Method of apparatus for communicating information about networked gaming machines to prospective players
View Patent ↗On a network of electronic gaming machines, data regarding the performance of the machines or the players of the machines is collected and processed to make predictions of future jackpots and recommendations of games to play. The predictions and recommendations are delivered via at least one virtual persona that communicates with players or potential players via displays in a casino or on a web browser, via smartphone. Players can conduct conversations with the persona using cellular telephone, text messaging, or other types of Internet communications.
1. A method for encouraging play of electronic gaming machines that when played generate random game outcomes, some of which result in an award, the electronic gaming machines being on a network comprising:
presenting a virtual persona on an electronic display that is operatively connected to the network;
receiving wagers via the electronic gaming machines from players playing games on the electronic gaming machines responsive to actuation of a wager input device by the player, the wager input device being associated with each electronic gaming machine;
tracking wagers received on at least some of the electronic gaming machines via a meter associated with each of the electronic gaming machines on which wagers are tracked;
making awards to players of the electronic gaming machines when the game outcome results in an award;
tracking awards made to players of at least some of the electronic gaming machines via a meter associated with each of the electronic gaming machines on which wagers are tracked;
communicating meter data over the network from each of the electronic gaming machines on which wagers and awards are tracked to a database that is operatively connected to the network;
accessing the database;
detecting signals on the network indicating electronic gaming machines being played;
determining which electronic gaming machines the detected signals correspond to;
causing the persona to make a recommendation to play at least one of the electronic gaming machines responsive to a network communication to the electronic display;
basing the recommendation at least in part on the meter data in the database collected about at least one of the players;
excluding the electronic gaming machines being played from the recommended electronic gaming machines;
presenting a second virtual persona on an electronic display;
causing the second virtual persona to make a second recommendation to play at least one of the electronic gaming machines responsive to a network communication to the electronic display; and
receiving a wager responsive to actuation of the wager input device from at least one of the players at one of the recommended electronic gaming machines.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein causing the persona to make a recommendation to play at least one of the electronic gaming machines comprises making the recommendation to at least one player identified in a player-tracking system that is operatively connected to the network.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic display is not associated with any one of the electronic gaming machines and wherein presenting the persona on the display comprises displaying the persona on a display that is viewable by a plurality of people.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the persona on an electronic display comprises displaying the persona on an electronic display of a mobile computing device that is operatively connectable to the network.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the persona on an electronic display comprises displaying the persona on an electronic display via a web browser that is operatively connectable to the network.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the web browser is publicly accessible.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the web browser is privately accessible via secure access.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second recommendation is different from the first recommendation.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein each recommendation is made to at least one player identified in a player tracking system that is operatively connected to the network.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:
collecting information about play on the electronic gaming machines via the network; and
further basing the recommendation on information collected about the electronic gaming machines.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the detected signals corresponding to at least one of electronic gaming machines associated with identified players and electronic gaming machines currently receiving wagers.
12. A method for encouraging play of a plurality of electronic gaming machines that when played generate random game outcomes, some of which result in a jackpot, the electronic gaming machines being on a network of electronic gaming machines comprising:
presenting a virtual persona on an electronic display that is operatively connected to the network;
receiving wagers via the electronic gaming machines from players playing games on the electronic gaming machines responsive to activation of a wager input device by the player, the wager input device being associated with each electronic gaming machine;
paying jackpots to players of the electronic gaming machines when the game outcome results in a jackpot;
tracking jackpots paid to players of at least some of the electronic gaming machines via a meter associated with each of the electronic gaming machines on which jackpots are tracked;
communicating meter data from each of the electronic gaming machines on which jackpots are tracked to a database that is operatively connected to the network;
accessing the database;
detecting signals on the network indicating electronic gaming machines being played;
determining which electronic gaming machines the detected signals correspond to;
causing the persona to make a recommendation to play at least one of the electronic gaming machines responsive to a network communication to the electronic display;
basing the recommendation at least in part on the meter data in the database collected for at least some of the electronic gaming machines;
excluding the electronic gaming machines being played from the recommended electronic gaming machines;
presenting a second virtual persona on an electronic display;
causing the second persona to make a second recommendation to play at least one of the electronic gaming machines responsive to a network communication to the electronic display; and
receiving a wager responsive to actuation of the wager input device from at least one of the players at one of the recommended electronic gaming machines.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein causing the persona to make a recommendation to play at least one of the electronic gaming machines comprises making the recommendation to at least one player identified in a player tracking system that is operatively connected to the network.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the electronic display is not associated with any one of the electronic gaming machines and wherein presenting a virtual persona on an electronic display comprises displaying the persona on an electronic display that is viewable by a plurality of people.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein presenting a virtual persona on a display comprises displaying the persona on a display of a mobile computing device that is operatively connectable to the network.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein presenting a virtual persona on a display comprises displaying the persona on an electronic display via a web browser that is operatively connectable to the network.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the web browser is publicly accessible.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the web browser is privately accessible via secure access.
19. The method of claim 12 wherein the second recommendation is different from the first recommendation.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein each recommendation is made to at least one player identified in a player-tracking system.
21. The method of claim 12 further comprising requiring a prospective player of the gaming machines to express a preference for one of the personae.
22. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
determining the theoretical payout for at least one of the electronic gaming machines;
determining the actual payout for the at least one electronic gaming machine; and
basing the recommendation on a function of the theoretical payout and the actual payout.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein causing the personae to make a recommendation to play at least one of the electronic gaming machines comprises causing at least one of the personae to recommend an electronic gaming machine in which the actual payout is greater than the theoretical payout.
24. The method of claim 22 wherein causing the personae to make a recommendation of at least one of the electronic gaming machines comprises causing at least one of the personae to recommend an electronic gaming machine in which the theoretical payout is greater than the actual payout.
25. The method of claim 22 further comprising:
causing one of the personae to make a recommendation to play at least one of the electronic gaming machines in which the theoretical payout is greater than the actual payout; and
causing the other persona to make a second recommendation to play at least one of the electronic gaming machines in which the actual payout is greater than the theoretical payout.
26. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
collecting information about the players of the games via a player tracking system that is operatively connected to the network; and
further basing the recommendation on information collected about at least one player identified in the player-tracking system.
27. The method of claim 12 wherein the detected signals corresponding to at least one of electronic gaming machines associated with identified players and electronic gaming machines currently receiving wagers.