Electronic gaming system for conducting a wagering game and method of use

An electronic gaming machine, comprising:

• a game display including a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to receive an input from a player;
• and
• a game controller in electronic communication with the game display, the game controller configured to execute instructions stored in a memory, the instructions, when executed cause the game controller to:
• control the GUI to present, during a base game, a selectable tournament button that upon selection causes the game controller to enter the player into a game tournament;
• display at the GUI upon receiving a tournament button selection, a plurality of selectable tournament game options for the game tournament;
• receive from the GUI, a tournament game selection response indicating a selected one of the tournament game options;
• display the selected tournament game at the game display,
• display at the GUI during the selected tournament game, an exit button that when selected returns the display to the base game and maintains player progress in the selected tournament game;
• re-display the tournament button upon returning to the base game, the re-displayed tournament button enabling the player to return to the selected tournament game with the maintained player progress in the selected tournament game;
• and
• provide a prompt on the display including an indicator that additional tournament games are available with increasing wager amounts.

A method of conducting an electronic game, the electronic gaming machine comprising a game display having a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to receive an input from a player and a game controller in electronic communication with the game display, the game controller configured to execute instructions to perform the method, the method comprising:

• presenting, at the GUI, during a base game, a selectable tournament button that upon selection causes the game controller to enter the player into a game tournament;
• displaying at the GUI upon receiving a tournament button selection, a plurality of selectable tournament game options for the game tournament;
• receiving from the GUI, a tournament game selection response indicating a selected one of the tournament game options;
• displaying the selected tournament game at the game display,
• displaying at the GUI during the selected tournament game, an exit button that when selected returns the display to the base game and maintains player progress in the selected tournament game;
• re-displaying the tournament button upon returning to the base game, the re-displayed tournament button enabling the player to return to the selected tournament game with the maintained player progress in the selected tournament game;
• and
• displaying a prompt to card-in, and provide an enhanced return to player (RTP) upon the card-in being completed.