METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLAYER COMMUNICATION
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring gaming activities of a player at a gaming device. It is determined, based on the gaming activities, whether to initiate communication between the player and an individual. Communication is enabled between the player and the individual.
1 . A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
(a) causing at least one processor to select a player of a gaming device to receive a portable communication device;
(b) causing the at least one processor to operate with at least one input device to obtain a player identifier from the player; and
(c) supplying the portable communication device to the player.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the player identifier comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a name of the player, an address of the player, a phone number of the player, a tracking card of the player, a hotel room number of the player, an email address of the player, and a payment identifier of the player.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the payment identifier comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a credit card number, a debit card number, a financial account number, a home billing address, and a hotel room number of the player.
4 . The method of claim 1 , which includes providing a consideration in exchange for supplying the portable communication device.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the consideration comprises at least one of selected from the group consisting of: a currency, a promise to perform a service, and a product.
6 . The method of claim 1 , which includes receiving a security deposit from the player in exchange for supplying the portable communication device.
7 . The method of claim 6 , which includes returning the security deposit to the player upon a receipt of the portable communication device from the player.
8 . The method of claim 1 , which includes supplying the portable communication device from at least one selected from the group consisting of: a casino representative, a front desk at a casino, and a merchant associated with a casino.
9 . The method of claim 1 , which includes receiving the portable communication device from the player at least one selected from the group consisting of: a casino desk, and a deposit bin.
10 . The method of claim 1 , which includes receiving an indication from the player and, in response thereto, collecting the portable communication device from the player.
11 . The method of claim 1 , which includes supplying the portable communication device subject to a condition.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of: a condition that the communication device be in working order when returned by the player, a condition that the communication device be returned during a specified time period, a condition that the communication device be returned at a specified location, and a condition that the communication device be used by the player in a specified manner.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the specified manner comprises using the communication device for at least a specified amount of time.
14 . The method of claim 1 , which includes providing a benefit to the player upon a receipt of the portable communication device from the player.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the benefit is at least one of a product and a service.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the benefit is provided based upon at least one condition related to a play of a game of the gaming device.
17 . The method of claim 1 , which includes causing the at least one processor to associate the portable communication device with the player identifier.
18 . A gaming system comprising:
at least one gaming device including:
at least one input device,
at least one display device,
at least one processor, and
at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to display a play of a game;
at least one portable communication device; and
at least one controller configured to operate with the at least one gaming device and the at least one portable communication device, said at least one controller programmed to:
(a) select a player of the at least one gaming device to receive the portable communication device;
(b) obtain a player identifier from the player; and
(c) cause the portable communication device to be supplied to the player.
19 . The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein the player identifier comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a name of the player, an address of the player, a phone number of the player, a tracking card of the player, a hotel room number of the player, an email address of the player, and a payment identifier of the player.
20 . The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the payment identifier comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a credit card number, a debit card number, a financial account number, a home billing address, and a hotel room number of the player.
21 . The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one controller is programmed to cause a consideration to be provided in exchange for supplying the portable communication device.
22 . The gaming system of claim 21 , wherein the consideration comprises at least one of selected from the group consisting of: a currency, a promise to perform a service, and a product.
23 . The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one controller is programmed to enable the player to input a security deposit in exchange for supplying the portable communication device.
24 . The gaming system of claim 23 , wherein the at least one controller is programmed to cause the security deposit to be returned to the player upon a receipt of the portable communication device from the player.
25 . The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one controller is programmed to cause the portable communication device to be supplied from at least one selected from the group consisting of: a casino representative, a front desk at a casino, and a merchant associated with a casino.
26 . The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one controller is programmed to cause the portable communication device to be supplied subject to a condition.
27 . The gaming system of claim 26 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of: a condition that the communication device be in working order when returned by the player, a condition that the communication device be returned during a specified time period, a condition that the communication device be returned at a specified location, and a condition that the communication device be used by the player in a specified manner.
28 . The gaming system of claim 27 wherein the specified manner comprises using the communication device for at least a specified amount of time.
29 . The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one controller is programmed to cause a benefit to be provided to the player upon a receipt of the portable communication device from the player.
30 . The gaming system of claim 29 , wherein the benefit is at least one of a product and a service.
31 . The gaming system of claim 29 , wherein the benefit is provided based upon at least one condition related to the play of the game of the at least one gaming device.
32 . The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one controller is programmed to associate the portable communication device with the player identifier.
33 . A gaming system comprising:
at least one controller configured to operate with at least one gaming device and at least one portable communication device, said at least one controller programmed to:
(a) select a player of the at least one gaming device to receive the portable communication device;
(b) obtain a player identifier from the player; and
(c) cause the portable communication device to be supplied to the player.