System for implementing loss limits

• US 8,167,707 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• 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., McMahan, Patricia A., Randazzo, Ryan, Taylor, Alexandra, Silvestro, Frank, McLaughlin, Paul C.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US12/032,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20080176646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25
• 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 to play more than an allotted dollar amount during a given time frame or lose more than the establishment 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 loss limit system associated with a gaming system, wherein the gaming system includes a central server, one or more gaming devices, and a network connecting the central server and the gaming devices, the loss limit system comprising:

a player identification device associated with a gaming device, wherein the loss limit system checks to confirm that the identified player is enrolled in the system, and if the player is not enrolled, a popup error message is presented and the player is prevented from playing the gaming device;

a monetary input device associated with the gaming device;

a user interface associated with the player identification device, the monetary input device, and the gaming device; and

a loss limit module in communication with the player identification device, the monetary input device, the user interface, and the gaming device, wherein the loss limit module receives a player monetary loss limit, a time period, and a player identification;

wherein the loss limit module calculates an amount of currency that is available for the identified player to spend, wherein if the amount of currency that is available for the identified player to spend is less than a smallest bill denomination accepted by the monetary input device, sending a message instructing the monetary input device that no currency may be accepted, and wherein if the amount of currency that is available for the identified player to spend is greater than a smallest bill denomination accepted by the monetary input device, sending a message instructing the monetary input device what currency may be accepted.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the loss limit module deactivates the monetary input device when the available funds amount is lower than any bill or coupon accepted by the monetary input device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the loss limit module is incorporated into the central server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the loss limit module is incorporated into the gaming device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the loss limit module is incorporated into the monetary input device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is incorporated into the monetary input device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is incorporated into the gaming device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a display.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes an input device.

10. A loss limit system associated with a gaming system, wherein the gaming system includes a central server, one or more gaming devices, and a network connecting the central server and the gaming devices, the loss limit system comprising:

a player identification device associated with a gaming device, wherein the loss limit system checks to confirm that the identified player is enrolled in the system, and if the player is not enrolled, a popup error message is presented and the player is prevented from playing the gaming device;

a monetary input device associated with the gaming device; and

a loss limit module in communication with the player identification device, the monetary input device, and the gaming device, wherein the loss limit module receives a player monetary loss limit and time period from a player identification via the player identification device;

wherein the loss limit module calculates an amount of currency that is available for the identified player to spend, wherein if the amount of currency that is available for the identified player to spend is less than a smallest bill denomination accepted by the monetary input device, sending a message instructing the monetary input device that no currency may be accepted, and wherein if the amount of currency that is available for the identified player to spend is greater than a smallest bill denomination accepted by the monetary input device, sending a message instructing the monetary input device what currency may be accepted;

wherein the loss limit module re-calculates an amount of currency that is available for the identified player to spend each time additional currency is accepted from the monetary input device, and only enables currency denominations that will not allow the identified player to exceed a current player loss limit.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the loss limit module deactivates the monetary input device when the available funds amount is lower than any bill or coupon accepted by the monetary input device.

12. A loss limit system associated with a gaming system, wherein the gaming system includes a central server, one or more gaming devices, and a network connecting the central server and the gaming devices, the loss limit system comprising:

a biometric player identification device associated with a gaming device, wherein the loss limit system checks to confirm that the identified player is enrolled in the system using the biometric player identification device, and if the player is not enrolled, a popup error message is presented and the player is prevented from playing the gaming device;

a monetary input device associated with the gaming device;

a user interface associated with the player identification device, the monetary input device, and the gaming device; and

a loss limit module in communication with the player identification device, the monetary input device, the user interface, and the gaming device, wherein the loss limit module receives a player monetary loss limit, a time period, and a player identification;

wherein the loss limit module calculates an amount of currency that is available for the identified player to spend, wherein if the amount of currency that is available for the identified player to spend is less than a smallest bill denomination accepted by the monetary input device, sending a message instructing the monetary input device that no currency may be accepted, and wherein if the amount of currency that is available for the identified player to spend is greater than a smallest bill denomination accepted by the monetary input device, sending a message instructing the monetary input device what currency may be accepted.