Apparatus and methods for implementing bonuses in gaming machine networks using weighted pay tables

A bonus award device configured to award a bonus to a player of one or more wager-based games of chance, the bonus award device comprising:

• an I/O mechanism configured to receive a portable medium and read information on the portable medium indicating a bonus award to be provided;
• a controller configured to:
• i) respond to reading the information indicating the bonus award to be provided,
• ii) select one of a plurality of weighted pay tables stored in a storage medium, each weighted pay table including a plurality of award values and a plurality of probabilities, each award value having an associated one of the probabilities, the award values of a first one of the weighted pay tables being in a first range, the award values of a second one of the weighted pay tables being in a second range, the first range being different from the second range,
• iii) randomly determine one of the plurality of award values in the selected weighted pay table in accordance with the plurality of probabilities, the randomly determined award value being a bonus award, and
• iv) provide a bonus award notification including information related to the bonus award;
• and
• a display configured to display a presentation of the bonus award notification.

A method for awarding a bonus to a player of a gaming device configured to play one or more games of chance responsive to an indication of a wager, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication of a bonus award to be provided to a player of the gaming device;
• selecting one of a plurality of weighted pay tables stored in a storage medium, each weighted pay table including a plurality of award values and a plurality of probabilities, each award value having an associated one of the probabilities, the award values of a first one of the weighted pay tables being in a first range, the award values of a second one of the weighted pay tables being in a second range, the first range being different from the second range;
• randomly determining one of the plurality of award values in the selected weighted pay table in accordance with the plurality of probabilities, the randomly determined award value being a bonus award;
• and
• providing a bonus award notification including information related to the bonus award.