| Credit system for gaming machines and gaming tables -> Monitor Keywords |
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  Credit system for gaming machines and gaming tablesRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), Credit/debit Monitoring Or Manipulation (e.g., Game Entry, Betting, Prize Level, Etc.)The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070232391. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 10/779,043 filed Feb. 13, 2004, currently pending, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference; which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/874,518, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,972, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates generally to facilitating play at gaming machines and gaming tables, and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for establishing credit at the site of a gaming machine or a gaming table. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] People throughout the world enjoy playing slot machines and other gaming machines at casinos and similar venues. Often a player will select a particular gaming machine and thereafter play the selected machine for an extended period of time thinking that by so doing the chances of winning a large jackpot are increased. [0004] At the present time, however, if the player runs low on cash, it is necessary for the player to leave the selected gaming machine in order to obtain additional cash, for example, from an ATM machine. Meanwhile, another player may take over the selected machine and win a jackpot in a relatively short time, much to the dismay of the original player. [0005] Similar circumstances occur at gaming tables such as roulette tables, craps tables, blackjack tables, etc. A player at a gaming table that runs short of cash has two options available. One possibility is to leave the table in order to obtain cash from an ATM machine or other source. This opens the possibility that another player will take over the vacated seat at the gaming table. The other possibility is to obtain cash from the gaming table operator by signing a marker. The latter procedure is inconvenient in that it often requires as much as 15 minutes or more to complete. [0006] The present invention comprises a credit system for gaming machines and gaming tables which overcomes the foregoing and other difficulties which long since characterized the prior art. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, individual gaming machines and gaming tables are provided with credit authorization facilities. More specifically, individual gaming machines and individual gaming tables are provided with financial card readers and associated display and data input apparatuses. As used herein the term "financial card" means an ATM card, a credit card, a debit card, or any other type of card which facilitates communication with a credit source for purposes of establishing credit. [0007] In accordance with the invention, a player utilizing a gaming machine or a gaming table utilizes the financial card reader located at the gaming machine or gaming table and the associated display and data input apparatus to establish communication with the credit source. The credit source in turn authorizes the requested credit. In the case of a gaming machine the credit is entered into the credit register of the machine thereby facilitating play. In the case of a gaming table a printer located at the gaming table generates a voucher which is exchanged for chips. In this manner a player utilizing a particular gaming machine or gaming table can obtain credit without leaving the gaming machine or gaming table and without waiting for a marker to be authorized. [0008] Preferably the communication link that is established between the credit system of the present invention and a credit source includes a wireless link between each gaming machine and each gaming table that is equipped with the credit system of the present invention and a server located within the casino or other gaming venue. The server in turn establishes communication with the designated credit source. In this manner existing gaming machines and gaming tables can be retrofitted with the credit system of the present invention and newly manufactured gaming machines and gaming tables equipped with the credit system of the present invention can be installed in a gaming facility without the necessity of disrupting the facility to facilitate installation of hard wired connections to each gaming machine and each gaming table. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, wherein: [0010] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the first embodiment of the apparatus of the invention; [0011] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the second embodiment of the apparatus of the invention; [0012] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the first embodiment of the method of the invention; [0013] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the second embodiment of the method of the invention; [0014] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a wireless system for establishing communication between gaming machines and gaming tables equipped with the credit system of the present invention and a designated credit source; and [0015] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a variation of the wireless communication illustrated in FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0016] A first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. A gaming machine 10 can comprise a slot machine or any other conventional gaming machine or device. The gaming machine 10 is provided with a credit register 12 which controls the operation of the gaming machine 10. The gaming machine 10 is also provided with a coin/currency receiver/counter 14 the function of which is to receive, authenticate, and determine the value of coins and/or currency received therein. [0017] In order to play the gaming machine 10 a player may deposit coins and/or currency into the coin/currency reader/counter 14. The value of the coins and/or currency deposited is communicated from the coin/currency reader/counter 14 to the credit register 12 thereby establishing a credit balance in the credit register in the amount of the value of the deposited coins and/or currency. Whenever there is a credit balance in the credit register 12 play of the gaming machine 10 is facilitated. [0018] As play continues winnings resulting from play of the gaming machine 10 are added to the credit balance in the credit register 12. Similarly, losses resulting from play of the gaming machine 10 are deducted from the credit balance in the credit register 12. If losses continue until the balance in the credit register 12 is zero or nil, the credit register 12 disables the gaming machine 10. [0019] In accordance with the present invention, the gaming machine 10 is provided with a financial card reader 16 individual to and located at the site of the gaming machine 10. As used herein the term "financial card" means an ATM card, a credit card, a debit card, or any other type of card which may be utilized to establish communication with a credit source for the purpose of obtaining credit. The financial card reader 16 is operatively connected to a central processor unit (CPU) 17 which contains or has access to software necessary for its operation. Continue reading... Full patent description for Credit system for gaming machines and gaming tables Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Credit system for gaming machines and gaming tables patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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