Patent ID: 7857699

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a controller; a plurality of gaming devices configured to communicate with the controller, each gaming device including a primary game operable upon a wager by a player; a bonus event; and an accumulated value pool associated with the plurality of gaming devices; said controller programmed to: (a) accumulate amounts in the accumulated value pool based on portions of a plurality of the wagers placed on the primary games, (b) determine if a triggering condition occurs, wherein the triggering condition is based at least in part on whether the accumulated value pool reaches a target value, and (c) if the triggering condition occurs: (i) provide a bidding sequence, wherein at least one eligible player playing at said gaming devices is enabled to place at least one bid, (ii) determine which of the bids placed in the bidding sequence is a winning bid, and (iii) enable the player who places the winning bid to participate in the bonus event, wherein said bonus event results in a bonus award.