System and method for integrated multiple source player cash access
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a system and method for integrating player tracking and cash access in a casino or other gaming environment. One aspect of the invention allows for fund access and management wherein gaming machines, such as slot machines or on-line virtual gaming machines, receive playable credits directly from a patron's banking or credit card account. Another aspect of the present invention relates to integrating player tracking and cash access transactions by allowing the players to provide a player tracking card for each financial transaction conducted in a gaming environment. In return, the casino issues gaming or bonus points to the players for allowing their transactions to be tracked. Yet another aspect of the present invention consolidates the players' financial account information into a single casino database. Players can subsequently credit or debit cash from the players' financial accounts using any associated customer identification cards or otherwise receive such credits in other forms that permit negotiations, including quasi-cash documents.
1. A method of funding wager-based gaming activities of a player comprising:
receiving from a player pre-existing financial account information regarding at least two different financial accounts associated with said player which are maintained by at least one financial institution, the pre-existing financial account information comprising information required to conduct electronic financial transactions with said financial accounts by which said player may access funds associated with said financial accounts;
generating a player digital wallet corresponding to said player in a database, said pre-existing financial account information stored in association with said player digital wallet;
receiving from said player a first unique identifier associated with a first player tracking system at a first casino and a second unique identifier associated with a second player tracking system at a second casino;
storing said first and second unique identifiers in said database;
associating, in the database, the first and second unique identifiers of the player with the player digital wallet;
receiving said first unique identifier at a first kiosk in said first casino;
accessing said player digital wallet using said received first unique identifier;
presenting information to said player via a display of said first kiosk regarding said one or more financial accounts which said player may select to access funds;
receiving information from said player regarding a selection of at least one of said financial accounts from which to access funds and a funds value;
using said pre-existing financial account information stored in association with said player digital wallet to processes a funds transaction with said at least one financial institution for access of funds from said selected financial accounts;
generating a first ticket representing a first funds value, said first ticket being redeemable at said first casino;
issuing said first ticket from said first kiosk to said player;
exchanging information regarding said first ticket with a first accounting system of said first casino, whereby said first ticket is presentable at a first gaming machine in said first casino for crediting of said first funds value associated with said first ticket to said first gaming machine for wagering by said player;
receiving said second unique identifier at a second kiosk in said second casino;
accessing said player digital wallet using said received second unique identifier;
presenting information to said player via a display of said second kiosk regarding said one or more financial accounts which said player may select to access funds;
receiving information from said player regarding a selection of at least one of said financial accounts from which to access funds and a funds value;
using said pre-existing financial account information stored in association with said player digital wallet to processes a funds transaction with said at least one financial institution for access of funds from said selected financial accounts;
generating a second ticket representing a second funds value, said second ticket being redeemable at said second casino;
issuing said second ticket from said second kiosk to said player; and
exchanging information regarding said second ticket with a second accounting system of said second casino, whereby said second ticket is presentable at a second gaming machine in said second casino for crediting of said second funds value associated with said second ticket to said second gaming machine for wagering by said player.
2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said player digital wallet comprises at least one data file of electronically stored information.
3. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising rules associated with use of said at least two different financial accounts, wherein said rules may be different for different financial accounts.
4. The method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said rules comprise jurisdictional rules.
5. The method in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said rules comprise account restrictions according to transaction type.
6. The method in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said transaction type comprises a non-gambling transaction.
7. The method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said rules comprise daily access limits.
8. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second unique identifiers are issued to said player in association with an access card.
9. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second kiosks comprised a banking machine.
10. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said database is associated with at least one authorization server which is linked to said first and second kiosks by at least one communication link.
11. A method of funding wager-based gaming activities of a player comprising:
receiving from a player pre-existing financial account information regarding at least two different financial accounts associated with said player which are maintained by at least one financial institution, the pre-existing financial account information comprising information required to conduct electronic financial transactions with said financial accounts by which said player may access funds associated with said financial accounts;
generating a player digital wallet corresponding to said player in a database, said pre-existing financial account information stored in association with said player digital wallet;
receiving a first unique identifier from said player in association with a first player tracking card, the first unique identifier identifying a first casino account belonging to said player;
receiving a second unique identifier from said player in association with a second player tracking card, the second unique identifier identifying a second casino account belonging to said player;
associating, in the database, the first and second unique identifiers of the player with the player digital wallet;
accepting said first player tracking card at a first kiosk in a first casino;
receiving said first unique identifier from said first player tracking card at said first kiosk;
accessing said player digital wallet using said received first unique identifier;
presenting information to said player via a display of said first kiosk regarding said one or more financial accounts which said player may select to access funds;
receiving information from said player regarding a selection of at least one of said financial accounts from which to access funds and a first funds value;
using said pre-existing financial account information stored in association with said player digital wallet to processes a funds transaction with said at least one financial institution for access of funds from said selected financial accounts;
generating a first ticket representing said first funds value;
issuing said first ticket from said first kiosk to said player;
accepting said first ticket at a first gaming machine in said first casino;
crediting said first funds value associated with said first ticket to said first gaming machine for wagering by said player;
accepting said second player tracking card at a second kiosk in a second casino;
receiving said second unique identifier from said second player tracking card at said second kiosk;
accessing said player digital wallet using said received second unique identifier;
presenting information to said player via a display of said second kiosk regarding said one or more financial accounts which said player may select to access funds;
receiving information from said player regarding a selection of at least one of said financial accounts from which to access funds and a second funds value;
using said pre-existing financial account information stored in association with said player digital wallet to processes a funds transaction with said at least one financial institution for access of funds from said selected financial accounts;
generating a second ticket representing said second funds value;
issuing said second ticket from said second kiosk to said player;
accepting said second ticket at a second gaming machine in said second casino; and
crediting said second funds value associated with said second ticket to said second gaming machine for wagering by said player.
12. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said player digital wallet comprises at least one data file of electronically stored information.
13. The method in accordance with claim 11 further comprising rules associated with use of said at least two different financial accounts, wherein said rules may be different for different financial accounts.
14. The method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said rules comprise account restrictions according to transaction type.
15. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said rules comprise jurisdictional rules.
16. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said rules comprise daily access limits.
17. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said first and second kiosks comprise a banking machine.
18. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said database is associated with at least one authorization server which is linked to said first and second kiosks by at least one communication link.
19. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said first casino account is associated with a first casino database, and said second casino account is associated with a second casino database.
20. The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said first and second kiosks are part of a vendor system which is separate from casino systems which includes said first and second casino databases.