Bonusing Architectures in a Gaming Environment

A server comprising:

• a processor;
• a communication interface;
• a memory storing a plurality of records related to states in a bonus game with persistence, wherein each of the plurality of records includes information regarding at least one record locator, an expiration time associated with the record and information regarding a state in the bonus game with persistence, said information regarding the state including a status of a plurality of achievements;
• said server designed or configured to:
• 1) communicate with a plurality of gaming machine via the communication interface, 2) receive information from a gaming machine related to a first record locator detected at the gaming machine;
• 3) locate the record associated with the first record locator;
• 4) compare information stored on the server pertaining to a record locator associated with the record with the information received from the gaming machine relating to the first record locator;
• 5) send information regarding a first state in the bonus game associated with the record to the gaming machine and instantiate a session wherein during the session only the gaming machine is permitted to provide to the server an update to the first state associated with bonus game;
• 6) in response to receiving information from the gaming machine related to a change in the status of one of the plurality of achievements associated with the state of the bonus game, update the record from the first state to a second state to reflect the change in the status of the one of the plurality of achievements;
• and 7) check the expiration time of each of the plurality of records, determine based upon the expiration time that a first record is to be closed, and in response to the determination, determine a value of the first record based upon at least the status of the plurality of achievements associated with the first record and close out the first record wherein the value associated with the first record is credited to an award pool.