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 chance-based gaming machine-enabled method of a multi-level pyramid tournament, wherein each player has a tournament level ID, and each pyramid level including a level prize award, a level ranked score table, and a level end time, the chance-based gaming machine-enabled method comprising:
providing two or more servers that are connected to a physical game network, wherein one of the two or more servers manages player identification;
providing a plurality of chance-based gaming machines that are connected to the two or more servers via the physical game network;
enabling the player to play a base game on a chance-based gaming machine and awarding a prize to the player for winning normal base game outcomes on the chance-based gaming machine;
creating a tournament score, using a processor, for the player from the player base game play data over a period of time until the level end time, wherein the tournament score is calculated using a theoretical payout percentage for the base game on the chance-based gaming machine;
at a second of the two or more servers, posting the player tournament score to the level ranked score table associated with the players tournament level ID, and enabling the player to post multiple tournament scores from multiple chance-based gaming machines to this level ranked score table until level end time, wherein tournament score calculation for each of the multiple tournament score posts uses a theoretical payout percentage for a base game from the chance-based gaming machine that was used by the player in determining player ranking on the level ranked score table; and
using the second of the two or more game servers, concluding a pyramid level at the level end time, awarding the level prize award to at least one player who posted a score to this level, wherein the prize is cash, a ticket, merchandise, or combinations thereof, and advancing two or more players with qualifying tournament scores to a higher tournament level ID using a processor.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each tournament score is posted to at least one level lower than the players tournament level ID.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tournament score is additionally posted to another ranked list of tournament scores from players with different tournament level IDs.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the player's tournament level ID is demoted if the player becomes inactive.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the player can play as much money as desired on the base game during the period of time for the player.
6. A chance-based gaming machine-enabled method of a multi-level pyramid tournament, wherein each player has a tournament level ID, and each pyramid level including a level prize award, a level ranked score table, and a level end time, the chance-based gaming machine-enabled method comprising:
providing two or more servers that are connected to a physical game network, wherein one of the two or more servers manages player identification;
providing a plurality of chance-based gaming machines that are connected to the two or more servers via the physical game network;
enabling the player to play a base game on a chance-based gaming machine and awarding a prize to the player for winning normal base game outcomes on the chance-based gaming machine;
creating a tournament score, using a processor, for the player from the player base game play data over a period of time until the level end time, wherein the tournament score is calculated using a theoretical payout percentage for the base game on the chance-based gaming machine;
at a second of the two or more servers, posting the player tournament score to the level ranked score table associated with the players tournament level ID, and enabling the player to post multiple tournament scores from multiple chance-based gaming machines to this level ranked score table until level end time, wherein tournament score calculation for each of the multiple tournament score posts uses a theoretical payout percentage for a base game from the chance-based gaming machine that was used by the player in determining player ranking on the level ranked score table; and
using the second of the two or more servers, concluding a pyramid level at the level end time, awarding the level prize award to at least one player who posted a score to this level, wherein the prize is cash, a ticket, merchandise, or combinations thereof, and advancing players with qualifying tournament scores to a higher tournament level ID using a processor.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each tournament score is posted to at least one level lower than the players tournament level ID.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the tournament score is additionally posted to another ranked list of tournament scores from players with different tournament level IDs.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the player's tournament level ID is demoted if the player becomes inactive.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the player can play as much money as desired on the base game during the period of time for the player.
11. A chance-based gaming machine-enabled method of a multi-level pyramid tournament, wherein each player has a tournament level ID, and each pyramid level including a level prize award, a level ranked score table, and a level end time, the chance-based gaming machine-enabled method comprising:
providing two or more servers that are connected to a physical game network, wherein one of the two or more servers manages player identification;
providing a plurality of chance-based gaming machines that are connected to the two or more servers via the physical game network;
enabling the player to play a base game on a chance-based gaming machine and awarding a prize to the player for winning normal base game outcomes on the chance-based gaming machine;
creating a tournament score, using a processor, for the player from the player base game play data over a period of time until the level end time, wherein the tournament score is calculated using a theoretical payout percentage for the base game on the chance-based gaming machine;
at a second of the two or more servers, posting the player tournament score to the level ranked score table associated with the players tournament level ID, and enabling the player to post multiple tournament scores from multiple chance-based gaming machines to this level ranked score table until level end time, wherein tournament score calculation for each of the multiple tournament score posts uses a theoretical payout percentage for a base game from the chance-based gaming machine that was used by the player in determining player ranking on the level ranked score table; and
using the second of the two or more servers, concluding a pyramid level at the level end time, awarding the level prize award to at least one player who posted a score to this level, and advancing players with qualifying tournament scores to a higher tournament level ID using a processor.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein each tournament score is posted to at least one level lower than the players tournament level ID.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the tournament score is additionally posted to another ranked list of tournament scores from players with different tournament level IDs.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the player's tournament level ID is demoted if the player becomes inactive.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the player can play as much money as desired on the base game during the period of time for the player.