Patent ID: 8545315

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: a. providing a plurality of gaming terminals linked together via a network, the plurality of gaming terminals comprising at least a first gaming terminal; b. receiving a first request from a first player to play a first sweepstakes game on the first gaming terminal, wherein the first request qualifies the first player to be eligible to win an award associated with the first sweepstakes game; c. in response to receiving the first request: i. receiving a participation credit to play the first sweepstakes game; ii. presenting an option to the first player to participate in a first sweepstakes game-in-game on the first gaming terminal so that the first player can play the first sweepstakes game and concurrently be eligible to win one or more prizes from the first sweepstakes game-in-game, wherein an outcome of the first sweepstakes game-in-game is independent of the outcome of the first sweepstakes game; iii. receiving a second request; and iv. in response to receiving the second request within a predetermined time limit, granting the first player eligibility to win one or more prizes from the first sweepstakes game-in-game; d. triggering a play of the first sweepstakes game-in-game; and e. notifying the first player of their eligibility to win one or more prizes from the play of the first sweepstakes game-in-game, wherein once the second sweepstakes game-in-game is triggered to play, the second sweepstakes game-in-game automatically plays on a server without input from the first gaming terminal.