Gaming system and a method of managing usage of gaming machines

Abstract

A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a plurality of gaming machines and a communications network arranged to facilitate communications to and from the gaming machines. Each gaming machine is arranged to implement a game, and to generate status information indicative of whether the gaming machine is vacant or occupied, and the system is arranged to display availability information derived from the status information indicative of whether at least some of the gaming machines are vacant or occupied. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

1 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a status determiner arranged to generate status information indicative of whether the gaming machine is vacant or occupied;   a network interface arranged to facilitate communications from the gaming machine; the gaming machine being arranged to send the status information through the network interface, the status information being usable by a gaming system to generate availability information indicative of whether the gaming machine is vacant or occupied.   
     
     
         2 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine is arranged to receive the availability information. 
     
     
         3 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine is associated with a gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming machines and the gaming machine is arranged to receive a game request from a player indicative of another gaming machine associated with the gaming system desired to be played by the player, or a game desired to be played by the player implemented by another gaming machine associated with the gaming system. 
     
     
         4 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine is arranged to receive a machine free notification indicative that the requested gaming machine or game is vacant and to communicate the machine free notification to the player. 
     
     
         5 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine is arranged to reserve the requested gaming machine or a gaming machine associated with the requested game if a player associated with the request commences game play at the requested gaming machine within a specific period of time. 
     
     
         6 . A game server arranged to cooperate with at least one gaming machine so as to implement at least one game, and arranged to facilitate network communications from the game server;
 the game server being arranged to generate status information indicative of whether the gaming machines are vacant or occupied; and   the status information being usable to generate availability information indicative of whether at least one gaming machine in communication with the game server is vacant or occupied.   
     
     
         7 . A game server as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the game server is arranged to send the availability information to at least one gaming machine in communication with the game server. 
     
     
         8 . A notification system for a gaming system, said notification system comprising:
 a network interface arranged to facilitate communications with at least one networked gaming machine associated with the notification system;   a game status receiver arranged to receive status information indicative of whether the or each gaming machine associated with the notification system is vacant or occupied; and   a display arranged to display availability information derived from the status information indicative of whether at least some of the gaming machines associated with the notification system are vacant or occupied.   
     
     
         9 . A notification system as claimed in  claim 8 , comprising a layout generator arranged to generate gaming machine layout information, the layout information being indicative of the locations of the gaming machines relative to each other. 
     
     
         10 . A notification system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the layout information includes the availability information. 
     
     
         11 . A notification system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the availability information is arranged so as to graphically indicate whether a gaming machine is vacant or occupied. 
     
     
         12 . A notification system as claimed in  claim 8 , comprising a game request receiver arranged to receive a game request from a player indicative of a gaming machine or a game desired to be played by the player. 
     
     
         13 . A notification system as claimed in  claim 8 , comprising a notification controller arranged to generate a machine free notification when the requested gaming machine is vacant using the status information.