Method and apparatus for utlizing tickets to progress game play in a gaming machine

Abstract

A gaming system that allows a player to retain game assets earned during game play on a data storage medium (e.g., a paper ticket) for use in future gaming sessions. A game asset provides the player with an advantage for winning an award or for acquiring a larger award. The player receives the ticket during, or at the end of the player's gaming session. The player holds the ticket until his next gaming session, or may alternatively use the ticket in the same gaming session. At that time, the player may insert the ticket into the gaming machine's bill validator. The bill validator reads the tickets, and configures the game according to the game assets stored on the ticket.

1 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising: 
 receiving a first wager from a player;    randomly determining a first game outcome;    providing the player with a game asset for the first game outcome being a predetermined game outcome, the game asset for altering a second game outcome;    randomly determining the second game outcome;    receiving the game asset from the player;    altering the second game outcome to obtain a modified game outcome in response to the game asset; and    awarding the player for a winning modified game outcome.    
   
   
       2 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 1 , including awarding the player for a winning first game outcome, a winning second game outcome, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 1 , wherein the game asset is in the form of a ticket.  
   
   
       5 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 4 , wherein receiving the game asset is inserting the ticket into a bill validator associated with the gaming machine.  
   
   
       6 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 1 , wherein receiving the game asset is inserting a data storage medium into a player-tracking card reader associated with the gaming machine.  
   
   
       7 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 1 , wherein the game asset transforms a predetermined symbol into a wild symbol.  
   
   
       8 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 1 , wherein the game asset transposes symbols into new positions.  
   
   
       9 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 1 , wherein the game asset creates a new pay line.  
   
   
       10 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 1 , game further comprising receiving a second wager from the player.  
   
   
       11 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 1 , wherein the player is provided a plurality of game assets.  
   
   
       12 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 11 , wherein less than all of the game assets are received from the player.  
   
   
       13 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 12 , wherein the combination of game assets received from the player determines the modified game outcome.  
   
   
       14 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A method of conducting a wagering game having a series of progressive game levels on a gaming machine, comprising: 
 receiving a first wager from a player;    randomly determining a first game outcome;    associating the first game outcome with the corresponding game level;    providing a game asset in response to cashing out of the gaming machine, the game asset for storing the corresponding game level;    receiving a second wager from the player;    receiving the game asset from the player;    configuring the wagering game in response to the game asset to the corresponding game level;    randomly determining a second game outcome; and    making an award to the player for a winning second game outcome, the award corresponding to the game level attained.    
   
   
       22 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 21 , including awarding the player for a winning first game outcome.  
   
   
       23 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 21 , wherein the game asset is in the form of a ticket.  
   
   
       24 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 23 , wherein receiving the game asset is inserting the ticket into a bill validator associated with the gaming machine.  
   
   
       25 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 21 , wherein the game levels represent segments of an overall game.  
   
   
       26 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 21 , wherein each of the series of game levels corresponds to an award amount.  
   
   
       27 - 34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . A method of modifying a wagering game, comprising: 
 providing a player with a game asset associated with a game outcome on a first gaming machine;    receiving a game asset in a second gaming machine that conducts the wagering game; and    modifying the wagering game based on the received game asset.    
   
   
       36 . The method of modifying a wagering game as described in  claim 35 , wherein the step of modifying the wagering game provides the player with a higher probability of a winning game outcome.  
   
   
       37 . The method of modifying a wagering game as described in  claim 35 , wherein the step of modifying the wagering game provides the player with a larger potential award.  
   
   
       38 . The method of modifying a wagering game as described in  claim 35 , wherein the step of modifying the wagering game provides the player with a predetermined game segment.  
   
   
       39 . The method of conducting a wagering game of  claim 1 , wherein the second game outcome is an award.  
   
   
       40 . The method of conducting a wagering game of  claim 39 , wherein the game asset is a multiplier.  
   
   
       41 . The method of conducting a wagering game as described in  claim 39 , wherein the game asset is a credit value added to the second game outcome.  
   
   
       42 . The method of conducting a wagering game of  claim 1 , wherein the second game is a bonus game.