System and method for integrated multiple source player cash access
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 for enrolling a player in a multi-function player tracking system, comprising the steps of:
receiving a first request at an authorization server from a player at a monetary value access kiosk to authorize a first financial transaction with an independent financial account for a receipt of monetary funds, the request including player independent financial account information;
instructing said player to complete said first financial transaction at a separate location from said monetary value access kiosk;
receiving, from said player at said separate location, player identification information;
storing, in a financial database, said player identification information and information which identifies said player's independent financial account;
dispensing said monetary funds to said player;
presenting an option to said player at said separate location to enroll in the multi-function player tracking system;
when the player elects to enroll, generating at the authorization server a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the player;
issuing the unique identifier to the player;
storing, in a player's club database, said player identification information and said information which identifies said player's independent financial account, in association with said unique identifier; and
receiving, at said authorization server, a second request by said player to engage in a second financial transaction at said monetary value access kiosk or another monetary value access kiosk, based upon said unique identifier;
attempting to processes said second request based upon with said player's independent financial account associated with said player's unique identifier.
2. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising transmitting a request for authorization of said request from said authorization server to an external banking system.
3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said separate location comprises a casino cage.
4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of storing comprises copying said player identification information and said information which identifies said player's independent financial account from said financial database to said player's club database.
5. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving an election from said player to said option to enroll.
6. The method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said step of receiving the election from said player comprises receiving input to an input receiving device at said separate location.
7. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said information which identifies said player's independent financial account comprises a bank card number.
8. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said information which identifies said player's independent financial account comprises a bank account number and routing number.
9. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said unique identifier is associated with a tracking card and said step of receiving said second request comprises reading said player's tracking card at said monetary value access kiosk and receiving information from said player about a desired amount of funds.
10. The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said step of attempting to process said second request comprises said authorization server transmitting information regarding said second request to an external banking system.
11. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said authorization server utilizes said unique identifier to access said information regarding said player's independent financial account in said player's club database.
12. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of issuing monetary funds to said player comprises dispensing cash to said player.
13. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of issuing monetary funds to said player comprises dispensing at least one ticket having associated monetary value to said player.
14. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said monetary value access kiosk, said authorization server and said financial database are associated with a vendor financial system and said multi-function player tracking system is communicatively linked to said vendor financial system, said player's club database associated with said multi-functional player tracking system.
15. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of presenting the option to said player at said separate location to enroll in the multi-function player tracking system is performed while the player is at the separate location to complete said first financial transaction.
16. A method for enrolling a player in a multi-function player tracking system, comprising the steps of:
receiving a first request at an authorization server from a player at a monetary value access kiosk to authorize a first financial transaction with an independent financial account for a receipt of monetary funds, the request including player independent financial account information;
instructing said player to complete said first financial transaction at a separate location from said monetary value access kiosk;
at the separate location,
(a) receiving player identification information from said player,
(b) dispensing said monetary funds to said player upon approval of said first financial transaction, and
(c) presenting an option to said player to enroll in the multi-function player tracking system;
storing, in a financial database, said player identification information and information which identifies said player's independent financial account;
when the player elects to enroll in the multi-function player tracking system, generating at the authorization server a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the player;
issuing the unique identifier to the player;
storing, in a player's club database, said player identification information and said information which identifies said player's independent financial account, in association with said unique identifier; and
receiving, at said authorization server, a second request by said player to engage in a second financial transaction at said monetary value access kiosk or another monetary value access kiosk, based upon said unique identifier;
attempting to processes said second request based upon with said player's independent financial account associated with said player's unique identifier.