US2009005157A1PendingUtilityA1

Electronic funds transfer system and method of use in gaming environment

44
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 28, 2007Filed: Jun 28, 2007Published: Jan 1, 2009
Est. expiryJun 28, 2027(~0.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Neil J. NetleyDon Hesskamp
G07F 17/3251G07F 17/32
44
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A system and method for electronically transferring funds in a gaming environment is disclosed. The system includes a memory device operable to store a game value and memory device interface operable to retrieve data from, and transfer data to, said memory device. The memory device interface may be integrated into an electronic gaming machine or proximate a live table game. Monetary value may be added to the memory device by casino personnel or a kiosk. A player may then use the memory device to download credits to a gaming machine or in exchange for game chips at a live table game. Machine credits may also be added to the memory device for later use at a another machine. Credits may also be stored on a casino system for access based on identification of the player facilitated by the memory device.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of electronic gaming machines;   a memory device including a microchip therein for storing a value amount;   a memory device interface integrated into each of the gaming machines wherein said interface is positioned to contact the memory device upon engagement with the memory device; and   means for crediting said gaming machines an amount equivalent to a memory device value amount in response to the memory device being engaged with said memory device interface, and crediting the memory device with a credit amount on said gaming machine in response to a game session being terminated by a player.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein said gaming machines are in communication with a central computer. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming system of  claim 1  further comprising one or more magnetic members for maintaining engagement between the memory device and the memory device interface. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the memory device is fabricated of stainless steel. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the game session is terminated via a cash out button integrated on said gaming machines. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming system of  claim 1  further comprising a memory device holder. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming system of  claim 6  wherein the memory device holder includes an opening for attachment to a lanyard. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the memory device interface is a reader operable to, retrieve data from, and transfer data to, said memory device. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the memory device stores a gaming value. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the memory device is uniquely identified. 
   
   
       11 . The gaming system of  claim 1  further comprising means for authenticating said memory device prior to crediting said gaming machines. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming system of  claim 1  further comprising means for verifying a player identity prior to crediting said gaming machines. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of live table games, each said table game having an associated monitor;   processor means;   a memory device including a microchip therein for storing a value amount;   a memory device interface in communication with the processor means wherein said interface is positioned to contact the memory device upon engagement with the memory device; and   wherein said processor means causes a live table game dealer to be notified, via said monitor, of a value amount stored on said memory device so that said dealer may provide a player with an appropriate amount of game chips.   
   
   
       14 . The gaming system of  claim 13  wherein said monitors are in communication with a central computer. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming system of  claim 13  further comprising one or more magnetic members for maintaining engagement between the memory device and the memory device interface. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming system of  claim 13  wherein the memory device is fabricated of stainless steel. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming system of  claim 13  further comprising a memory device holder. 
   
   
       18 . The gaming system of  claim 17  wherein the memory device holder includes an opening for attachment to a lanyard. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming system of  claim 13  wherein the memory device interface is a reader operable to, retrieve data from, and transfer data to, said memory device. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming system of  claim 13  wherein each live gaming table has a memory device interface associated with each player position at said gaming table. 
   
   
       21 . The gaming system of  claim 13  wherein the memory device is uniquely identified 
   
   
       22 . The gaming system of  claim 13  further comprising means for authenticating said memory device prior to a dealer providing chips to a player. 
   
   
       23 . The gaming system of  claim 13  further comprising means for verifying a player identity prior to providing a player with game chips. 
   
   
       24 . A gaming method comprising:
 providing a plurality of electronic gaming machines wherein each gaming machine has a memory device interface integrated therein such that said memory device interface is positioned to receive and engage a memory device having a microchip;   crediting said gaming machines an amount equivalent to a memory device value amount in response to the memory device being engaged with said memory device interface; and   crediting the memory device with a credit amount on said gaming machine in response to a player terminating a game session.   
   
   
       25 . The gaming method of  claim 24  further comprising allowing players to add value to said memory devices via a live cashier or a kiosk. 
   
   
       26 . The gaming method of  claim 24  further comprising crediting the memory device with a credit amount in response to a player talking action to cash out. 
   
   
       27 . The gaming method of  claim 26  further comprising alerting a player that said memory device is not engaged in response to said player taking action to cash out. 
   
   
       28 . The gaming method of  claim 24  further comprising utilizing magnets to maintain engagement between said memory device and memory device interface. 
   
   
       29 . The gaming method of  claim 24  further comprising uniquely identifying the memory device. 
   
   
       30 . The gaming method of  claim 24  further comprising authenticating said memory device prior to crediting said gaming machines. 
   
   
       31 . The gaming method of  claim 24  further comprising verifying a player identity prior to crediting said gaming machines. 
   
   
       32 . A gaming method comprising:
 providing a plurality of live table games wherein each table game has a monitor in communication with processing means, each of said live table games also having at least one associated memory device interface wherein said memory device interface is positioned to receive and engage a memory device having a microchip;   notifying a dealer of a value amount stored on said memory device in response to the memory device being engaged with said memory device interface;   providing a player a desired amount of game chips less than or equal to the value amount stored on said memory device; and   deducting from the memory device the value of the amount of game chips provided to the player.   
   
   
       33 . The gaming method of  claim 32  further comprising allowing players to add value to said memory devices via a live cashier or a kiosk. 
   
   
       34 . The gaming method of  claim 32  further comprising crediting back to the memory device an amount equivalent to game chips cashed in by the player. 
   
   
       35 . The gaming method of  claim 32  further comprising utilizing magnets to maintain engagement between said memory device and memory device interface. 
   
   
       36 . The gaming method of  claim 32  further comprising uniquely identifying each memory device. 
   
   
       37 . The gaming method of  claim 32  further comprising authenticating said memory device prior to providing a player game chips. 
   
   
       38 . The gaming method of  claim 32  further comprising verifying a player identity prior to providing a player game chips. 
   
   
       39 . A gaming system comprising:
 an electronic storage device maintaining player accounts;   a plurality of electronic gaming machines in communication with said electronic storage device;   a memory device including a microchip therein for storing player identification data;   a memory device interface integrated into each of the gaming machines wherein said interface is positioned to contact the memory device upon engagement with the memory device; and   means for crediting said gaming machines an amount from a value amount stored in a identified player account in response to the memory device being engaged with said memory device interface.   
   
   
       40 . The gaming system of  claim 39  further comprising means for crediting the identified player account with a credit amount on said gaming machine in response to a game session being terminated by a player. 
   
   
       41 . The gaming system of  claim 39  further comprising means for verifying a player identity prior to crediting said gaming machines. 
   
   
       42 . A gaming system comprising:
 an electronic storage device maintaining player accounts;   a plurality of live table games, each said table game having an associated monitor in communication with said electronic storage device;   processor means;   a memory device including a microchip therein for storing player identification data;   a memory device interface in communication with the processor means wherein said interface is positioned to contact the memory device upon engagement with the memory device; and   wherein said processor means causes a live table game dealer to be notified, via said monitor, of a value amount stored in a identified player account so that said dealer may provide the player with an amount of game chips to be deducted from the identified player account.   
   
   
       43 . The gaming system of  claim 42  further comprising means for crediting the identified player account an amount equivalent to game chips turned in by the player. 
   
   
       44 . The gaming system of  claim 42  further comprising means for verifying a player identity prior to crediting said gaming machines. 
   
   
       45 . A gaming method comprising:
 providing a plurality of electronic gaming machines wherein each gaming machine has a memory device interface integrated therein such that said memory device interface is positioned to receive and engage a memory device having a microchip, said electronic gaming machines in communication with an electronic storage device maintaining player accounts;   crediting said gaming machines an amount from an identified player account in response to the memory device being engaged with said memory device interface; and   crediting the identified player account with a credit amount on said gaming machine in response to a player terminating a game session.   
   
   
       46 . The gaming method of  claim 45  further comprising authenticating said memory device prior to crediting said gaming machines. 
   
   
       47 . The gaming method of  claim 45  further comprising verifying a player identity prior to crediting said gaming machines. 
   
   
       48 . A gaming method comprising:
 providing a plurality of live table games wherein each table game has a monitor in communication with processing means, each of said live table games also having at least one associated memory device interface wherein said memory device interface is positioned to receive and engage a memory device having a microchip, said monitors also in communication with an electronic storage device maintaining player accounts;   notifying a dealer of a value amount stored in an identified player account in response to the memory device being engaged with said memory device interface;   providing a player a desired value of game chips less than or equal to the value amount stored in said identified player account; and   deducting from the identified player account the value of the game chips provided to the player.   
   
   
       49 . The gaming method of  claim 48  further comprising crediting the identified player account a value of the game chips turned in by a player. 
   
   
       50 . The gaming method of  claim 48  further comprising authenticating said memory device prior to providing a player with game chips. 
   
   
       51 . The gaming method of  claim 48  further comprising verifying a player identity prior to providing a player with game chips.

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