Cashless gaming system: apparatus and method
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for cashless gaming wherein a player can access credits via a pin activated keypad located on the gaming machine. Real-time accounting allows the player to redeem credits and secure perquisites as a function of patronage. A player account is created which has an account balance amount. A player can remove a quantity of credits from a credit meter of the gaming machine in accordance with a selected amount and uploaded the selected amount to the player account to increase the account balance amount.
1. A method of operating gaming machines connected to a system computer associated with a database, each of said gaming machines having a credit meter and a player activatable entry device, comprising:
creating a player account in said database associated with at least one player, said player account having an account balance amount;
establishing credits on said credit meter of one of said gaming machines;
accessing said player account responsive to a command initiated by said one player at said one of said gaming machines, said step of accessing including uploading a selected amount to said player's account, said step of accessing comprising:
(i) identifying the selected amount by the player using said player activatable entry device;
(ii) removing a quantity of credits from said credit meter of said one gaming machine in accordance with said identified amount; and
(iii) increasing said account balance amount in said player account in accordance with said identified amount.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said player activatable entry device is a keypad.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said identified amount is an amount in dollars.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said one of said gaming machines is associated with a card reader, said method further includes:
providing a player card to said one player;
and wherein said step of accessing said player account includes:
reading said player card using said card reader.
5. A method according to claim 4 and wherein said method further includes:
providing a player identification number associated with said player card to said one player; and wherein said step of accessing said player account includes:
inputting said player identification number using said player activatable entry device.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein each of said gaming machines has a display device.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said player activatable device includes a designated activation area.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said designated activation area is an activatable button.
9. A method according to claim 7 wherein each of said gaming machines has a display device;
and wherein said step of accessing said player account further includes activating said designated activation area; and displaying a menu on said display device in response to said activating of said designated activation area.
10. A method according to claim 9 and wherein said step of accessing said player account further comprises:
prompting said player for activating said player activatable entry device to enter a personal identification number.
11. A method according to claim 9 wherein said method further includes:
providing a player identification number to said one player; and
wherein said step of accessing said player account includes:
inputting said player identification number using said player activatable entry device.
12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said one of said gaming machines is associated with a card reader, said method further includes:
providing a player card to said one player;
and wherein said step of accessing said player account includes:
reading said player card using said card reader.
13. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said step of accessing said player account further comprises:
prompting said player for activating said player activatable entry device to enter a personal identification number.
14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said method further includes:
providing a player identification number to said one player; and
wherein said step of accessing said player account includes:
inputting said player identification number using said player activatable entry device.
15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said one of said gaming machines is associated with a card reader, said method further includes:
providing a player card to said one player;
and wherein said step of accessing said player account includes:
reading said player card using said card reader.
16. A method according to claim 1 wherein said one gaming machine has a display device; and wherein the total credits on said credit meter of said one gaming machine are displayed in dollars on said display device.
17. A method according to claim 1 wherein said selected amount is an amount in dollars.
18. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of increasing said account balance amount includes adding a deposit amount to said account balance amount, said deposit amount equal to the value of said quantity of credits removed from said credit meter.
19. A method according to claim 1 wherein said quantity of credits is a whole number representative of a whole number of plays of said gaming machine.
20. A method according to claim 18 wherein said one gaming machine has a display device; and wherein the total credits on said credit meter of said one gaming machine are displayed in dollars on said display device.