Systems and/or methods for player-controlled participation in random rewards

A method of playing a gaming device connected in a networked gaming environment, the method comprising:

• providing a base game playable by the gaming device, the base game being configured to award credits to the gaming device in dependence on a signal received from a jackpot controller connected in the networked gaming environment;
• providing at least one random rewards scenario enterable by the gaming device, the at least one random rewards scenario being configured to award credits to the gaming device in dependence on a signal received from a random rewards jackpot controller connected to the networked gaming environment;
• displaying the base game on a display of the gaming device;
• receiving a form of payment from a payment acceptor in exchange for credits usable on the gaming device;
• allocating credits between a base game credit meter and a random rewards credit meter in dependence on input received from a player of the gaming device, the base game credit meter representing credits usable in connection with the base game and the random rewards credit meter representing credits to be contributed to at least one random rewards pool corresponding to one said random rewards scenario,
• wherein the at least one random rewards scenario is independent of the base game,
• wherein a number of credits contributable to the base game from the base game credit meter is independent of a number of credits contributable to the at least one random rewards scenario from the random rewards credit meter, and
• wherein payouts for the at least one random rewards scenario are disbursable independent of payouts for the base game.

A networked gaming system, comprising:

• a plurality of gaming devices comprising gaming machines and/or table games;
• a jackpot controller configured to calculate and disburse payouts for a base game playable by at least some of the gaming devices;
• and
• a random rewards jackpot controller configured to calculate and disburse payouts for at least one predefined random rewards scenario available to at least some of the gaming devices,
• wherein payouts for the at least one random rewards scenario are disbursable independent of payouts for the base game, and
• wherein each said gaming device comprises:
• at least one display configured to display a base game provided to the gaming device,
• a payment acceptor configured to receive a form of payment from a player in exchange for credits usable on the gaming device, and
• a random rewards machine controller configured to enable the player of the gaming device to allocate credits between a base game credit meter and a random rewards credit meter, the base game credit meter representing credits usable in connection with the base game and the random rewards credit meter representing credits usable in connection with at least one random rewards pool corresponding to one said random rewards scenario,
• wherein the at least one random rewards scenario is independent of the base game, and
• wherein a number of credits contributable to the respective base game from the base game credit meter is independent of a number of credits contributable to the at least one random rewards scenario from the random rewards credit meter.

A gaming device for use in a networked gaming environment, the networked gaming environment including a jackpot controller configured to calculate and disburse payouts for a base game playable by the gaming device and a random rewards jackpot controller configured to calculate and disburse payouts for at least one predefined random rewards scenario available to the gaming device, said gaming device comprising:

• at least one display configured to display a base game provided to the gaming device;
• a payment acceptor configured to receive a form of payment from a player in exchange for credits usable on the gaming device;
• and
• wherein a random rewards machine controller provided to the network is configured to allocate credits between a base game credit meter and a random rewards credit meter on behalf of a player, the base game credit meter representing credits usable in connection with the base game and the random rewards credit meter representing credits usable in connection with at least one random rewards pool corresponding to one said random rewards scenario,
• wherein the at least one random rewards scenario is independent of the base game,
• wherein a number of credits contributable to the base game from the base game credit meter is independent of a number of credits contributable to the at least one random rewards scenario from the random rewards credit meter, and
• wherein payouts for the at least one random rewards scenario are disbursable independent of payouts for the base game.

A method of managing a plurality of credit meters provided to a gaming device, the method comprising:

• providing a first credit meter, said first credit meter being configured to provide credits to a base game playable via the gaming device;
• defining at least one secondary service accessible via the gaming device;
• providing at least one second credit meter, each said second credit meter being associated with one said secondary service such that a secondary service is fundable with credits only from its respective second credit meter;
• and
• distributing credits among the plurality of credit meters based on patron input to the gaming device.