Configurable Virtual Gaming Zone

1 . A method for configuring zone-based gaming activity within a gaming establishment, the method comprising:

setting a location within the gaming establishment for the zone-based gaming activity, the location being at least one defined region within the gaming establishment;

configuring a virtual gaming zone for the location within the gaming establishment for the zone-based gaming activity;

identifying one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone; and

permitting the identified one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone to participate in the zone-based gaming activity.

2 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the zone-based gaming activity includes at least one game of change that involves a wager thereon.

3 . A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the identified one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone that are permitted to participate in the zone-based gaming activity are eligible for an award generated from the zone-based gaming activity.

4 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:

identifying one or more players respectively associated with the identified one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone to participate in the zone-based gaming activity.

5 . A method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the identified one or more players respectively associated with the identified one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone and permitted to participate in the zone-based gaming activity are eligible for an award generated from the zone-based gaming activity.

6 . A method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the zone-based gaming activity includes at least one game of change that involves a wager thereon.

7 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:

determining whether the zone-based gaming activity with the virtual gaming zone should cease; and

stopping the identified one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone from further participating in the zone-based gaming activity.

8 . A method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the determining whether the zone-based gaming activity with the virtual gaming zone should cease comprises:

monitoring for occurrence of a trigger condition; and

determining that the zone-based gaming activity with the virtual gaming zone should cease based on the trigger condition.

9 . An electronic gaming system, comprising:

a zone controller for configuring zone-based gaming activity within a gaming establishment, the zone controller operates to configure a virtual gaming zone for a location within the gaming establishment for the zone-based gaming activity, the location being at least one defined region within a portion of the gaming establishment;

a location database configured to storage location of a plurality of gaming devices at the gaming establishment; and

at least one server configured to:

identify one or more of the plurality of gaming devices at the gaming establishment that are within the virtual gaming zone; and

permit the identified one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone to participate in the zone-based gaming activity.