GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A GROUP EVENT ELIGIBILITY SEQUENCE AND A GROUP EVENT

A gaming system including one or more group event eligibility sequences. Each group event eligibility sequence is associated with a set duration. In these embodiments, if one or more players at one or more gaming machines collectively satisfy a group event eligibility threshold within the set duration of an initiated or triggered group event eligibility sequence, the gaming system determines that such players are eligible to participate in a group event. For the group event, the gaming system provides one or more group event awards to such participating players. Enable each player at each of the EGMs "to place a wager to play a primary game ''-102 For each player at each EGM that places a wager, generate and display a plurality of primary game symbols 104 Determine and display any primary game awards associated with the generated primary game symbols 106 Did any No group event eligibility unit accumulation events occur? Accumulate a group event eligibility unit associated with the group event eligibility unit accumulation event which occurred, the accumulated group event eligibility unit is associated with a set duration before that group event eligibility unit expires a 120 1lSet a counter at a predefined duration designated 12-L associated with the accumulated No quantity of different group event group event eligibility unit eligibility units currentlyT accmuatd?114-_ Modify the set counter Yes at designated intervals Enable each player at each 116 EGM associated with a currently Has accumulated group eligibility unit ~12the set counter N to participate in a bonus event for any accumulated group N eligibility units expired? Provide each participating player--14+e with a group event award ~12Ye 118 Eliminate the group eligibility unit 1181 for any of the accumulated group eligibility units with an expired counter