Gaming system with social award management

1. A gaming system providing social awards, comprising:

a gaming machine configured to play a wager-based game and produce game information, the wager-based game being operated on the gaming machine for a player; and

a gaming award controller configured to:

determine whether a social award has been earned through playing the wager-based game, the social award being a non-monetary award that is for use with a social game, the social game being a non-wagering game that is separate and distinct from the wager-based game played on the gaming machine; and

award the social award to the player if it is determined that a social award has been earned from playing the wager-based game on the gaming machine, the awarding including electronically transmitting the social award to a player account associated with the player,

wherein, on placing a wager on the wager-based game and then playing and being successful in the wager-based game, the player is directly awarded not only the social award but also a monetary award from playing the wager-based game being operated on the gaming machine, and

wherein the social award is separate and distinct from the monetary award, the social award is usable in playing a social game that is a non-wagering game that is separate and distinct from the wager-based game, and wherein the social game operates on a machine different than the gaming machine and not usable in playing the wager-based game.

2. A social gaming system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the player is concurrently awarded the social award and also the monetary award from playing the wager-based game on the gaming machine.

3. A social gaming system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gaming award controller is further configured to:

present the player with a plurality of different social awards that are available to be awarded; and

receive a player indication of a selected social award from the plurality of different social awards,

wherein the award of the social award awards the selected social award.

4. A social gaming system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the social award is a digital enhancement for used in the social game.

5. A method for managing social awards, comprising:

operating, by a gaming machine, a wager-based game for a player;

determining whether a social award has been earned through playing the wager-based game, the social award being a non-monetary award that is for use with a social game, the social game being a non-wagering game that is separate and distinct from the wager-based game played on the gaming machine; and

awarding the social award to the player if the determining determines that a social award has been earned from playing the wager-based game on the gaming machine, the awarding including electronically transmitting the social award to a player account associated with the player,

wherein the player is awarded not only the social award but also a monetary award from playing the wager-based game being operated on the gaming machine, and

wherein the social award is separate and distinct from the monetary award, the social award is usable in playing a social game operating on a machine different than the gaming machine and not usable in playing the wager-based game.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the player is concurrently awarded the social award and also the monetary award from playing the wager-based game on the gaming machine.

7. A method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the method comprises:

presenting the player with a plurality of different social awards that are available to be awarded; and

receiving a player indication of a selected social award from the plurality of different social awards,

wherein the awarding of the social award awards the selected social award.

8. A method for managing gaming awards, comprising:

determining whether a social award has been earned through playing a social game by a player, the social award being a non-monetary award that is for use with a social game, the social game being a non-wagering game;

determining whether a wagering-game award has been earned by the player through playing the social game, the wagering-game award being a non-monetary award that is for use with a wager-based game played on a gaming apparatus, the social game being distinct from the wager-based game;

awarding the social award to the player if the determining determines that the social award has been earned by the player through playing the social game;

awarding the wagering-game award to the player if the determining determines that the wagering-game award has been earned by the player through playing the social game; and

subsequently facilitating operation of the wager-based game for the player via the gaming apparatus, wherein the wager-based game operates differently dependent on the wagering-game award which was earned by the player through playing the social game such that the player has an increased likelihood of earning a monetary award in playing the wager-based game,

wherein the wager-based game is separate and distinct from the social game.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the method comprises:

electronically storing data identifying the wagering-game award; and

subsequently retrieving the stored data identifying the wagering-based award.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the awarding of the wagering-game award includes electronically transmitting data pertaining to the wagering-game award to a player account associated with the player.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the facilitating of the wager-based game comprises:

associating the player to the wager-based game at the gaming apparatus; and

retrieving the data pertaining to the wagering-game award from the player account associated with the player.

12. A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the social award is a digital enhancement for used in the social game.