Managing virtual currencies in a gaming environment

1. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, over a network, a request to convert a first award earned by a player during a play of a first wager-based game into at least one award in a second wager-based game, wherein the first wager-based game is played at an electronic gaming machine including an acceptor, a cashout device, at least one display device, and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with a physical item received via the acceptor, display the play of the first wager-based game, and cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance if a cashout input is received via the cashout device;

(b) converting, by at least one controller, the first award earned during play of the first wager-based game to at least one award associated with the second wager-based game based on award conversion data, said award conversion data being at least partially based on a paytable of at least one of the first wager-based game and the second wager-based game; and

(c) storing, by the at least one controller, data associated with result of the conversion of the first award into the at least award of the second wager-based game in a data storage system.

2. The method of claim 1 , which includes receiving a request to convert the at least one award into an amount of a virtual currency.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first wager-based game and the second wager-based game are different games.

4. The method of claim 2 , which includes:

determining a first amount of virtual currency that the at least one award is worth using the award conversion data;

converting the at least one award into the first amount of virtual currency; and

updating a total amount of virtual currency associated with the player with the first amount of virtual currency.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the award conversion data specifies, for each award, a first award virtual currency amount that the award is worth when the award is converted into virtual currency.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the award conversion data specifies for each award, a second conversion virtual currency amount necessary for purchasing the award with virtual currency.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the player plays the first wager-based game in a first gaming environment and the second wager-based game in a second gaming environment.

8. An electronic gaming device comprising:

a display device;

an acceptor;

a cashout device;

a user-input panel; and

a game controller having at least one data processor and at least one storage device storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one data processors, cause the at least one data processor to:

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item;

(b) receive player account login information from a user interface, wherein the player account login information is associated with a player;

(c) authenticate the player account login information;

(d) display a first wager-based game including one or more awards earned by the player in other games;

(e) receive a request from the player to convert a second award previously earned by the player during play of a second wager-based game into a first award in the first wager-based game;

(f) transmit the request to convert the second wager-based game award to a player management system;

(g) receive data associated with result of the requested award conversion from the player management system; and

(h) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

9. The electronic gaming device of claim 8 , wherein a total amount of virtual currency associated with the player is displayed during play of the first wager-based game.

10. The electronic gaming device of claim 9 , wherein the player played the first wager-based game in a first gaming environment, and wherein the player played the at least one game in a second gaming environment.

11. The electronic gaming device of claim 10 , wherein the first gaming environment is a first casino.

12. The electronic gaming device of claim 11 , wherein the second gaming environment is a second casino.

13. The electronic gaming device of claim 11 , further comprising displaying a first wager-based game visual representation of virtual currency associated with a player account of the player.

14. A computer-readable storage medium having machine instructions stored therein, the instructions being executable by a processor to cause the processor to:

(a) receive, over a network, a request to convert a first award earned by a player during a play of a first wager-based game into at least one award in a second wager-based game, wherein the first wager-based game is played at an electronic gaming machine including an acceptor, a cashout device, at least one display device, and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with a physical item received via the acceptor, display the play of the first wager-based game, and cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance if a cashout input is received via the cashout device;

(b) convert the first award earned during play of the first wager-based game to at least one award associated with the second wager-based game based on award conversion data, said award conversion data being at least partially based on a paytable of at least one of the first wager-based game and the second wager-based game; and

(c) store data associated with result of the conversion of the first award into the at least award of the second wager-based game in a data storage system.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to receive a request to convert the at least one award into an amount of virtual currency.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the first wager-based game and the second wager-based game are different games.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to

determine a first amount of virtual currency that the at least one award is worth using the award conversion data;

convert the at least one award into the first amount of virtual currency; and

updating a total amount of virtual currency associated with the player with the first amount of virtual currency.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the award conversion data specifies, for each award, a first award virtual currency amount that the award is worth when the award is converted into virtual currency.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the award conversion data specifies for each award, a second conversion virtual currency amount necessary for purchasing the award with virtual currency.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the player plays the first wager-based game in a first gaming environment and the second wager-based game in a second gaming environment.