Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Credit/debit monitoring or manipulation
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-07
2003-01-28
Harrison, Jessica (Department: 3714)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Credit/debit monitoring or manipulation
C463S042000, C902S023000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06511377
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to cashless gaming systems and, in particular, to a real-time cashless gaming apparatus and method for operating gaming machines with player cards by downloading funds from a pre-established account and crediting/debiting the account based on, inter alia, resultant game play. In addition, a redemption apparatus and method is provided for players to access their available account balances with their player cards and redeem their balances for cash and perquisite vouchers directly from the redemption apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Gaming machines, particularly slot machines, have become one of the more exciting wagering adventures available at casinos and the like and have also been a source of greater revenue for gaming establishments over the last few years. Typically, a player obtains tokens, which may be coins or the like, from a stationary or roving change clerk prior to playing any particular slot machine. The disadvantage to this game playing technique is that a player who runs out of tokens must either wait for the roving change clerk to continue game play or walk away from the machine and find a stationary change clerk or cashier to get more tokens. Thus, this technique tends to interrupt game play thereby reducing profits and disrupting the player's excitement and entertainment experience enjoyed by continuous game play. In addition, this technique may require the player to carry a substantial amount of currency and/or tokens. Furthermore, the player may lose his or her place at the previously chosen machine and/or the player, while seeking out tokens, may decide not to resume play.
Moreover, a bill validator may be disposed at each machine for receiving bills and loading a corresponding amount of play credit onto the machine for game play. This technique requires the player to repetitively operate the bill validator by removing a bill from one's pocket and inserting it into the validator and awaiting validation and the corresponding placement of play credits onto the machine. Thus, this technique also interrupts game play and the corresponding excitement and entertainment associated with continuous game play. In addition, a certain amount of time is consumed by the repetitive operation of the bill validator thereby resulting in a reduction of revenue for the casino in that it reduces the amount of money fed to the machine over a period of time. Furthermore, this technique may require the player to carry a substantial amount of currency and to also carry the burden of the concern of carrying large sums of currency.
Alternatively, it has been proposed to use a general purpose charge card such as a VISA, MASTERCARD or AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD. The card is inserted into a card reader disposed at a gaming machine and the proper card identification and desired amount of funds to be borrowed on credit is entered via a keyboard. This information is then transmitted to a remote financial institution either directly or through an intermediate transaction processing facility. The remote institution must then verify the information and approve the requested funds prior to the machine being enabled for play and then, once verified, the entire requested balance is indiscreetly displayed on a display for all to see. First of all, this technique requires a player to have previously qualified for credit with the remote financial institution. In addition, this technique exposes the player to the theft or loss of the card by, for example, forgetting the card in the gaming machine. As a result of the card being a general charge card, it may be used for purchases by one other then the rightful owner. Furthermore, the player has to depend on the remote institution to obtain credit and the repayment of this credit by the player is typically coupled with interest thereby adding an additional cost to game play. The casino is also required to reconcile the player's account with the remote institution which requires time and adds to the overhead of the casino. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,306 teaches this technique.
Another proposal is to have the player hand over an ID card and a desired amount of money to a clerk at a validation terminal. The clerk then stores the ID number and the amount of money in a memory associated with the terminal. The ID card is then returned to the player whereupon the player selects a game terminal which simply reads the player's card and downloads and displays the entire cash amount to the selected game terminal. The player is required to cashout before playing a different game terminal. This technique, inter alia, fails to provide a secure control over the ID card. For example, if the card is lost or stolen, it may still be used at a gaming terminal by simply having the terminal read the card. In addition, this technique provides no discretion for concealing one's entire balance on the card as a result of the entire amount being continuously displayed on the display and as the game is progressively played. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,874 teaches this technique.
The following prior art reflects the state of the art of which applicant is aware and is included herewith to discharge applicant's acknowledged duty to disclose relevant prior art.
PATENT NO.
ISSUE DATE
INVENTOR
5,457,306
Oct. 10, 1995
Lucero
5,197,094
Mar. 23, 1993
Tellery, et al.
5,265,874
Nov. 30, 1993
Dickenson, et al.
5,038,022
Aug. 6, 1991
Lucero
4,575,622
Mar. 11, 1986
Pellegrini
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is distinguished over the known prior art in a multiplicity of ways. For one thing, the present invention provides a system which enhances the players excitement and entertainment experience by providing means for allowing continuous game play. In addition, the present invention eliminates the need for a player to carry a substantial amount of currency and/or tokens. In addition, the present invention eliminates the need for a player who has run out of tokens during game play from either having to wait for a roving change clerk to continue game play or having to walk away from the gaming machine and find a stationary change clerk or cashier to obtain additional tokens. The present invention also eliminates the need for a player to have to repetitively operate a bill validator to obtain play credits for playing a particular gaming machine.
Moreover, the present invention provides a cashless gaming system which includes a player cards which are each secured by a player selected or randomly assigned personal identification number. Thus, if the player's card is lost or stolen, it may not be simply inserted into a gaming machine by unauthorized user for game play. In addition, since the player's card of the present invention is not a general charge card it may not be used for general purchases of merchandise by unauthorized personal. The cashless gaming system also allows the casino to directly reconcile all player accounts thereby eliminating the time and overhead associated with the casino dealing with a remote institution.
Furthermore, the cashless gaming system provides discretion in displaying the entire balance of a player's account by, inter alia, allowing the player to incrementally download a portion of the account balance onto to the machine and have the downloaded balance displayed as game credits.
In a preferred form, the cashless gaming system includes a real-time gaming account wagering system which allows players to establish an electronic account as easily as selecting a personal identification number and depositing funds at an enrollment station. Deposits can be comprised of cash, chips, checks or marker proceeds. After the account has been established, the player receives a player card which may be used at any gaming machine. The electronic account is accessed at any particular gaming machine via the player card and the associated personal identification number. The player accesses funds from the electronic account by simply inserting the player
Casino Data Systems
Harrison Jessica
McAndrews Held & Malloy Ltd.
LandOfFree
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