SYSTEM GAMING

• US 20070259709A1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert, Kelly, Bryan, Lockard, Dennis, Tallcott, Jeffrey, Crowder, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,678,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming device, the gaming device including a base game; and

a secondary device having a display and processor, and operatively associated with the gaming device, the secondary device enabling a player with an opportunity to play a secondary bonus game;

wherein the rate of play of the base game at least partially controls the rate of play of the secondary game.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the amount wagered at least partially controls the rate of play of the secondary game.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the time amount spent playing the base game at least partially controls the rate of play of the secondary game.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the speed of play of the base game at least partially controls the rate of play of the secondary game.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the coin out of the base game at least partially controls the rate of play of the secondary game, wherein coin out is selected from the group consisting of:

pay table winning, bonus game awards, and promotions received in response to base game play.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein monitored statistics derived from game play on the base game at least partially controls the rate of play of the secondary game.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein monitored gaming parameters from the base game at least partially controls the rate of play of the secondary game.

8. A casino gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming device, the gaming device including a base game; and

a secondary device having a display and processor, and operatively associated with the gaming device, the secondary device enabling a player with an opportunity to play a secondary bonus game, the secondary bonus game including a plurality of play elements;

wherein activation of each successive play element is controlled by the amount wagered in each play of the base game.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the secondary bonus game is displayable over a gaming web portal.

10. A gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming device, the gaming device including a base game; and

a secondary device having a display and processor, and operatively associated with the gaming device, the secondary device enabling a player with an opportunity to play a secondary bonus game, the secondary bonus game including a plurality of play elements;

wherein activation of successive play elements is controlled by the amount wagered in the base game.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the secondary bonus game is displayable over a gaming web portal.

12. A gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming device, the gaming device including a base game displayable in a first frame of a display; and

a secondary bonus game displayable on a second frame of the display, the secondary bonus game including a plurality of play elements;

wherein activation of successive play elements is controlled by the amount wagered in the base game.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the secondary bonus game is displayable over a gaming web portal.

14. A gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming device, the gaming device including a base game displayable in a first frame of a display; and

a secondary bonus game displayable on a second frame of the display, the secondary bonus game including a plurality of play elements;

wherein the rate of play of the base game at least partially controls the rate of play of the secondary game.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the secondary bonus game is displayable over a gaming web portal.

16. A gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming device, the gaming device including a base game displayable in a first frame of a display; and

a secondary bonus game displayable on a second frame of the display, the secondary bonus game including a plurality of play elements;

wherein activation of each successive play segment is controlled by the amount wagered in the base game.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the secondary bonus game is displayable over a gaming web portal.

18. A gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming device, the gaming device including a base game; and

a secondary device having a display and processor, and operatively associated with the gaming device, the secondary device enabling a player with an opportunity to play a secondary bonus game, the secondary bonus game including a plurality of play segments;

wherein activation of each successive play segment is controlled by the amount wagered in the base game.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the secondary bonus game is displayable over a gaming web portal.

20. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the play segment includes a play element, a full game, a portion of a game, an enhanced capability factor of a game, and a time segment of a game.

21. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein an enhanced capability factor of a game is selected from the group consisting of:

extra game lives, extra game rounds, extra game turns, extra game choices, extra game functions, extra game feature, or any combination thereof.

22. A casino gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming device, the gaming device having a base game;

a secondary display device having a secondary bonus game and a credit meter displayed thereon;

a credit accrual engine responsive to the amount wagered in each play of the base game, wherein the engine accrues credits in response to base game activity; and

wherein the accrued credits can be used to activate the play of the secondary bonus game.

23. A casino gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming device, the gaming device having a base game;

a secondary display device displaying a secondary bonus game;

a promotional credit accrual engine responsive to the amount wagered in each play of the base game, wherein the engine accrues credits in response to base game activity; and

wherein the accrued credits activate the play of the secondary bonus game.

24. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein a promotional credit meter is displayed on the secondary display device.

25. The gaming system of claim 23, further comprising a third display having a promotional credit meter displayed thereon.

26. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the credit accrual is at least partially controlled by a percentage of base game wagers.

27. A casino gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming device, the gaming device having a base game;

a secondary display device having a secondary bonus game displayed thereon; and

a promotional credit accrual engine, wherein the engine accrues promotional credits in response to the amount wagered in each play of the base game;

wherein the play of the secondary bonus game is activatable using the accrued promotional credits.

28. A casino gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming device, the gaming device having a base game;

a secondary display device having a secondary bonus game displayed thereon; 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 activatable using the accrued promotional credits.

29. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine capable of playing a first game; and

a player tracking user interface operatively coupled to the gaming machine, wherein the player tracking user interface is capable of playing a second game;

wherein the gaming system enables a player to activate the second game displayed on the player tracking user interface, and wherein the activation is funded using player funds or promotional funds.

30. The gaming system of claim 29, wherein the secondary game is player funded.

31. The gaming system of claim 29, wherein the secondary game is promotionally funded.

32. The gaming system of claim 29, wherein the funding for the activation of the second game is player-determined.

33. The gaming system of claim 29, wherein the funding for the activation of the second game follows a hierarchy of ordering rules.

34. The gaming system of claim 29, wherein the gaming system further comprises at least one server.

35. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the server enables the player to activate the second game.

36. The gaming system of claim 29, wherein the funds to activate the secondary game are stored in a player associated account.

37. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine capable of playing a first game;

a player tracking user interface operatively coupled to the gaming machine, wherein the player tracking user interface is capable of playing a second game;

wherein the gaming system enables a player to activate the second game displayed on the player tracking user interface; and

wherein the activation is funded using player funds and promotional funds.

38. A player tracking user interface, wherein the player tracking user interface is embedded in a gaming device, the gaming device including a display and a processor that are separate and distinct from the player tracking user interface, the player tracking user interface comprising:

a user interface including a list of player-selectable game titles, wherein the user interface is operatively associated with the gaming device that is enabled to display a base game;

means for enabling a player to select a game title from the list of player-selectable game titles; and

means for enabling a selected game title to be played on the game device.

39. The player tracking user interface of claim 38, further comprising:

means for enabling a player to select game play parameters; and

means for reconfiguring the game title to incorporate the selected game play parameters.

40. The player tracking user interface of claim 39, wherein the game play parameters include denomination amount, wager amount, speed of play, mode of play, and any combinations thereof.

41. A player tracking user interface, wherein the player tracking user interface is embedded in a gaming device, the gaming device including a display and a processor that are separate and distinct from the player tracking user interface, the player tracking user interface comprising:

a user interface including a list of player-selectable configurations, wherein the user interface is operatively associated with the gaming device that is enabled to display a base game;

means for enabling a player to select a game play parameters from a list of game play parameters; and

means for enabling a selected game play parameters on the game device.

42. The player tracking user interface of claim 41, wherein the game play parameters include denomination, the mode of play of the game, lines bet, wager amount, rate or speed of play, volume, bonus round or game selection, game theme, max bet wager, prize award type, or other game play parameters.

43. A system for enabling casino tournament gaming, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine enables play of a base game, wherein a first base game has a first set of parameters and a second base game has a second set of parameters, and wherein the first set of parameters differs from the second set of parameters;

a plurality of game monitoring units associated with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each game-monitoring unit monitors corresponding base game play data;

a plurality of player tracking display device, wherein each player tracking display device is associated with a corresponding gaming machine;

a tournament controller in communication with the gaming machines; and

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines;

wherein each gaming machine base game play data is converted into a normalized tournament score that is designed to substantially equalize differences resulting from the base games that have differing sets of parameters.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the normalization of the tournament score includes normalizing for player wager amounts.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the normalized tournament scores are grouped and ranked.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the ranked tournament scores are displayed on the player tracking display device.

47. The system of claim 43, wherein at least one highest ranked player wins a tournament prize.

48. A system for enabling dynamic-grouped competitive gaming, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine enable play of a base game, wherein a first base game has a first set of parameters and a second base game has a second set of parameters, and wherein the first set of parameters differs from the second set of parameters;

a plurality of game monitoring units associated with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each game-monitoring unit monitors corresponding base game play data;

a plurality of player tracking display device, wherein each player tracking display device is associated with a corresponding gaming machine;

a dynamic-grouping game controller in communication with the gaming machines; and

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines;

wherein each gaming machine base game play data is converted into a normalized dynamic-grouped game score that is designed to substantially equalize differences resulting from the base games that have differing sets of parameters; and

wherein the normalized dynamic-grouped game scores are ranked.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the normalization of the tournament score includes normalizing for player wager amounts.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein the normalized dynamic-grouped game scores are grouped and ranked.

51. The system of claim 48, wherein the ranked dynamic-grouped game scores are displayed on the player tracking display device.

52. A system for enabling casino based tournaments gaming, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine enables play of a base game;

a plurality of game monitoring units associated with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each game monitoring unit monitors corresponding base game play data;

a plurality of player tracking display device, wherein each player tracking display device is associated with a corresponding gaming machine;

a tournament controller; and

a communication link to the controller;

wherein a player may select and enter a desired tournament at a time of the players choosing on the player tracking display;

wherein the players tournament score is derived from his base game play data and is shown on the player tracking display, and wherein the tournament prizes are in addition to base game wagering and awards.

53. A system for enabling casino based tournaments gaming, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine enables play of a base game,

a plurality of game monitoring units associated with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each game-monitoring unit monitors corresponding base game play data;

a plurality of player tracking display device, wherein each player tracking display device is associated with a corresponding gaming machine;

a tournament controller; and

a communication link to the tournament controller;

wherein eligible players of gaming machines are capable of participating in multiple simultaneous tournaments, and wherein the players tournament scores are derived from associated base game play data, and wherein the multiple tournament prizes are in addition to base game wagering and awards.

54. A system for providing an instant-close tournament such that an actual player is always the last player to enter the tournament, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines, wherein the instant-close tournament has a number of player spots;

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, wherein the tournament controller is configured to execute the tournament; and

a tournament history table that stores previous tournament information for a plurality of previous players in the tournament, wherein the previous tournament information is selected by the tournament controller to configure one or more simulated players in the tournament to fill each player spot in the tournament, except for a final player spot that is filled by the actual player, thereby ensuring that the actual player is the last player to enter and join the tournament.

55. A system for providing an instant-close tournament, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines, wherein the instant-close tournament has a number of player spots;

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, wherein the tournament controller is configured to execute the tournament; and

a tournament history table that stores previous tournament information for a plurality of previous players in the tournament, wherein the previous tournament information is selected by the tournament controller to configure one or more simulated players in the tournament to fill in multiple player spots in the tournament to conclude the tournament more quickly.

56. A tournament gaming system, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine having a player, each player having a score in the tournament determined by a calculation, each gaming machine having a theoretical payout;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines; and

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, the tournament controller executing the tournament;

wherein the tournament scores the calculation for each player is at least partially based on the actual payout mathematically compared to the theoretical payout.

57. A gaming system using a tournament score accrual engine to enable a player to benefit from multiple machine play, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each of the gaming machines having a score for a tournament;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines; and

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, the tournament controller configured to execute the tournament, wherein the gaming activity from at least a first and a second of the gaming machines are combined into one tournament score.

58. The gaming system of claim 57, wherein the gaming activity from the first and the second of the gaming machines is associated with the same identified player.

59. A system for enabling a tournament on demand;

comprising;

a plurality of gaming machines; and

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine is capable of participating in a tournament, on demand, wherein the system enables an eligible player to join the tournament on demand at any time, wherein the tournament on demand is accessible to eligible players throughout the life of the tournament, wherein the tournament is in addition to base game play in a casino gaming machine, and wherein the tournament is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in the casino gaming machine.

60. A casino-based system for providing entry into multiple tournaments, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines; and

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine is capable of participating in a tournament;

wherein the system enables each eligible player to participate in more than one of the multiple tournaments simultaneously, wherein the tournament is in addition to base game play in a casino gaming machine, and wherein the tournament is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in the casino gaming machine.

61. A system for providing entry into multiple overlapping tournaments, comprising:

a casino-based plurality of gaming machines; and

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine is capable of participating in a tournament;

wherein the system enables each eligible player to participate in more than one tournament, and wherein more than one tournament overlaps, and wherein at least one tournament is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in the casino gaming machine.

62. A system for providing entry into multiple tournaments, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines; and

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine is capable of participating in a tournament, wherein a player is eligible for more than one tournament at the same time, and wherein the player is enabled for participation in at least two tournaments for which the player is eligible, and wherein at least one tournament is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in the casino gaming machine.

63. A gaming system that enables players playing different base games to be eligible for the same tournament, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine having a base game;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines;

at least a first gaming machine comprises a first base game and at least a second gaming machine comprising a second base game, wherein the second base game has parameter differences from the first base game; and

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, wherein the tournament controller is configured to enable tournament play in the same tournament for the first and second gaming machines by normalizing the parameter differences between the first base game and the second base game.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the normalization of the tournament score includes normalizing for player wager amounts.

65. A system that pulls accrual scores from multiple locations, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines; and

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine posts scoring information to and/or from multiple tournaments.

66. A display interface for real-time ranking of players in a tournament, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines; and

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, wherein the tournament controller generates and pushes real-time tournament scores and/or rankings to at least one gaming machine for presentation on a player tracking display.

67. A system for a multi-level pyramid gaming tournament, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines; and

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, wherein each of the plurality of gaming machines are capable of participating in a tournament between two or more of the plurality of gaming machines, wherein the tournament controller is capable of demoting any gaming machine to a lower level that fails to achieve a first threshold score, and promoting any gaming machine to a higher level that achieves a second threshold score, wherein the tournament is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in the casino gaming machine.

68. A system for providing an instant-close tournament such that an actual player is always the last player to enter the tournament, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines, wherein the instant-close tournament has a number of player spots;

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, wherein the tournament controller is configured to execute the tournament; and

a tournament history table that stores previous tournament information for a plurality of previous players in the tournament, wherein the previous tournament information is selected by the tournament controller to configure one or more simulated players in the tournament to fill each player spot in the tournament, except for a final player spot that is filled by the actual player, thereby ensuring that the actual player is the last player to enter and join the tournament, wherein the tournament is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in the casino gaming machine.

69. A system for displaying real-time pushed data of tournament scores, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines;

at least a first and a second of the gaming machines each having a display; and

a chat server connected to the network, wherein the chat sever pushes real-time tournament data to the first and second gaming machine for presenting tournament data and on the display facilitate competition between the first and second gaming machines, wherein the tournament is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in the casino gaming machine.

70. A tournament gaming system providing a tournament score converter, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine having a player, each player having a score in the tournament determined by a calculation, each gaming machine having a theoretical payout;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines; and

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, the tournament controller executing the tournament, and processing the calculation of the score for each player, wherein the calculation for each player is at least partially based upon a mathematically comparison between an actual payout and a theoretical payout.

71. A gaming system using a tournament score accrual engine to enable a player to benefit from multiple machine play, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each of the gaming machines having a score for a tournament;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines; and

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, the tournament controller configured to execute the tournament, wherein at least a first and a second of the gaming machines are configurable to combine their scores into one player in the tournament.

72. A system for providing tournament score weighting factors, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine having a player, each player having a score in the tournament determined by calculation;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines; and

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, the tournament controller configured to execute the tournament, and to process the calculation of the score for each player, wherein the calculation for each player is at least partially determined based upon a weighting factor determined by a game skill and play history for the player.

73. A gaming system incorporating an elimination tournament, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines; and

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, wherein the controller terminates participation of the gaming machine that has the lowest score in the tournament.

74. A system for dynamically playing a tournament game;

comprising;

a plurality of gaming machines;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine has a base game and wherein the base game includes a tournament eligibility trigger; and

wherein upon activation of the tournament eligibility trigger, the base game provides the player with the opportunity to play the tournament game.

75. A tournament gaming system, comprising:

one or more gaming machines; and

a communication link connecting the one or more gaming machines to enable each gaming machine to participate in a first tournament;

wherein a player'"'"'s score from a base game or a second tournament game is posted to at least the first tournament game to enable the player to win one or more tournament prizes.

76. A gaming system, comprising:

one or more gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine provides availability of both skill-based and non-skill-based games to a player; and

wherein the system enables a player to select which of the skill-based or non-skill-based games the player chooses to play.

77. An embedded additional user interface incorporated into a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation of a base game and a gaming processor for controlling the base game, the embedded additional user interface comprising:

a display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user, wherein said information includes information relating to a system game; and

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the embedded processor reads incoming data and maps the data to the display screen;

wherein the incoming data includes pay table information for the system game.

78. A display interface incorporated into a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation of a base game and a gaming processor for controlling the base game, the display interface comprising:

a display screen, wherein the display screen presents incoming data to a user relating to a system game; and

wherein the incoming data relating to a system game includes multi-game data, multi-prize data, multi-denomination data, multi-credit data, and multi-payline data.

79. A gaming platform, comprising:

a display interface, wherein the display interface presents game information to a user; and

wherein the gaming platform incorporates both skilled and non-skilled games, wherein the player selects the game in which to participate, and wherein the game is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in a casino gaming machine.

80. A display interface incorporated into a gaming machine, the display interface comprising:

a display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user; and

wherein the display screen presents information regarding cashable and non-cashable credits, and wherein the information is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in a casino gaming machine.

81. A display interface incorporated into a gaming machine, the display interface comprising:

a display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user; and

wherein the display screen provides dynamically updating awards information to non-club members and non-involved club members to tempt the non-club members and non-involved club members with dynamically updating awards information that is associated with current game play, and wherein the information is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in a casino gaming machine.

82. A gaming system, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine includes a display screen, and wherein each display screen presents information and incorporates the use of frames; and

wherein the frames are controlled by a frame management system that assigns priorities and rules to the frames, and wherein the frames are displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in a casino gaming machine.

83. An embedded additional user interface incorporated into a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and a gaming processor, the embedded additional user interface comprising:

a display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user via the display screen;

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the embedded processor reads incoming data and maps the data to the display screen; and

a game state recovery system that provides protection against losses due to power failures and other outages.

84. A gaming system, comprising:

one or more gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine includes a display screen and wherein the display screen presents information to a user; and

a gaming luck meter that provides beneficial statistical deviation information, wherein the gaming luck meter is presented on the display screen that monitors and displays recent statistical deviations for that gaming machine, and wherein the meter is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in a casino gaming machine.

85. A gaming system, comprising:

one or more gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine includes a display screen that presents information to a user; and

a player skill meter associated with each gaming machine, wherein each skill meter presents information that rates the skillfulness of recent game play on the associated gaming machine, and wherein the meter is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in a casino gaming machine.

86. A system gaming platform, comprising:

one or more gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine includes a display screen that presents information to a user; and

wherein each gaming machine enables a carded player to save game meter accounts for later use by the player on any gaming machine within the system gaming platform, and wherein the information is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in a casino gaming machine.

87. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine capable of playing a first game;

a player tracking user interface operatively coupled to the gaming machine, wherein the player tracking user interface is capable of playing a second game, and wherein the player tracking user interface includes a display screen capable of rendering a plurality of overlapping web browser interface frames; and

a frame manager, wherein the frame manager coordinates frame requests for viewing priority on the display screen, thereby ensuring proper priority to a topmost visible frame;

wherein the gaming system enables a player to activate the second game displayed on the player tracking user interface; and

wherein the activation is funded using player funds and promotional funds.

88. The gaming system of claim 87, wherein the frame manager uses XML template files that contain business rules to ensure proper priority of the frames.

89. The gaming system of claim 87, wherein the frame manager uses a frame manager business rule engine that determines proper time for presenting information or frames to the user.

90. The gaming system of claim 87, wherein frames that are not the topmost visible frame are buffered by the frame manager.

91. The gaming system of claim 87, wherein frames that are not the topmost visible frame are relayed as secondary non-visible frames by the frame manager.

92. The gaming system of claim 87, wherein the frame manager enables use of a floating topmost visible frame that still allows a secondary frame to be partially viewed beneath the floating topmost visible frame.

93. The gaming system of claim 87, wherein the frame manager enables use of split screens, wherein the topmost visible frame shared a portion of the display screen with a secondary visible frame.