Patent ID: 8480482

Claim:
A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising: causing at least one display device to display a value of a single wagering credit balance of a gaming device; causing a processor to determine if the value of the single wagering credit balance exceeds a predetermined threshold; receiving a wager on a play of a game; regardless of whether the value of the single wagering credit balance is determined to exceed the predetermined threshold and independent of any player selection of the single wagering credit balance, causing the processor to deduct the received wager from the single wagering credit balance; causing the processor to determine an outcome of the play of the game; causing the processor to provide any award based on the determined outcome; and if the determination was that the value of the single wagering credit balance exceeded the predetermined threshold: (a) causing the processor to determine a benefit for the play of the game in addition to said determined outcome, and (b) causing the processor to provide the determined benefit.