Gaming system with social award management

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system, apparatus, and method for social gaming includes at least one gaming machine configured to play a game of chance and produce game information and a social gaming server configured to: communicate with the at least one gaming machine; establish a remote gaming session between the gaming machine and at least one user device; distribute at least a portion of the game information to the at least one user device; and providing a social award to user of the at least one user device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . 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,   wherein the wager-based game is separate and distinct from the social game.   
     
     
         2 . A gaming system supporting social awards, comprising:
 a gaming award controller configured to:
 determine 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; 
 award 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; 
 store data pertaining to the social award to a player account associated with the player; 
 convert of at least a portion of the social award, having the data pertaining to the social award stored in the player account, from a social award to a wagering-game enhancement, the wagering-game enhancement 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; and 
 facilitate use of the wagering-game enhancement for the player in the wager-based game on the gaming apparatus, wherein the wager-based game operates differently dependent on the wagering-game enhancement, 
   wherein the wager-based game is separate and distinct from the social game.   
     
     
         3 . 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;   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;   storing data pertaining to the social award to a player account associated with the player;   facilitating conversion of at least a portion of the social award, having the data pertaining to the social award stored in the player account, from a social award to a wagering-game enhancement, the wagering-game enhancement being a non-monetary award that is for use with a wager-based game played at a gaming establishment, the social game being distinct from the wager-based game; and   subsequently facilitating operation of the wager-based game for the player at the gaming establishment, wherein the wager-based game operates differently dependent on the wagering-game enhancement,   wherein the wager-based game is separate and distinct from the social game.