Networked gaming system communication protocols and methods

• US 9,082,260 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan M, Soliterman, Gennady, Rupanagudi, Reddy, Lockard, Dennis, Tallcott, Jeffrey, Kroeckel, John
• Primary Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US12/291,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20090270174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,435 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for a gaming system is provided. The gaming system includes a rewards server and a separate gaming or slot accounting server. The system may further include a separate player tracking server. The system further includes one or more game machines. The game machines may include a base game, rewards tracking module, and a game management module. Further details will be apparent from the description, drawings and claims.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving player identification at a first gaming machine from a player rewards card;

verifying player identification data of the player rewards card with an identification input of a player;

playing a game by the player at the first gaming machine;

accumulating a balance above a first threshold amount;

paying out a first portion of the balance equal to or below the first threshold amount to the player in response to a request by the player;

deferring payout of a second portion of the balance above the first threshold amount;

transferring the second portion of the balance to a second gaming machine;

playing a game by the player at the second gaming machine using the second portion of the balance;

providing tax documentation comprising one or more tax forms completed by the player as a condition to paying out the second portion of the balance;

receiving a casino employee identification at the first or second gaming machine; and

paying out the second portion of the balance subsequent to providing tax documentation and receiving the casino employee identification.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the casino employee identification is provided at the first gaming machine.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising transferring the second portion of the balance to a server.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising paying out the second portion of the balance responsive to a casino employee identification provided at the second gaming machine.

5. A method as recited in claim 3 further comprising transferring the second portion of the balance from the server to a cage machine.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the casino employee identification is provided at the cage machine.

7. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the server is a first server having a slot accounting system and the second portion of the balance is a progressive bonus.

8. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the server is a second server having a rewards system and the second portion of the balance is a rewards bonus.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first threshold amount is an amount determined based on tax regulations.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first threshold amount is an amount determined based on total bonuses.

11. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein verifying player identification data includes submitting player identification data and the input of the player to the server.