Systems for enhancing funding of gaming

• US 8,992,305 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Everi Payments, Inc. (Everi Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Global Cash Access Incorporated (Global Cash Advance Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sanford, Kirk Edward, Sears, Thomas Michael, Connelly, Robert Vincent Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US11/991,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20100222132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,123 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/25, 705/38, 705/39
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

Apparatus and method for facilitating the funding of gaming and preferably the purchase of gaming vouchers (slot vouchers) with commercial bank cards and/or with casino and/or new credit accounts (private label and/or affiliate/Networking permanent or temporary) and/or the prompting of opening of a new credit account, including an automated kiosk located on a gaming floor proximate to gaming machines but separate from particular gaming machines, and including method and apparatus for the purchase and redemption of vouchers at a gaming table, including reading and printing equipment in communication with a voucher host; also including a prompt to open new a gaming oriented line of credit, associated with a refusal of an EFT transaction, preferably a credit/debit card cash advance request, and including a preferred gaming oriented credit card account and card (private label and/or affiliate/Networking permanent or temporary) (including a patron selection coded card) having cash advance limits commensurate with credit limits for gaming oriented transactions and wherein a cash advance can be secured within an hour after the opening and approval of the account, the approval of the account preferably based on EFT gaming transaction history.

Claims

1. A method for funding gaming using an automated kiosk located proximate to but separate from gaming machines, having user communication equipment and being in communication with a financial transaction merchant and, directly or indirectly, a commercial EFT network and a voucher accounting system that manages casino vouchers for a plurality of players, said automated kiosk comprising at least one processor, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, input comprising information from a banking card belonging to a first player among the plurality of players, said banking card corresponding to at least one financial account associated with said first player;

receiving, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, input from said first player regarding an amount of funds to access from said at least one financial account;

communicating, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, with said EFT network regarding a request to access said amount of funds from said at least one financial account;

when the automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor receives approval from the EFT network for the amount of funds;

communicating, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, with the voucher accounting system regarding information for generating a funds ticket in the amount of said funds; and

issuing, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, a voucher from the kiosk based on the information received from the voucher accounting system, the voucher accounting system verifying that the voucher is to be issued and maintaining real time audit information for each voucher issued to one of the plurality of players;

and, when the automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor receives a denial from the EFT network for the amount of funds;

presenting, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, said first player an option for a new credit line;

receiving, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, input from said first player seeking said new credit line;

receiving, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, information from said first player for use in generating said new credit line; and

generating, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, said new credit line having a limit of funds accessible by said first player.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of receiving information from said first player comprises receiving player identifying information selected from the group consisting of:

social security number, date of birth and address.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said new credit line comprises a gaming oriented credit card account having a credit limit.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said credit card account has a cash advance limit equal to said credit limit.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one financial account comprises a bank account and said banking card comprises an ATM card.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving input from said first player regarding a second amount of funds to access from said new credit line.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of providing information to said first player for accessing said new credit line.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said information is associated with a paper voucher.

9. The method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said information is associated with a temporary card.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said new credit line is issued by a merchant different than a bank associated with said at least one financial account.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said merchant comprises a casino at which said kiosk is located.

12. A method for funding gaming using an automated kiosk located proximate to but separate from a gaming machine and having user communication equipment and in communication with a financial transaction merchant and, directly or indirectly, a commercial EFT network and a voucher accounting system that manages casino vouchers for a plurality of players, said automated kiosk comprising at least one processor, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, a denial from said EFT network of a request to access funds from a financial account of a first player from among the plurality of players based upon a request of funds by said first player;

presenting, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, said first player an option for a new credit line;

receiving, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, information from a player regarding creation of the new credit line associated with a new card account;

issuing, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, new card account access information to said first player;

receiving, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, information related to a new card account using equipment associated with the kiosk;

formulating, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, a request for funds processable from the financial transaction merchant through a new card account system based on the information; and

issuing, using said automated kiosk'"'"'s at least one processor, a voucher to said first player based upon funds accessed from said new card account from the kiosk and based on the information received from the voucher accounting system, the voucher accounting system verifying that the voucher is to be issued and maintaining real time audit information for each voucher issued to one of the plurality of players.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said new card account access information is associated with a paper voucher.

14. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said new card account access information is associated with a temporary card.

15. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said new card account comprises a credit account.

16. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said credit account is issued by a casino at which said kiosk is located.

17. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said information received from said first player comprises information which identifies said first player.

18. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said card account has a credit limit based upon past EFT transaction values.