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A method and article of manufacture for implementing a user profile-driven gaming and prize redeeming system is disclosed. The user profile-driven gaming and prize redemption system allows for the tailoring of a user's experience of playing a computer implemented game on a network gaming system by f

A method and article of manufacture for implementing a user profile-driven gaming and prize redeeming system is disclosed. The user profile-driven gaming and prize redemption system allows for the tailoring of a user's experience of playing a computer implemented game on a network gaming system by first receiving an identifier selected from a group of identifiers including a user identifier relating to the user (i.e., player) of the network gaming system, a game identifier relating to a particular game played by the user of the network gaming system, and a site identifier relating to the location (i.e., web site) from which the game is being played. The network gaming system then alters the computer-implemented game played by the user in a manner based upon the selected identifier. The foregoing technique may also be applied to a prize redemption system.

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1. A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play of tournament games, the gaming system comprising: a game server;a gaming web site operated by a casino and accessible by a player via one or more access portal sites, wherein the server reconfigures the web site

1. A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play of tournament games, the gaming system comprising: a game server;a gaming web site operated by a casino and accessible by a player via one or more access portal sites, wherein the server reconfigures the web site in response to an access portal site from which the player enters; anda plurality of game units connected to the game server over a network;wherein the gaming system obtains user information for a user playing a game;wherein the gaming system utilizes websites or web pages to provide a redemption of prize credits or merchandise prizes earned in a tournament game selected from a plurality of tournament games. 2. A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play of tournament games, the gaming system comprising: a game server; anda plurality of game units connected to the game server over a network;wherein the gaming system obtains user information for a user playing a game;wherein the gaming system utilizes websites or web pages to provide a redemption of prize credits or merchandise prizes earned in a tournament game selected from a plurality of tournament games, and wherein the gaming system enables real-time game play on the game units via the network connection to the game server, and wherein the gaming system enables time-based progressive game play in which a progressive prize value grows with respect to time periods rather than wager amounts. 3. A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play of tournament games, the gaming system comprising: a game server; anda plurality of game units connected to the game server over a network;wherein the gaming system obtains user information for a user playing a game;wherein the gaming system utilizes websites or web pages to provide a redemption of prize credits or merchandise prizes earned in a tournament game selected from a plurality of tournament games,wherein business rules employed by the tournament games vary based upon a web portal site through which the game was accessed. 4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the server stores the casino game play data, and wherein the gaming system enables a player to be notified via e-mail of the game play data. 5. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the game play data includes tournament game play data. 6. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the game server modifies prize credits that can be won on a game unit based on business rules. 7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the business rules include a current total number of specific prize credits a current player has been rewarded in the past. 8. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the business rules include a desired payout percentage. 9. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the business rules include a current average number of game credits that the current player spends per game. 10. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the business rules include a current total number of specific prize credits available. 11. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the business rules include a value of game credit. 12. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the business rules vary based upon a player profile. 13. The gaming system of claim 3, further comprising a gaming web site operated by a casino and accessible by a player, wherein the server reconfigures the web site in response to a registered player profile. 14. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the gaming system enables game-related data to be communicated between the server and the game unit over a Secure Socket Layer. 15. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the gaming system includes vendor sponsored progressive prizes. 16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the gaming system includes vendor sponsored progressive prizes. 17. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the gaming system enables player profile data to be communicated between the server and the game unit over a Secure Socket Layer. 18. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the gaming system enables profile driven network gaming in which game units are reconfigured in response to player profile information. 19. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the game server and each game unit include a Uniform Resource Locator, and wherein calls executed by an application program interface include URL-based calls. 20. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein a percentage of game credit revenue is paid to a developer of the game. 21. The gaming system of claim 3, further comprising a partner web site that provides access to at least one game in communication with the prize database server, wherein a percentage of game credit revenue is paid to the partner web site. 22. A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play of tournament games, the gaming system comprising: a game server; anda plurality of game units connected to the game server over a network,wherein the gaming system obtains user information for a user playing a game;wherein the gaming system utilizes websites or web pages to provide a redemption of prize credits or merchandise prizes earned in a tournament game selected from a plurality of tournament games,wherein the gaming system enables messages to be sent, containing key codes and a Universal Resource Locator, that act as electronic promotional coupons to provide a predetermined amount of game credits.