Patent ID: 8360850

Claim:
A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising: (a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to maintain a bonus accumulation pool; (b) for each of any of a plurality of gaming devices that generate a designated number of triggering symbols in association with a play of a primary game: (i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to contribute an average expected payout of a gaming device triggered bonus game to the maintained bonus accumulation pool, and (ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to accumulate a quantity of triggering symbols for a player of said gaming device; and (c) for a play of a gaming system triggered bonus game: (i) enabling one of the players of one of the gaming devices to redeem a quantity of accumulated triggering symbols for a gaming system triggered bonus game award, wherein a value of said gaming system triggered bonus game award is based, at least in part, on said quantity of redeemed accumulated triggering symbols, and (ii) causing one of the gaming devices to provide the gaming system triggered bonus game award to the player that redeemed the quantity of accumulated triggering symbols, wherein said gaming system triggered bonus game award is funded by the maintained bonus accumulation pool.