Near field communications in wagering game environments

Abstract

A Near Field Communication (NFC) is established between a wagering game machine and a mobile device. The mobile device receives a credit amount from an account server that is communicably coupled to the mobile device via a network other than the Near Field Communication. The mobile device transfers the credit amount to the wagering game machine via the Near Field Communication.

1 . A method comprising:
 establishing a Near Field Communication between a wagering game machine and a mobile device;   receiving, into the mobile device, a credit from a server communicably coupled to the mobile device via a network other than the Near Field Communication; and   transferring, via the Near Field Communication, the credit from the mobile device to the wagering game machine.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving, into the mobile device, the credit from the server includes receiving a mobile credit from a mobile wallet. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving, into the mobile device, the credit from the server includes receiving the credit from a validation server associated with a provider of mobile service to the mobile device, the credit transferred from an account maintained by the provider of mobile service. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving, into the mobile device, the credit from the server includes receiving the credit from a validation server associated with a financial institution, the credit transferred from an account maintained by the financial institution. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving, into the mobile device, the credit from the server includes receiving the credit from a wagering game establishment server, the credit transferred from an account maintained by a wagering game establishment. 
     
     
         6 . A wagering game machine primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game, the wagering game machine comprising:
 one or more processors;   a Near Field Communication module; and   a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wagering game machine to:
 utilize the Near Field Communication module to establish a Near Field Communication between the wagering game machine and a mobile device, and 
 receive a credit from the mobile device, the mobile device configured to receive the credit from a server communicably coupled to the mobile device via a network other than the Near Field Communication. 
   
     
     
         7 . The wagering game machine of  claim 6 , wherein the credit comprises a credit from a mobile wallet. 
     
     
         8 . The wagering game machine of  claim 6 , wherein the server comprises a validation server associated with a provider of mobile service to the mobile device, and wherein the mobile device receives the credit from an account maintained by the provider of mobile service. 
     
     
         9 . The wagering game machine of  claim 6 , wherein the server comprises a validation server associated with a financial institution, and wherein the mobile device receives the credit from an account maintained by the financial institution. 
     
     
         10 . The wagering game machine of  claim 6 , wherein receiving, wherein the server comprises a wagering game establishment server, and wherein the mobile device receives the credit from an account maintained by a wagering game establishment. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 establishing a Near Field Communication between a wagering game machine and a mobile device;   transferring, via the Near Field Communication, a credit from the wagering game machine to the mobile device; and   transferring, by the mobile device, the credit to a server communicably coupled to the mobile device via a network other than the Near Field Communication.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein transferring, by the mobile device, the credit to the server includes transferring the credit to a mobile credit associated with a mobile wallet. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein transferring, by the mobile device, the credit to the server includes transferring the credit to a validation server associated with a provider of mobile service to the mobile device, the credit transferred to an account maintained by the provider of mobile service. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein transferring, by the mobile device, the credit to the server includes transferring the credit to a validation server associated with a financial institution, the credit transferred to an account maintained by the financial institution. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein transferring, by the mobile device, the credit to the server includes transferring the credit to a wagering game establishment server, the credit transferred to an account maintained by a wagering game establishment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 storing, by the mobile device, the credit as an electronic ticket;   wherein transferring, by the mobile device, the credit includes reading, by a redemption device, the electronic ticket from the mobile device.   
     
     
         17 . A wagering game machine primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game, the wagering game machine comprising:
 one or more processors;   a Near Field Communication module; and   a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wagering game machine to:
 utilize the Near Field Communication module to establish a Near Field Communication between the wagering game machine and a mobile device, and 
 transfer a credit to the mobile device, the mobile device configured to transfer the credit to a server communicably coupled to the mobile device via a network other than the Near Field Communication. 
   
     
     
         18 . The wagering game machine of  claim 17 , wherein the mobile device is configured to transfer the credit to a mobile wallet maintained by the server. 
     
     
         19 . The wagering game machine of  claim 17 , wherein the server comprises a validation server associated with a provider of mobile service to the mobile device, and wherein the mobile device transfers the credit to an account maintained by the provider of mobile service. 
     
     
         20 . The wagering game machine of  claim 17 , wherein the server comprises a validation server associated with a financial institution, and wherein the mobile device transfers the credit to an account maintained by the financial institution. 
     
     
         21 . The wagering game machine of  claim 17 , wherein receiving, wherein the server comprises a wagering game establishment server, and wherein the mobile device receives the credit from an account maintained by a wagering game establishment. 
     
     
         22 . A mobile device comprising:
 one or more processors;   a Near Field Communication module; and   a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile device to:
 utilize the Near Field Communication module to establish a Near Field Communication between the mobile device and a wagering game machine, 
 receive a credit from a server communicably coupled to the mobile device via a network other than the Near Field Communication, and 
 transfer the credit from the mobile device to the wagering game machine via the Near Field Communication module. 
   
     
     
         23 . The mobile device of  claim 22 , wherein the credit comprises a credit from a mobile wallet. 
     
     
         24 . The mobile device of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions to receive the credit from the server include instructions to receive the credit from one of an account maintained by a financial institution, an account maintained by a provider of mobile service to the mobile device, or an account maintained by a wagering game establishment. 
     
     
         25 . A mobile device comprising:
 one or more processors;   a Near Field Communication module; and   a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile device to:
 utilize the Near Field Communication module to establish a Near Field Communication between a wagering game machine and the mobile device, 
 receive a credit transferred from the wagering game machine via the Near Field Communication module, and 
 transfer the credit from the mobile device to a server communicably coupled to the mobile device via a network other than the Near Field Communication. 
   
     
     
         26 . The mobile device of  claim 25 , wherein the instructions to transfer the credit from the mobile device to the server include instructions to transfer the credit to a mobile wallet maintained by the server. 
     
     
         27 . The wagering game machine of  claim 25 , wherein the instructions to transfer the credit from the mobile device to the server include instructions to transfer the credit to one of an account maintained by a financial institution, an account maintained by a provider of mobile service to the mobile device, or an account maintained by a wagering game establishment.