Wagering system including tournament mode and third party bettor interface

A method of operating a gaming system including a set of networked gaming machines, the method including:

• (a) under control of a tournament controller operatively connected to a set of networked gaming machines, configuring at least some of the set of networked gaming machines to work in a competition operating mode for group play;
• and
• (b) during the competition operating mode, providing a competition wager interface under control of the tournament controller or a tournament wagering controller connected to the tournament controller, including a first historical display area showing a number of past tournament winner point totals, a second players remaining interface display area showing a group of currently remaining gaming machines in the competition and their point totals and enabling selection of one or more of the currently remaining gaming machines to wager upon, and a third wagering interface display area controlled by the selection of the one or more currently remaining gaming machines and presenting a group of potential wagers to be made on the eventual outcome of the competition, at least some of the potential wagers presented with a target point total and calculated wager odds of reaching said target point total;
• (c) enabling at least one device connected to the network to access the competition wager interface and allow a first bettor on the device to view, make selections, and activate wagers on the eventual outcome of the competition through the competition wager interface, the device comprising a terminal or one of the networked gaming machines with the bettor interface displayed on a secondary display of the networked gamine machine;
• and
• (d) awarding a prize to the first bettor based on winning their activated wager.