Patent ID: 8376833

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, via user input, values for variables related to a wagering game contest, wherein the variables define parameters of the wagering game contest prior to initiation of the wagering game contest; detecting data for gaming activity that occurred during a past time period via a plurality of wagering game sessions conducted via game play of a plurality of wagering games, wherein at least one of the values for the variables indicates the past time period; computing, via one or more processors, an expected value of an award for the wagering game contest based on the values for the variables and the data for the gaming activity, wherein the expected value represents a theoretical projected amount of money that would be accumulated via a portion of game wagers over a future time period based on the values for the variables and the data for the gaming activity that occurred during the past time period; and funding, via at least one of the one or more processors, the award for the wagering game contest with an amount of money equivalent in value to the expected value, wherein the funding is from a source of money other than from the portion of the game wagers.