Method and apparatus for communicating information about networked gaming machines to prospective players
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 promoting 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, the method comprising:
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;
making awards to players of the electronic gaming machines when the game outcome results in an award;
tracking at least some of the play on at least some of the electronic gaming machines via at least one meter associated with each of the electronic gaming machines on which play is tracked;
communicating the meter data over the network from each of the electronic gaming machines on which at least some of the play is tracked to a database that is operatively connected to the network;
accessing the database;
generating at least one recommendation related to at least one of the gaming machines as function of the information in the database;
presenting a virtual persona on an electronic display that is operatively connected to the network; and
communicating the at least one recommendation via the virtual persona.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the recommendation comprises a prediction.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein tracking at least some of the play comprises tracking the play at least in part via a player-tracking system.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein communicating the at least one recommendation via the virtual persona comprises communicate the at least one recommendation to at least one person identified in the player-tracking system.
5. The method of claim 1 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 presenting the virtual persona on a display that is viewable by a plurality of people.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting a virtual persona on an electronic display comprises presenting the virtual persona on a display of a mobile computing device.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting a virtual persona on an electronic display comprises presenting the virtual persona on a display via a web browser.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the web browser is privately accessible via secure access.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
counting the awards in a plurality of predefined time periods;
averaging the awards in each time period; and
generating the at least one recommendation based on the average.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein counting the awards comprises counting the number of awards.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein counting the awards comprises counting the amount of the awards.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein generating at least one recommendation comprises generating at least one recommendation for a time period and wherein the method further comprises counting the awards in the time period.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the method further comprises causing the persona to periodically communicate the generated recommendation and the counted awards during the time period.
14. A non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to:
track at least some of the play on at least some of a plurality of electronic gaming machines via a meter associated with each of the electronic gaming machines on which at least some of the play is are tracked;
communicate the meter data over a network from each of the electronic gaming machines on which at least some of the play is tracked to a database that is operatively connected to the network;
access the database;
make at least one recommendation for future awards as a function of the information in the database;
present a virtual persona on an electronic display that is operatively connected to the network; and
cause the persona to communicate the at least one recommendation to at least one player.