Gaming machine providing free game pots to reward extended playing

A gaming machine comprising:

• a display device for displaying a game;
• and
• at least one programmed processor for carrying out a game program and controlling the display, the processor carrying out the method comprising:
• providing a plurality of betting amount options to a player, each betting amount option being uniquely associated with a predetermined different free game pot prior to any game being played, there being a plurality of free game pots, each free game pot being a stored quantity of free games;
• displaying the quantity of free games stored in at least each free game pot that contains any fraction of a free game;
• detecting a bet by the player in accordance with one of the betting amount options;
• incrementing the free game pot associated with the bet detected by a predetermined fraction of a free game, the fraction being less than one, incrementing the free game pot after detecting a bet being irrespective of any game played based on the bet detected;
• playing a game based on the bet detected;
• granting any awards to the player depending on an outcome of the game;
• allowing the player to play any full free games stored in the free game pots, where a free game played from its free game pot is played as if the player paid for the game using the same bet associated with the free game pot;
• and
• decrementing a full free game from its free game pot if the player decides to play a free game.