Granted Patent B1

US 9,257,014 · App. 13/292,839 · Granted Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

Claims (93)

1. A computerized method comprising:

creating an event associated with a number of wagering game machines in a wagering game establishment, wherein the event is configured to provide incentives for wagering at the number of wagering game machines, and wherein a wagering game machine of the number of wagering game machines includes a processor, an electronic display device, one or more electronic input devices, and one or more controllers;

identifying persons to notify about the event;

creating an event notification to notify the persons of the event;

outputting the event notification prior to a time of the event, to the persons through a network communication;

initiating the event in response to a defined number of the persons logging into player accounts at the number of wagering game machines;

detecting, via the one or more electronic input devices of the wagering game machine, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;

initiating a wagering game associated with the event in response to an input associated with a wager covered by the credit balance; and

receiving, via the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.

2. The computerized method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating the event after the defined number of persons are logged into the player accounts at the selected number of wagering game machines.

3. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the persons comprises identifying the persons having a player account and having opted in to receiving the event notification.

4. The computerized method of claim 3 , wherein identifying the persons comprises identifying the persons exceeding a threshold for an attribute related to their wagering game play at the wagering game establishment.

5. The computerized method of claim 4 , wherein the attribute comprises at least one of:

a monetary amount spent at the wagering game establishment during a first defined time period;

a game level reached on a first type of the number of wagering game machines;

a time spent wagering at the wagering game establishment during a second defined time period; and

wagering game play of a second type of wagering game machine.

6. A computerized method comprising:

creating an event associated with a number of wagering game machines in a wagering game establishment, wherein creating the event is in response to inactivity of wagering game play at the number of wagering game machines, and wherein a wagering game machine of the number of wagering game machines includes a processor, an electronic display device, one or more electronic input devices, and one or more controllers;

identifying persons to notify about the event prior to a time of the event;

creating an event notification to notify the persons of the event;

outputting the event notification to the persons through a network communication;

initiating the event;

detecting, via the one or more electronic input devices of the wagering game machine, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;

initiating a wagering game associated with the event in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance; and

receiving, via the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.

7. The computerized method of claim 6 , wherein creating the event is in response to the inactivity of the wagering game play at the number of wagering game machines falling above a threshold level for a time period.

8. The computerized method of claim 6 , wherein identifying the persons comprises identifying the persons having a player account and having opted in to receiving the event notification.

9. The computerized method of claim 8 , wherein identifying the persons having opted in is based on at least one of a time of the event, a type of the award, and a theme type of the number of wagering game machines.

10. The computerized method of claim 6 , wherein identifying the persons comprises identifying the persons within a defined geographic range of the wagering game establishment.

11. The computerized method of claim 6 , wherein identifying the persons comprises identifying the persons exceeding a threshold for an attribute related to their wagering game play at the wagering game establishment.

12. The computerized method of claim 11 , wherein the attribute comprises at least one of:

a monetary amount spent at the wagering game establishment during a defined time period;

a game level reached on a first type of the selected number of wagering game machines;

a time spent wagering at the wagering game establishment during a defined time period; and

wagering game play of a second type of wagering game machine.

13. One or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

create an event associated with a number of wagering game machines in a wagering game establishment, wherein the event is configured to provide incentives for wagering game play at the number of wagering game machines, wherein the event is created in response to inactivity of wagering game play at the number of wagering game machines, and wherein a wagering game machine of the number of wagering game machines includes an electronic display device, one or more electronic input devices, and one or more controllers;

request a first identification of persons within a defined geographic range of the wagering game establishment from a location finder;

receive the first identification in response to the request;

create an event notification to notify the persons of the event;

output the event notification, prior to the time of the event, to the persons through a network communication;

initiating the event in response to a defined number of the persons logging into player accounts at the number of wagering game machines;

detecting, via the one or more electronic input devices of the wagering game machine, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;

initiating a wagering game associated with the event in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance; and

receiving, via the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.

14. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:

outputting a second identification of persons having a player account at the wagering game establishment, wherein the first identification identifies persons having a player account at the wagering game establishment.

15. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media of claim 14 , wherein the first identification identifies persons having opted in to receiving the event notification.

16. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media of claim 13 , wherein the operations comprise:

after receipt of the first identification removing from the first identification the persons not having a player account at the wagering game establishment.

17. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media of claim 16 , wherein the operations comprise:

after receipt of the first identification removing from the first identification the persons not having opted in to receiving the event notification.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a player account module executable on the processor, the player account module configured to;

create an event associated with a number of wagering game machines in a wagering game establishment, wherein creation of the event is in response to inactivity of wagering game play at the number of wagering game machines, and wherein a wagering game machine of the number of wagering game machines includes an electronic display device, one or more electronic input devices, and one or more controllers configured to:

detect, via the one or more electronic input devices of the wagering game machine, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;

initiate a wagering game associated with the event in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance; and

receive, via the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance;

identify persons to notify about the event prior to a time of the event;

create an event notification to notify the persons of the event;

output the event notification to the persons through a network communication; and

initiate the event in response to a defined number of the persons logging into player accounts at the number of wagering game machines.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the player account module is configured to create the event in response to the inactivity of the wagering game play at the number of wagering game machines falling above a threshold level for a time period.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the player account module is configured to identify the persons having a player account and having opted in to receiving the event notification.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the player account module is configured to identify the persons having opted in based on at least one of a time of the event, a type of the award, and a theme type of the number of wagering game machines.

22. An apparatus comprising:

means for creating an event associated with a number of wagering game machines in a wagering game establishment, wherein the event is configured to provide incentives for wagering at the number of wagering game machines, and wherein a wagering game machine of the number of wagering game machines includes a processor, an electronic display device, one or more electronic input devices, and one or more controllers;

means for identifying persons to notify about the event;

means for creating an event notification to notify the persons of the event;

means for outputting the event notification, prior to a time of the event, to the persons through a network communication;

initiating the event in response to a defined number of the persons logging into player accounts at the number of wagering game machines;

detecting, via the one or more electronic input devices of the wagering game machine, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;

initiating a wagering game associated with the event in response to an input associated with a wager covered by the credit balance; and

receiving, via the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , further comprising means for initiating the event after the defined number of persons are logged into the player accounts at the number of wagering game machines.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein means for identifying the persons comprises means for identifying the persons having a player account and having opted in to receiving the event notification.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein means for identifying the persons comprises means for identifying the persons exceeding a threshold for an attribute related to their wagering game play at the wagering game establishment, wherein the attribute comprises at least one of:

a monetary amount spent at the wagering game establishment during a defined time period;

a game level reached on a first type of the selected number of wagering game machines;

a time spent wagering at the wagering game establishment during a defined time period; and

wagering game play of a second type of wagering game machine.

26. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the incentives vary among the number of persons according to a monetary amount spent by the number of persons within a time period prior to the event.

27. The computerized method of claim 26 , wherein the monetary amount spent within the time period is for at least one of the wagering game establishment and a second number of wagering game machines of a same type as the number of wagering game machines.

28. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the event offers at least one of a group consisting of better pay tables, a number of free spins, unlocked content, and a jackpot award.

29. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein creating the event is in response to inactivity of wagering game play at the number of wagering game machines.

30. The computerized method of claim 6 , wherein the event is initiated in response to a defined number of persons joining the event, wherein the event is configured to provide awards, and wherein the awards vary among the defined number of persons according to a monetary amount spent within a time period prior to the event by the defined number of persons.

31. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media of claim 13 , wherein the event provides awards, and wherein the awards vary among the persons in the event according to a monetary amount spent within a time period prior to the event by the persons.

32. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the event is initiated in response to at least a defined number of persons joining the event, wherein the event provides awards, and wherein the awards vary among the defined number of persons according to a monetary amount spent within a time period prior to the event by the defined number of persons.

33. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the incentives vary among the number of persons according to a monetary amount spent within a time period prior to the event by the number of persons.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the monetary amount spent within the time period is for at least one of the wagering game establishment and a second number of wagering game machines of a same type as the number of wagering game machines.

35. The computerized method of claim 22 , wherein the means for creating the event create the event in response to inactivity of wagering game play at the number of wagering game machines.

Assignments (11)