Patent ID: 7713124

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming machines; and at least one controller configured to communicate with said gaming machines, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to: (a) identify a plurality of players of said gaming machines; (b) for each identified player, maintain a distinct accumulated bonus event pool for said identified player, wherein the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for the identified player is based on any wagers placed by the identified player on said gaming machines during a designated period; (c) determine if a secondary event will occur; and (d) if the secondary event is determined to occur: (i) designate one of the identified players as a triggering player and designate each of the remaining identified players as auxiliary players, (ii) determine a secondary event award, wherein the determined secondary event award is based, at least in part, on a designated wager placed by the triggering player, (iii) provide a first portion of the determined secondary event award to the triggering player, and (iv) for each auxiliary player: (A) determine a second portion of the determined secondary event award based on the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player relative to the wagers placed by at least a plurality of said identified players during the designated period such that if the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for a first auxiliary player is different than the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for a second, different auxiliary player, the determined second portion for the first auxiliary player is different than the determined second portion for the second auxiliary player, and (B) provide the determined second portion to said auxiliary player, wherein for at least one of said auxiliary players, said provided second portion has a value greater than zero.