Wagering agent

Abstract

A gaming machine, such as a video slot or video poker machine, may be configured to execute an interface. The gaming machine may be configured to receive, a plurality of times, player input to play a first wagering game on the gaming machine. The gaming machine may be further configured to generate, each time the player input is received, game results for the first wagering game. The gaming machine may also be configured to generate game results for a second wagering game. The gaming machine may also be configured to present an animation of the wagering agent engaging in wagering activities.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
 receiving, by an acceptor, a physical item associated with a monetary value;   establishing, by at least one processor, a first credit balance for a player based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received physical item;   receiving an actuation of a wager button;   placing, by the at least one processor and responsive to the actuation of the wager button, a first wager on a play of a first game using the first credit balance;   allocating, by the at least one processor, some but not all of the wager to a second different credit balance associated with the player;   randomly determining, by the at least one processor, and displaying, by the at least one display device, a first game outcome for said play of the first game;   determining, by the at least one processor, and displaying, by the at least one display device, any first game awards associated with the randomly-determined first game outcome, the first credit balance increasable by any determined first game awards;   upon an occurrence of a triggering event:
 (1) placing, by the at least one processor, a second wager on a play of a second game using the second credit balance; 
 (2) randomly determining, by the at least one processor, and displaying, by the at least one display device, a second game outcome for the play of the second game; and 
 (3) determining, by the at least one processor, and displaying, by the at least one display device, any second game awards associated with the randomly-determined second game outcome for the play of the second game; 
   receiving an actuation of a cashout button; and   initiating, by the at least one processor and responsive to the actuation of the cashout button, a payout associated with the first credit balance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , which includes, if the second credit balance is nonzero upon the actuation of the cashout button: (1) placing, by the at least one processor, a third wager on a second play of the second game; (2) randomly determining, by the at least one processor, and displaying, by the at least one display device, a second game outcome for the second play of the second game; and (3) determining, by the at least one processor, and displaying, by the at least one display device, any second game awards associated with the randomly-determined second game outcome for the second play of the second game. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , which includes, if the second credit balance is nonzero upon the actuation of the cashout button, maintaining, by the at least one processor, the second credit balance in association with the player. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , which includes, upon another occurrence of the triggering event following initiation of the payout associated with the first credit balance: (1) placing, by the at least one processor, a third wager on a second play of the second game, the third wager including the entire second credit balance; (2) randomly determining, by the at least one processor, and causing, by the at least one processor, a mobile device to display a second game outcome for the second play of the second game; and (3) determining, by the at least one processor, and causing, by the at least one processor, the mobile device to display any second game awards associated with the randomly-determined second game outcome for the second play of the second game. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the triggering event occurs at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined intervals are longer following initiation of the payout associated with the first credit balance than they are before initiation of the payout associated with the first credit balance. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event can only occur when the second credit balance is greater than a threshold value. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , which includes enabling the player to deposit funds directly into the second credit meter. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , which includes: (1) receiving, by a player tracking card reader of a player tracking device, a player tracking card; and (2) reading, by the player tracking card reader, the received player tracking card to facilitate storing the second credit balance in association with the player. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , which includes printing, by a ticket printer, a ticket associated with a value representative of the first credit balance responsive to the actuation of the cashout button. 
     
     
         11 . A gaming system comprising:
 a housing;   at least one display device supported by the housing;   a plurality of input devices supported by the housing and including an acceptor;   at least one processor; and   at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to:   establish a first credit balance for a player based at least in part on a monetary value associated a physical item after the acceptor receives the physical item;   place a first wager on a play of a first game using the first credit balance following receipt of an actuation of a wager button;   allocate some but not all of the wager to a second different credit balance associated with the player;   randomly determine and display a first game outcome for said play of the first game;   determine and display any first game awards associated with the randomly-determined first game outcome, the first credit balance increasable by any determined first game awards;   upon an occurrence of a triggering event:
 (1) place a second wager on a play of a second game using the second credit balance; 
 (2) randomly determine and display a second game outcome for the play of the second game; and 
 (3) determine and display any second game awards associated with the randomly-determined second game outcome for the play of the second game; and 
   initiate a payout associated with the first credit balance following receipt of an actuation of a cashout button.   
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to, if the second credit balance is nonzero upon the actuation of the cashout button: (1) place a third wager on a second play of the second game; (2) randomly determine and display a second game outcome for the second play of the second game; and (3) determine and display any second game awards associated with the randomly-determined second game outcome for the second play of the second game. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, if the second credit balance is nonzero upon the actuation of the cashout button, maintain the second credit balance in association with the player. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to, upon another occurrence of the triggering event following initiation of the payout associated with the first credit balance: (1) place a third wager on a second play of the second game, the third wager including the entire second credit balance; (2) randomly determine and cause a mobile device to display a second game outcome for the second play of the second game; and (3) determine and cause the mobile device to display any second game awards associated with the randomly-determined second game outcome for the second play of the second game. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein the triggering event occurs at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined intervals are longer following initiation of the payout associated with the first credit balance than they are before initiation of the payout associated with the first credit balance. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the triggering event can only occur when the second credit balance is greater than a threshold value. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the plurality of input devices to enable the player to deposit funds directly into the second credit meter. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , which includes a player tracking device including a player card reader configured to receive and read a player tracking card to facilitate storing the second credit balance in association with the player. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming system of  claim 19 , which includes a ticket printer configured to print a ticket associated with a value representative of the first credit balance responsive to the actuation of the cashout button.