Gaming system and method for completing a transaction associated with a gaming machine

• US 20040031845A1
• Filed: 08/13/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mandalay Resort Group (MGM Resorts International)
• Original Assignee: Mandalay Resort Group (MGM Resorts International)
• Inventors: Solomon, Gregg
• Granted Patent: US 6,892,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/206 comprising security or operator identification provisions, e.g. password entry
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics

Abstract

A system and method are used to complete a transaction associated with a gaming machine. The system and method assign the transaction to an employee of the casino and sense a biometric characteristic at a jackpot fill station. The sensed biometric characteristic is compared with a stored characteristic of the employee and a match is confirmed. The transaction is authorized if the match is confirmed.

Claims

1. A method for completing a transaction associated with a gaming machine, comprising:

sensing a biometric characteristic of a first employee;

comparing the sensed biometric characteristic with a stored characteristic of the first employee and responsively confirming that the sensed biometric matches the stored characteristic of the first employee; and

,

authorizing the transaction if a match is confirmed.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transaction is a handpay.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transaction is a hopper fill.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transaction is a cancelled credit.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the steps of:

assigning the transaction to the first employee;

identifying the employee to a control system located on the gaming machine; and

,

transferring the identity of the first employee to a computer located at the jackpot fill station.

6. A method, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the gaming machine includes an ID card reader coupled to the control system and the step of identifying the first employee includes the step of inserting, by the first employee, an employee identification card into the ID card reader.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the gaming machine includes a keypad coupled to the control system and the step of identifying the employee includes the step of entering, by the employee, an employee personal identification number.

8. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of sensing a biometric characteristic is performed using a biometric sensor.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the biometric sensor is located at a jackpot fill station.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the biometric sensor is located at the gaming machine.

11. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the biometric characteristic includes a geometric pattern defined by a physical attribute of the employee.

12. A method, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the physical attribute is a fingerprint of the employee.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the physical attribute includes a plurality of veins.

14. A method, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the physical attribute is an eye of the employee.

15. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the biometric characteristic includes a signature of the employee.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the biometric characteristic is a phrase spoken by the first employee.

17. A method, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the phrase is a name of the first employee.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the phrase is a password.

19. A method, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step of assigning the jackpot to the first employee, includes the step of identifying the first employee to a control system located on the gaming machine using a biometric sensor, the biometric sensor being adapted to sense the biometric characteristic of the first employee.

20. A method, as set forth in claim 19, wherein the biometric characteristic includes a geometric pattern defined by a physical attribute of the first employee.

21. A method, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the physical attribute is a fingerprint of the first employee.

22. A method, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the physical attribute includes a plurality of veins.

23. A method, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the physical attribute is an eye of the first employee.

24. A method, as set forth in claim 19, wherein the biometric characteristic includes a signature of the first employee.

25. A method, as set forth in claim 19, wherein the biometric characteristic is a phrase spoken by the first employee.

26. A method, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the phrase is a name of the first employee.

27. A method, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the phrase is a password.

28. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is a slot machine.

29. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is an electronic gaming device.

30. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the step of paying a jackpot to the player.

31. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the steps of:

releasing funds to the first employee if the transaction has been authorized; and

,

witnessing, by another employee, payment of the funds to the player by the first employee.

32. A method, as set forth in claim 31, including the steps of:

sensing the biometric characteristic of the another employee; and

, comparing the sensed biometric characteristic of the another employee with a stored characteristic of the another employee and responsively confirming that the sensed biometric characteristic of the another employee matches the stored characteristic of the another employee.

33. A method for completing a transaction associated with a gaming machine, comprising:

identifying a first employee of the casino using a control system on the gaming machine;

assigning the transaction to the first employee;

sensing a biometric characteristic of the first employee;

comparing the sensed biometric characteristic of the first employee with a stored characteristic of the first employee and responsively confirming that the sensed biometric of the first employee matches the stored characteristic of the first employee;

sensing the biometric characteristic of a second employee;

comparing the sensed biometric characteristic of the second employee with a stored characteristic of the second employee and responsively confirming that the sensed biometric characteristic of the second employee matches the stored characteristic of the second employee; and

,

responsively authorizing the transaction the sensed biometric characteristic of the first employee matches the stored characteristic of the first employee and the sensed biometric characteristic of the second employee matches the stored characteristic of the second employee.

34. A method, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the transaction is a handpay.

35. A method, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the transaction is a hopper fill.

36. A method, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the transaction is a cancelled credit.

37. A method, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the biometric characteristic of the first employee is sensed by a biometric sensor.

38. A method, as set forth in claim 37, wherein the biometric sensor is located at a jackpot fill station.

39. A method, as set forth in claim 38, wherein the biometric characteristic of the second employee is sensed by the biometric sensor.

40. A method, as set forth in claim 37, wherein the biometric sensor is located at the gaming machine.

41. A method, as set forth in claim 40, wherein the biometric characteristic of the second employee is sensed by a second biometric sensor located at a jackpot fill station.

42. A method, as set forth in claim 33, including the steps of:

releasing funds to the first employee if the transaction has been authorized; and

,

witnessing, by a third employee, payment of the funds to the player by the first employee.

43. A method, as set forth in claim 42, including the steps of:

sensing the biometric characteristic of the third employee; and

,

comparing the sensed biometric characteristic of the third employee with a stored characteristic of the third employee and responsively confirming that the sensed biometric characteristic of the third employee matches the stored characteristic of the third employee.

44. A gaming system for a casino, comprising:

at least one gaming machine having a control system and being adapted to be played by a player, the control system being adapted to identify an employee of the casino and to assign a transaction to the employee of the casino; and

,

a computer located at a jackpot fill station and being coupled to the at least one gaming machine, the computer being adapted to receive the identity of the employee, sense a biometric characteristic, compare the sensed biometric characteristic with a stored characteristic of the employee and responsively confirm that the sensed biometric matches the stored characteristic of the employee, and to authorize the transaction if a match is confirmed.

45. A system, as set forth in claim 44, wherein the transaction is a handpay.

46. A system, as set forth in claim 44, wherein the transaction is a hopper fill.

47. A system, as set forth in claim 44, wherein the transaction is a cancelled credit.

48. A system, as set forth in claim 44, wherein the gaming machine includes a ID card reader coupled to the control system and adapted to read an employee identification card inserted into the ID card reader inserted by the employee.

49. A system, as set forth in claim 48, wherein the gaming machine includes a keypad coupled to the control system and wherein the control system is adapted to identify the employee via the employee identification card and an employee personal identification number entered on the keypad by the employee.

50. A system, as set forth in claim 44, including a biometric sensor coupled to the computer.

51. A system, as set forth in claim 44, wherein the biometric characteristic includes a geometric pattern defined by a physical attribute of the employee.

52. A system, as set forth in claim 51, wherein the physical attribute is a fingerprint of the employee.

53. A system, as set forth in claim 51, wherein the physical attribute includes a plurality of veins.

54. A system, as set forth in claim 51, wherein the physical attribute is an eye of the employee.

55. A system, as set forth in claim 44, wherein the biometric characteristic includes a signature of the employee.

56. A system, as set forth in claim 44, wherein the biometric characteristic is a phrase spoken by the employee.

57. A system, as set forth in claim 56, wherein the phrase is the employee'"'"'s name.

58. A system, as set forth in claim 56, wherein the phrase is a password.

59. A system, as set forth in claim 44, wherein the gaming machine includes a biometric sensor coupled to the control system and being adapted to sense the biometric characteristic of the employee.

60. A system, as set forth in claim 59, wherein the biometric characteristic includes a geometric pattern defined by a physical attribute of the employee.

61. A system, as set forth in claim 60, wherein the physical attribute is a fingerprint of the employee.

62. A system, as set forth in claim 60, wherein the physical attribute includes a plurality of veins.

63. A system, as set forth in claim 60, wherein the physical attribute is an eye of the employee.

64. A system, as set forth in claim 59, wherein the biometric characteristic includes a signature of the employee.

65. A system, as set forth in claim 64, wherein the biometric characteristic is a phrase spoken by the employee.

66. A system, as set forth in claim 65, wherein the phrase is the employee'"'"'s name.

67. A system, as set forth in claim 65, wherein the phrase is a password.

68. A system, as set forth in claim 44, wherein the gaming machine is a slot machine.