System and method for making funds available for gaming

Abstract

A system for making funds available for gaming which includes a terminal which is configured to read customer information from a card. The terminal includes an input/output unit configured to allow the customer to select a quasi-cash transaction and to generate an order authorizing the quasi-cash transaction. The system also includes a station which is configured to retrieve the order and information verifying the identity of the customer and, when the identity of the customer is verified, is configured to, at the customer's option (1) obtain an electronic endorsement from the customer and place the electronic endorsement in an electronic image or (2) print out a hard copy of a check for endorsement by the customer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for making funds available for gaming, the method comprising:
 reading customer information of a customer from a card at a terminal;   allowing the customer to select a quasi-cash transaction at the terminal and generating an order authorizing the quasi-cash transaction when the customer selects the quasi-cash transaction;   retrieving the order and information for verifying an identity of the customer at a station;   receiving an electronic signature from the customer at the station;   placing the electronic signature on an image that includes a bank account number, a transit routing number and a place to specify who the quasi-cash transaction is being paid to.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the station includes a display that receives the electronic signature. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the display displays the image. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image further includes an amount of the quasi-cash transaction and a name of the customer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the image further includes a name and location of a place where the quasi-cash transaction occurs. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the image further includes a type of identification used for verifying the identity of the customer at the station. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying an option to the customer on a display included at the station that allows the customer to select, at the customer's option, after the identity of the customer is verified, (1) an electronic endorsement from the customer and placement of the electronic endorsement in an electronic image or (2) cancelling of the quasi-cash transaction,   wherein the display includes a customer input device and the customer input device asks the customer to select (1) or (2) and receives the customer's selection of (1) or (2) as input.   
     
     
         8 . A system for making funds available for gaming, the system comprising:
 a terminal which is configured to read customer information from a card, the terminal including an interface unit configured to allow a customer to select a quasi-cash transaction and to generate an order authorizing the quasi-cash transaction;   a station which is configured to retrieve the order and information for verifying an identity of the customer; and   a display included at the station, the display including a customer input device that is configured to receive an electronic signature from the customer,   wherein the display is configured to display an image that includes a bank account number, a transit routing number and a place to specify who the quasi-cash transaction is being paid to.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the image further includes an amount of the quasi-cash transaction and a name of the customer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the image further includes a name and location of a place where the quasi-cash transaction occurs. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the image further includes a type of identification that is used at the station to retrieve the information for verifying the identity of the customer. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the display is configured to ask the customer to choose at the customer's option, after the identity of the customer is verified, to (1) obtain an electronic endorsement from the customer and place the electronic endorsement in an electronic image or (2) cancel the quasi-cash transaction, and that is configured to receive the customer's choice of (1) or (2) as input. 
     
     
         13 . A method for making funds available for gaming, the method comprising:
 reading customer information of a customer from a card at a terminal;   allowing the customer to select a quasi-cash transaction at the terminal and generating an order authorizing the quasi-cash transaction when the customer selects the quasi-cash transaction;   retrieving the order and information for verifying an identity of the customer at a station; and   displaying an option to the customer on a display included at the station that allows the customer to select, at the customer's option, (1) an electronic endorsement from the customer and placement of the electronic endorsement in an electronic image or (2) a printout of a hard copy of a check for endorsement by the customer, wherein the display includes a customer input device and the customer input device asks the customer to select (1) or (2) and receives the customer's selection of (1) or (2) as input.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the display displays a bank account number, a transit routing number and a place to specify who the quasi-cash transaction is being paid to. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the display further displays an amount of the quasi-cash transaction and a name of the customer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the display further displays a name and location of a place where the quasi-cash transaction occurs. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the display further displays a type of identification used for verifying the identity of the customer at the station. 
     
     
         18 . A system for making funds available for gaming, the system comprising:
 a terminal which is configured to read customer information from a card, the terminal including an interface unit configured to allow a customer to select a quasi-cash transaction and to generate an order authorizing the quasi-cash transaction;   a station which is configured to retrieve the order and information for verifying an identity of the customer; and   a display included at the station, the display including a customer input device that is configured to ask the customer to choose, at the customer's option, to (1) obtain an electronic endorsement from the customer and place the electronic endorsement in an electronic image or (2) print out a hard copy of a check for endorsement by the customer, and that is configured to receive the customer's choice of (1) or (2) as input.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the display is configured to display an image that includes a bank account number, a transit routing number and a place to specify who the quasi-cash transaction is being paid to. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the image further includes an amount of the quasi-cash transaction and a name of the customer. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the image further includes a name and location of a place where the quasi-cash transaction occurs. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the image further includes a type of identification that is used at the station to retrieve the information for verifying the identity of the customer. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the station and the terminal are in different areas. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the station and the terminal are in different areas. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the terminal and the station are in different areas. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the terminal and the station are in different areas. 
     
     
         27 . A method for making funds available for gaming, the method comprising:
 reading customer information of a customer from a card at a terminal;   allowing the customer to select a quasi-cash transaction at the terminal and generating an order authorizing the quasi-cash transaction when the customer selects the quasi-cash transaction;   retrieving the order and information for verifying an identity of the customer at a station;   receiving an electronic signature from the customer at the station;   placing the electronic signature on an image that includes a type of identification used for verifying the identity of the customer at the station and includes an indication of a quasi-cash transaction.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the station and the terminal are in different areas. 
     
     
         29 . A system for making funds available for gaming, the system comprising:
 a terminal which is configured to read customer information from a card, the terminal including an interface unit configured to allow a customer to select a quasi-cash transaction and to generate an order authorizing the quasi-cash transaction;   a station which is configured to retrieve the order and information for verifying an identity of the customer; and   a display included at the station, the display including a customer input device that is configured to receive an electronic signature from the customer,   wherein the display is configured to display an image that includes a type of identification that is used at the station to retrieve the information for verifying the identity of the customer and includes an indication of a quasi-cash transaction.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the station and the terminal are in different areas.