System and method for redeeming cashless gaming tickets to bank accounts via multi-function atm

Abstract

A system and method are provided for redeeming cashless gaming tickets having associated monetary value, such as issued at a cash-out from a gaming machine in a casino. When the customer wishes to redeem the ticket, the ticket is introduced to a multi-function ATM. The ATM then electronically communicates with a ticket redemption system to validate the ticket. The customer may transfer the monetary value associated with the ticket to an account associated with a presented bank card, wherein the ATM transmits a request for transfer to a financial server which transmits a request to a financial network for crediting of the monetary value (such as less a transaction fee) to the customer's bank card account.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for redeeming a cashless gaming ticket to a bank account associated with a bank card, the method comprising:
 receiving a cashless gaming ticket comprising encoded data representing a unique identifier associated with the cashless gaming ticket at a multi-function kiosk via a ticket reading device at the multi-function kiosk and reading the unique identifier from the encoded data;   validating the unique identifier by sending the unique identifier read at the multi-function kiosk for comparison against codes in a redemption ticket database and receiving validation of the unique identifier at the multi-function kiosk including information regarding a monetary value associated with the unique identifier;   transmitting a request for transfer of funds to said bank account to a financial server;   receiving at said financial server said request for transfer of funds and bank card information of said player;   transmitting, from the financial server to a financial network, a request for at least a portion of said monetary value to be credited to said bank account of said player using said bank card information;   receiving confirmation at the financial server when the credit is applied to the bank account; and   confirming at the multi-function kiosk that the credit is applied to the bank account.   
     
     
         22 . The method in accordance with  claim 21 , further comprising reading said bank card information from a bank card presented by said player to a reader at said multi-function kiosk. 
     
     
         23 . The method in accordance with  claim 22 , further comprising transmitting, from said multi-function kiosk to said financial server, said bank card information. 
     
     
         24 . The method in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said bank card information is associated with a player account which is associated with a player identifier which is provided by said player to said multi-function kiosk. 
     
     
         25 . The method in accordance with  claim 24 , further comprising retrieving, from said player account using said player identifier, said bank card information. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said at least a portion of said monetary value comprises said monetary value less a transaction fee. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said request for at least a portion of said monetary value to be credited is made via merchant category code 7995. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said step of transmitting, from the financial server to said financial network said request for at least a portion of said monetary value to be credited comprises transmitting, from said financial server to a first bank a first request for said at least a portion of said monetary value to be credited to said bank account of said player at a second bank. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein said first request includes information regarding said bank account for use by said first bank in creating and transmitting to a financial network a second request to credit said at least a portion of said monetary value to said bank account of said player. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein said first request results in association of said at least a portion of said monetary value at a sweep account of said first bank. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said multi-function kiosk comprises an ATM. 
     
     
         32 . A system for redeeming cashless gaming tickets comprising:
 a multi-function kiosk comprising at least one display, a ticket reading device and a card reading device, said multi-function kiosk configured to transmit a ticket validation request to a ticket redemption system in response to presentation of a cashless gaming ticket to said multi-function kiosk by a player, said cashless gaming ticket having associated monetary value, and when said cashless gaming ticket is validated and said multi-function kiosk has received a request by said player to transfer said monetary value to a bank account associated with a bank card, to transmit a request to transfer said monetary value associated with said cashless gaming ticket to said bank account; and   a financial server, said financial server configured to receive the request to transfer monetary value from said kiosk and bank card information of said player, to transmit to a financial network a request for at least a portion of said monetary value to be credited to said bank account of said user using said bank card information, to receive confirmation that the credit is applied to the bank account, and when said confirmation is received, to cause said multi-function kiosk to indicate to said user that the credit was successfully applied to the bank account.   
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein said multi-function kiosk comprises an ATM. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein said at least a portion of said monetary value comprises said monetary value less a transaction fee. 
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein said bank card information is read from a bank card presented by said player to said card reading device and is transmitted from said multi-function kiosk to said financial server. 
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein said bank card information is associated with a player account which is associated with a player identifier which is provided by said player to said multi-function kiosk. 
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein said multi-function kiosk is configured to retrieve, from said player account using said player identifier, said bank card information. 
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein said request for at least a portion of said monetary value to be credited is made via merchant category code 7995. 
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein said multi-function kiosk is communicatively linked to a ticket redemption system.