player selected first avatar and a player selected second avatar;

designating one of the player selected first avatar and the player selected second avatar as an active avatar for play of a wagering game at the at least one gaming device;

recording, in response to designating the player selected first avatar as the active avatar, a first portion of an award associated with a winning outcome of the wagering game against the player selected first avatar and a second portion of the award associated with the winning outcome against the player selected second avatar; and

recording, in response to designating the player selected second avatar as the active avatar, the first portion of the award associated with the winning outcome of the wagering game against the player selected second avatar and the second portion of the award associated with the winning outcome against the player selected first avatar.

16. The method of gaming as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising determining the first portion of the award and the second portion of the award based on at least one of a user input and a lookup table.

17. The method of gaming as claimed in claim 15 , wherein each player selected avatar is associated with a player identifier associated with a player account, wherein the method further comprises applying the portion of the award recorded for the at least two avatars to an associated player account.

18. The method of gaming as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the at least one gaming device includes a first gaming device and a second gaming device, wherein the player selection of at least two avatars includes a first player selection of the player selected first avatar received from the first gaming device and a second player selection of the player selected second avatar received from the second gaming device.

19. The method of gaming as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the at least two avatars includes a third player selected avatar associated with a pooled account, wherein the method of gaming further comprises recording a third portion of the award associated with a winning outcome during the wagering game against the third player selected avatar.

20. The method of gaming as claimed in claim 19 further comprising applying the portion of the award recorded for the third player selected avatar to the associated pooled account.