Mobile device applications for casinos

Abstract

A wagering game system configured to perform operations to transmit to a mobile device, via a wireless communication device of the gaming system, an offer for presentation via the mobile device in response to detecting that the mobile device is located at a casino. The offer is associated with a wagering game machine within the casino. The operations can further include detecting, via an electronic tracking device associated with the wagering game machine, an electronic identifier provided from the mobile device. For instance, the mobile device can provide the electronic identifier to the wagering game machine. The operations can further include associating, via an electronic processing unit of the gaming system, the offer with the wagering game machine in response to detecting the electronic identifier.

1 . A method of operating a gaming system, the gaming system dedicated to receiving and transmitting information related to activities within a casino to and from a gaming machine and an application on a mobile device, the method comprising:
 presenting play of a casino wagering game on a display device;   detecting at least one event;   storing information related to the event in storage associated with the mobile device;   presenting the event in a display window on the display device; and   transmitting information related to the event to the application on the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the store comprises an account. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the display device is included in one of the gaming machine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the display device is included in the mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the event is a specific gaming event related to a particular wagering game outcome, to a specific game score, to a tournament status, to a persistent state game or to an awarding of a particular gaming asset. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein event is a specific non-gaming event related to a sale of a particular item, to the provision of a particular casino service, to financial account access, or to presentation of a particular advertisement. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the event and information are related to a tournament, to player preference, to a reservation, or to an offer generated by the gaming system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is in wireless communication with the gaming machine. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is selected from the group consisting of: a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a mobile computer, a mobile internet device, and a portable media player. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein certain features of the application on the mobile device are usable only when the mobile device is within the casino. 
     
     
         11 . A gaming system dedicated to receiving and transmitting information related to activities within a casino to and from a gaming machine and an application on a mobile device, the system comprising:
 a display device; and   game-logic circuitry configured to:
 detect, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance; 
 initiate a casino wagering game in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance; 
 present play of the casino wagering game on the display device; 
 detect at least one event; 
 store information related to the event in storage associated with the mobile device; 
 present the event in a display window on the display device; and 
 transmit information related to the event to the application on the mobile device; and 
 receive, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the storage comprises an account. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the display device is included in the gaming machine. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the display device is included in the mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the event is a specific gaming event related to one or more of: a particular wagering game outcome, a specific game score, a tournament status, a persistent state game or an awarding of a particular gaming asset. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the event is a specific non-gaming event related to one or more of: a sale of a particular item, provision of a particular casino service, financial account access, or presentation of a particular advertisement. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the event and information are related to a tournament, to player preference, to a reservation, or to an offer generated by the gaming system. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the mobile device is selected from the group consisting of: a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a mobile computer, a mobile internet device, and a portable media player. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is in wireless communication with the gaming machine. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11  wherein certain features of the application on the mobile device are usable only when the mobile device is within the casino.