Wagering game community environment

摘要

A wagering game community environment is described herein. In some embodiments, the environment includes a community server to provide services for a wagering game community. In some embodiments, the community server comprises a communications controller configured to receive communications from community terminals and to send the communications to wagering game machines. In some embodiments, the community server also includes a promotions controller configured to award promotional material to members of the virtual community based on their use of the community terminals, the promotional material being for use in wagering games available on the wagering game machines.

主权项

1. A method of operating a gaming system, the gaming system including a community server, and a plurality of wagering game machines at a casino, each respective wagering game machine primarily dedicated to playing at least one respective casino wagering game and configured to interact with the community server, each respective wagering game machine including an electronic display device and one or more electronic input devices, the method comprising:
detecting, by the community server, online activities in an online virtual community performed by a player via one or more community terminals connected to the community server over a communications network; awarding, by the community server and based on the online activities, the player an electronic item for use in the casino wagering game; detecting, via at least one of the electronic input devices of a wagering game machine of the plurality of wagering game machines, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance; receiving, by the community server over the communications network, information indicating activity of the player on the wagering game machine; transmitting, over the communications network to the wagering game machine, an indication that the electronic item is available for use during the casino wagering game; presenting, on the display device of the wagering game machine, an indication that the electronic item is available for use during the casino wagering game; initiating, via the wagering game machine, the casino wagering game in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance; and receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices of the respective wagering game machine, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.