Management system for a group of gaming machines

Abstract

A management system and a method to implement secure control of a player's gaming round on a site having several gaming machines linked to a centralized server containing a directory of player accounts. The system includes a registration terminal linked to said server. The registration terminal includes elements which receive a gaming amount and open a gaming session by issuing the player with a passive medium carrying a unique personalized code which remains unchanged throughout at least one gaming session, and by recording in the server's player account the total available gaming amount correlated with the code. Each of the gaming machines includes elements which read the code of the passive medium and, in correlation therewith read the total available gaming amount at any time, and of update the total available gaming amount in the server memory in relation to the player's winnings or losses.

1 . Secure management and control system of a player's gaming round on a site having several gaming machines ( 4 ,  5 ) linked to a centralized server ( 1 ) which contains a directory of player accounts, this system comprising a registration terminal ( 8 ,  8 ′) linked to said server ( 1 ), characterized in that:
 the registration terminal ( 8 ,  8 ′) comprises means able to receive a gaming amount and to open a gaming session by issuing the player with a passive medium carrying a unique personalized code which remains unchanged throughout at least one gaming session, and by recording in the player's account in the server the total available gaming amount correlated with said code,   each of the gaming machines comprises means able to read the code of the passive medium and, in correlation with this code, is capable firstly of reading said total available gaming amount at any time and secondly of keeping said gaming total up to date in the player's account in the server memory in relation to the player's winnings or losses,   it comprises means able to authorize or refuse play in relation to specific rules.   
   
   
       2 . Secure management and control system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the passive medium ( 12 ,  17 ) consists of a medium in light, flexible material such as paper or cardboard in particular. 
   
   
       3 . Secure management and control system according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the passive medium consists of a ticket. 
   
   
       4 . Secure management and control system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said code is carried on the passive medium in the form of a bar code. 
   
   
       5 . Secure management and control system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one gaming machine comprises means able to receive a gaming amount and to update the total available gaming amount in a player account of the server in correlation with said code. 
   
   
       6 . Secure management and control system according to  claim 1  characterized in that it comprises a terminal ( 8 ,  8 ′) which, after reading the code carried by the passive medium, is able to close a gaming session. 
   
   
       7 . Secure management and control system according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the terminal ( 8 ,  8 ′) able to close the gaming session is the same as the terminal which opened the session. 
   
   
       8 . Secure management and control system according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the terminal comprises means allowing payout to a player, after reading the code carried by the passive medium and reading said total available gaming amount in the server. 
   
   
       9 . Secure management and control system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the registration terminal ( 8 ,  8 ′) and at least one gaming machine ( 4 ,  5 ) comprise reading means ( 31 ) to read at least one biometric parameter of the player. 
   
   
       10 . Secure management and control system of a player's gaming round on a site having several gaming machines ( 4 ,  5 ) linked to a centralized server ( 1 ) which contains a directory of player accounts, this system comprising a registration terminal ( 8 ,  8 ′) linked to said server ( 1 ), characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting of:
 registering the player via the registration terminal which receives a gaming amount from the player and creates a unique personalized code stored in memory in a player account of the server in correlation with said gaming amount, and by issuing the player with a passive medium provided with said code,   identifying a player logging onto a gaming machine by reading the code carried by the passive medium,   verifying in the server's player account the total available gaming amount correlated with this code,   authorizing or refusing access to the gaming machine,   crediting or debiting the player account in relation the player's winnings or losses, so as to update the total available gaming amount after each game,   at the end of a gaming session, paying the player the total available gaming amount.   
   
   
       11 . Secure management and control system according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the terminal comprises means allowing payout to a player, after reading the code carried by the passive medium and reading said total available gaming amount in the server.