SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADMINISTRATION OF NON-WAGERING ACCOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH GAMING ENVIRONMENT
Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player identifier with a stored value account. The stored value account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a stored value payment vehicle. The stored value payment vehicle can be a reloadable stored value payment vehicle or a non-reloadable stored value payment vehicle. Information associated with transactions using the stored value payment vehicle can be used for player relationship purposes.
1 . A computer-based method of player tracking, the method performed by one or more computing devices comprising instructions stored in a memory, which when executed by one or more processors of the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform the method comprising:
associating in computer memory of the one or more computing devices, a stored value account of a player with a player identifier of a gaming environment, wherein the stored value account holds funds accessible through use of a payment vehicle associated with a bank card network, wherein the payment vehicle is usable for open-loop payment transactions at any of a plurality of merchants unaffiliated with the gaming environment;
receiving, by the one or more computing devices, transaction-related information associated with the access of the funds held by the stored value account of the player based on use of the payment vehicle for an open-loop payment transaction at one of the plurality of merchants unaffiliated with the gaming environment; and
generating, by the one or more computing devices, a player intelligence report based at least partially on the transaction-related information, wherein the player intelligence report comprises the player identifier and identifies the merchant at which the payment vehicle was used for the open-loop payment transaction.
2 . The computer-based method of claim 1 , wherein the payment vehicle is a non-reloadable card.
3 . The computer-based method of claim 1 , wherein the transaction-related information comprises a merchant category code, and wherein the player intelligence report further comprises the merchant category code.
4 . The computer-based method of claim 1 , further comprising updating a player loyalty profile associated with the player identifier based on the player intelligence report.
5 . The computer-based method of claim 1 , further comprising assigning a loyalty value to the open-loop payment transaction based on an identity of the merchant.
6 . The computer-based method of claim 5 , wherein the loyalty value is based on a point system.
7 . The computer-based method of claim 5 , wherein a first loyalty value is assigned for a transaction at an affiliated merchant and a second, different loyalty value is assigned for a transaction at an unaffiliated merchant.
8 . A computer-based method of funding an account associated with a player, the method comprising:
receiving, by a transaction facilitator computing system, a load request, wherein the load request comprises a request to load player funds to a stored value account associated with a non-reloadable stored value payment vehicle, wherein the stored value account has a balance amount that is maintained by an issuer processor computing system;
receiving, by the transaction facilitator computing system, player funds information from a computing device within a casino environment, wherein the player funds information comprises at least a total value of the player funds;
instructing, by the transaction facilitator computing system, the issuer processor computing system to increase the balance amount of the stored value account based on the total value of the player funds; and
linking, in a computer memory, the non-reloadable stored value payment vehicle to a loyalty account of the player.
9 . The computer-based method of claim 8 , wherein the computing device within the casino environment is located at any of a casino cage, an unattended kiosk, and a casino gaming pit.
10 . The computer-based method of claim 8 , wherein the player funds comprise any of cash, casino chips, a TITO ticket, and a jackpot payout.
11 . The computer-based method of claim 8 , wherein the non-reloadable stored value payment vehicle is a variable denomination card, and wherein the total value of the player funds determines the denomination.
12 . The computer-based method of claim 8 , further comprising displaying, on a display of the computing device within the casino environment, a transaction approval screen upon successfully increasing the balance amount of the stored value account.
13 . A system for player tracking in a gaming environment, comprising:
a stored value payment vehicle associated with a bank card network, wherein funds accessible by the stored value payment vehicle are maintained in a stored value account, and wherein the stored value payment vehicle is usable for open-loop payment transactions at any of a plurality of merchants unaffiliated with the gaming environment;
a loyalty account assigned to a player, wherein the loyalty account is associated with a player identifier; and
at least one processor and non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:
associate in a computer memory the stored value account with the player identifier;
receive transaction-related information associated with an open-loop payment transaction at one of the plurality of merchants unaffiliated with the gaming environment using the stored value payment vehicle; and
generate a player intelligence report based at least partially on the transaction-related information, wherein the player intelligence report comprises the player identifier and an identity of the merchant.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the stored value payment vehicle is a non-reloadable card.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the transaction-related information comprises a merchant category code, and wherein the player intelligence report further comprises the merchant category code.
16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further caused to update a player loyalty profile associated with the player identifier based on the player intelligence report.
17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further caused to assign a loyalty value to the open-loop payment transaction based on the identity of the merchant.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the loyalty value is based on a point system.
19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein a first loyalty value is assigned for a transaction at an affiliated merchant and a second, different loyalty value is assigned for a transaction at an unaffiliated merchant.
20 . The system of claim 13 , wherein upon receiving an authorization request for the open-loop payment transaction, the at least one processor is further caused to:
query a couponing engine to determine if a discount is available for the player at the merchant; and
in response to determining a discount is available, cause the discount to be applied to the open-loop payment transaction by instructing an issuer processor to debit the stored value account for an amount less than a total transaction amount.