Wheel bonus system for games

A system for implementing a benefit providing element distinct from underlying game play, comprising:

• a display located relative a plurality of player stations;
• a controller coupled to the display and configured to controllably display the bonus providing element on the display;
• at least one input device, the at least one input device generating an output in response to activation by a dealer or a player;
• and,
• at least one memory for storing data associated with the bonus providing element, the bonus providing element including first, second, and third concentric rings centered on an axis and a pointer, the data associated with the bonus providing element including:
• a) an identification of a plurality of community benefits;
• b) an identification of the plurality of player stations;
• and,
• c) an identification of a plurality of secondary benefits,
• wherein the controller, in response to a first triggering event, configured to causing the display to:
• rotate the first concentric ring relative to the at least one pointer to provide an indication of a selected one of the plurality of community benefits, wherein the selected one of the plurality of community benefits is associated with qualifying players, and
• rotate the second concentric ring relative to the pointer to provide an indication of a selected one of the player stations, and,
• wherein the controller, in response to a second triggering event, configured to causing the display to rotate the third concentric ring relative to the pointer to provide an indication of a selected one of the secondary benefits, the selected one of the secondary benefits being associated with the selected one of the player stations, wherein the controller utilizes the output of the at least one input device as a function to determine if the second triggering event has occurred, wherein a wager is required by all qualifying players, wherein the second triggering condition includes one of the qualifying players being associated with the selected one of the player stations.

A method for implementing a benefit providing element distinct from underlying game play on a system, the system including a display, a controller and at least one memory, the display being located relative a plurality of player stations, the controller coupled to the display and configured to controllably display the bonus providing element on the display, the at least one memory configured to store data associated with the bonus providing element, the bonus providing element including first, second, and third indicators centered on an axis and a pointer, the data associated with the bonus providing element including (a) an identification of a plurality of community benefits, (b), an identification of the plurality of player stations, (c) an identification of a plurality of secondary benefits, the controller, performing steps of:

• in response to a first triggering event, configured to causing the display to:
• animate the first indicator relative to the at least one pointer to provide an indication of a selected one of the plurality of community benefits, wherein the selected one of the plurality of community benefits is associated with qualifying players, and
• animate the second indicator relative to the pointer to provide an indication of a selected one of the player stations, and,
• in response to a second triggering event, configured to causing the display to animate the third concentric ring relative to the pointer to provide an indication of a selected one of the secondary benefits, the selected one of the secondary benefits being associated with the selected one of the player stations.