Method for admitting a patron into a restricted location

Abstract

The subject invention provides a method of admitting a patron into a restricted location of a gaming establishment. The patron is admitted through a gate connected to a computer system. A card is issued to the patron by the gaming establishment and stores a prior gaming history of the patron. An admission criterion is established setting requirements for entry into the restricted location. A holder of the card is identified as the patron to whom the card was issued. The card is read to obtain the prior gaming history of the patron. The prior gaming history of the patron is transmitted to the computer system, where the computer system compares the prior gaming history of the patron with the admission criterion. The gate is opened to admit the patron into the restricted location if the prior gaming history of the patron satisfies the admission criterion.

1 . A method of admitting a patron into a restricted location within a gaming establishment from a public area of the gaming establishment through a gate connected to a computer system utilizing a card storing a prior gaming history of the patron, said method comprising the steps of: 
 establishing an admission criterion associated with admittance into the restricted location;    admitting the patron into the public area of the gaming establishment;    identifying a holder of the card to authenticate the holder of the card as the patron;    reading the card to obtain the prior gaming history of the patron associated with the card;    transmitting the prior gaming history of the patron read from the card to the computer system;    comparing the prior gaming history of the patron transmitted to the computer system with the admission criterion to determine if the prior gaming history of the patron satisfies the admission criterion;    opening the gate to admit the patron into the restricted location within the gaming establishment based on the prior gaming history of the patron associated with the card if the prior gaming history of the patron satisfies the admission criterion.    
   
   
       2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising the step of associating personal information related to the patron with the card.  
   
   
       3 . A method as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the step of associating personal information related to the patron with the card is further defined as associating at least one of a name of the patron and a personal identification number associated with the patron with the card.  
   
   
       4 . A method as set forth in  claim 3  further comprising the step of storing the personal information related to the patron in the computer system.  
   
   
       5 . A method as set forth in  claim 4  wherein a keypad is operatively connected to the gate and further comprising the step of entering the personal identification number associated with the patron into the keypad.  
   
   
       6 . A method as set forth in  claim 5  further comprising the step of transmitting the personal identification number entered into the keypad to the computer system to compare with the personal identification number stored in the computer system to identify the holder of the card as the patron.  
   
   
       7 . A method as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said step of identifying a holder of the card is further defined as identifying a holder of the card after admitting the holder of the card into the public area of the gaming establishment.  
   
   
       8 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising the step of denying admittance to the patron based on the prior gaming history of the patron associated with the card if the prior gaming history of the patron does not satisfy the admission criterion.  
   
   
       9 . A method as set forth in  claim 8  further comprising the step of displaying a message to indicate a reason for denying admittance of the patron.  
   
   
       10 . A method as set forth in  claim 2  further comprising the step of storing the prior gaming history of the patron in the computer system.  
   
   
       11 . A method as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said step of reading the card to obtain the prior gaming history of the patron further includes the step of reading the card to obtain the personal information related to the patron.  
   
   
       12 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said step of transmitting the prior gaming history of the patron read from the card to the computer system further includes the step of transmitting the personal information related to the patron to the computer system.  
   
   
       13 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising the step of issuing the card to the patron.  
   
   
       14 . A method as set forth in  claim 13  further comprising the step of updating the prior gaming history of the patron at the gaming establishment associated with the card.  
   
   
       15 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  wherein a card reader is operatively connected to the gate and the step of reading the card further includes the step of utilizing the card reader to read the card.  
   
   
       16 . A method as set forth in  claim 15  further comprising the step of connecting the gate to the computer system with a network.  
   
   
       17 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the prior gaming history of the patron includes a point balance attributed to the patron from previous gaming activities conducted by the patron at the gaming establishment and the step of establishing an admission criterion is further defined as establishing an admission criterion based on a point balance accrued from previous gaming activities conducted at the gaming establishment.  
   
   
       18 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the prior gaming history of the patron includes a type of game played by the patron at the gaming establishment and the step of establishing an admission criterion is further defined as establishing an admission criterion based on a type of game conducted in the restricted location within the gaming establishment.  
   
   
       19 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the prior gaming history of the patron includes the placement of the patron within a pre-determined group and the step of establishing an admission criterion is further defined as establishing an admission criterion based on membership in a pre-determined group.  
   
   
       20 . A method as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the step of establishing an admission criterion based on the placement of the patron within a pre-determined group is further defined as establishing an admission criterion based on the placement of the patron within a pre-determined group of patrons banned from the restricted location within the gaming establishment.  
   
   
       21 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the step of opening the gate to admit the patron into the restricted location of the gaming establishment is further defined as opening the gate to admit the patron into a VIP lounge.  
   
   
       22 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the step of opening the gate to admit the patron into the restricted location of the gaming establishment is further defined as opening the gate to admit the patron into an event area.  
   
   
       23 . A system for admitting a patron into a restricted location of a gaming establishment, said system comprising: 
 a gate for opening to admit the patron into the restricted location of the gaming establishment;    a computer system operatively connected to said gate and including a program for establishing an admission criterion associated with admittance into the restricted location and opening said gate if said admission criterion is satisfied;    a card issued to the patron by the gaming establishment and including a prior gaming history of the patron associated therewith;    a card reader operatively connected to said gate for reading said prior gaming history of the patron associated with said card and transmitting said prior gaming history of the patron to said computer system for comparing the prior gaming history of the patron with the admission criterion to determine if the prior gaming history of the patron satisfies the admission criterion.    
   
   
       24 . A system as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said computer system includes a personal identification number associated with the patron and said system further comprises a keypad operatively connected to said gate for entering said personal identification number and sending the personal identification number to said computer system to identify a holder of the card as the patron.  
   
   
       25 . A system as set forth in  claim 24  further comprising an output interface for displaying a message to indicate a reason for denying the patron admittance into the restricted location of the gaming establishment upon said prior gaming history of the patron failing to satisfy said admission criterion.  
   
   
       26 . A system as set forth in  claim 25  further comprising a database operatively connected to said computer system for storing said prior gaming history of the patron and personal information related to the patron.  
   
   
       27 . A system as set forth in  claim 26  further comprising a network interconnecting said computer system, said gate, said card reader, said keypad, said display, and said database for transmitting data therebetween.  
   
   
       28 . A system as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said admission criterion includes at least one of a point balance accrued from previous gaming activities conducted at the gaming establishment, a type of game conducted within the restricted location of the gaming establishment, and a membership in a pre-determined group.  
   
   
       29 . A system as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said prior gaming history of the patron includes at least one of a point balance attributed to the patron from previous gaming activities conducted at the gaming establishment, a type of game played by the patron at the gaming establishment, and a membership of the patron in a predetermined group.