IP Library Patent Application 13851796
Patent Application
App. No. 13/851,796

MOBILE-PHONE-BASED WAGERING GAME ACCOUNT TRANSACTIONS

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
13/851,796
Filed
Mar 27, 2013
Art Unit
3714
USPC
463/25
Abstract

In some embodiments a method includes receiving, from a mobile phone, a request to transfer a first fund amount from a player account to a wagering game machine. The method can also include determining that the player account does not include the first fund amount; receiving a second fund amount from a secondary funding source, and augmenting the player account by the second fund amount, wherein the augmenting results in the player account including the first fund amount. The method can also include transferring the first fund amount from the player account to the wagering game machine; debiting the player account by the first fund amount.

Claims (58)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving, from a mobile phone, a request to transfer a first fund amount from a player casino account to a wagering game machine;

determining that the player casino account does not include the first fund amount;

receiving a second fund amount from a secondary funding source;

augmenting the player casino account by the second fund amount, wherein the augmenting results in the player casino account including the first fund amount;

transferring the first fund amount from the player casino account to the wagering game machine; and

debiting the player casino account by the first fund amount.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferring occurs before a player associated with the player casino account has signed-onto the wagering game machine.

3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, from the mobile phone, a third fund amount; and

crediting the player account by the third fund amount.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request to transfer the first fund amount is included in a short message service (SMS) message.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the player casino account indicates the secondary funding source.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the secondary funding source is a financial institution server operated by bank.

7 . One or more machine-readable storage media including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a mobile phone, a request to transfer a first fund amount from a player casino account to a wagering game machine;

determining that the player casino account does not include the first fund amount;

receiving a second fund amount from a secondary funding source;

augmenting the player casino account by the second fund amount, wherein the augmenting results in the player casino account including the first fund amount;

transferring the first fund amount from the player casino account to the wagering game machine; and

debiting the player casino account by the first fund amount.

8 . The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 7 , wherein the transferring occurs before a player associated with the player casino account has signed-onto the wagering game machine.

9 . The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving, from the mobile phone, a third fund amount; and

crediting the player account by the third fund amount.

10 . The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 7 , wherein the request to transfer the first fund amount is included in a short message service (SMS) message.

11 . The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 7 , wherein the player casino account indicates the secondary funding source.

12 . The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 7 , wherein the secondary funding source is a financial institution server operated by bank.

13 . A wagering game account server comprising:

a player account base configured to store a plurality of player casino accounts, the plurality of player casino accounts including funds, wherein the plurality of player casino accounts comprise a first player casino account;

a request processor electronically coupled to the player account base, the request processor configured to receive, from a mobile phone, a request to transfer a first fund amount from a first player casino account to a wagering game machine;

a transaction processor electronically coupled to the player account base and the request processor, the transaction processor configured to,

determine that the player casino account does not include the first fund amount;

receive a second fund amount from a secondary funding source;

augment the first player casino account by the second fund amount, wherein the augment results in the first player casino account including the first fund amount;

transfer the first fund amount from the player casino account to the wagering game machine; and

debit the first player casino account by the first fund amount.

14 . The wagering game account server of claim 13 , wherein the transfer of the first fund amount from the player casino account to the wagering game machine occurs before a player associated with the first player casino account has signed-onto the wagering game machine.

15 . The wagering game account server of claim 13 ,

wherein the request processor is configured to receive, from the mobile phone, a third fund amount; and

wherein the transaction processor is configured to credit the first player account by the third fund amount.

16 . The wagering game account server of claim 13 , wherein the request to transfer the first fund amount is included in a short message service (SMS) message.

17 . The wagering game account server of claim 13 , wherein the player casino account indicates the secondary funding source.

18 . The wagering game account server of claim 13 , wherein the secondary funding source is a financial institution server operated by bank.

19 . A wagering game account server comprising:

means for receiving, from a mobile phone, a request to transfer a first fund amount from a player casino account to a wagering game machine;

means for determining that the player casino account does not include the first fund amount;

means for receiving a second fund amount from a secondary funding source;

means for augmenting the player casino account by the second fund amount, wherein the means for augmenting results in the player casino account including the first fund amount;

means for transferring the first fund amount from the player casino account to the wagering game machine; and

means for debiting the player casino account by the first fund amount.

20 . The wagering game account server of claim 19 , wherein the means for transferring occurs before a player associated with the player casino account has signed-onto the wagering game machine.

21 . The wagering game account server of claim 19 further comprising:

means for receiving, from the mobile phone, a third fund amount; and

means for crediting the player account by the third fund amount.

22 . The wagering game account server of claim 19 , wherein the request to transfer the first fund amount is included in a short message service (SMS) message.

23 . The wagering game account server of claim 19 , wherein the player casino account indicates the secondary funding source.

24 . The wagering game account server of claim 19 , wherein the secondary funding source is a financial institution server operated by bank.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; WMS GAMING INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.; DON BEST SPORTS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059756/0397 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 19, 2020
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051642/0471 →
MERGER Recorded Aug 13, 2015
From: WMS GAMING INC.
To: BALLY GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 036322/0399 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2013
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; WMS GAMING INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031847/0110 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2013
From: AGARWAL, VIJAY K.; BUCHHOLZ, DALE R.; PACE, MARK C.
To: WMS GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 030819/0237 →