Method for distributing large payouts with minimal interruption of a gaming session

• US 8,246,450 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh, Brosnan, William, Paulsen, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gray, Brandon
• Application Number:
  US13/283,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20120046097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/26, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• 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

Apparatus and methods for administering payouts in gaming machines are disclosed. More particularly, improved techniques for distributing large payouts with minimal interruption of a gaming session at a gaming apparatus are disclosed.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising:

a master gaming controller including a microprocessor, a communication interface, and a program memory containing gaming program data, wherein the microprocessor, the communication interface, and the program memory are operably connected and configured to;

(a) provide for game play of a game on the gaming machine in accordance with inputs of a player,

(b) determine a location where the game play on the gaming machine is occurring,

(c) determine one or more jurisdictions corresponding to the location,

(d) establish a predetermined amount associated with tax regulations for at least one of the one or more jurisdictions determined to correspond to the determined location where the game play is occurring, the predetermined amount indicating that payout of an award exceeding the predetermined amount is required to be documented pursuant to the tax regulations of the at least one of the one or more jurisdictions,

(e) monitor the game play for an amount of a won award,

(f) determine if the amount of the won award exceeds the predetermined amount,

(g) provide payouts of won awards resulting from the game play via either a first payout procedure or a second payout procedure, wherein the second payout procedure includes documenting the payout of an award pursuant to the tax regulations of the at least one of the one or more jurisdictions with minimal interruption of a gaming session, and

(h) implement the second payout procedure when the amount of the won award is determined to exceed the predetermined amount.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine further comprises a printer and wherein the microprocessor, the communication interface, and the program memory are further configured to, as part of the second payout procedure:

cause the printer to print out a ticket or a voucher that is only redeemable at physical cashier locations in an amount of the payout; and

reset the gaming apparatus for play with an amount of credits not including credits from the payout.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor, the communication interface, and the program memory are further configured to, as part of the second payout procedure, store the payout on the gaming machine separately from credits available for wagering until the gaming session ends.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor, the communication interface, and the program memory are further configured to, as part of the second payout procedure, output payout of the won award when the gaming session ends.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor, the communication interface, and the program memory are further configured to, as part of the second payout procedure, output payout of the won award immediately after the won award is won.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor, the communication interface, and the program memory are further configured to, as part of the second payout procedure:

obtain player identification information;

notify a host system that the won award has been won; and

reset any credits available for wagering to include the amount of the won award.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein microprocessor, the communication interface, and the program memory are further configured to obtain player identification information from a player tracking system.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor, the communication interface, and the program memory are further configured to, as part of the second payout procedure:

obtain player identification information;

store the amount of the won award in an account assigned to a player; and

reset any credits available for wagering on the gaming machine to an amount of credits not including any credits from the won award.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine further comprises an identification interface configured to capture an indicium of a player.

10. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the indicium is selected from the group consisting of a signature of the player and a picture of the player.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is a personal computer.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is configured for online play.

13. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a removable-storage interface and wherein the microprocessor, the communication interface, and the program memory are further configured to, as part of the second payout procedure:

transfer the payout from the gaming apparatus to a removable-storage medium; and

reset the gaming machine to an amount of credits not including any credits from the payout in order to allow the gaming session to continue without interruption.

14. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the removable-storage medium is selected from the group consisting of a flash memory, a USB key, a smart card, and a swipeable card.

15. The gaming machine of claim 14, wherein the swipeable card is a player tracking card.

16. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the recording of the indicium is transferred to a removable-storage medium.

17. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor, the communication interface, and the program memory are further configured to, as part of the second payout procedure:

receive game data and player data;

populate tax reporting forms from a blank forms database using the game data and the player data;

associate a digital signature with the tax reporting forms; and

electronically file the populated tax reporting forms with one or more regulatory or governmental entities associated with the at least one of the one or more jurisdictions.

18. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein microprocessor, the communication interface, and the program memory are further configured to, as part of the second payout procedure:

verify the jurisdiction where the game was played; and

obtain jurisdiction data on the jurisdiction,

wherein the tax reporting forms are populated using the jurisdictional data, the gaming data, and the player data.

19. A gaming server comprising:

a first data link configured to communicate with a remote gaming machine, wherein the remote gaming machine is configured to provide for game play of a game in accordance with inputs of a player; and

a microprocessor, wherein the first data link and the microprocessor are operably connected and configured to;

(i) determine the location where game play on the remote gaming machine is occurring;

(ii) establish a predetermined amount associated with tax regulations for at least one of the one or more jurisdictions determined to correspond to the determined location where the game play is occurring, the predetermined amount indicating that payout of an award exceeding the predetermined amount is required to be documented pursuant to the tax regulations of the at least one of the one or more jurisdictions;

(iii) monitor the game play on the remote gaming machine for an amount of a won award;

(iv) authorize payouts of won awards resulting from the game play via either a first payout procedure or a second payout procedure, wherein the second payout procedure includes documenting the payout of an award pursuant to the tax regulations of the at least one of the one or more jurisdictions with minimal interruption of a gaming session;

(v) determine if the amount of the won award exceeds the predetermined amount; and

(vi) implement the second payout procedure when the amount of the won award is determined to exceed the predetermined amount.

20. The gaming server of claim 19, wherein the gaming server further comprises a blank forms database configured to hold blank large jackpot reporting forms required by the at least one or more jurisdictions determined to correspond to the determined location of the remote gaming machine where the game play is occurring.

21. The gaming server of claim 20, wherein the blank large jackpot reporting forms are selected from one or more of tax forms, media release forms, primary jackpot report forms, primary jackpot hit report forms, questionnaires, lump sum forms, annuity forms, state regulatory forms, and local regulatory forms.

22. The gaming server of claim 20, wherein the gaming server further comprises a large jackpot records database.

23. The gaming server of claim 22, wherein the gaming server further comprises a completed forms database.

24. The gaming server of claim 23, wherein the first data link and the microprocessor are further configured to:

collect data from the remote gaming machine, wherein the data includes at least game data, player data, or combinations thereof from the remote gaming machine; and

store the collected data as a record in the large jackpot records database if the award exceeds the predetermined amount.

25. The gaming server of claim 24, wherein the first data link and the microprocessor are further configured to, as part of the second payout procedure:

(i) determine the required forms based on data from the record stored in the jackpot records database;

(ii) retrieve the required forms from the blank forms database; and

(iii) complete the required forms using data from the record stored in the jackpot records database.

26. The gaming server of claim 25, wherein the gaming server is configured to send the completed forms to an appropriate government agency via a second data link.