Patent ID: 8012014

Claim:
A method for operating a gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices in communication with a controller, the method comprising: (a) acquiring a plurality of ranking components from each of the plurality of gaming devices, wherein the ranking components are based at least in part on wager activity from a plurality of players of the plurality of gaming devices during a single designated period of time; (b) displaying to the plurality of players a representation of: (i) the single designated period of time, (ii) a first point of time of the single designated period of time, and (iii) a second point of time of the single designated period of time; (c) displaying to the plurality of players an indicator which moves between the first point of time of the single designated period of time and the second point of time of the single designated period of time to indicate a portion, but not all, of the single designated period of time from which the ranking components are acquired from the plurality of players; (d) determining a ranking for each of the plurality of players of the plurality of gaming devices based on the acquired ranking components for each of said players, wherein for each ranked player, the determined ranking of said player is based on a comparison of the acquired ranking components for said player relative to the acquired ranking components for each of the other players, wherein for each ranked player, the acquired ranking components for said player are based at least in part on the wager activity from said player during the single designated period of time; (e) determining if a triggering event occurs; and (f) if the triggering event occurs, (i) selecting at least one player from the plurality of ranked players, wherein for each ranked player, a determination to select said player is based on the determined ranking of said player relative to the determined rankings of the other ranked players; and (ii) providing an award to the selected player, wherein the award is based, at least in part, on the selected player's determined ranking.