Patent ID: 8197337

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including: (i) at least one display device, and (ii) at least one input device; and at least one controller configured to operate with each of said gaming devices to: (a) maintain and display at least one gaming system progressive award; (b) for at least one player, maintain at least one personal progressive award, wherein each personal progressive award for each player is funded, at least in part, based on wagers placed by the player on plays of primary games at any of said gaming devices; and (c) if a designated event occurs, (i) determine whether to offer the player said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, (ii) if the determination is to offer the player said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, enable the player to accept or reject said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, (iii) if the player accepts said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, provide to the player said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, and (iv) if the player rejects said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, add said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player to the gaming system progressive award.