Patent ID: 8715054

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a game controller configured to execute game play of a given game at a gaming machine, the game controller selectively executing game play of the given game in either a normal mode or free mode; a credit meter under control of the game controller, wherein the credit meter is activated during game play of the given game in the normal mode; a cash input mechanism under control of the game controller, wherein the cash input mechanism is activated during game play of the given game in the normal mode; and a free mode interface configured to communicate with the game controller to initiate game play of the given game in the free mode; wherein the game controller is configured to deactivate the credit meter during game play of the given game in the free mode to prevent modification of real credits in the credit meter; and wherein the game controller is configured to deactivate the cash input mechanism during game play of the given game in the free mode to prevent modification of real credits in the credit meter through cash purchases of real credits.