Patent ID: 7963847

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming devices including: (i) a first gaming device including at least one display device configured to operate to display a first wagering game upon a placement of a first wager, wherein said first wagering game has a first average expected wagering game payback percentage; and (ii) a second gaming device including at least one display device configured to operate to display a second wagering game upon a placement of a second wager, wherein said second wagering game has a second, different average expected wagering game payback percentage; and a controller configured to communicate with said gaming devices, the controller programmed to: (a) maintain an accumulated wager pool during a bonus event accumulation period, said accumulated wager pool at least including: (i) a first gaming device accumulated wager pool amount, said first gaming device accumulated wager pool amount based on: (1) the first average expected wagering game payback percentage of the first wagering game of the first gaming device, and (2) any wager amount placed at the first gaming device, and (ii) a different, second gaming device accumulated wager pool amount, said second gaming device accumulated wager pool amount based on: (1) the second average expected wagering game payback percentage of the second wagering game of the second gaming device, and (2) any wager amount placed at the second gaming device; (b) determine a bonus award based, at least in part, on the accumulated wager pool; and (c) cause the determined bonus award to be displayed and provided to a player.