System and method for funding game play

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems for conducting a checkless cash access settlement are provided. In one embodiment, a cash advance method includes the following: a customer initiates a cash access transaction via a cash access system; the customer receives authorization or denial; the customer provides identification and the financial card to a cashier or attendant; the cashier or attendant validates the customer's identity, retrieves the transaction information, and completes the cash advance application; the application prints a non-negotiable instrument, such as a transaction receipt; the customer signs the receipt confirming the transaction with a physical receipt or electronic capture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for making funds available to a player at a gaming table, the method comprising:
 providing a portable transaction terminal to a player at a gaming table, said portable transaction terminal having a financial card reader and a wireless communication interface;   receiving input at said portable transaction terminal of a desired monetary value transaction of a monetary amount from funds associated with a financial account of the player;   reading a financial card of the player with the financial card reader of the portable transaction device, the financial card associated with the financial account;   transmitting a request for processing of said monetary value transaction to a remote controller via said wireless communication interface of said portable transaction terminal;   transmitting, from said remote controller, a request for approval of said monetary value transaction to a financial processing system;   receiving an approval of said monetary value transaction at said remote controller;   based upon receipt of said approval of said monetary value transaction, printing a quasi-cash document representing said monetary amount;   receiving said quasi-cash document; and   issuing gaming chips in an amount equivalent to said monetary amount to said player at said gaming table in exchange for said quasi-cash document.   
     
     
         2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing information regarding said monetary value transaction in a database. 
     
     
         3 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said quasi-cash document comprises a non-negotiable instrument. 
     
     
         4 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said quasi-cash document comprises a negotiable instrument. 
     
     
         5 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising issuing a transaction receipt to said player. 
     
     
         6 . The method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said transaction receipt comprises a copy of said quasi-cash document. 
     
     
         7 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said financial account comprises a bank account and said financial card comprises a debit card. 
     
     
         8 . A system for making funds available to a player at a gaming table, the method comprising:
 a portable transaction terminal located at a gaming table, said portable transaction terminal comprising a controller, one or more input devices, a financial card reader and a wireless communication interface, said portable transaction terminal configured to;
 receive input of a desired monetary value transaction of a monetary amount from funds associated with a financial account of the player via said one or more input devices; 
 read a financial card of the player with the financial card reader, the financial card associated with the financial account; and 
 transmit a request for processing of said monetary value transaction via said wireless communication interface of said portable transaction terminal; 
   a remote controller, said remote controller comprising a processor and a communication interface; said remote controller configured to:
 receive said request for processing from said portable transaction terminal; 
 transmit a request for approval of said monetary value transaction to a financial processing system; and 
 receive an approval of said monetary value transaction at said remote controller; 
   a printer, said printer configured to print a quasi-cash document representing said monetary amount in response to a signal received by said printer in response to said approval of said monetary value transaction; and   a plurality of gaming chips having a value equivalent to said monetary amount, said plurality of gaming chips issued to said player in exchange for said quasi-cash document.   
     
     
         9 . The system in accordance with  claim 8 , further a database containing a record of said monetary value transaction. 
     
     
         10 . The system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said quasi-cash document comprises a non-negotiable instrument. 
     
     
         11 . The system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said quasi-cash document comprises a negotiable instrument. 
     
     
         12 . The system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said printer is configured to print a transaction receipt to said player. 
     
     
         13 . The system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said transaction receipt comprises a copy of said quasi-cash document. 
     
     
         14 . The system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said financial account comprises a bank account and said financial card comprises a debit card. 
     
     
         15 . A method for making funds available to a player at a gaming table, the method comprising:
 providing a portable transaction terminal to a player at a gaming table, said portable transaction terminal having a financial card reader and a wireless communication interface;   receiving input at said portable transaction terminal of a desired monetary value transaction of a monetary amount from funds associated with a financial account of the player;   reading a financial card of the player with the financial card reader of the portable transaction device, the financial card associated with the financial account;   transmitting a request for processing of said monetary value transaction to a remote controller via said wireless communication interface of said portable transaction terminal;   transmitting, from said remote controller, a request for approval of said monetary value transaction to a financial processing system;   receiving an approval of said monetary value transaction at said remote controller;   based upon receipt of said approval of said monetary value transaction, generating a quasi-cash document representing said monetary amount;   receiving said quasi-cash document; and   issuing indicia of monetary value in an amount equivalent to said monetary amount to said player at said gaming table in exchange for said quasi-cash document.   
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said indicia of monetary value comprises one or more gaming chips. 
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said indicia of monetary value comprises one or more monetary value credits. 
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said step of generating said quasi-cash document comprises printing an instrument representing said monetary amount. 
     
     
         19 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , further comprising issuing a transaction receipt to said player. 
     
     
         20 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said financial account comprises a bank account and said financial card comprises a bank card.