METHODS, DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR ELECTRONICALLY MOVING FUNDS BETWEEN AN E-WALLET AND A GAMING MACHINE
An interface, such as a cashless interface, is interposed between a communication port of a gaming machine and one or more external devices and systems, such as a slot machine interface board and a slot management system. The cashless interface may further communicate with a financial system, such as via a controller and a gateway. The cashless interface may be used to facilitate the transfer of funds between a player's e-wallet associated with the financial system and a gaming machine, such as initiated via a player via their mobile communication device.
1 . A modified gaming machine comprising:
a housing;
at least one display;
at least one credit meter configured to track a plurality of monetary value credits;
at least one player input device;
a processor;
a memory;
machine-readable code stored in said memory and executable to cause said processor to:
receive input of a wager by a player via said at least one player input device;
present a wager-based game, comprising causing said at least one display to display game information;
determining an outcome of said wager-based game, wherein when said outcome is winning, awarding one or more monetary value credits;
a gaming machine communication port with said at least one processor; and
a cashless interface, said cashless interface comprising a controller, a memory, machine-readable code stored in said memory and executable by said controller, and a communication interface, said cashless interface interposed between said gaming machine communication port and a slot machine interface board, and said cashless interface in communication with a cashless gaming system which includes one or more e-wallets.
2 . The modified gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gaming machine communication port comprises a slot accounting system (SAS) port.
3 . The modified gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cashless gaming system comprises a cashless controller, a gateway and a financial server.
4 . The modified gaming machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said cashless interface comprises a first serial port connected to said gaming machine communication port, a second serial port connected to said slot machine interface board, and third port connected to said cashless controller.
5 . The modified gaming machine in accordance with claim 4 further comprising a wireless communication interface.
6 . The modified gaming machine in accordance with claim 5 wherein said wireless communication interface supports NFC communications.
7 . A method of transferring funds to a gaming machine comprising a housing, at least one display, at least one credit meter, a processor, a memory, and a gaming machine communication port, comprising the steps of:
receiving, at a financial server, input from a player's mobile device of a request to transfer funds from a player's e-wallet to said gaming machine, said request including an amount of requested funds and information identifying said gaming machine;
processing said requests at said financial server, said step of processing comprising determining said amount of requested funds is available in said player's wallet;
transmitting, from said financial server to a cashless interface which is communicatively coupled to said gaming machine communication port, instructions to cause said cashless interface to load said amount of requested funds to said gaming machine; and
when said amount of requested funds is loaded onto said gaming machine, reducing, by said financial server, a balance of funds associated with said player's e-wallet.
8 . The method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising the step of transmitting, from said cashless interface to said player's mobile device, said information identifying said gaming machine.
9 . The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said information is transmitted by NFC.
10 . The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said information identifying said gaming machine comprises a gaming machine ID.
11 . The method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said instructions to cause said cashless interface to load said amount of requested funds are transmitted from said financial server through a gateway and a cashless controller to said cashless interface.