Reserve credits for use on gaming device

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of electronic gaming machines, each of which includes:

a non-transitory memory device configured to store computer-readable instructions to facilitate play of the electronic gaming machine including generating a random outcome for each play of a game on the gaming machine,

a display screen for displaying the outcome of games played on the electronic gaming machine;

an accepting device configured to engage a physical item associated with a monetary value, the monetary value establishing a credit balance that is decreasable based on at least wagering activity,

at least one meter to track the wagers made and awards paid for each play of a game on the gaming machine, and

a cashout actuator operative to redeem the credit balance by at least one of a ticket printer operatively connected to each gaming device, a coin hopper operatively connected to each gaming device, a currency dispenser, or an electronic account to which value is transferred;

a network operatively connecting the gaming machines;

a player tracking system, the player tracking system tracking play by players of the electronic gaming machines and being operatively connected to the network, the player tracking system receiving at least some of the data tracked by the at least one meter over the network;

at least one computing processor operatively connected to the network, the at least one processor configured to execute computer readable program code to implement a method comprising:

(a) accessing the player tracking system;

(b) determining from the data in the player tracking system if at least some of the stored wagers and awards, if any, are less than a predefined criterion that is a function of at least one of the wagers or awards;

(c) sending a command over the network to the one electronic gaming device if the game awards are less than the predefined criterion;

(d) applying a first credit to a credit meter associated with the one electronic gaming device in response to the command;

(e) preventing the applied first credit from being cashed out;

(f) permitting the player to use the applied first credit to play a game on the one electronic gaming device;

(g) determining the value of an award, if any, resulting from the game played using the applied first credit;

(h) determining whether the value of the award resulting from the game played using the applied credit is above a predefined value;

(i) if the value of the award from the game played using the applied credit is above the predefined value, receiving a wager from the credit balance in response to a player-actuated input;

(j) if the value of the award from the game played using the applied credit is below the predefined value:

applying a second credit to a credit meter associated with the one electronic gaming device in response to a pay command sent on the network;

preventing the applied second credit from being cashed out;

permitting the player to use the applied second credit to play a game on the one electronic gaming device; and

(k) periodically performing steps (a) through (j) while the player plays the game.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the predefined criterion comprises an amount of money.

3. The gaming system of claim 2 wherein the amount of money comprises a function of at least one of an amount wagered by the player and an amount won by the player.

4. The gaming system of claim 2 wherein the amount of money is related to the total awards generated as a result of game play.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the predefined criterion comprises tracking consecutive losses after an initial wager.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the predefined criterion comprises tracking consecutive game outcomes-that are each below a predefined level.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the implemented method further comprises changing the predefined criterion from a user-operated input device operatively connected to the network.

8. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the implemented method further comprises:

establishing at least one qualification criterion for the one electronic gaming device to receive the pay command; and

not sending the pay command unless the criterion is met.

9. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of electronic gaming machines, each of which includes:

a non-transitory memory device configured to store computer-readable instructions to facilitate play of the electronic gaming machine including generating a random outcome for each play of a game on the gaming machine,

a display screen for displaying the outcome of games played on the electronic gaming machine;

an accepting device configured to engage a physical item associated with a monetary value, the monetary value establishing a credit balance that is decreasable based on at least wagering activity,

at least one meter to track the wagers made and awards paid for each play of a game on the gaming machine, and

a cashout actuator operative to redeem the credit balance by at least one of a ticket printer operatively connected to each gaming device, a coin hopper operatively connected to each gaming device, a currency dispenser, and an electronic account to which value is transferred;

a network operatively connecting the gaming machines;

a player tracking system, the player tracking system tracking play by players of the electronic gaming machines and being operatively connected to the network, the player tracking system receiving at least some of the data tracked by the at least one meter over the network;

at least one computing processor operatively connected to the network, the at least one processor configured to execute computer readable program code to implement a method comprising:

identifying a losing experience as a function of game outcomes;

storing the losing experience in a computer memory operatively connected to the network;

determining whether outcomes of games played by a player comprise the losing experience;

if the outcomes of games played by the player comprise the losing experience, awarding the player a credit via a network pay command that applies the credit to a credit meter associated with the one electronic gaming device;

preventing the applied credit from being cashed out;

permitting the player to use the applied credit to play another game on the one electronic gaming device;

determining one of the random outcomes for the game played using the applied credit;

determining whether the value of the award, if any, resulting from the game played using the applied credit results in the losing experience;

if the value of the award from the game played using the applied credit does not result in the losing experience, receiving a wager from the credit balance in response to a player-actuated input; and

if the value of the award, if any, from the game played using the applied credit results in the losing experience:

applying a credit to a credit meter associated with the one electronic gaming device in response to a pay command,

preventing the applied credit from being cashed out, and

permitting the player to use the applied credit to play an additional game on the one electronic gaming device.

10. The gaming system of claim 9 wherein the losing experience comprises a plurality of consecutive outcomes in which game awards are less than a predefined amount.

11. The gaming system of claim 10 wherein the predefined amount is a function of the total amount wagered by the player.

12. The gaming system of claim 10 wherein the first of the plurality of consecutive outcomes comprises the first outcome after the player applies an initial amount to a credit meter associated with the one electronic gaming device.

13. The gaming system of claim 12 wherein the initial amount is above a predefined value.

14. The gaming system of claim 9 wherein the credit applied to the credit meter associated with the one gaming device comprises a credit in an amount sufficient to play only one additional game.

15. The gaming system of claim 14 wherein the implemented method further comprises after the additional game, continuing to award a credit via at least one command sent over the network in an amount sufficient to play only one game until the outcome of any of the games generates an award above a predefined amount.

16. The gaming system of claim 9 wherein the implemented method further comprises for the game played with the applied credit and for each game played with an applied credit subsequent thereto, awarding a credit in an amount sufficient to play only one game until the player cashes out or the game outcome is associated with an award above a predefined amount.

17. The gaming system of claim 9 wherein the losing experience is related to the amount of game outcomes wagered on and lost by the player.

18. The gaming system of claim 9 wherein the implemented method further comprises identifying a losing experience as a function of game outcomes via a user-operated input device located on the network.

19. The gaming system of claim 9 wherein the wherein the implemented method further comprises:

waiting a predefined time after awarding the player a credit;

determining whether each applied credit was used to play a game after waiting; and

if the applied credit was not used to play a game, preventing the applied credit from being used to play a game.

20. The gaming system of claim 9 wherein the implemented method further comprises:

establishing at least one qualification criterion for the one electronic gaming device to receive the command; and

not sending the command unless the criterion is met.