Patent ID: 7722464

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; (c) determine if a triggering event will occur; and (d) if the triggering 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) cause the triggering player to participate in a first bonus event, (iii) randomly determine a first bonus event award for said triggering player, (iv) if the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said triggering player exceeds a threshold amount, cause the first bonus event award determined for the triggering player to be modified by a triggering player modifier and a first accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said triggering player, (v) cause at least one of the auxiliary players to participate in the first bonus event, (vi) randomly determine a first bonus event award for each auxiliary player participating in the first bonus event, and (vii) for each auxiliary player participating in the first bonus event, cause the first bonus event award determined for said auxiliary player to be modified by a second accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player.