Patent ID: 7766744

Claim:
A method of tracking play of a game, comprising the steps of: receiving a first set of game outcomes from play of a game associated with a first enterprise, wherein the first set of game outcomes include final game outcomes and intermediary game outcomes; storing the first set of game outcomes in a database maintained by an enterprise organizationally distinct from the first enterprise and the second enterprise; receiving a second set of game outcomes from play of a second game associated with a second enterprise independent from the first enterprise, wherein the second set of game outcomes includes final game outcomes and intermediary game outcomes; and storing the second set of game outcomes in the database and awarding a progressive bonus that is incremented based upon the stored first set of game outcomes associated with a set of participating progressive bonus players and the stored second set of game outcomes associated with the set of participating progressive bonus players, and a progressive bonus parameter set; wherein the progressive bonus parameter set includes a time period in which the outcomes in the first set of game outcomes occurred and the outcomes in the second set of game outcomes occurred.