System controlled player-related bonuses in gaming machines

A method for remotely configuring a gaming machine over a network from a configuration computer, the method comprising:

• operating a bonus configuration program on a configuration computer remote from the gaming machine, the bonus configuration program including a rule generator comprising a plurality of lists including selectable bonus promotion criteria that are specific to a player playing the gaming machine, including:
• a plurality of possible bonus game triggering criteria;
• a plurality of possible visual activities for display on the gaming machine when the bonus game is triggered;
• a plurality of possible award methods, wherein each of the plurality of award methods defines a method used to determine an item of value to be awarded;
• and
• a plurality of possible items of value awarded to a winner of the bonus game;
• allowing one or more of the bonus promotion criteria to be selected by a network operator and causing the one or more selected criteria to be transmitted over the network to the gaming machine.

An apparatus for an operator of networked gaming machines to remotely configure a bonus game on at least one of the networked gaming machines, at least some of the gaming machines being of a type having a base game display area and a bonus game display area, said apparatus comprising:

• a configuration workstation coupled to the gaming machines over the network, including:
• a monitor for displaying a list of possible bonus game triggering criteria, a plurality of possible visual activities, and a plurality of award methods;
• an input device configured to:
• receive, from the operator, a selection of at least one of the plurality of possible bonus game triggering criteria to thereby define a bonus game triggering criterion related to at least one of the games;
• receive a selection of at least one of the plurality of possible visual activities for presentation on the bonus game display area of the gaming machine being played by the player to which the triggering criterion is related;
• and
• receive a selection of one of the plurality of award methods;
• memory storage accessible by the network for storing the selections, said configuration workstation configured to:
• detect the selected triggering criterion;
• trigger the operation of a bonus game on a gaming machine being played by a player associated with the player data and to which the determined possible bonus game triggering criteria corresponds to;
• and
• award an item of interest at the gaming machine based on the selected award method.