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

• US 7,922,581 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Everi Payments, Inc. (Everi Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Global Cash Access Incorporated (Global Cash Advance Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Potts, Craig K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas; Eric M
• Application Number:
  US11/261,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20060160610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 19, 463/25, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/29
• 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 cash access system for use by an entertainment station customer within an entertainment environment, the cash access system comprising:

a user-controlled remote control unit adapted for customer performance of a cash access transaction proximate to an entertainment station, the remote control unit comprising a portable unit having a self-contained processor, a power supply, and a user interface operable by the customer, the remote control unit being physically separate from the entertainment station and being configured to perform the cash access transaction at multiple locations within the entertainment environment, and the remote control unit provided to the customer by a entertainment station provider or an agent thereof; and

a base processor adapted to communicate with the remote control unit, the base processor configured to conduct a withdrawal from one or more external financial accounts, the withdrawal obtaining funds used in connection with the cash access transaction;

wherein the remote control unit is adapted to receive customer commands within the user interface of the remote control, the customer commands including requesting the cash access transaction, receiving customer financial account information of the one or more external financial accounts, and receiving a customer signature, and wherein the remote control unit is further adapted to transmit a communication signal to the base processor, the communication signal including data representing the customer signature and the customer financial account information;

wherein the base processor is adapted to receive the communication signal from the remote control unit, process the customer financial account information, store the customer signature, request the funds from the one or more external financial accounts using the customer financial account information, and provide approval for physical distribution of at least one of cash or cash equivalent to the customer;

wherein the cash access transaction is conducted independent of game play at the entertainment station, and wherein responsive to the base processor providing approval of the physical distribution of the at least one of cash or cash equivalent, the entertainment station provider or an agent thereof physically provides the physical distribution of the at least one of cash or cash equivalent to the customer at a location of the remote control unit.

2. The cash access system of claim 1, wherein the cash or cash equivalent is cash including at least one of coins and bills.

3. The cash access system of claim 1, wherein the cash or cash equivalent is cash equivalent including at least one of chips, checks, and tickets.

4. The cash access system of claim 1, wherein the withdrawal conducted in connection with the cash access transaction is selected from the group consisting of an ATM card cash withdrawal, a Point of Sale (POS) debit card cash withdrawal, and a credit card cash advance.

5. The cash access system of claim 1, wherein the remote control unit includes a reader to read at least one form of identification of the user, and wherein the base processor is adapted to verify the identification of the user before performing the withdrawal.

6. The cash access system of claim 5, wherein the identification card is a state-issued driver license.

7. The cash access system of claim 1, wherein the reader includes a magnetic card reader.

8. The cash access system of claim 7, wherein the magnetic card reader is adapted to receive a magnetic card having encoded financial account information.

9. The cash access system of claim 1, wherein the entertainment station includes at least one of a gaming table and a gaming machine.

10. The cash access system of claim 1, wherein the remote control unit is physically coupled to the entertainment station.

11. The cash access system of claim 1, wherein the base processor is operably coupled to a printer.

12. The cash access system of claim 1, wherein the remote control unit communicates with the base processor with a wireless communication signal.

13. The cash access system of claim 1, wherein the remote control unit is further adapted to provide location identification information indicative of a location of the remote control unit to the base processor during performance of the requested transaction type.

14. A cash access system configured to facilitate cash access transactions initiated by customers at a gaming station location, comprising:

a remote control unit, the remote control unit being adapted for customer performance of a cash access transaction at the gaming station, the remote control unit comprising a portable unit having a self-contained processor, a power supply, and a user interface operable by the customer, wherein the remote control unit is provided to the customer by a gaming station provider or an agent thereof, and wherein the remote control unit is further configured for coupling to the gaming station; and

a base processor, the base processor being adapted to communicate with the remote control unit, the base processor configured to conduct a withdrawal from one or more external financial accounts, the withdrawal obtaining funds used in connection with the cash access transaction;

wherein the remote control unit is adapted to receive customer commands within the user interface of the remote control, the customer commands including requesting the cash access transaction, receiving customer financial account information of the one or more external financial accounts, and receiving a customer signature, and wherein the remote control unit is further adapted to transmit a communication signal to the base processor, the communication signal including data representing the customer signature and the customer financial account information;

wherein the base processor is adapted to receive the communication signal from the remote control unit, process the customer financial account information, store the customer signature, request the funds from the one or more external financial accounts using the customer financial account information, and provide approval for physical distribution of at least one of cash or cash equivalent to the customer; and

wherein the cash access transaction is conducted independent of game play at the gaming station, and wherein responsive to the base processor providing approval of the physical distribution of the at least one of cash or cash equivalent, the gaming station provider or an agent thereof physically delivers the physical distribution of the at least one of cash or cash equivalent to the customer at the gaming station location.

15. The entertainment station of claim 14, wherein the remote control unit is physically integrated into the gaming station.

16. The entertainment station of claim 14, wherein the remote control unit is electronically coupled to the base processor.

17. The entertainment station of claim 14, wherein the gaming station is a gaming table including at least one of a card table, roulette table, craps table and bingo table.

18. The entertainment station of claim 14, wherein the gaming station is a gaming machine including at least one of a slot machine, video poker machine, and keno machine.

19. The entertainment station of claim 14, wherein the financial account information is directly provided as an input to the remote control device.

20. The entertainment station of claim 14, wherein at least one of the external financial accounts is a specific account allowing cash access transactions in connection with an entertainment activity used within a particular zone of negotiation.

21. The entertainment station of claim 20, wherein the zone of negotiation includes 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.

22. A method for remote customer operation of a cash access transaction proximate to an entertainment station, including:

providing a remote control unit to a customer for remote performance of a cash access transaction within an entertainment environment;

receiving commands for the cash access transaction from an entertainment station customer into the remote control unit, the cash access transaction commands including a request of the cash access transaction, receipt of customer financial account information for one or more external financial accounts, and receipt of a customer signature, the remote control unit comprising;

a portable unit having a self-contained processor, a power supply, and a user interface operable by the customer to receive the cash access transaction commands, wherein the remote control unit is physically separate from the entertainment station but located proximate to the entertainment station;

sending electronic data containing the customer financial account information to a base processor remotely located from the remote control unit and the entertainment station, the electronic data including the cash access transaction commands, the base processor configured to request a withdrawal from the one or more external financial accounts, the withdrawal used to obtain funds used in connection with the cash access transaction;

obtaining approval to conduct the withdrawal from the one or more external financial accounts based on at least correctly identifying the one or more external financial accounts and having funds available in the one or more external financial accounts; and

providing the physical distribution of the at least one of cash or cash equivalent to the customer at a location of the customer within the entertainment environment.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein obtaining approval to conduct the withdrawal further includes at least one of considering:

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

24. A cash access system for use by an entertainment station customer within an entertainment environment, the cash access system comprising:

a user-controlled remote control unit adapted for customer performance of a cash withdrawal transaction proximate to an entertainment station, the remote control unit comprising a portable unit having a self-contained processor, a power supply, and a user interface operable by the customer, the remote control unit being physically separate from the entertainment station and being configured to perform the cash access transaction at multiple locations within the entertainment environment; and

a base processor adapted to communicate with the remote control unit, the base processor configured to conduct a cash withdrawal transaction from one or more external financial accounts, the withdrawal obtaining funds for a physical distribution of one or more of coins and bills from the cash withdrawal transaction;

wherein the remote control unit is adapted to receive customer commands within the user interface of the remote control, the customer commands including requesting the cash access transaction, receiving customer financial account information of the one or more external financial accounts, and receiving a customer signature, and wherein the remote control unit is further adapted to transmit a communication signal to the base processor, the communication signal including data representing the customer signature and the customer financial account information;

wherein the base processor is adapted to receive the communication signal from the remote control unit, process the customer financial account information, store the customer signature, request the funds from the one or more external financial accounts using the customer financial account information, and provide approval for the physical distribution of the one or more of coins and bills to the customer;

wherein responsive to the base processor providing approval of the physical distribution of the one or more of coins and bills, the entertainment station provider or an agent thereof physically provides the physical distribution of the one or more of coins and bills to the customer at a location of the remote control unit;

wherein the cash withdrawal transaction comprises an ATM card cash withdrawal, a Point of Sale (POS) debit card cash withdrawal, or a credit card cash advance conducted upon the one or more external financial accounts.