System and method of providing rewards for casino gaming

Abstract

A method of providing rewards for casino gaming includes a system receiving a request and creating a player record in a database by obtaining player data including a balance, and assigning the player record a unique key. A casino bank communicates with the database and creates a player debit account. The database updates the player record to include a unique debit account identifier linked to the debit account. The database copies the key to the redemption card and the database copies the debit account identifier to the redemption card, if the debit account identifier is not already encoded on the redemption card, and authorizes a terminal to dispense the redemption card. The database updates the balance of the player record upon the player gambling, wherein the redemption card is provided to the terminal which receives and communicates the key and transaction data to the database for updating the player record.

1 . A method of providing rewards for casino gaming, comprising:
 a casino rewards system receiving a request and creating a player record for a player in a player database by obtaining player data including a player balance, and assigning said player record a unique player key;   a casino bank communicating with said player database and creating a player debit account using said player data;   said player database updating said player record to include a unique player debit account identifier linked to said player debit account;   said player database copying said player key to a redemption card;   said player database copying said player debit account identifier to said redemption card, if said player debit account identifier is not already encoded on said redemption card, and authorizing at least one casino terminal to dispense said redemption card; and   said player database updating said player balance of said player record upon said player gambling in a casino, wherein said redemption card is provided to said at least one casino terminal which receives and communicates said player key and gambling transaction data to said player database for updating said player record.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said player database periodically communicating with said casino bank such that said player balance can be updated to reflect a balance in said player debit account. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said redemption card, if presented as payment to a merchant, being used as a credit or debit card as by reading and communicating said player debit account identifier to a merchant bank causing a transfer of funds from said player debit account at said casino bank to a merchant account at said merchant bank. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 said casino rewards system ensuring sufficient funds are available in said player debit account before transferring said funds from said player debit account to said merchant account. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 said casino bank creating a reserve account providing funds when a transaction is made requiring funds to be transferred out of said player debit account when said player debit account has insufficient funds. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said player database associating said player debit account with a player PIN by adding said player PIN to said player record; 
 said player PIN being provided to said player, 
 said player using said redemption card at an automatic teller machine, wherein said player provides said player PIN and said automatic teller machine communicates said player debit account identifier to an ATM bank; and 
 said funds are transferred from said casino bank to said ATM bank and said ATM machine dispenses cash. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a player personal bank creating a player personal account having a player personal account identifier; 
 said player database adding said player personal account identifier to said player record; 
 a transfer terminal receiving a request to transfer funds from said player debit account to said player personal account; and 
 said transfer terminal communicating with said casino bank and said player personal bank and transferring funds from said player debit account to said player personal account. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said player debit account expires after some time period. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  where said time period is twenty-four months. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said player data further includes a player name, player contact information, and player payment information. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said redemption card is associated with a predetermined player debit account identifier before said request for creating a player record is made. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said at least one casino terminal communicates an authorization to said casino bank to activate said redemption card. 
     
     
         13 . A system for providing rewards for casino gaming, wherein said system:
 receives a request and creates a player record for a player in a player database by obtaining player data including a player balance, and assigning said player record a unique player key;   instructs a casino bank to communicate with said player database and create a player debit account using said player data;   instructs said player database to update said player record to include a unique player debit account identifier linked to said player debit account;   instructs said player database to copy said player key and said player debit account identifier to a redemption card and authorizes at least one casino terminal to dispense said redemption card; and   instructs said player database to update said player balance of said player record upon said player gambling in a casino, wherein said redemption card is provided to said at least one casino terminal which receives and communicates said player key and gambling transaction data to said player database for updating said player record.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the system is a computer software program.