Gaming system, gaming device and method for providing group event with individual group event eligibility timers

A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

• upon a triggering of a group event, for each of a plurality of gaming devices participating in the group event:
• (a) responsive to a placement of a wager on a play of a group event wagering game of the triggered group event, causing a display, by a display device, of any award associated with an outcome randomly determined based on a paytable employed for the play of the group event wagering game, wherein a credit balance of one of the gaming devices is increasable based on the award associated with the randomly determined outcome, the credit balance being increasable via an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and the credit balance being decreasable responsive to a cashout input, and
• (b) determining, by a processor, whether said gaming device remains participating in the triggered group event, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on a quantity of wagers placed prior to the triggering of the group event and any wagers placed on the play of the group event wagering game during the triggered group event, wherein a first quantity of wagers placed prior to the triggering of the group event and a first wager placed on the play of the group wagering game during the triggered group event is associated with a first, greater than zero probability of that gaming device remaining participating in the triggered group event and the first quantity of wagers placed prior to the triggering of the group event and a second, different wager placed on the play of the group wagering game during the triggered group event is associated with a second, different greater than zero probability of that gaming device remaining participating in the triggered group event.

A gaming device comprising:

• a display device;
• a payment acceptor:
• a processor;
• and
• a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• (a) responsive to a physical item being received via the payment acceptor, modify a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and
• (b) following a triggering of a group event and a determination to participate in the group event:
• (i) responsive to a placement of a wager on a play of a group event wagering game of the triggered group event, cause the display device to display any award associated with an outcome randomly determined based on a paytable employed for the play of the group event wagering game, wherein the credit balance is decreasable based on the placement of the wager and increasable based on any award associated with the outcome, and
• (ii) receive data associated with a determination of whether to remain participating in the triggered group event, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on a quantity of wagers placed prior to the triggering of the group event and any wagers placed on the play of the group event wagering game during the triggered group event, wherein a first quantity of wagers placed prior to the triggering of the group event and a first wager placed on the play of the group wagering game during the triggered group event is associated with a first, greater than zero probability of remaining participating in the triggered group event and the first quantity of wagers placed prior to the triggering of the group event and a second, different wager placed on the play of the group wagering game during the triggered group event is associated with a second, different greater than zero probability of remaining participating in the triggered group event.