Method and apparatus for monitoring player loss in a gaming environment

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for facilitating and monitoring player financial transactions, including the tracking of player losses, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes at least one server and a plurality of game stations. The server has a memory containing data files corresponding to players. The data files contain information such as credits or monies in an account which belong to the player and which may be used by the player to play games. The data files also contain information regarding player expenditures or deductions, such as amounts wagered by a player. In one embodiment, player identification, such as that associated with a player tracking function or a financial institution (banking) account is used to identify the player for purposes of associating data with the player's files. Using the financial information, a player's gain or loss while playing games may be monitored by the player and/or casino or other entity offering games.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A system for monitoring player financial transactions in a gaming environment for tracking player loss comprising: 
 a plurality of gaming devices;    a financial transaction host, said financial transaction host in communication with each of said plurality of gaming devices via a communication network, said financial transaction host including memory for storing at least one data file corresponding to a player and identifiable with a player identification, said at least one data file including financial information including at least monetary amounts associated with said player for use in playing one or more of said plurality of gaming devices; and    means for determining a player's financial loss from said financial information.    
     
     
         2 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said financial information comprises amounts deposited by said player.  
     
     
         3 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said system includes means for establishing a communication link with an outside financial institution, and wherein said financial information comprises information regarding funds requested by said player from said institution.  
     
     
         4 . The system in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said player identification comprises information identifying said player at said financial institution.  
     
     
         5 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said financial information includes amounts bets by said player in playing one or more of said plurality of gaming devices.  
     
     
         6 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said financial information includes monetary amounts awarded to said player playing one or more of said plurality of gaming devices.  
     
     
         7 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  including at least one player identification input device for accepting said player identification.  
     
     
         8 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said at least one player identification input device comprises a card reader.  
     
     
         9 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  including at least one currency dispensing apparatus for dispensing currency associated with a player account at a financial institution and wherein said card reader is associated with said currency dispensing apparatus.  
     
     
         10 . A method of monitoring player financial activities in a gaming environment in which a player may play one or more games comprising the steps of: 
 generating a financial account corresponding to a player, said account represented by at least one data file, said at least one data file adapted to contain financial information;    storing financial information regarding monetary amounts belonging to a player which may be used to play said one or more games;    storing financial information regarding monetary amounts expended by a player in playing said one or more games; and    determining player loss from said financial information.    
     
     
         11 . The method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said step of generating a financial account includes associating a player identifier with said account.  
     
     
         12 . The method in accordance with  claim 11  including the step of identifying a player with said player identifier.  
     
     
         13 . The method in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said player identifier is associated with a player's financial institution.  
     
     
         14 . The method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said financial information regarding monetary amounts belonging to said player comprises information regarding amounts deposited by said player to said account and amounts awarded to said player and credited to said account in association with said player's play of said one or more games.  
     
     
         15 . The method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said financial information regarding monetary amounts belonging to said player comprises credit represented by financial data transmitted from a remote financial institution.  
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 10  including the step of preventing said player from utilizing monetary amounts associated with said account to play said one or more games for at least a period of time if said determined player loss meets certain criteria.  
     
     
         17 . A method of monitoring game player financial transactions associated with at least one game station coupled to a server, the server including at least one data file representing a player account, said account containing player financial information comprising the steps of: 
 crediting monetary amounts to said player for use in playing a game at said game station to said at least one data file;    accepting input from said player transmitted from said game station to said server, said input including player identification information;    deducting amounts bet by said player in playing a game at said game station from said player account;    determining said player's net financial gain or loss from said credit monetary amounts and said deducted amounts.    
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said crediting step comprises crediting an amount won by said player in playing a game at said game station.  
     
     
         19 . The method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said player identification information comprises information identifying said player to a financial institution.  
     
     
         20 . The method in accordance with  claim 17  including the step of preventing said player from deducting amounts from said account if said player is determined to have incurred a particular financial loss during a particular period of time.