Cashless gaming system: apparatus and method

• US 6,890,258 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Incorporated (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Casino Data Systems (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Weiss, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US10/205,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20030051971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/20, 463/16, 463/24, 463/29, 463/43, 273/143, 273/138, 273/143.R, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 235380-382, 235/381, 194/200
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• 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 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars

Abstract

An apparatus and method for cashless gaming wherein a player can access credits via a pin activated keypad located on the gaming machine. Real-time accounting allows the player to redeem credits and secure perquisites as a function of patronage.

Claims

1. A method of operating gaming machines connected to a system computer associated with a database, each of said gaming machines associated with (i) a card reader, and (ii) a controller assembly coupled to said system computer, comprising:

providing a player card to at least one player;

creating a player account in said database, said player account associated with said player card and having an account balance indicating a value amount;

inserting said player card into said card reader associated with said one gaming machine;

establishing credits on said credit meter of said one gaming machine;

providing a time out signal representative of lack of activity on said one gaming machine;

detecting said time out signal; and

automatically transferring the credits on said credit meter of the gaming machine to value in said player account in response to detecting said time out signal.

2. A method according to claim 1 and further including providing a player identification number to said one player, said player identification number associated with said player account.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said gaming machine includes a keypad, and wherein said method includes entering said player identification number via said keypad.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of establishing credit on said credit meter includes inserting cash into said gaming machine.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of establishing credit on said credit meter includes downloading value from said player account to said gaming machine.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of establishing credit on said credit meter includes converting points to credits on the gaming machine.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said credits represent the number of wagers for play on said one gaming machine.