System and method for wireless gaming system with alerts

Abstract

A gaming system is provided. The gaming system allows users to access applications via gaming communication devices coupled to a communication network. At least a portion of the network may be wireless. The gaming applications include gambling, financial, entertainment service, and other types of transactions. The system may include a user location determination feature to prevent users from conducting transactions from unauthorized areas. The system may include an alerts feature operable to generate alert to users based on any or a combination of time information, location information, financial information, user profile information, and other types of information.

1 - 123 . (canceled) 
     
     
         124 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to:
 determine a first location of a mobile device of a first user, the first mobile device being operable to make a plurality of applications available to the first user for use via the first mobile device; 
 determine that the first user is using one of the plurality of applications at the first location; 
 determine a change in location of a second mobile device of a second user; 
 responsive at least to (a) determining a change in location of the second mobile device and (b) determining that the first user is using one of the plurality of applications via the mobile device at the first location, cause a communication comprising information about the first location of the first mobile device to be output at the second mobile device. 
   
     
     
         125 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , wherein the communication comprises an invitation to participate in a gaming activity, and in which the first mobile device comprises a first mobile gaming device operable to make a plurality of gaming activities available to the first user for play via the first mobile gaming device, and in which the second mobile device comprises a second mobile gaming device operable to make a plurality of gaming activities available to the second user for play via the second mobile gaming device. 
     
     
         126 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , wherein the communication information comprises an invitation to place a bet, in which the act of determining that the first user is using one of the plurality of applications at the first location comprises determining that the first user is engaged in a gaming activity at the first location. 
     
     
         127 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , in which the instructions, when executed, further direct the at least one processor to:
 determine that the first location is near to a location where a service is provided; and   responsive to determining that the first location of the first user is near to the location where a service is provided, transmit to the first mobile device a promotional announcement comprising an advertisement for the service.   
     
     
         128 . The apparatus of  claim 124 ,
 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to transmit a second communication to the second user, the second communication comprises at least one of: (1) scheduling information regarding an upcoming event; (2) information determined based on a financial status of the first user; (3) information about betting limits at a gaming table; and (4) information regarding odds associated with a gambling opportunity, and   wherein the communication comprises at least one of an audible signal, a verbal message, a textual message, and a graphical display on a display screen of the second mobile device.   
     
     
         129 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , in which the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to receive from the first user one or more parameters for triggering transmission of the communication to a mobile device. 
     
     
         130 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , in which the instructions, when executed, further direct the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile device based on a placement of a bet by the first user. 
     
     
         131 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , in which the instructions, when executed, further direct the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile device based on a selection of an activity by the first user on the first gaming device. 
     
     
         132 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , in which the instructions, when executed, further direct the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile device based on a size of a bet in a game. 
     
     
         133 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , in which the instructions, when executed, further direct the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile device based on an arrival of the first user at a specific location. 
     
     
         134 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , in which the instructions, when executed, further direct the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile device based on a departure of the first user from a specific location. 
     
     
         135 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , wherein the communication comprises directional information comprising directions from a location of the second user to a location associated with the first user, in which the first user is using the application at a time when the communication is output at the second mobile device. 
     
     
         136 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , in which the communication comprises directions from a current location of the second user determined by the at least one processor to at least one of: (1) an event; (2) a current location of the first user determined by the at least one processor; and (3) a location of a gaming table in a casino. 
     
     
         137 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , in which the act of determining the change in location of a second mobile device comprises at least one of:
 (1) determining that the second user has left a second location that is different from the first location;   (2) determining that the second user has entered the first location; and   (3) determining that the second user has entered a second location that is different from the first location.   
     
     
         138 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , in which the communication comprises information about a specific gaming table of a casino, and in which the first location of the first gaming device comprises a location at the specific gaming table. 
     
     
         139 . The apparatus of  claim 124 , in which the second mobile device comprises a display screen, and in which the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to cause the display screen to display information about a location of the first user. 
     
     
         140 . A method comprising:
 determining, by at least one processor, a first location of a mobile device of a first user, the first mobile device being operable to make a plurality of applications available to the first user for use via the first mobile device;   determining, by the at least one processor, that the first user is using one of the plurality of applications at the first location;   determining, by the at least one processor, a change in location of a second mobile device of a second user;   responsive at least to (a) determining a change in location of the second mobile device and (b) determining that the first user is using one of the plurality of applications via the mobile device at the first location, causing, by the at least one processor, a communication comprising information about the first location of the first mobile device to be output at the second mobile device.   
     
     
         141 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are configured to cause at least one processor to:
 determine a first location of a mobile device of a first user, the first mobile device being operable to make a plurality of applications available to the first user for use via the first mobile device;   determine that the first user is using one of the plurality of applications at the first location;   determine a change in location of a second mobile device of a second user;   responsive at least to (a) determining a change in location of the second mobile device and (b) determining that the first user is using one of the plurality of applications via the mobile device at the first location, cause a communication comprising information about the first location of the first mobile device to be output at the second mobile device.   
     
     
         142 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 141 , wherein the communication comprises an invitation to participate in a gaming activity, and in which the first mobile device comprises a first mobile gaming device operable to make a plurality of gaming activities available to the first user for play via the first mobile gaming device, and in which the second mobile device comprises a second mobile gaming device operable to make a plurality of gaming activities available to the second user for play via the second mobile gaming device. 
     
     
         143 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 141 , wherein the communication information comprises an invitation to place a bet, in which the act of determining that the first user is using one of the plurality of applications at the first location comprises determining that the first user is engaged in a gaming activity at the first location.