Systems and methods for centralized game execution in a gaming environment

Abstract

A method may include: (i) communicatively associating an electronic game host with an electronic gaming machine (EGM) remote from the electronic game host; (ii) executing a gaming application for conducting a wagering game on the electronic game host; (iii) communicating data from the electronic game host to the EGM to present the wagering game on a display of the EGM; (iv) receiving data at the electronic game host from the EGM to accept a wager associated with the wagering game through input/output controls of the EGM; (v) conducting a randomized selection process to determine a randomized prize associated with the wager; (vi) communicating data from the electronic game host to the EGM to present an indication of the randomized selection process to the display of the EGM; and (vii) metering and storing locally to the electronic game host game play data associated with execution of the wagering game.

1 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a computer-readable medium;   a processor coupled to the computer-readable medium;   instructions readable by the processor and stored on the computer-readable medium, the instructions, when read and executed, causing the processor to:
 communicatively associate the electronic device with an electronic gaming machine remote from the electronic device; 
 communicate data to the electronic gaming machine to present a wagering game on a display of the electronic gaming machine; 
 receive data from the electronic gaming machine to accept a wager associated with the wagering game through input/output controls of the electronic gaming machine; 
 conduct a randomized selection process to determine a randomized prize associated with the wager; 
 communicate data to the electronic gaming machine to present an indication of the randomized selection process to the display of the electronic gaming machine; and 
 meter and store game play data associated with execution of the wagering game to the computer-readable medium. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the game play data includes at least one of: an indication of association between the electronic device and the electronic gaming machine; an indication of the identity of a game theme associated with the wagering game; one or more events associated with the input/output controls; and an indication of the randomized prize. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the game play data further includes information regarding at least one of: a time of association between the electronic device and the electronic gaming machine; a time of association of the identity of the game theme associated with the wagering game; a time of occurrence of the one or more events associated with the input/output controls; and a time of determination of the randomized prize 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , the instructions for further causing the processor to:
 receive data from the electronic gaming machine through the input/output controls regarding a user desire to play a different wagering game;   communicate data to the electronic gaming machine to present the different wagering game on a display of the electronic gaming machine;   receive data from the electronic gaming machine to accept a second wager associated with the different wagering game through input/output controls of the electronic gaming machine;   conduct a second randomized selection process to determine a randomized prize associated with the second wager; and   communicate data to the electronic gaming machine to present an indication of the second randomized selection process to the display of the electronic gaming machine.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , the instructions for further causing the processor to:
 receive data from the electronic gaming machine through the input/output controls regarding a user desire to play a different wagering game;   de-associate the electronic device from the electronic gaming machine; and   cause the electronic gaming machine to communicatively associate with a second electronic device configured to present the different wagering game to the electronic gaming machine.   
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic gaming machine is one of: a portable device, a tablet device, a mobile device, a traditional wagering game cabinet, or an arcade gaming cabinet. 
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of electronic gaming machines;   a plurality of electronic game hosts configured to communicatively couple remotely to the plurality of electronic gaming machines, each particular electronic game host of the plurality of electronic game hosts configured to:
 communicatively associate the particular electronic game host with an associated electronic gaming machine of the plurality of electronic gaming machines; 
 communicate data to the associated electronic gaming machine to present a wagering game on a display of the associated electronic gaming machine; 
 receive data from the associated electronic gaming machine to accept a wager associated with the wagering game through input/output controls of the associated electronic gaming machine; 
 conduct a randomized selection process to determine a randomized prize associated with the wager; 
 communicate data to the associated electronic gaming machine to present an indication of the randomized selection process to the display of the associated electronic gaming machine; and 
 meter and store game play data associated with execution of the wagering game to a computer-readable medium remote from the associated electronic gaming machine. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the game play data includes at least one of: an indication of association between the electronic device and the electronic gaming machine; an indication of the identity of a game theme associated with the wagering game; one or more events associated with the input/output controls; and an indication of the randomized prize. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the game play data further includes information regarding at least one of: a time of association between the electronic device and the electronic gaming machine; a time of association of the identity of the game theme associated with the wagering game; a time of occurrence of the one or more events associated with the input/output controls; and a time of determination of the randomized prize 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , the particular electronic game host further configured to:
 receive data from the associated electronic gaming machine through the input/output controls regarding a user desire to play a different wagering game;   communicate data to the associated electronic gaming machine to present the different wagering game on a display of the associated electronic gaming machine;   receive data from the associated electronic gaming machine to accept a second wager associated with the different wagering game through input/output controls of the associated electronic gaming machine;   conduct a second randomized selection process to determine a randomized prize associated with the second wager; and   communicate data to the associated electronic gaming machine to present an indication of the second randomized selection process to the display of the associated electronic gaming machine.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , the particular electronic game host further configured to to:
 receive data from the associated electronic gaming machine through the input/output controls regarding a user desire to play a different wagering game;   de-associate the particular electronic game host from the associated electronic gaming machine; and   cause the associated electronic gaming machine to communicatively associate with a second electronic device configured to present the different wagering game to the associated electronic gaming machine.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of electronic gaming machines may comprise at least one of: a portable device, a tablet device, a mobile device, a traditional wagering game cabinet, or an arcade gaming cabinet. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7 , the associated electronic gaming machine configured to meter and store locally to the associated electronic gaming machine events associated with the input/output controls of the associated electronic gaming machine. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 communicatively associating an electronic game host with an electronic gaming machine remote from the electronic game host;   executing a gaming application for conducting a wagering game on the electronic game host;   communicating data from the electronic game host to the electronic gaming machine to present the wagering game on a display of the electronic gaming machine;   receiving data at the electronic game host from the electronic gaming machine to accept a wager associated with the wagering game through input/output controls of the electronic gaming machine;   conducting a randomized selection process to determine a randomized prize associated with the wager;   communicating data from the electronic game host to the electronic gaming machine to present an indication of the randomized selection process to the display of the electronic gaming machine; and   metering and storing locally to the electronic game host game play data associated with execution of the wagering game.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the game play data includes at least one of: an indication of association between the electronic device and the electronic gaming machine; an indication of the identity of a game theme associated with the wagering game; one or more events associated with the input/output controls; and an indication of the randomized prize. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the game play data further includes information regarding at least one of: a time of association between the electronic device and the electronic gaming machine; a time of association of the identity of the game theme associated with the wagering game; a time of occurrence of the one or more events associated with the input/output controls; and a time of determination of the randomized prize 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising metering and storing locally to the electronic gaming machine events associated with the input/output controls of the electronic gaming machine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving data at the electronic game host from the electronic gaming machine through the input/output controls regarding a user desire to play a different wagering game;   communicate data from the electronic game host to the electronic gaming machine to present the different wagering game on a display of the electronic gaming machine;   receive data at the electronic game host from the electronic gaming machine to accept a second wager associated with the different wagering game through input/output controls of the electronic gaming machine;   conduct a second randomized selection process to determine a randomized prize associated with the second wager; and   communicate data from the electronic game host to the electronic gaming machine to present an indication of the second randomized selection process to the display of the electronic gaming machine.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving data from the electronic gaming machine through the input/output controls regarding a user desire to play a different wagering game;   de-associating the electronic game host from the electronic gaming machine; and   causing the electronic gaming machine to communicatively associate with a second electronic game host configured to present the different wagering game to the electronic gaming machine.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic gaming machine is one of: a portable device, a tablet device, a mobile device, a traditional wagering game cabinet, or an arcade gaming cabinet.