Patent ID: 9224260
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A method for encouraging play of electronic gaming machines that when played generate random game outcomes, some of which result in an award, the electronic gaming machines being on a network comprising: presenting a virtual persona on an electronic display that is operatively connected to the network; receiving wagers via the electronic gaming machines from players playing games on the electronic gaming machines responsive to actuation of a wager input device by the player, the wager input device being associated with each electronic gaming machine; tracking wagers received on at least some of the electronic gaming machines via a meter associated with each of the electronic gaming machines on which wagers are tracked; making awards to players of the electronic gaming machines when the game outcome results in an award; tracking awards made to players of at least some of the electronic gaming machines via a meter associated with each of the electronic gaming machines on which wagers are tracked; communicating meter data over the network from each of the electronic gaming machines on which wagers and awards are tracked to a database that is operatively connected to the network; accessing the database; detecting signals on the network indicating electronic gaming machines being played; determining which electronic gaming machines the detected signals correspond to; causing the persona to make a recommendation to play at least one of the electronic gaming machines responsive to a network communication to the electronic display; basing the recommendation at least in part on the meter data in the database collected about at least one of the players; excluding the electronic gaming machines being played from the recommended electronic gaming machines; presenting a second virtual persona on an electronic display; causing the second virtual persona to make a second recommendation to play at least one of the electronic gaming machines responsive to a network communication to the electronic display; and receiving a wager responsive to actuation of the wager input device from at least one of the players at one of the recommended electronic gaming machines.