Abstract: Novel gaming machines and software enable a casino patron to reserve a gaming machine under certain conditions for a limited time, thereby preventing other patrons from using the machine during that time. A player using a machine (and having credit on the machine) may select a reserve machine option provided on the machine's user interface to reserve the machine for a maximum time that is determined by a reservation system that may take into account the status of the player, time, day, and other factors. Once the reservation option has been selected, reservation data is generated and printed on a ticket and stored in a database. The database may be on the gaming machine or on a host server if the gaming machine is part of a gaming network. The ticket may indicate that it is a “reservation ticket.