System and method for performing a financial transaction in an entertainment center

• US 20060160610A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Everi Payments, Inc. (Everi Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cash Systems Incorporated (Everi Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Potts, Craig K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,922,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• 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 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a distribution system for providing cash or other items of value to a user at the location of the gaming system and a method for using the distribution system. The disclosure relates to a distribution system for use with an entertainment station. The distribution system includes a remote control unit accessible from the entertainment station and operably coupled to a base processor. The remote control unit is adapted to receive user account information and a requested transaction type from a group consisting of deposit, transfer, and withdrawal. The remote control unit is also adapted to provide a signal to the base processor, and the base processor is adapted to receive the signal from the remote control unit and to process the requested transaction type based on the account information. The base processor is adapted to distribute cash or cash equivalent to a user.

Claims

1. A distribution system for use with an entertainment station, the distribution system comprising:

a remote control unit accessible from the entertainment station and operably coupled to a base processor;

wherein the remote control unit is adapted to receive user account information and a requested transaction type from a group consisting of deposit, transfer, and withdrawal, and to provide a signal to the base processor;

wherein the base processor is adapted to receive the signal from the remote control unit and to process the requested transaction type based on the account information; and

wherein the base processor is also adapted to distribute at least one of cash or cash equivalent to a user

2. The distribution system of claim 1 wherein the remote control unit includes a reader to accept at least one form of identification of the user.

3. The distribution system of claim 2 wherein the reader includes a card reader.

4. The distribution system of claim 3 wherein the card reader is adapted to receive a card having encoded account information.

5. The distribution system of claim 1 wherein the entertainment station includes at least one of a gaming table and a gaming machine.

6. The distribution system of claim 1 wherein the remote control unit is attached to the entertainment station.

7. The distribution system of claim 1 wherein the base processor is operably coupled to a printer.

8. The distribution system of claim 1 wherein the remote control unit communicates with the base processor with a wireless communication signal.

9. The distribution system of claim 1 wherein the cash includes at least one of coins and bills;

and

the cash equivalent includes at least one of chips, checks, and tickets.

10. A combination entertainment station including:

a gaming station including one of a gaming table and a gaming machine, the gaming station adapted to provide a game of chance to a user of the gaming station; and

a distribution system including a remote control unit and a base processor, the remote control unit directly coupled to the gaming station and operably coupled to the base processor, wherein the remote control unit is adapted to receive user account information and a requested transaction type, and to provide a signal to the base processor, and the base processor is adapted to receive the signal from the remote control unit and to process the requested transaction based on the account information;

wherein the base processor is also adapted to distribute at least one of cash or cash equivalent to the user.

11. The combination entertainment station of claim 10 wherein the remote control unit is integrated into the gaming station.

12. The combination entertainment station of claim 10 wherein the remote control unit is electronically coupled to the base processor.

13. The combination entertainment station of claim 10 wherein gaming table includes at least one of a card table, roulette table, craps table and bingo table.

14. The combination entertainment station of claim 10 wherein the gaming machine includes at least one of a slot machine, video poker machine, and keno machine.

15. The combination entertainment station of claim 10 wherein the account information is directly provided as an input to the remote control device.

16. The combination entertainment station of claim 10 wherein the requested transaction types includes at least one of a deposit of funds into a selected account, transfer of funds between selected accounts, and a withdrawal of funds from a selected account.

17. The combination entertainment station of claim 16 wherein at least one of the selected accounts is a specific account that is established for an entertainment activity and used within a particular zone of negotiation.

18. The combination entertainment station of claim 17 wherein the zone of negotiation includes at least a set of at least one geographic location, a type of entertainment within a selected geographic location, a set of at least one entertainment activity, and a limited financial amount.

19. A method for operating a distribution system in connection with an entertainment station, including:

establishing an account;

providing information related to the account and a requested transaction type to a remote control unit located proximate to the entertainment station;

sending the information related to the account and a requested transaction type to a base processor remotely located from the entertainment station;

approving the information related to the account and a requested transaction type based on at least correctly identifying the account and having funds available in the account.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein approving the information related to the account and a requested transfer type further includes at least one of considering:

whether the user has reached a particular spending limit, the entertainment station, and time of day.