Social distancing in gaming establishments

A gaming machine for a gaming establishment having a plurality of gaming machines, the gaming machine comprising:

• a game controller configured to control the gaming machine;
• a bill validator connected to the game controller and configured to enable a first patron to pay to play at the gaming machine;
• and
• a wireless communication component connected to at least one of the game controller and the bill validator and configured to communicate with a first wireless device of the first patron, wherein:
• the bill validator is configured to be temporarily disabled when a neighboring gaming machine is being played by a second patron;
• and
• the bill validator is configured to be temporarily disabled upon receipt by the wireless communication component of a disable message from a wireless device of a patron.

A method for implementing social distancing at a gaming establishment having a plurality of gaming machines, the method comprising:

• enabling a first patron to play at a first gaming machine;
• disabling one or more neighboring gaming machines that are nearby the first gaming machine from being played while the first patron is playing at the first gaming machine;
• and
• while the first patron is playing at the first gaming machine, enabling a second patron who is in a social group with the first patron to play at one of the one or more neighboring gaming machines.

A gaming machine for a gaming establishment having a plurality of gaming machines, the gaming machine comprising:

• a game controller configured to control the gaming machine;
• a bill validator connected to the game controller and configured to enable a first patron to pay to play at the gaming machine;
• and
• a wireless communication component connected to at least one of the game controller and the bill validator and configured to communicate with a first wireless device of the first patron, wherein:
• the bill validator is configured to be temporarily disabled when a neighboring gaming machine is being played by a second patron;
• and
• at least one of the game controller and the wireless communication component is configured to enable the bill validator to enable the first patron to play at the gaming machine when the second patron is playing at the neighboring gaming machine when the first patron is in a social group with the second patron.