Electronic fund transfer kiosk for use with wagering gaming machine

• US 20040147309A1
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Chamberlain, John W., Saffari, Mohamad Ali, Hollibaugh, Larry R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,771,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for electronically transferring funds at a gaming device. The gaming device has a ticketing system that includes a ticket reader. The system also includes an electronic fund transfer (“EFT”) kiosk that enables a patron, using a credit, debit, smart, casino or combination type card to enter a request for funds. The kiosk has a controller that sends a request out over a banking network for approval or denial. If approved, the kiosk includes a ticket printer that prints a ticket having a bar coded fund transfer. The player can use the ticket at one of a variety of gaming devices to receive game credits or redeem the ticket for cash.

Claims

1. An electronic fund transfer kiosk operable to provide a ticket to be used at a gaming device remote from the kiosk, the kiosk comprising:

a controller that communicates over at least one network with a remote fund repository;

a display operable with the controller to display electronic fund transfer information to a person;

an input device operable with the controller to enable the person to enter electronic fund transfer information;

a ticket printer operable with the controller to issue to the person the ticket, wherein the ticket includes an approved electronic fund transfer and identification information readable by the remote gaming device; and

a housing that supports the controller, display, input device and ticket printer.

2. The electronic fund transfer kiosk of claim 1, wherein the input device includes a multi-button keypad.

3. The electronic fund transfer kiosk of claim 1, wherein the ticket printer is a thermal printer.

4. The electronic fund transfer kiosk of claim 1, wherein the display includes a vacuum fluorescent display.

5. The electronic fund transfer kiosk of claim 1, wherein the input device includes a touch screen operable with the display.

6. The electronic fund transfer kiosk of claim 1, which includes a ticket reader operable with the controller and a supply of cash stored within the housing, at least a portion of the cash provided to the person in exchange for a ticket printed by the remote gaming device.

7. The electronic fund transfer kiosk of claim 1, which includes a receipt printer operable with the controller to provide a receipt to the person confirming an amount of the approved electronic fund transfer.

8. The electronic fund transfer kiosk of claim 1, wherein the network is a wide area network.

9. The electronic fund transfer kiosk of claim 1, wherein the identification information includes a bar code.

10. A system for electronically transferring funds comprising:

a gaming device having a ticket reader and a processor operable with the ticket reader, the processor operable to communicate with a ticket validation network;

an electronic fund transfer kiosk having a ticket printer and a controller that operates with the ticket printer, the controller communicating via at least one network with a remote fund repository; and

a ticket having an electronic fund transfer approved by the remote fund repository, the ticket issued by the ticket printer having identification information readable by the ticket reader.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the network operating with the controller links a plurality of electronic fund transfer kiosks.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the network operating with the controller links a plurality of remote fund repositories.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the gaming device is located proximate to the electronic fund transfer kiosk.

14. The system of claim 10, which includes a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including one of the ticket readers.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the gaming devices is located proximate to the electronic fund transfer kiosk.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein at least two of the gaming devices are different types of gaming devices.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the ticket validation network is local within a gaming establishment.

18. The system of claim 10, which includes an operator interface device that operates with the ticket validation network to verify the ticket.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the ticket validation network is a fiber-optic network.

20. The system of claim 10, which includes a card reader operable with the controller, the card reader accepting at least one card selected from the group consisting of:

a credit card, a debit card, a gaming establishment card and any combination thereof.

21. A method of providing funds for use at a gaming device, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting electronically a fund request from an electronic fund transfer kiosk to a remote fund repository;

receiving, at the electronic fund transfer kiosk, a response from the remote fund repository; and

printing a ticket having an approved electronic fund transfer if the response is an approval and enabling the ticket to be inserted into the gaming device and used to provide at least one gaming device credit.

22. The method of claim 21, which includes issuing a receipt with the ticket, the receipt verifying an amount of the approved electronic fund transfer.

23. The method of claim 21, which includes validating the ticket before providing at least one gaming device credit.

24. The method of claim 21, which includes providing account information if the response is a rejection.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein transmitting the fund request includes transmitting the request over an internet.