Abstract: A method of administering an incentive award system is provided, together with apparatus for use in the administration of an incentive award system. The method includes allocating a plurality of merchants into one or more of a plurality of different merchant categories, providing an identifier to a participant and establishing an award account for the participant, the award account comprising an account category associated with each of the merchant categories. Commercial transactions made by the participant at any one of the merchants are monitored, and an award amount is allocated to the account of the participant, the allocation being dependent on the monitored commercial transactions and comprising an allocation of an amount to a plurality of the account categories. Awards allocated to the account of the participant represent awards that are redeemable by the participant for value.