Gaming device and method of operation thereof

• US 6,190,256 B1
• Filed: 06/22/1998
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S., Mik, Magdalena
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/102,403
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/12-13, 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/29, 463/40-42, 902/22-24, 700/91-93, 705/64, 705/72, 705/38, 705/39, 705/44
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

A gaming device and method of operation thereof are provided in which the gaming device receives a loan request, which includes a loan amount, to establish a balance without having received payment therefor. The device sends a request signal to a controller of the gaming device communicating the loan request, and a balance is established with the gaming device. The gaming device in turn receives an approval signal from the controller of the gaming device regarding approval of the loan request. The loan amount may be less than or equal to the requested amount. A cash-out mechanism of the gaming device is enabled in accordance with the approval signal before the approval signal is received.

Claims

1. A gaming device operation method, comprising the steps of:

receiving a loan request including a requested amount;

sending a request signal communicating the loan request;

receiving an approval signal regarding approval of the loan request;

establishing a balance that is not greater than the requested amount; and

enabling a cash-out mechanism of the gaming device by a signal included with the approval signal.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of establishing a balance comprises:

establishing a balance that is equal to the requested amount.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining an amount of loan issued that is less than the requested amount; and

reducing the balance by an amount equal to the difference between the requested amount and the amount of loan issued.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the loan request includes a player identifier.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of establishing a balance comprises:

establishing a balance in dependence on the player identifier.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling play of the gaming device by the player.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the balance is established and play of the gaming device is enabled before the approval signal is received.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of enabling play of the gaming device further comprises disabling the cash-out mechanism of the gaming device.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting the balance in accordance with an outcome of play of the gaming device.

10. A method according to claim 1, in which the step of receiving an approval signal regarding approval of the loan request comprises:

receiving a signal representing an authorization code.

11. A method according to claim 10, in which the step of enabling a cash-out mechanism comprises:

enabling the cash-out mechanism if the authorization code corresponds to a predetermined code.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of

determining an amount of loan issued based on the requested amount and the approval signal;

determining an amount of loan due based on the amount of loan issued; and

adjusting the amount of loan due based on an outcome of play of the gaming device.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of determining an amount of loan repaid based on the adjusted amount of loan due.

14. A method of approving a loan request from a gaming device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a loan request signal from a gaming device, the loan request signal representing a loan request; and

sending to the gaming device a signal indicating approval of the loan request,

wherein the loan request signal includes a requested amount, and the signal indicating approval of credit includes a signal enabling a cash-out mechanism of the gaming device.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

charging a credit card account by the requested amount.

16. A method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the credit card account in accordance with an outcome of play of the gaming device.

17. A method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the player has an account chargeable by an operator of the gaming device, based upon the player identifier; and

charging the account by the requested amount.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the account in accordance with an outcome of play of the gaming device.

19. A method according to claim 14, wherein the loan request signal is received and the signal indicating approval of the loan request is sent by an operator of the gaming device.

20. A gaming device operation method, comprising the steps of:

receiving a loan request including a requested amount at a gaming device;

sending a first signal to a controller of the gaming device communicating the loan request;

receiving at the controller the first signal from the gaming device;

sending a second signal to the gaming device indicating approval of the loan request;

receiving at the gaming device the second signal from the controller of the gaming device;

establishing a balance available to the player in accordance with the second signal, the balance being not greater than the requested amount;

enabling play of the gaming device by the player; and

adjusting the balance in accordance with an outcome of the play of the gaming device,

wherein the second signal includes a signal enabling a cash-out mechanism of the gaming device.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the play of the gaming device is enabled before the second signal is received.

22. A gaming device apparatus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

receive a loan request including a requested amount;

send a request signal communicating the loan request;

receive an approval signal regarding approval of the loan request;

establish a balance that is not greater than the requested amount; and

enable a cash-out mechanism of the gaming device by a signal included with the approval signal.

23. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implement a gaming device operation method, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a loan request including a requested amount;

sending a request signal communicating the loan request;

receiving an approval signal regarding approval of the loan request;

establishing a balance that is not greater than the requested amount; and

enabling a cash-out mechanism of the gaming device by a signal included with the approval signal.

24. An apparatus for approving a loan request from a gaming device, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

receive a loan request signal from a gaming device, the loan request signal representing a loan request; and

send to the gaming device a signal indicating approval of the loan request,

wherein the loan request signal includes a requested amount, and the signal indicating approval of credit includes a signal enabling a cash-out mechanism of the gaming device.

25. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method of approving a loan request from a gaming device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a loan request signal from a gaming device, the loan request signal representing a loan request; and

sending to the gaming device a signal indicating approval of the loan request,

wherein the loan request signal includes a requested amount, and the signal indicating approval of credit includes a signal enabling a cash-out mechanism of the gaming device.

26. A gaming device apparatus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

receive a loan request including a requested amount at a gaming device;

send a first signal to a controller of the gaming device communicating the loan request;

receive at the controller the first signal from the gaming device;

send a second signal to the gaming device indicating approval of the loan request;

receive at the gaming device the second signal from the controller of the gaming device;

establish a balance available to the player in accordance with the second signal, the balance being not greater than the requested amount;

enable play of the gaming device by the player; and

adjust the balance in accordance with an outcome of the play of the gaming device,

wherein the second signal includes a signal enabling a cash-out mechanism of the gaming device.

27. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a gaming device operation method, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a loan request including a requested amount at a gaming device;

sending a first signal to a controller of the gaming device communicating the loan request;

receiving at the controller the first signal from the gaming device;

sending a second signal to the gaming device indicating approval of the loan request;

receiving at the gaming device the second signal from the controller of the gaming device;

establishing a balance available to the player in accordance with the second signal, the balance being not greater than the requested amount;

enabling play of the gaming device by the player; and

adjusting the balance in accordance with an outcome of the play of the gaming device,

wherein the second signal includes a signal enabling a cash-out mechanism of the gaming device.