Patent ID: 8062122

Claim:
A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising: displaying, on a device associated with a gaming device configured to display a play of a wagering game, a first quantity of game plays of the wagering game purchased by and available to the player of the gaming device, the first quantity of game plays being greater than zero and distinct from a first quantity of credits available to the player for wagering on the wagering game, said first quantity of credits being available, independent of the first quantity of game plays, to be cashed out by the player and said first quantity of game plays not being available to be cashed out by the player; causing a processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine that the player has initiated a play of the wagering game using one of the first quantity of game plays and at least one wagered credit of the first quantity of credits available; if the player initiated the play of the wagering game using one of the first quantity of game plays, without reducing any quantity of credits available: (i) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reduce the displayed first quantity of game plays by one; (ii) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a second quantity of game plays available to the player, the second quantity of game plays being distinct from the first quantity of credits available to the player for wagering on the wagering game and said second quantity of game plays not being available to be cashed out by the player; and (iii) displaying, on the device associated with the gaming device, the second quantity of game plays available to the player; and if the player initiated the play of the wagering game using the at least one wagered credit of the first quantity of credits available, without reducing any quantity of game plays: (i) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reduce the first quantity of credits available by the at least one wagered credit; and (ii) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a second quantity of credits available, the second quantity of credits being available, independent of any quantity of game plays, to be cashed out by the player.