Patent ID: 8113946

Claim:
A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising: (a) at a first point in time, determining, via a processor of a device operable to facilitate a wagering game: (i) a current time, and (ii) a reference time, wherein at the first point in time, the reference time is different than the current time, the determined reference time is independent of any randomly generated outcome for any play of the wagering game and the device is at least one of a gaming device, a server operatively connected to the gaming device, and a handheld portable device; and (b) at a second, subsequent point in time, when the then current time has a predetermined relationship to the determined reference time: (i) determining whether a player has satisfied at least one criterion, said determination being independent of any randomly generated outcome for any play of the wagering game; and (ii) if the determination is that the player has satisfied the at least one criterion, providing a payment having a value greater than zero, wherein the payment is guaranteed to be provided upon the then current time having the predetermined relationship to the determined reference time and the determination to provide the payment is not dependent on any randomly generated outcome for any play of the wagering game.