Preset amount electronic funds transfer system for gaming machines
First Claim
1. A gaming machine which allows a player to transfer funds from a remote funds repository via an electronic funds transfer system and convert transferred funds to plays on said gaming machine, the gaming machine comprising:
- (a) a game controller for controlling the play of a game;
(b) a gaming machine interface for connecting the game controller to the electronic funds transfer system, said gaming machine interface being capable of at least (i) transmitting signals requesting playing credit in a preset amount, such that the player can not control the amount of requested playing credit, to the remote funds repository, and (ii) receiving signals authorizing the preset amount of playing credit for the gaming machine from the remote funds repository; and
(c) a player interface connected to the gaming machine interface, the player interface being capable of (i) verifying the player'"'"'s identity and (ii) identifying an account held by the player at the remote funds repository, wherein the preset amount is adjustable by an institution controlling the gaming machine.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming machine includes apparatus necessary to send requests to and receive authorizations from an EFT system. All such requests for credit are limited to a preset amount, so that when a player uses an EFT transfer to obtain playing credit, that credit will be limited to no more than a specified amount. In practice, the player inserts his or her ATM card (debit card), keys in a PIN number, requests playing credit, and receives the preset amount of credit which can be converted to plays on the gaming machine.
965 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A gaming machine which allows a player to transfer funds from a remote funds repository via an electronic funds transfer system and convert transferred funds to plays on said gaming machine, the gaming machine comprising:
-
(a) a game controller for controlling the play of a game; (b) a gaming machine interface for connecting the game controller to the electronic funds transfer system, said gaming machine interface being capable of at least (i) transmitting signals requesting playing credit in a preset amount, such that the player can not control the amount of requested playing credit, to the remote funds repository, and (ii) receiving signals authorizing the preset amount of playing credit for the gaming machine from the remote funds repository; and (c) a player interface connected to the gaming machine interface, the player interface being capable of (i) verifying the player'"'"'s identity and (ii) identifying an account held by the player at the remote funds repository, wherein the preset amount is adjustable by an institution controlling the gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of using a gaming machine to obtain playing credit via an electronic funds transfer system which playing credit can be directly converted to plays on the gaming machine, the method comprising the following steps:
-
at said gaming machine, determining that a player has requested playing credit from a remote funds repository for plays on said gaming machine; and from said gaming machine, transmitting a request for playing credit in a preset amount, such that the player can not control the amount of requested playing credit, over the electronic funds transfer system to the remote funds repository, wherein the preset amount can not be controlled by the player at the gaming machine; and adjusting the preset amount in response to inputs provided by an institution controlling the gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A gaming machine which allows a player to transfer funds from a remote funds repository via an electronic funds transfer system and convert transferred funds to tangible indicia of playing credit which can, in turn, be used to obtain plays on said gaming machine, the gaming machine comprising:
-
(a) a game controller for controlling the play of a game; (b) a gaming machine interface for connecting the game controller to the electronic funds transfer system, said gaming machine interface being capable of at least (i) transmitting signals requesting playing credit in a preset amount, such that the player can not control the amount of requested playing credit, to the remote funds repository, and (ii) receiving signals authorizing playing credit for the gaming machine from the remote funds repository; and (c) a player interface connected to the gaming machine interface, the player interface being capable of (i) verifying the player'"'"'s identity, (ii) identifying an account held by the player at the remote funds repository, (iii) issuing said tangible indicia of playing credit, and (iv) converting said tangible indicia of playing credit to actual playing credit on said gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A network connecting gaming machines which allow players to transfer funds from a remote funds repository via an electronic funds transfer system and convert transferred funds to plays on said gaming machines, the network comprising:
-
(a) communication lines connecting said gaming machines; (b) a gaming machine connected to said communications lines and comprising, (i) a game controller for controlling the play of a game; (ii) a gaming machine interface for connecting the game controller to the electronic funds transfer system, said gaming machine interface being capable of at least transmitting signals requesting playing credit in a preset amount, such that the player can not control the amount of requested playing credit, to the remote funds repository, and receiving signals authorizing the preset amount of playing credit for the gaming machine from the remote funds repository; and (iii) a player interface connected to the gaming machine interface, the player interface being capable of verifying the player'"'"'s identity and identifying an account held by the player at the remote funds repository, wherein the preset amount is adjustable by an institution controlling the gaming machine; and (c) a database connected to said communications lines and storing account information pertaining to players of the gaming machine, wherein said database is maintained independently of the remote funds repository. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification