Gaming network environment providing a cashless gaming service
A gaming network including gaming machines and gaming services further includes a cashless gaming service that provides systems and methods for funds transfer in and out of a users account between clients in the gaming network. The gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture that includes gaming machines and servers. The systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts.
1 . A method for providing a cashless gaming service in a gaming network including gaming machines, the method comprising:
publishing an availability of the cashless gaming service on the gaming network;
receiving a discovery request for the cashless gaming service;
registering by a gaming client with the cashless gaming service; and
processing one or more service requests between the gaming client and the cashless gaming service, said service requests conforming to an internetworking protocol.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cashless gaming service comprises a web service.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the service request is formatted according to a service description language.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the service description language is a Web Services Description Language (WSDL).
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the cashless gaming service is registered in a UDDI registry.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gaming client comprises a gaming machine.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gaming client comprises a service provider.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service request comprises an HTTP request encapsulating an OFX message.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service request comprises a request to establish a new account.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service request comprises a request to modify details for an account.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service request comprises a request to close an account.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service request comprises a request to provide details for an account.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service request comprises a request to obtain an account balance.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service request comprises a request to obtain a list of transactions associated with an account.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service request comprises a request to deposit funds into an account.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising electronically transferring funds from an external account into the account.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising obtaining authorization prior to electronically transferring funds.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service request comprises a request to withdraw funds from an account.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising transferring the withdrawn funds as a playable credit on a gaming machine.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service request comprises a request to deposit promotional credits into an account.
21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service request comprises a request to withdraw promotional credits from an account.
22 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising authenticating the gaming client to determine if the gaming client is authorized to receive cashless gaming services.
23 . A gaming network system, the gaming network system comprising:
a gaming client communicably coupled to the gaming network; and
a cashless gaming service communicably coupled to the gaming network and operable to:
publish an availability of the cashless gaming service on the gaming network;
register a gaming client with the cashless gaming service; and
process one or more service requests between the gaming client and the cashless gaming service, said service requests conforming to an internetworking protocol.
24 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the cashless gaming service comprises a web service.
25 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the service request is formatted according to a service description language.
26 . The gaming network system of claim 25 , wherein the service description language is a Web Services Description Language (WSDL).
27 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the cashless gaming service is registered in a UDDI registry.
28 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the gaming client comprises a gaming machine.
29 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the gaming client comprises a service provider in the gaming network.
30 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the service request comprises an HTTP request encapsulating an OFX message.
31 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the service request comprises a request to establish a new account.
32 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the service request comprises a request to modify details for an account.
33 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the service request comprises a request to close an account.
34 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the service request comprises a request to provide details for an account.
35 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the service request comprises a request to obtain an account balance.
36 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the service request comprises a request to obtain a list of transactions associated with an account.
37 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the service request comprises a request to deposit finds into an account.
38 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the cashless gaming service is further operable to electronically transfer funds from an external account into an account.
39 . The network system of claim 38 , wherein the cashless gaming service is further operable to obtain authorization prior to electronically transferring funds.
40 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the service request comprises a request to withdraw funds from an account.
41 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the service request comprises a request to deposit promotional credits into an account.
42 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , wherein the service request comprises a request to withdraw promotional credits from an account.
43 . The gaming network system of claim 23 , further comprising an authentication service operable to authenticate the gaming client to determine if the gaming client is authorized to receive cashless gaming services.
44 . The gaming system of claim 43 , wherein the authentication service includes an LDAP authentication service.