U.S. patent application number 11/483558 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-18 for method and system for automated responsible gaming controls.
This patent application is currently assigned to Oneida Indian Nation. Invention is credited to Robert C. Angell, Edward J. Hole, Susan K. Kesel.
Application Number | 20070015573 11/483558 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37662269 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070015573 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Angell; Robert C. ; et
al. |
January 18, 2007 |
Method and system for automated responsible gaming controls
Abstract
Player information is received and a player is authenticated
based on government regulations. Player deposits are compared to
limits associated with player accounts. Upon reaching a limit
associated with the account, the player may be prevented from
depositing additional funds or playing games. In this way, gaming
facilities may monitor gaming and ensure responsible gaming for all
players.
Inventors: |
Angell; Robert C.; (West
Greenwich, RI) ; Hole; Edward J.; (Portsmouth,
RI) ; Kesel; Susan K.; (Oneida, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT & DUNNER;LLP
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-4413
US
|
Assignee: |
Oneida Indian Nation
|
Family ID: |
37662269 |
Appl. No.: |
11/483558 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60699021 |
Jul 14, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3237 20130101;
G07F 17/3255 20130101; G07F 17/3232 20130101; G07F 17/3206
20130101; G07F 17/3239 20130101; G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/029 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method for processing a gaming deposit, comprising: receiving
a deposit amount and an account identifier associated with a player
account; comparing the deposit amount to a limit associated with
the player account; and if the deposit amount is within the limit,
adding the deposit amount to the player account.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the limit is a maximum amount
withdrawn subtracted from an amount deposited.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the limit is an amount of game
play.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the limit is predetermined.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the limit is based on government
regulations.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising searching a database
to locate the limit associated with the player.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the limit
with the player account.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising issuing the account
identifier to the player after storing player information.
9. A method for authenticating a player at a gaming facility,
comprising: receiving an account identifier from a player, wherein
the account identifier is associated with a player account
corresponding to the player; authenticating the player based on
stored information associated with the account identifier; after
the player has been authenticated, receiving a request for a gaming
transaction from the player; and determining if the requested
gaming transaction is within a pre-established gaming limit
associated with the player account.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: after reaching the
limit, denying the transaction.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: prohibiting gaming
transactions from the player for a period of time after denying the
transaction.
12. The method of claim 9, further comprising: after reaching the
limit, notifying the player that the limit was reached.
13. The method of claim 9, further comprising: warning the player
that the limit is approaching.
14. The method of claim 9, further comprising: after reaching the
limit, sending a notice to a contact associated with the player
account that the limit was reached.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the notice is one of: an
e-mail, a text message, a voice message, and a letter.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein the transaction is a game
play.
17. The method of claim 9, wherein the transaction is a deposit to
the player account.
18. The method of claim 9, wherein authenticating the player
comprises: measuring biometric information of the player; and
determining if the measured biometric information matches the
stored information.
19. The method of claim 9, wherein authenticating the player
comprises: measuring personal identification information of the
player; and determining if the personal identification information
matches the stored information.
20. The method of claim 9, wherein the authenticating occurs during
a game play.
21. The method of claim 9, wherein the authenticating occurs before
a game play.
22. The method of claim 9, wherein the limit is a maximum amount
withdrawn subtracted from an amount deposited.
23. The method of claim 9, wherein the limit is an amount of game
play.
24. The method of claim 9, wherein the limit is predetermined.
25. The method of claim 9, wherein the limit is based on government
regulations.
26. The method of claim 9, further comprising searching a database
to locate the limit associated with the player.
27. A method for automatically implementing gaming controls,
comprising: establishing a gaming constraint associated with a
player; receiving a request for a gaming transaction from the
player; determining whether the requested gaming transaction would
violate the gaming constraint associated with the player; approving
the requested gaming transaction, when it is determined that the
requested gaming transaction would not violate the gaming
constraint associated with the player.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the gaming transaction request
is a deposit to the player account.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein the gaming transaction request
is a wager.
30. The method of claim 27, wherein the gaming transaction request
is a game play request.
31. The method of claim 27, wherein the gaming transaction request
is a withdrawal request.
32. The method of claim 27, wherein the gaming constraint is a
maximum amount of time the player may game during a predetermined
time period.
33. The method of claim 27, wherein the gaming constraint is a
maximum amount of money the player may deposit into a gaming
account.
34. The method of claim 27, wherein the gaming constraint is a
maximum wager amount the player may make while gaming.
35. The method of claim 27, further comprising: processing the
requested gaming transaction, when the requested gaming transaction
has been approved.
36. The method of claim 27, further comprising: storing the gaming
constraint in a player account corresponding to the player.
37. The method of claim 27, further comprising: storing, in a
player account corresponding to the player, data related to gaming
activities of the player; and wherein the determining further
comprises: analyzing the stored data based on the requested gaming
transaction.
38. The method of claim 27, further comprising: rejecting the
requested gaming transaction, when it is determined that the
requested gaming transaction would violate the gaming constraint
associated with the player.
39. The method of claim 38, further comprising: displaying a
message to the player regarding the rejected gaming
transaction.
40. The method of claim 38, further comprising: sending a message
to a contact person associated with the player regarding the
rejected gaming transaction.
41. A method for automatically implementing gaming controls,
comprising: establishing a gaming constraint associated with a
player account; receiving a player account identifier; determining
whether a transaction associated with the player account identifier
would violate the gaming constraint associated with the player
account; and approving the transaction, when it is determined that
the requested transaction would not violate the gaming constraint
associated with the player account.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein the transaction is one of: a
login, a game play, a deposit, and a withdrawal.
43. A system for automatically implementing gaming controls,
comprising: an establishing component configured to establish a
gaming constraint associated with a player; a receiving component
configured to receive a request for a gaming transaction from the
player; and a determining component configured to: determine
whether the requested gaming transaction would violate the gaming
constraint associated with the player; and approve the requested
gaming transaction, when it is determined that the requested gaming
transaction would not violate the gaming constraint associated with
the player.
44. The system of claim 43, wherein the gaming transaction request
is a deposit to the player account.
45. The system of claim 43, wherein the gaming transaction request
is a wager.
46. The system of claim 43, wherein the gaming transaction request
is a game play request.
47. The system of claim 43, wherein the gaming transaction request
is a withdrawal request.
48. The system of claim 43, wherein the gaming constraint is a
maximum amount of time the player may game during a predetermined
time period.
49. The system of claim 43, wherein the gaming constraint is a
maximum amount of money the player may deposit into a gaming
account.
50. The system of claim 43, wherein the gaming constraint is a
maximum wager amount the player may make while gaming.
51. The system of claim 43, further comprising: a processor
configured to process the requested gaming transaction, when the
requested gaming transaction has been approved.
52. The system of claim 43, further comprising: a database
configured to store the gaming constraint in a player account
corresponding to the player.
53. The system of claim 43, wherein the database is further
configured to store, in a player account corresponding to the
player, data related to gaming activities of the player, and
wherein the determining component is further configured to analyze
the stored data based on the requested gaming transaction.
54. The system of claim 43, wherein the determining component is
configured to reject the requested gaming transaction, when it is
determined that the requested gaming transaction would violate the
gaming constraint associated with the player.
55. The system of claim 54, further comprising: a display component
configured to display a message to the player regarding the
rejected gaming transaction.
56. The system of claim 54, further comprising: a notifying
component configured to sending a message to a contact person
associated with the player regarding the rejected gaming
transaction.
57. A computer-readable medium including instructions for
automatically implementing gaming controls, the method comprising:
establishing a gaming constraint associated with a player;
receiving a request for a gaming transaction from the player;
determining whether the requested gaming transaction would violate
the gaming constraint associated with the player; approving the
requested gaming transaction, when it is determined that the
requested gaming transaction would not violate the gaming
constraint associated with the player.
58. A system for automatically implementing gaming controls, the
system comprising: means for establishing a gaming constraint
associated with a player; means for receiving a request for a
gaming transaction from the player; means for determining whether
the requested gaming transaction would violate the gaming
constraint associated with the player; means for approving the
requested gaming transaction, when it is determined that the
requested gaming transaction would not violate the gaming
constraint associated with the player.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/699,021, filed Jul. 14, 2005,
titled "Automated Responsible Gaming Controls," of Robert C.
Angell, Edward J. Hole, and Susan K. Kesel, incorporated in its
entirety herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] This disclosure is directed to the field of responsible
gaming, and more particularly, to the field of providing automated
control and enforcement of responsible gaming.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Gaming provides exceptional benefits to societies, including
entertainment and social interaction. In many cases, gaming
facilities, such as casinos, contribute significant amounts of
money to schools, hospitals, and police in local communities. In
some cases, these community contributions are crucial to the local
economies, especially in remote areas.
[0004] In addition to the exceptional benefits of gaming, cashless
gaming in particular may provide benefits to players, operators,
and regulators. Traditional gaming is a cash intensive business.
For example, traditional slot machines require coins, which forces
establishments having slot machines to provide a great deal of
security and accounting safeguards to avoid theft and corruption.
Players are also susceptible to the loss or theft of the coins. As
an alternative to coins, some cashless gaming systems use tokens,
tickets, or magnetic cards. In such cashless systems, players may
insert a token, ticket, or card into a player terminal equipped
with an input device to play a game. However, these tokens,
tickets, and cards may also be susceptible to potential loss or
theft, as well as potential fraud.
[0005] Gaming may present a number of social problems in societies,
such as fraud or theft, as well as under-age gaming and gaming
addictions. Accordingly, there is a need for more control over
gaming in order to regulate and monitor, for example, excessive
gaming, gaming addictions, underage gaming, fraud, and other
irresponsible gaming behavior. Casinos and other gaming facilities
may achieve this control by, for example, registration of players,
player authentication, extensive and detailed processing of
transactions, including game play on a gaming machine or table, and
a robust account-based gaming function.
[0006] As the level of security breaches and transaction fraud at
casinos increases, the need for highly secure identification and
personal verification technologies increases. Accordingly, there is
a need for a robust yet flexible process that is consistent with
modern casinos and today's players, and which provides a player,
operator, and regulator a way to solve unaddressed issues
associated with gaming.
SUMMARY
[0007] Consistent with embodiments of the present invention,
systems and methods are disclosed for processing a gaming deposit.
In one embodiment, a deposit amount and an account identifier
associated with a player account are received, and the deposit
amount is compared to a limit associated with the player account.
If the deposit amount is within the limit, adding the deposit
amount to the player account.
[0008] Consistent with another embodiment of the present invention,
systems and methods are disclosed for authenticating a player at a
gaming facility. An account identifier is received from a player,
wherein the account identifier is associated with a player account.
The player is authenticated based on stored information associated
with the account identifier. After the player has been
authenticated, a request for a gaming transaction is received from
the player, and it is determined if the requested gaming
transaction is within a pre-established gaming limit associated
with the player account.
[0009] Consistent with other embodiments of the present invention,
systems and methods for automatically implementing gaming controls
are disclosed. A gaming constraint associated with a player is
established, and a request for a gaming transaction is received
from the player. It is determined whether the requested gaming
transaction would violate the gaming constraint associated with the
player, and when it is determined that the requested gaming
transaction would not violate the gaming constraint associated with
the player, the requested gaming transaction is approved.
[0010] Consistent with other embodiments of the present invention,
systems and methods for automatically implementing gaming controls
are disclosed. A gaming constraint is established and associated
with a player account. A player account identifier is received, and
it is determined whether a transaction associated with the player
account identifier would violate the gaming constraint associated
with the player account. The transaction is approved when it is
determined that the requested transaction would not violate the
gaming constraint associated with the player account.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1A is a diagram of an exemplary automated responsible
gaming control and enforcement system consistent with an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 1B is a flow diagram of an exemplary process for
responsible gaming and control consistent with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process for
authenticating a player using a responsible gaming and control
system consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process for
processing a deposit in a responsible gaming and control system
consistent with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process for cashing
out a player in a responsible gaming and control system consistent
with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] With an automated responsible gaming control system, a
government or gaming facility may specify a variety of factors to
control the gaming practices of a player, a group of players, or
all players. For example, the state may wish to limit the amount of
money spend on gaming by recipients of state welfare assistance.
The system may limit play based on, for example: total money
deposited, total money lost (e.g., the amount withdrawn subtracted
from the amount deposited), total games played, and time played.
For example, a player may be limited to two hours of gaming per
day. Activity may be cumulated by day, month, year, or any other
specified time period. For example, a player's gaming losses may be
limited to $1,000 per month. The government may allow for certain
exceptions under procedural processes (for example, a presentation
of evidence of specific income levels may allow for higher levels
of gaming). Other types of constraints may also be implemented
using systems and methods consistent with the present invention.
For example, gaming methods may be prohibited during business hours
or on certain holidays.
[0017] In certain embodiments, players may establish their own
upper limits or fund their accounts with their desired "bankroll"
in order to moderate their own limits and play. Constraints may
also, in certain embodiments, be extended across gaming facilities,
such as casinos. For example, a unified player database may prevent
players from moving from casino to casino when they reach limits
associated with their player accounts (e.g., when they reach two
hours of gaming per day). The constraints may support any number of
slots in a casino, from a few hundred to multiple thousands, as
well as any number of table games or other types of games, e.g.
Bingo or Keno.
[0018] FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary automated responsible
gaming control and enforcement system 100. System 100 may include a
Transaction Center 10, which may be connected to a Gaming Local
Area Network (LAN) 12, a Gaming Wide Area Network (WAN) 14, and a
Management LAN 22. Gaming LAN 12 may be connected to a gaming
machine 16, a kiosk 18, and a table game 20. Management LAN 22 may
be connected to a wireless device 24, a cashier workstation 26, a
customer registration station 28, a management workstation 30, and
a printer 32. Wireless device 24 may be, for example, a mobile
phone, portable computer, Blackberry.TM., or other wireless
communication device. Gaming WAN 14 may also be connected to an
optional Alternative Transaction Center 50. Transaction Center 10's
connection to Gaming LAN 12 and Management LAN 22 may permit system
100 to centralize a player registration process, log gaming,
registration, deposit, and withdrawal transactions in Transaction
Center 10, and enforce and control gaming based on the information
gathered from the devices (e.g., gaming machine 16 and table game
20) connected by Gaming LAN 12 to Transaction Center 10.
[0019] In one embodiment, multiple gaming locations may be managed,
and information gathered by Transaction Center 10 may be
duplicated, by connecting Transaction Center 10 to Alternative
Transaction Center 50 via Gaming WAN 14.
[0020] A skilled artisan will recognize that system 100 may include
any number of devices, including kiosks 18, gaming machines 16,
table games 20, and other types of games, such as bingo (not
shown). Further, many alternative configurations of system 100 fall
within the scope of this invention. For example, cashier
workstation 26, customer registration station 28, and management
workstation 30 may be separate (as shown in FIG. 1) or may be
combined. In another example, the devices of FIG. 1A may
communicate via the Internet or networks 12, 14, and 22 may be
combined into a single network.
Responsible Gaming
[0021] FIG. 1B illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary process
105 for responsible gaming and control consistent with an
embodiment of the present invention. A clerk at customer
registration station 28, for example, may receive a player's
information, such as age, name, address, personal identification,
and/or biometric information (step 110) to enable the player to
register for a gaming account or gaming card. Customer registration
station 28 or transaction center 10 may determine if the player is
authorized to register (step 130), for example based on the
player's gaming history or a database of prohibited gamers. An
exemplary registration process is described in greater detail below
with respect to FIG. 2. If the player is not authorized to play, he
may be denied registration (step 120). If the player is authorized
to play, the clerk may issue the player an account identifier, such
as a gaming card or player number, to enable the player to access a
player account (step 140).
[0022] Next, the player may attempt a transaction, such as, for
example, depositing funds into the player account, playing a game,
cashing out funds, etc. at any one of the devices in system 100.
For example, a player may attempt to play a game at gaming machine
16 using his player card. Gaming machine 16 may access transaction
center 10 via Gaming LAN 12, and may transmit the player account
information and the player's attempted transaction to transaction
center 10. Transaction center 10 may determine if the attempted
transaction is authorized (step 150) based on, for example, limits
or rules associated with the player or the player account. If the
transaction (e.g., a deposit or a play at a game machine) is
authorized, transaction center 10 will allow the transaction (step
160). If the transaction is not authorized for any reason (e.g.,
because the player has reached a maximum deposit amount associated
with the player account), transaction center 10 will deny the
transaction (step 180). In an alternative embodiment, any number of
devices or stations, including customer registration station 28,
kiosks 18, gaming machines 16, table games 20, and other types of
devices, may determine if the transaction is authorized and allow
or deny the transaction.
[0023] If the player attempts another transaction (step 170), such
as a deposit of funds to his account, for example, the
authorization process may begin again (return to step 150). An
exemplary process for processing a deposit in a responsible gaming
and control system is described in greater detail below with
respect to FIG. 3.
Registration
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary process
200 for registering a player in a responsible gaming and control
system consistent with the present invention. Players may present
identification and player information at a customer service desk of
a casino or gaming facility to become a registered player. A
customer service representative may receive a player's
identification, for example at customer registration station 28
(step 210). In certain embodiments, identification may include any
identification that the government has approved as valid for the
registration process, and may be government issued identification,
such as a passport, driver's license, or other government
identification card. In other embodiments, a player may be
identified by alternative means, such as biometric data. The
customer service representative may also receive player
information, and may record the player information (step 220).
Player information may include, for example, the player's name,
address, telephone number, age, gaming history, health issues, and
other information. In one embodiment, the player information, such
as the player's name, may be checked against a database of
ineligible players. In another example, the player information may
be checked to determine whether the player is of legal gaming age.
If an ineligible player attempts to register, customer registration
station 28 may display a message, such as: "Denied. [Registrant
Name] Not Currently Eligible for Gaming Account."
[0025] In one embodiment, customer registration station 28 includes
an image capture device to perform an image capture of the provided
identification or the player's actual image. Additionally, customer
registration station 28 may include information capture devices to
record player information such as signatures, for example using
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) scanners, and may include bar
code scanners and magnetic stripe readers to record, for example,
the player's name and address from a driver's license.
[0026] Next, the player information may be authenticated (step 230)
or verified by the customer service representative. This
authentication may ensure, for example, that the player is of legal
age, and that any other government or casino-specified criteria are
also met. For example, the customer service representative of
customer registration station 28 may check public assistance
databases, criminal record databases, delinquent child support
databases, outstanding credit databases, and other databases in
real-time by comparing player information to information in the
databases. In one embodiment, the authentication may be
automatically performed by software at customer registration
station 28.
[0027] If the player is not authenticated for any reason, in one
embodiment, the customer service representative deny issuance of a
player account or account identifier, and present the reason for
the denial to the player (step 240). In one embodiment, for
example, the customer service representative may give the player a
printed rejection slip indicating that he has been denied access to
gaming at the casino, for example using printer 32. The rejection
slip may explain the government or casino policy of its criteria
for a casino card or "gaming permit," in order to eliminate any
burden on the customer service representative to explain the policy
verbally. In this manner, there are no subjective decisions, no
misunderstandings, and no ability for the customer service
representative to make a mistake or to deceive the registration
system.
[0028] If the player is authenticated, the customer service
representative may issue an account identifier, such as a card, to
the player, to enable the player to access a player account (step
250). Regardless of the results of the authentication process, the
customer service representative returns the player identification
to the player (step 260). In one embodiment, the entire
registration process 200 may be completed in less than one minute,
including the issuing of an account identifier, such as a
personalized card, magnetic strip card, or smart card. A skilled
artisan will appreciate that a player may receive a fob, player
number, or other item instead of or in addition to the player
card.
[0029] In one embodiment, once the player receives the card, the
player may enter a Personal Identification Number (PIN) into a PIN
pad at customer registration station 28. PINs are typically 4 to 6
numbers long. The PIN may be known only to the player and may be
stored in an encrypted format at customer registration station 28
or transaction center 10. In one embodiment, players may be
required to enter the PIN twice to ensure that they correctly enter
their intended numbers. The PIN pad used for PIN entry may be
equipped with a privacy cover, or a scrambled PIN pad may be used
to prevent the clerk or other players from observing the PIN
setting.
[0030] Alternatively or additionally, other types of personal
authentication, such as biometrics, may be used to identify or
authenticate the player. Biometrics are automated methods of
recognizing a person based on a physiological or behavioral
characteristic. Among the features that may be measured are face,
fingerprints, hand geometry, handwriting, iris, retinal, vein,
voice, etc. These features may be stored at transaction center 10
and associated with the player's account and/or card. In one
embodiment, customer registration station 28 may include a
breathalyzer or other detection device to check a player's alcohol
or drug level. Gaming machines 16, table games 20, and cashier
workstation 26 may also be equipped with biometric identification
devices and/or detection devices, as discussed in more detail below
with respect to FIGS. 3-4, to authenticate players before, during,
and after game play.
[0031] In one embodiment, players may not obtain multiple cards. If
a player attempts to create a new account, the customer
registration station 28 may deny the transaction and display a
message, such as: "Denied. [Registrant Name] Already Has a Gaming
Account." Lost or stolen cards may be de-activated in real-time,
immediately stopping further use. Replacement cards with new
account numbers may be issued upon positive identification of the
player, according to registration process 200, discussed above.
Depositing Funds
[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary process
for receiving a player account deposit in a responsible gaming and
control system consistent with the present invention. Players may
deposit money at transaction center 10, gaming machine 16, kiosk
18, table game 20, wireless device 24, cashier workstation 26,
customer registration station 28, or other area. In one embodiment,
players may deposit money to a player account from a bank account
via wireless device 24, the Internet, or using the telephone.
[0033] Players may deposit money to their accounts at any time
after they have been issued an account. A cashier receives a
player's account identifier, such as a card, and funds (step 310).
The cashier inserts the card into a card reader at cashier
workstation 26 (step 320), which may be known in the art. When the
cashier inserts the card into the reader, the account may be
verified to ensure that deposits are allowed on the account (step
330). In one embodiment, the verification may be processed
immediately (in real-time). To verify the account, cashier
workstation 26 or transaction center 10 checks to see if the
account has exceeded any limits (e.g., limits established for
gaming.) For example, a player may have a deposit limit on his
account based on the total amount deposited. The deposit limit may
be established, for example, by the player, the player's family,
the casino, government regulations, or other rules. A clerk may set
the deposit limit, or, alternatively, the player may set the
deposit limit. In one embodiment, the limit may be automatically
set or changed at any time. More than one limit may be set for each
player. Additionally, a group of players may be designated to have
the same limit. For example, all players with a certain address,
age, gaming history, criminal history, alcohol level, or other
biometric feature may be designated with the same limit. The
cashier may also authenticate that the depositing individual
matches the stored account data using biometric or visual
confirmation with stored data.
[0034] If it is determined that the player's limit has been reached
or exceeded, the cashier will receive a notice (step 340). The
cashier may, in one embodiment, view the notice on a terminal at
cashier workstation 26. The notice may, for example, indicate that
all deposits are prohibited, or may indicate that an account
deposit limit has been reached or exceeded (e.g., "Denied. Gaming
Account Currently Suspended," or "Deposit Denied. Monthly Deposit
Limit Reached.") In one embodiment, the cashier may print an
automatically generated statement indicating the government or
casino policy on deposit limits using printer 32. The cashier may
notify the player that the limit was reached or exceeded, or that
the deposit is not valid (step 350), for example by presenting the
player with the government statement, or by orally notifying the
player of the account limit or other policy violation. In certain
embodiments, the cashier may notify a contact person identified
with the account, such as a spouse, that the limit was reached or
exceeded. Alternatively or additionally, the cashier workstation 26
may automatically notify the contact person that the limit was
reached or exceeded, for example by sending an automatic e-mail,
text message, voice mail, letter, or other notice to the contact
person.
[0035] If the player's limit is not exceeded, the cashier may
process the deposit (step 360), for example by entering the amount
of the deposit at cashier workstation 26 and processing the deposit
to add value to the player's card and/or account, according to
methods known in the art.
[0036] In one embodiment, deposit process 300 may be accomplished
in under 30 seconds. Alternatively or additionally, printer 32 may
print paper receipts from deposit process 300 for the player, and
the cashier, cashier workstation 26, and transaction center 10 may
save copies, for example for auditing purposes. Players may be
authenticated at machines or kiosks using personal identification
numbers (PINs) or biometrics, for example in an unattended
environment.
Depositing Funds at Gaming Machines
[0037] As discussed above, players may also deposit funds into
their accounts at gaming machines 16, such as slot machines or
kiosks 18. In one embodiment, a player may insert his card into a
card reader slot on a slot machine or kiosk. Until the card is
inserted into the card reader and verified, the bill acceptor and
coin acceptor may be disabled on the machine. In this manner,
unauthenticated players are unable to play at any machine. If the
player has exceeded any limits, such as government established
limits for gaming, the player will be denied the ability to deposit
any funds into the machine, or the ability to play any games. In
one embodiment, if the player exceeds any limits, an automatic
notice may also be sent to the contact person associated with the
player's account. If the player is authenticated, he may then
insert bills or coins into the appropriate acceptor on the slot
machine to deposit funds to his player account.
[0038] Alternatively or additionally, when a player attempts a
deposit, gaming machine 16 or kiosks 18 may automatically check the
player account balance. The player account balance may be presented
on a display of gaming machine 16 or kiosk 18 to the player prior
to, during, and/or after the deposit process. A player may check
the balance associated with his account at any time before, during,
or after game play. In certain embodiments, if any limits are
reached or exceeded during deposit process 300, gaming machine 16
or kiosk 18 may deny the deposit and generate a notice, such as:
"Deposit Refused. Daily Deposit Limit Reached," or warn the player
that a limit was reached or exceeded. In one embodiment, gaming
machine 16 or kiosk 18 may notify the player that a limit is
approaching, for example to warn the player without stopping the
game play.
Depositing Funds at Table Games
[0039] At table game 20, a player may present his card to a dealer
or croupier together with funds for a "buy-in." The dealer inserts
the card into a card reader at table game 20, e.g., a poker table
or blackjack table. Transaction center 10 may immediately verify
the player's account to ensure that buy-ins are allowed on the
account. If buy-ins are allowed on the account, the dealer may
enter the amount of the buy-in, for example on a touch screen or
small keypad at table game 20. The amount of the buy-in may be
recorded at transaction center 10, and the dealer may provide the
player with a corresponding value in table chips.
[0040] At any other gaming area (e.g., keno, bingo, sports book,
etc.), the player presents his card as he is placing a wager, and a
clerk may process the transaction in a manner similar to process
300, described above with respect to FIG. 3. Kiosks 18, such as
cash deposit kiosks, may also be used for players to deposit funds
directly on their accounts. Kiosks 18 may be equipped with card
readers, bill acceptors, and receipt printers, as well as PIN pads
and biometric readers.
[0041] Transaction center 10 may record and process all
transactions related to deposits in real-time. Additionally, the
time, date, account, value of the cash transaction, terminal,
cashier that processed the transaction, and other data may be
recorded, for example to provide an audit trail.
Playing
[0042] After depositing funds into their account, players may play
games as they would at any tables, slot machines, and other
wagering areas. Game play may, however, be terminated at any time,
for example if a player reaches a predetermined limit associated
with the player's account, such as a loss limit, if play is only
approved for certain time periods (e.g., 5 p.m. through 10 p.m.),
or if the play duration limit (e.g., 3 hours) has been
exceeded.
Playing at Gaming Machines
[0043] If a player chooses to play a game at gaming machine 16,
such as a slot machine, the player may insert the card into gaming
machine 16. As play proceeds, a credit meter at gaming machine 16
may change to reflect the outcome of the games. In one embodiment,
if the player reaches a limit (e.g., a daily loss limit, such as
$500) during play, further play may be prohibited and a dialog box
message may display: "Sorry; No Further Play Permitted."
[0044] Players may also deposit additional funds into a bill, coin,
credit card, or other fund acceptor of gaming machine 16. Funds
deposited into the fund acceptor of gaming machine 16 may appear on
the credit display of the slot machine, and deposit limits may be
verified, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 3.
[0045] When the player is done playing or wishes to move to another
gaming machine 16 or table game 20, he may remove his card from the
card reader. In other embodiments, the player may insert and remove
his card when he begins playing at the machine, and then insert and
remove his card again when he finishes. Any funds that were
displayed on the credit meter at gaming machine 16 may be available
on the player's account, for example for use at another gaming
machine 16, table game 20, or for withdrawal at cashier workstation
26. If the player moves to another gaming machine 16, when he
inserts the card in the card reader, gaming machine 16 may display
the value shown on the credit meter of the previous machine.
Playing at Table Games
[0046] At table games 20, players may use chips to place bets, and
may receive chips for any win. Players may purchase chips with
cash, for example if they meet responsible gaming criteria, or they
may purchase chips with funds existing on their accounts (e.g.,
from previous deposits or winnings). If allowed at the casino,
players may move from table to table with their chips, and may
purchase additional chips (if allowed on their account based on
responsible gaming criteria, discussed above with respect to FIG.
3). When a player is done playing, he may gather up his remaining
chips and proceed to a cashier as he would in a conventional gaming
system.
Playing Other Games
[0047] At keno, bingo, sports books, and other gaming areas,
players may place wagers while presenting their cards. In one
embodiment, players may present their cards each time they place a
wager, and may purchase the wager with cash (and the transaction
may be recorded). Alternatively or additionally, players may
purchase wagers using funds previously stored on their account from
previous deposits or winnings. Should the player place a winning
wager, he may present the card to cash the wager.
Cashing Out
[0048] Players may cash out at cashier workstation 26 or other
cashier cages located throughout a casino. FIG. 4 illustrates a
flow diagram of an exemplary process 400 for cashing out in a
responsible gaming and control system consistent with the present
invention. In one embodiment, when a player wishes to cash out, he
may present his card to a cashier. The cashier receives the player
card (step 410) and inserts it into a card reader (step 420).
Transaction center 10 may verify the account to ensure that it is
valid (not shown). In certain embodiments, transaction center 10
may verify the account immediately (in real-time).
[0049] The image capture that was performed during registration
process 200 may also be displayed to the cashier so the cashier may
verify that the player presenting the card is the proper holder of
the card (step 430). In one embodiment, the cashier may measure
biometric information of the player for authentication (step 440),
such as face, fingerprints, hand geometry, handwriting, iris,
retinal, vein, voice, etc. Alternatively or additionally, the
player may enter a password or PIN into a PIN pad (such as the pad
used during registration process 200) for identification in step
440.
[0050] Transaction center 10 may then check the measured biometric
information against the biometric information associated with the
player account, using, for example, biometric identification
procedures known in the art. If the biometric information matches
(step 450, yes), the cashier may precede to cash out the player
(step 460), for example using cash out methods known in the art. If
the entered biometric information does not match the biometric
information associated with the player's account (step 450, no),
the cashier may not cash out the player and may instead restart
process 400, or may confiscate the card, destroy the card, call
security, or take other appropriate action.
[0051] Utilizing the captured image display or biometric procedures
may prevent a "black market" in the selling of casino cards,
because only the player that was issued the card may utilize the
card for cash outs. In certain embodiments where it is impossible
for anyone other than the player that was issued the card to remove
money from the casino, there is no market for people to get cards
issued to them and sell them on a secondary market.
Cashing Out--Game Machines
[0052] When a player completes play at a game machine, such as a
video poker machine, the player may proceed to a cashier
workstation 26 with his card to cash out and present the card to
the cashier. The cashier inserts the card in a card reader,
verifies the image stored on the system (for example, at
transaction center 10) and measures player biometric information,
or requests a PIN or password from the player. After verification,
the player account is debited the amount of funds that are
dispensed to the player. As in other cases, cashiers may provide
printed receipts, which may be signed by the player for additional
auditing functionality. In one embodiment, electronic signature
capture devices may capture a player's signature on a cash out
receipt, for example for auditing or security purposes.
Cashing Out--Table Games
[0053] When a table game player decides to leave a table game, he
may collect any remaining chips and proceed to cashier workstation
26. The player may present the chips and card to the cashier. The
cashier inserts the card in the card reader, verifies the player
image, requests that the player enter biometric information, or a
PIN or password, and exchanges the chips for cash. Alternatively,
the cashier may credit the player's account for the value of the
chips.
Cashing Out--Other Games
[0054] For other games, including those that issue tickets (keno,
sports books, etc.), the player may present his card to cash any
ticket, and the winnings may be paid in cash or credited to the
player's account. Authentication process 400 may be used to verify
the player's identity, as described above.
[0055] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and
practice of the invention disclosed herein. For example, electronic
funds transfer could be used to facilitate the cash out processes
described above. In another example, biometric information may be
collected at game machines or table games to verify a player and
determine whether a transaction is authorized. In yet another
example, a contact person may be notified automatically if a person
or group of people attempts to exceed a limit on deposits,
withdrawals, game plays, logins, or attempts to establish an
account that would violate established gaming parameters. It is
intended that the specification and embodiments be considered as
exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being
indicated by the following claims.
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