Multi-function cashless gaming ATM
View Patent ↗A system and method are provided for performing a cashless gaming ticket redemption transaction for a customer in a casino environment. The system includes a gaming machine, such as a slot machine, that the customer plays. Rather than issuing cash to the customer, the gaming machine issues a redemption ticket with a unique identifier to the customer. The unique identifier and the amount of the customer's winnings accrued on the gaming machine are stored and associated on a redemption ticket database. When the customer wishes to redeem the winnings, the redemption ticket is introduced to a multi-function ATM. To perform the ticket redemption transaction, the ATM is adapted to electronically accept the redemption ticket and read the unique identifier. The ATM then electronically communicates with the redemption database to retrieve the predetermined dollar value associated with the unique identifier. Finally, the ATM transfers to the customer an award equal to the predetermined dollar value in cash or credit.
1. A system for performing gaming points redemption transactions for a customer within a gaming environment, the system comprising:
a customer tracking card associated with the customer, wherein the customer tracking card is issued by a first entity and includes a unique identifier and does not contain financial account information;
a customer tracking database operated by the first entity for electronically storing gaming activity information, gaming points accrued by the customer at a gaming station, monetary transactions within the gaming environment, gaming points redemption transactions, and a customer profile of one or more customer determined redemption characteristics which affect a redemption value of a redemption transaction, wherein said redemption characteristics may be different for each customer and thus cause different redemption values for different customers, wherein the customer tracking database electronically receives the unique customer identifier and a number of points accrued by the customer during a gaming session, and the customer tracking database associates the number of points, gaming activity information, monetary transactions, and gaming points redemption transactions with the unique customer identifier; and
a multi-function ATM located within the gaming environment adapted to electronically accept the customer tracking card and read the unique identifier thereon, electronically communicate with the customer tracking database to determine the number of points associated with the unique identifier, and transfer to the customer an award equal to a monetary value, wherein the monetary value is derived from the number of points associated with the unique identifier based on a point-to-monetary conversion ratio of the gaming points stored within the customer tracking database;
wherein the point-to-monetary conversion ratio is calculated during each gaming points redemption transaction utilizing at least said player determined redemption characteristics which are associated with the customer and stored within the customer tracking database;
wherein the transfer is selected by the user within the multi-function ATM from each selectable option of directly dispensing cash, electronically crediting to a third party account of the customer, and electronically depositing to a third party account of the customer;
wherein the multi-function ATM electronically communicates with an authorization center operated by a second entity to authorize the electronic transfer of funds in an amount equal to the monetary value from the multi-function ATM to the third party account when electronically crediting or depositing to the third party account of the customer; and
wherein the multi-function ATM further performs cash withdrawal transactions and credit/debit transactions in addition to the gaming points redemption transactions.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the unique identifier is encoded on the customer tracking card.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the multi-function ATM is further adapted to decode the unique identifier on the customer tracking card.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the unique identifier includes a magnetic strip and the multi-function ATM includes a magnetic strip reader.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the multi-function ATM is adapted to transfer to the customer the award by electronically crediting to a credit card account an amount equal to the monetary value.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the multi-function ATM is adapted to transfer to the customer the award by electronically depositing into a checking/savings account an amount equal to the monetary value.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the multi-function ATM is further adapted to prompt the customer to indicate whether the customer desires to redeem all of the number of points or a fraction thereof.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein electronically crediting or depositing to a third party account of the customer is performed using an Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer.