Apparatus and method for providing credit for operating a gaming machine
First Claim
1. Apparatus for enabling an unattended gaming machine in an establishment having an account to provide playing credit to a player operating the machine from the player'"'"'s existing credit account in a financial institution at a location remote from the establishment, said financial institution being different from the establishment, comprising:
- an electronic circuit coupling the unattended machine to the remote financial institution having said player'"'"'s account;
means for enabling said player to generate data representing the player'"'"'s identity, a requested amount of playing credit to be charged to said player'"'"'s account at said remote financial institution, and to cause generation of data regarding the establishment'"'"'s identity;
means enabled by said player to automatically transmit said generated data through said electronic circuit to said remote financial institution for approval of said requested playing credit and transfer of said requested playing credit from said player'"'"'s account to said establishment'"'"'s account upon approval by said financial institution without requiring the player to leave his place at said unattended gaming machine;
means on said unattended machine for automatically receiving an indication of said approval of the requested amount of playing credit from said remote financial institution through said electronic circuit; and
means coupled to said indication means for automatically enabling the player to use the approved playing credit to operate the unattended gaming machine.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The apparatus for enabling a gaming machine in an establishment to provide credit to a player operating the machine without the player leaving the machine. The gaming machine has a card reader associated with it for transmitting player related financial data to a remote location for approval. A first code identifies the particular gaming machine and a second code identifies the establishment in which the gaming machine is located. A visual display on the gaming machine indicates the amount of credit approved and usable by the player and enables the player to operate the gaming machine to use the credit.
686 Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for enabling an unattended gaming machine in an establishment having an account to provide playing credit to a player operating the machine from the player'"'"'s existing credit account in a financial institution at a location remote from the establishment, said financial institution being different from the establishment, comprising:
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an electronic circuit coupling the unattended machine to the remote financial institution having said player'"'"'s account; means for enabling said player to generate data representing the player'"'"'s identity, a requested amount of playing credit to be charged to said player'"'"'s account at said remote financial institution, and to cause generation of data regarding the establishment'"'"'s identity; means enabled by said player to automatically transmit said generated data through said electronic circuit to said remote financial institution for approval of said requested playing credit and transfer of said requested playing credit from said player'"'"'s account to said establishment'"'"'s account upon approval by said financial institution without requiring the player to leave his place at said unattended gaming machine; means on said unattended machine for automatically receiving an indication of said approval of the requested amount of playing credit from said remote financial institution through said electronic circuit; and means coupled to said indication means for automatically enabling the player to use the approved playing credit to operate the unattended gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of enabling an unattended gaming machine in an establishment, having an account, to provide playing credit to a player operating the machine from the player'"'"'s credit account existing in an financial institution at a location remote from the establishment, said financial institution being different from the establishment, comprising the steps of:
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coupling the unattended machine to the remote financial institution having said player'"'"'s existing account with an electronic circuit; enabling said player to generate data representing the player'"'"'s identity and a requested amount of playing credit to be charged to said player'"'"'s account at said remote financial institution and to cause generation of data regarding the establishment'"'"'s identity; automatically transmitting said generated data through said electronic circuit to said remote financial institution for approval of the requested amount and transfer of said requested credit from said player'"'"'s account to said establishment'"'"'s account upon approval by said financial institution at the request of said player and without requiring the player to leave his place at said unattended gaming machine; automatically receiving at said unattended machine an indication of said approval of the requested amount of playing credit from said remote financial institution through said electronic circuit; and automatically enabling the player to use the approved playing credit to operate the unattended gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for enabling an unattended gaming machine in an establishment, having an account, to provide credit to a player operating the machine from the player'"'"'s existing credit account in a financial institution at a location remote from the establishment, said financial institution being different from the establishment, comprising:
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means coupled to said unattended gaming machine for establishing a code identifying the establishment in which the unattended gaming machine is located; means forming part of the unattended gaming machine to enable said player to generate data representing the player'"'"'s identity and a requested amount of credit to be provided by said player'"'"'s account at said remote financial institution; means associated with said unattended gaming machine to automatically transmit said generated data and said establishment identifying code to said remote financial institution for approval of said requested amount of credit and transferring of the requested amount of credit from the player'"'"'s existing account to the establishment'"'"'s account without requiring the player to leave his place at said unattended gaming machine upon approval by said financial institution; means coupled to said unattended machine for receiving and displaying data from said remote financial institution representing the credit approved; and means coupled to the data receiving and displaying means for enabling said player to use the displayed credit to operate the gaming machine.
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Specification