1. A computer implemented gaming method implemented in a gaming network, the gaming network including a first electronic, wager-based gaming device (“first EGD”), the first EGD including a first display, a first input device, and a first bill or ticket acceptor, the method comprising causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions for causing at least one component of the gaming network to: enable a player to engage in interactive game play of a hybrid arcade/wager-based game at the first EGD, the hybrid arcade/wager-based game including a non-wager based gaming portion and a wager-based gaming portion; establish an account balance using at least a portion of cash or credit received via the first bill or ticket acceptor; link a first predetermined wager-based game event outcome to a first in-game event which may occur during play of the non-wager based game portion; detect an occurrence of the first in-game event in the non-wager based game portion; determine if the occurrence of the first in-game event qualifies as a wager-based triggering event; if it is determined that the occurrence of the first in-game event qualifies as a wager-based triggering event, initiate a first wager-based game event; automatically fund an amount wagered on the first wager-based game event using the account balance; reveal, after initiation of the first wager-based game event, the first predetermined wager-based game event outcome as an outcome of the first wager-based game event; establish an account balance using at least a portion of cash or credit received via the first bill or ticket acceptor; link a second predetermined wager-based game event outcome to a second in-game event which may occur during play of the non-wager based game portion; detect an occurrence of the second in-game event in the non-wager based game portion; determine if the occurrence of the second in-game event qualifies as a wager-based triggering event; if it is determined that the occurrence of the second in-game event qualifies as a wager-based triggering event, initiate a second wager-based game event; automatically fund an amount wagered on the second wager-based game event using the account balance; and reveal, after initiation of the second wager-based game event, the second predetermined wager-based game event outcome as an outcome of the second wager-based game event.