Electronic gaming system and method for managing a wagering game based upon proximity of a mobile device to an electronic gaming machine

1. An electronic gaming system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory, which when executed, cause the processor to at least:

receive, from a mobile device of a player, a beacon identifier associated with a wireless beacon, the wireless beacon located physically proximate an electronic gaming machine;

determine, based upon the beacon identifier, an electronic gaming machine identifier of the electronic gaming machine;

receive, from the mobile device of the player, a communication related to a first signal strength of the wireless beacon relative to the mobile device;

in response to receiving the communication related to the first signal strength and determining the electronic gaming machine identifier, transmit an instruction to the electronic gaming machine that causes the electronic gaming machine to initiate a wagering session;

receive, from the mobile device, a communication related to a second signal strength of the wireless beacon relative to the mobile device; and

in response to the second signal strength being less than a threshold second signal strength, at least one of i) transmit an instruction to the mobile device that causes the mobile device to display a message indicating that the player should move closer to the electronic gaming machine, or ii) transmit an instruction to the electronic gaming machine that causes the electronic gaming machine to terminate the wagering session.

2. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

in response to the first signal strength being greater than a threshold first signal strength, transmit the instruction to the electronic gaming machine that causes the electronic gaming machine to initiate the wagering session.

3. The electronic gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the first threshold signal strength is greater than the second threshold signal strength, whereby the wagering session is initiated when the mobile device is within a first distance of the electronic gaming machine, and whereby the wagering session is terminated when the mobile device is outside a second distance of the electronic gaming machine, and wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

4. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

transmit a verification message to the mobile device of the player, the verification message enabling the player to confirm the wagering session;

receive, from the mobile device of the player, a response to the verification message, the response one of i) confirming the wagering session or ii) disconfirming the wagering session; and

in response confirmation of the wagering session, transmit the instruction to the electronic gaming machine that causes the electronic gaming machine to initiate the wagering session.

5. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

receive, from the mobile device of the player, a funds transfer request; and

in response to receiving the funds transfer request, transmit an instruction to one of i) the electronic gaming machine or ii) a player marketing module communicatively coupled to the electronic gaming machine, the instruction causing the electronic gaming machine or the player marketing module to increase a credit balance of the player.

6. The electronic gaming system of claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

in response to increasing the credit balance of the player, reduce a balance associated with a gaming wallet by a corresponding amount, the balance of the gaming wallet securely maintained by the electronic gaming system.

7. A method comprising:

receiving, by an electronic gaming system and from a mobile device of a player, a beacon identifier associated with a wireless beacon;

determining, by the electronic gaming system and based upon the beacon identifier, an electronic gaming machine identifier of an electronic gaming machine;

receiving, by the electronic gaming system and from the mobile device of the player, a communication related to a first signal strength of the wireless beacon relative to the mobile device, the wireless beacon positioned near the electronic gaming machine;

in response to receiving the communication related to the first signal strength and determining the electronic gaming machine identifier, transmitting, by the electronic gaming system, at least one instruction to the electronic gaming machine that causes the electronic gaming machine to initiate a wagering session;

receiving, by the electronic gaming system and from the mobile device, a communication related to a second signal strength of the wireless beacon relative to the mobile device; and

in response to the second signal strength being less than a threshold second signal strength, at least one of i) transmitting, by the electronic gaming system, at least one instruction to the mobile device that causes the mobile device to display a message indicating that the player should move closer to the electronic gaming machine, or ii) transmitting, by the electronic gaming system, at least one instruction to the electronic gaming machine that causes the electronic gaming machine to terminate the wagering session.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

in response to the first signal strength being greater than a threshold first signal strength, transmitting, by the electronic gaming system, the at least one instruction to the electronic gaming machine that causes the electronic gaming machine to initiate the wagering session.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first threshold signal strength is greater than the second threshold signal strength, whereby the wagering session is initiated when the mobile device is within a first distance of the electronic gaming machine, and whereby the wagering session is terminated when the mobile device is outside a second distance of the electronic gaming machine, and wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

transmitting, by the electronic gaming system, a verification message to the mobile device of the player, the verification message enabling the player to confirm the wagering session;

receiving, by the electronic gaming system and from the mobile device of the player, a response to the verification message, the response one of i) confirming the wagering session or ii) disconfirming the wagering session; and

in response confirmation of the wagering session, transmitting, by the electronic gaming system, the at least one instruction to the electronic gaming machine that causes the electronic gaming machine to initiate the wagering session.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving, by the electronic gaming system and from the mobile device of the player, a funds transfer request; and

in response to receiving the funds transfer request, transmitting, by the electronic gaming system, at least one instruction to one of i) the electronic gaming machine or ii) a player marketing module communicatively coupled to the electronic gaming machine, the at least one instruction causing the electronic gaming machine or the player marketing module to increase a credit balance of the player.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

in response to increasing the credit balance of the player, reducing, by the electronic gaming system, a balance associated with a gaming wallet by a corresponding amount, the balance of the gaming wallet securely maintained by the electronic gaming system.

13. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a display device;

a memory; and

a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory, which when executed, cause the processor to at least:

broadcast, using a wireless beacon, a wireless beacon signal;

receive, from a wireless gaming system and related to a first strength of the wireless beacon signal relative to a mobile device of a player, at least one instruction to initiate a wagering session;

in response to receiving the at least one instruction to initiate the wagering session, initiate the wagering session and increase a strength of the wireless beacon signal, whereby the player is enabled to move further away from the electronic gaming machine without causing termination of the wagering session;

receive, from the wireless gaming system and related to a second strength of the wireless beacon signal relative to the mobile device of the player, at least one additional instruction to terminate the wagering session; and

terminate the wagering session in response to the at least one additional instruction.

14. The electronic gaming machine of claim 13 , wherein the at least one instruction to initiate the wagering session is received in response to the mobile device of the player being within a first distance of the wireless beacon, and wherein the at least one instruction to terminate the wagering session is received in response to the mobile device of the player being outside a second distance of the wireless beacon.

15. The electronic gaming machine of claim 14 , wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance, whereby the mobile device must be physically closer to the wireless beacon to cause initiation of the wagering session, and whereby after initiation of the wagering session, the mobile device is allowed to move further away from the wireless beacon without causing termination of the wagering session.

16. The electronic gaming machine of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

receive, from the wireless gaming system, at least one instruction to increase a credit balance of the player, the at least one instruction received in response to generation, by the mobile device, of a funds transfer request, the funds transfer request processed by the wireless gaming system; and

increase the credit balance of the player in response to receiving the at least one instruction to increase the credit balance.

17. The electronic gaming machine of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

in response to terminating the wagering session i) transmit a credit balance of the player to the wireless gaming system, and ii) remove the credit balance of the player from the memory of the electronic gaming machine,

in response to receiving the at least one instruction to initiate the wagering session, increase a strength of the wireless beacon signal, whereby the player is enabled to move further away from the electronic gaming machine without causing termination of the wagering session.