Patent ID: 8613649

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming devices; and a controller configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to: (a) repeatedly acquire a plurality of ranking components from each of the plurality of gaming devices, wherein the ranking components are based, at least in part, on game play activity from the plurality of gaming devices, (b) at a first point in time: (i) determine, based on the acquired ranking components at the first point in time, a first ranking of each of the plurality of the gaming devices, wherein for each of said gaming devices, the determined first ranking of said gaming device is based on a comparison of the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the first point in time relative the acquired ranking components of each of the other gaming devices at the first point in time, (ii) for each of the gaming devices, determine a first probability of being selected to win a designated award, the first probability being greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent and the determination being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined first rankings, and (iii) if a triggering event occurs: (A) select at least one of the gaming devices, said selection being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined first probabilities, and (B) cause the at least one selected gaming device to provide the designated award, and (c) at a second, different point in time: (i) determine, based on the acquired ranking components at the second point in time, a second ranking of each of the plurality of the gaming devices, wherein for each of said gaming devices, the determined second ranking of said gaming device is based on a comparison of the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the second point in time relative the acquired ranking components of each of the other gaming devices at the second point in time, (ii) for each of the gaming devices, determine a second probability of being selected to win the designated award, the second probability being greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent and the determination being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined second rankings, and (iii) if the triggering event occurs: (A) select at least one of the gaming devices, said selection being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined second probabilities, and (B) cause the at least one selected gaming device to provide the designated award.