1. A method of operating a matching game for play by a plurality of players which is triggered while the plurality of players are performing a transaction, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a request to initiate a transaction by a player via a gaming machine, the request including a unique player identification; determining a player tracking account associated with the player in response to the request, the player tracking account including a first set of symbols selected from a predefined set of symbols; generating a second set of symbols as a function of the first set of symbols; initiating a matching game including randomly selecting a match set of symbols from the predefined set of symbols; and determining a number of matched symbols included in the match set of symbols and the second set of symbols and responsively providing an award to the player as a function of the number of matched symbols.