High granularity promotion-based awards and use in gaming environments

A method for enhancing game play on a gaming machine having a processor, a memory, and program logic stored in the memory executable to play at least one base game in exchange for a wager, the method comprising:

• receiving a Newprom award not obtained at the gaming machine;
• and
• altering, using the processor, the at least one base game to an enhanced base game state in response to the Newprom award, wherein the Newprom award is configured to add one or more base game play enhancements available to a player only by way of the Newprom award to the at least one base game, thereby altering the at least one base game to the enhanced base game state so that the at least one base game is played with the one or more game play enhancements, wherein the game play enhancements comprise a change in a game play, game format, game style or game type of the at least one base game, additional pay lines to the at least one base game, additional winning indicia for the at least one base game, or any combination thereof.

A method for enhancing game play on a gaming machine having a processor, a memory, and program logic stored in the memory executable to play at least one base game in exchange for a wager, the method comprising:

• receiving a Newprom award not issued by the gaming machine;
• and
• altering, using the processor, the at least one base game to an enhanced base game state in response to the Newprom award, wherein the Newprom award is configured to add one or more base game play enhancements available to a player only by way of the Newprom award to the at least one base game, thereby altering the at least one base game to the enhanced base game state so that the at least one base game is played with the one or more game play enhancements.