Patent ID: 8684817

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: at least one processor; at least one input device; at least one display device; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which 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 at least one input device to: (a) cause a credit meter to display an amount of credits; (b) enable a player to designate an amount of said displayed credits as a placed wager amount on a play of a wagering game; (c) in addition to the credit meter and separate from any occurrence of any secondary game triggering condition, maintain an amount of equity for the player by: (i) accumulating an amount of equity for the player based on the placed wager amount, wherein different placed wager amounts accumulate different amounts of equity, and (ii) at designated predetermined time intervals, reducing an amount of any accumulated equity for the player; (d) display an amount of time remaining until the amount of accumulated equity for the player is reduced to a designated amount of equity; (e) for the play of the wagering game: (i) randomly determine an outcome, (ii) display the determined outcome, (iii) determine an award amount associated with the displayed outcome, (iv) display the determined award amount, and (v) increment the credit meter by any determined award amount having a value greater than zero, said credit meter being distinct from the amount of maintained equity; and (f) if a secondary game triggering condition occurs: (i) determine whether at least the designated amount of equity is maintained for the player, (ii) if the determination is that at least the designated amount of equity is maintained for the player: (A) enable the player to participate in a secondary game, wherein the amount of equity maintained for the player determines a value for the secondary game, and (B) display any determined secondary game award to the player, said determined secondary game award based, at least in part, on the determined value, and (iii) if the determination is that at least the designated amount of equity is not maintained for the player, not enable the player to participate in the secondary game.