METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING LOSS LIMITS

• US 20080214293A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan M., Randazzo, Ryan, McMahan, Patricia A., McLaughlin, Paul C., Silvestro, Frank, Taylor, Alexandra
• Granted Patent: US 8,105,155 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A loss limit system and method automatically tracks a player'"'"'s entry and cash play, and does not allow them to play more than an allotted dollar amount during a given time frame or lose more than the established limit. Typically, excursions of play sessions are set up by day. Play is tracked at gaming machines and locked from all other play during card in at a machine. No other play is allowed at gaming machines, auto table rating systems or open table ratings, purchase of tokens, unless buy-in has not reached the loss limit for the session. At rollover, players are allowed to play again until they meet the same criteria for loss limit.

Claims

1. A method for tracking player'"'"'s buy-in activity and enforcing player loss limits within a casino, the activity and loss limits based on scheduled time sessions, the method comprising:

identifying a player at a gaming device;

receiving a loss limit amount and an associated time session;

accepting monetary funds for game play at a gaming device;

calculating an available funds amount from the loss limit amount and the accepted monetary funds per the associated time session; and

rejecting monetary funds for game play if the monetary funds value exceeds the available funds amount.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a player at a gaming device comprises identifying a player at a gaming device via a player identification device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein accepting monetary funds for game play at a gaming device comprises accepting monetary funds for game play at a gaming device via a monetary input device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of a loss limit amount and an associated time session is performed by a loss limit system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the calculating an available funds amount from the loss limit amount and the accepted monetary funds per the associated time session is performed by a loss limit system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the rejecting monetary funds for game play if the monetary funds value exceeds the available funds amount comprises:

rejecting monetary funds for game play if the monetary funds value exceeds the available funds amount by deactivating a monetary input device associated with the gaming device when monetary funds are attempted to be entered that are greater than the available funds amount.

7. The method in claim 1, further comprising notifying a player of a reason why the monetary funds were rejected.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said notifying includes displaying the loss limit amount.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said notifying includes displaying the time period remaining until the loss is reset.