Emailing or texting as communication between mobile device and EGM
A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. Via E-mailing or texting, a server can mediate communications between a user-controlled device, such as a mobile device, and an EGM. In one embodiment, for a transaction involving interactions with a user-controlled device and an EGM, the server can be configured to create a temporary e-mail or text message address. In particular embodiments, a transaction can involve transferring credits to or from the EGM or transferring game play related information from the EGM to a user specified location.
1 . A system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
cause a display, by a display device, of a single temporary transaction address associated with a plurality of different available funding transactions,
responsive to a first message comprising first transaction information being communicated to the single temporary transaction address and an occurrence of a first authorization of a first electronic fund transfer of a first amount of funds, modify, by the first amount of funds and for a first funding transaction of the plurality of different available funding transactions associated with the single temporary transaction address, a credit balance of an electronic gaming machine, and
responsive to a second, different message comprising second, different transaction information being communicated to the same single temporary transaction address and an occurrence of a second authorization of a second, different electronic fund transfer of a second, different amount of funds, modify, by the second, different amount of funds and for a second, different funding transaction of the plurality of different available funding transactions associated with the single temporary transaction address, the same credit balance of the same electronic gaming machine.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the single temporary transaction address comprises one of an e-mail address and a text message address.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first message and the second message is communicated to the single temporary transaction address from a mobile device.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the single temporary transaction address is associated with the electronic gaming machine.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first transaction information of the first message comprises a first reference component identifying the first transfer of the first amount of funds.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the first reference component comprises a first key word in any of a title of the first message and a body of the first message.
7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the second, different transaction information of the second, different message comprises a second, different reference component identifying the second transfer of the second, different amount of funds.
8 . A system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
cause a display, by a display device, of a single temporary transaction address associated with a plurality of different available modifications of an electronic gaming machine,
monitor any messages communicated to the single temporary transaction address,
responsive to a first monitored message comprising first information associated with a first reference component being received at the single temporary transaction address, communicate data to the electronic gaming machine that results in a first modification of the plurality of different available modifications of the electronic gaming machine, the first modification being at least partially based on the first message, and
responsive to a second, different monitored message comprising second, different information associated with a second, different reference component being received at the same single temporary transaction address, communicate data to the electronic gaming machine that results in a second, different modification of the plurality of different available modifications of the electronic gaming machine, the second, different modification being at least partially based on the second, different message.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the single temporary transaction address comprises one of an e-mail address and a text message address.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first monitored message and the second, different monitored message is communicated to the single temporary transaction address from a mobile device.
11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first monitored message is associated with a first user and the second, different monitored message is associated with a second, different user.
12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first reference component comprises data associated with a first funding transaction and the second, different reference component comprises data associated with a second, different funding transaction.
13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first reference component comprises data associated with at least one of: a first event displayed by the electronic gaming machine, and a first promotion to be displayed by the electronic gaming machine, and the second, different reference component comprises data associated with at least one of: a second, different event displayed by the electronic gaming machine, and a second, different promotion to be displayed by the electronic gaming machine.
14 . A method of operating a system, the method comprising:
displaying, by a display device, of a single temporary transaction address associated with a plurality of different available funding transactions,
responsive to a first message comprising first transaction information being communicated to the single temporary transaction address and an occurrence of a first authorization of a first electronic fund transfer of a first amount of funds, modifying, via a processor and by the first amount of funds and for a first funding transaction of the plurality of different available funding transactions associated with the single temporary transaction address, a credit balance of an electronic gaming machine, and
responsive to a second, different message comprising second, different transaction information being communicated to the same single temporary transaction address and an occurrence of a second authorization of a second, different electronic fund transfer of a second, different amount of funds, modifying, via the processor and by the second, different amount of funds and for a second, different funding transaction of the plurality of different available funding transactions associated with the single temporary transaction address, the same credit balance of the same electronic gaming machine.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the single temporary transaction address comprises one of an e-mail address and a text message address.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first message and the second message is communicated to the single temporary transaction address from a mobile device.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the single temporary transaction address is associated with the electronic gaming machine.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first transaction information of the first message comprises a first reference component identifying the first transfer of the first amount of funds.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first reference component comprises a first key word in any of a title of the first message and a body of the first message.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the second, different transaction information of the second, different message comprises a second, different reference component identifying the second transfer of the second, different amount of funds.