System for communicating with a player

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a vertical player interface device with player tracking functionality and methods for retrofitting existing electronic gaming machines with vertical player interfaces and tracking devices. The player interface facilitates player interaction with the gaming network to enable information exchange, cashless gaming, player tracking, bonusing, and casino promotions and services.

1 . A method for operating networked gaming devices comprising: 
 associating one or more gaming devices with a gaming network;    permitting a player to play one of the gaming devices;    providing services to the player via the network, such services being related to play on the gaming device; and    communicating information to the player about the network services via a vertical display associated with the one or more gaming devices.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the vertical display is a touch screen display.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising accepting a communication from the player via the touch screen display.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said services comprise crediting the player with a bonus award and wherein said information relates to the bonus award.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said method further comprises displaying information about the award on said display.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the communication accepted from the player relates to the bonus award.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said services comprise player tracking services and wherein said information relates to player tracking.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said method further comprises displaying information about player tracking on said display.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein accepting a communication from the player via the touch screen display comprises accepting a communication relating to player tracking.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said information comprises accrued player-tracking points.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein accepting a communication from the player via the touch screen display comprises accepting a communication that converts the points to credits.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said services comprise cashless-play services and wherein said information relates to cashless play.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said method further comprises displaying information about cashless play on said display.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 3  wherein accepting a communication from the player via the touch screen display comprises accepting a communication relating to cashless play.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said information comprises an account balance.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein accepting a communication from the player via the touch screen display comprises accepting a communication that applies at least a portion of the account balance to the gaming device.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said method further includes generating a video image on said display.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a speaker is associated with said display and wherein said method further includes generating an audio output on said speaker.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said method further includes providing at least one help image on said display for providing information about the touch screen display.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said at least one image is provided responsive to a communication from the player via the touch screen display.  
   
   
       21 . A networked gaming device for communicating between a player and the network to which the gaming device is connected, the device comprising: 
 a host computer;    the network interconnecting the gaming device to the host computer;    a vertical player interface coupleable to the gaming device; and    a touch screen display associated with the vertical player interface, the touch screen display communicating information about services to a player of the networked gaming device.    
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the touch screen display is configured to receive commands from a player.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the vertical player interface is removeably coupleable to the gaming device.  
   
   
       24 . A system for communicating between a player of a gaming device and a network of gaming devices comprising: 
 a housing capable of coupling a vertical player interface to a gaming device;    the gaming device being operatively connected to a computer, the computer generating information about services provided to one or more players on the network; and    a circuit associated with the vertical player interface for creating images on a display associated with the vertical interface responsive to such information.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the display is a touch screen display.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the touch screen display is configured to communicate information about services to a player of the gaming device.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the touch screen display is configured to accept communications from the player.  
   
   
       28 . A method for retrofitting a gaming device with a vertical player interface comprising: 
 associating a mounting structure with the vertical player interface;    mounting the vertical player interface to the gaming device such that the vertical player interface is coupled to the side of the gaming device; and    configuring the gaming device to communicate with the vertical player interface.