AU2012100469B4

AU2012100469B4 - Credit Card Transfer System

Info

Publication number: AU2012100469B4
Application number: AU2012100469A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alex Parle
Original assignee: Ebet Ltd
Current assignee: Ebet Ltd
Priority date: 2011-11-10
Filing date: 2012-04-24
Publication date: 2012-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-10
Also published as: AU2012100469A4; AU2019264530B2; AU2017245337A1; AU2013100428A4; AU2019264530A1; AU2011250682A1; AU2013100428B4; AU2015227528A1

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed to facilitate transfer of credit between gaming machines. Temporary transfer cards may be issued at respective gaming machine. Once activated, the card allows the credit on the machine to be used at other machines, without requiring the player to be a registered player. Once the player completes play, the card is paid out, cancelled, and returned to the stock for possible re-use. Disclosed is a system whereby the operator of the gaming machines can select either to require attendant authorisation, can allow the player to authorise cards themselves at the gaming machine, or can use other activation modes as disclosed.

Description

1 CREDIT TRANSFER CARD SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to credit processes and systems for use in gaming machine environments, for example licensed clubs and casinos. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] It is common for gaming machines, for example those commonly referred to as slot machines or poker machines, to be set up in a designated area at a suitably licensed venue. Patrons may play only a single machine, or may prefer to move from machine to machine. In conventional machines, this is done by the player cashing out, to produce a potentially large number of notes and/or coins, which are then required to be inserted into the next machine. The cash creates practical issues of handling, as well as security issues. [0003] One approach to avoiding the use of cash for transfers is 'ticket in ticket out', or TITO. In a TITO system, when the player has ceased play on a machine, a bar-coded receipt is printed by the gaming machine or an associated hardware device. The ticket can be either redeemed for cash at a cashier, or inserted/scanned for play into another machine. This requires a barcode scanner to be fitted to each gaming machine. As a consequence, the cost of installation or retrofitting an existing venue is relatively large. Further, the operating costs of such systems are also significant. [0004] Another option is a card based cashless system. Such systems require far less specialised equipment, and do not produce tickets which need to be audited and managed. Such systems are only conventionally available to registered players, who go through an advance process to have a magnetic strip based card issued to them.

2 [0005] Whilst such systems cater well for regular registered players, a significant number of players are transient visitors, only play occasionally, or are regular players but do not wish to be registered. [0006] U.S. patent application No 20060183541 by Okada discloses a gaming machine system in which individual gaming machines store provisional membership cards in an initialised state. When a player indicates on the gaming machine that the player has ceased play, the machine automatically loads the remaining credit to the provisional membership card, and issues it to the player. [0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved card based system suitable for non registered players. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] In a broad form, the present invention provides an optional transfer card arrangement, in which the player has the option of receiving a transfer card, instead of receiving cash. The transfer card system is controlled so that, at the option of the operator, different card activation processes may be used. [0009] According to one aspect, the present invention provides a gaming management system, including: a gaming management server; a plurality of gaming machines; a card reader unit associated with each gaming machine; a plurality of cards, including player cards and temporary cards; wherein the gaming management server maintains a credit balance associated with each card, and when a card is inserted into one of said card reader units, credit may be transferred to the associated gaming machine from the credit balance, and when the card is removed, credit is transferred to the credit balance and removed from that associated gaming machine; 3 and wherein the gaming management server includes software which permits a system operator to selectively enable and/or disable a temporary card activation mode from two or more possible activation modes, wherein a temporary card can only be activated by an enabled activation mode; wherein a temporary card activated by an enabled activation mode, and while remaining active, allows an associated player to transfer credit. [0010] According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method for enabling card based credit transfer between gaming machines, in a system including: a gaming management server; a plurality of gaming machines; and a card reader unit associated with each gaming machine; the method including at least the steps of: providing a plurality of cards, including player cards and temporary cards; maintaining a credit balance associated with each card, transferring credit to an associated gaming machine from said credit balance when a card is inserted into one of said card reader units; transferring credit from the associated gaming machine to said credit balance when said card is removed from the gaming machine; and wherein the gaming management server includes software which permits a system operator to selectively enable and/or disable a temporary card activation mode from two or more possible activation modes, wherein a temporary card can only be activated by an enabled activation mode; wherein a temporary card activated by an enabled activation mode, and while remaining active, allows an associated player to transfer credit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 4 [0011] Illustrative embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: [0012] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a typical card based payment system for members; and [0013] Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the operating process according to one implementation of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] The present invention will be described with reference to a particular illustrative example, using conventional magnetic stripe cards. It will be understood that the principles of the present invention may be implemented using a variety of systems, for example chip cards (smartcards), contactless cards, cards with barcodes, and any other suitable token or indicia. When the term card is used, it is intended to encompass other indicia, tokens and devices as described above. [0015] It will also be appreciated that the present invention may be implemented using an underlying system with varying levels of complexity. The system may use cards as simple identifiers, with all processing, balances, personal identification information (if any), and so forth stored in the system, for example in a server. However, it would be possible to also store a balance, and certain personal information, on the card if desired, or store a complete player record on the card. [0016] The present invention is applicable to any kind of electronic gaming machine (EGM), and is not limited in application to any particular brand, style or type of machine. Of course, the necessary software and hardware interfaces will vary with machines, as it is necessary to interact with the gaming machine to add and remove credits. However, as long as the machine is capable of such interaction, the present invention could be deployed, in a suitably modified implementation.

5 [0017] Example of systems in which the present invention could be implemented include the eMember system, commercially available from the present applicant and IGT Advantage / EZ Pay, available from IGT. [0018] Figure 1 illustrates a typical gaming venue card system, suitable for use with the present invention. It will be appreciated that this is provided by way of general background, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that the commercially available systems provide a full set of functions, security and management tools. The present invention is intended to provide additional functionality within such a system, and any practical implementation would preferably be implemented in the context of such an existing system. [0019] Figure 1 shows a system including EGMs 20, 30; server 25; cashier terminal 26; kiosk 27; and network 28. Network 28 may be a LAN or optical network, or series of networks, allowing communication between the components of the system. Each EGM has an associated player interface module (PIM) 21, 31. It will be appreciated that in a practical system, there would typically be many EGMs. [0020] The PIM 21, 31 communicates directly with the associated EGM 20, 30 as well as via the network 28 with the server. The PIM provides (relevantly) a cashless gaming facility for the EGMs. A player who has a membership card inserts the card into an EGM when he is playing. This allows for credit to be transferred to the EGM, as well as for player tracking, membership rewards, and other system aspects to be provided. In a preferred system, no data is stored on the card, which acts only as a secure token for an account, the details of which are stored in the server. The card may be of any conventional type, for example a magnetic stripe card with encrypted data. Additional security measures, for example a player identification number, may be required to permit use of the system. [0021] In such a conventional system, when a player wishes to cash out part of all of his card credit, he approaches the cashier who via the cashier terminal 26 6 provides cash to the player. Similarly, the player may add credit via the cashier, or using the kiosk 27. The server maintains overall system control, using special purposes databases which are securely stored, either locally or remotely. These may include a member database, and electronic payment database, and a reporting database. [0022] According to this implementation of the present invention, in addition to player cards, used by registered players in a conventional way, there are also provided temporary transfer cards. It is preferred that these cards be different in appearance to player cards, and carry a visual or other unique identifier, such as a bar code or RFID tag. [0023] In overview, the operation of the temporary cards according to this implementation will be described with reference to figure 2. A player commences using a EGM at a venue. They are not using a player card, and have initiated play 10 using coins or notes inserted into the EGM. The player determines that they wish to move to another EGM. They press the conventional collect button on the machine, indicating that they wish to cash out 11. Alternatively, this may be a service button of some form, for example on a separate loyalty panel. [0024] Depending upon the option selected by the operator of the venue, the process from this point may vary. The process, where player validation is permitted, with be discussed below with reference to figure 3. [0025] It the option for attendant activation is used by the system operator, the process works as follows. Activating the cash out option prompts the gaming system to automatically request an attendant 12 to come to that machine. This may be, for example, using a paging system, a radio or phone system, or using any conventional mechanism. The request may go to a central operator or supervisor, who directs a staff member to the relevant machine.

7 [0026] The attendant will explain the benefits of the temporary transfer card, and offer to issue one to the player. Depending upon the venue, the attendant could also discuss the benefits of becoming a registered player. The player, according to this implementation, may opt to simply accept a cash payout, and so no further action is required. According to other possible implementations, this could become a mandatory system rather than an option. Similarly, the system could be set to trigger a request a request for an attendant only if the balance to be cashed out exceeds a certain limit. [0027] If the player requests a temporary transfer card, then this will preferably require an attendant activation process to be carried out by the attendant. With the credit still on the machine, the attendant will insert the (at this stage inactive) transfer card and complete the activation process. According to this implementation, the attendant is required to enter a code via the pinpad. However, it will be appreciated that a variety of alternative activation processes could be used, for example using a special attendant card. After the activation procedure is completed, the player can remove 13 the temporary transfer card and the credit will be removed from the machine and loaded onto the transfer card account. [0028] At the next machine the player inserts 14 the temporary transfer card and the full credit balance will be deposited onto the machine credit meter, and play can then begin. The maximum amount transferrable onto a gaming machine will be dependent upon the applicable rules in the jurisdiction. In the event that the full amount is not permitted to be transferred, some part of the credit may be retained on the temporary transfer card. [0029] At the conclusion of play 15 the player removes the temporary transfer card from the machine, at which time the credit balance is transferred to the card. The player can move to another machine or cash out any outstanding balance, for example at a cashier 16 or at a kiosk adapted for that purpose.

8 [0030] The process, should the venue operator opt to allow player validation, will now be described with reference to figure 3. A player first commences play at 30 with a cash, coins or tokens, in the conventional way. When the player wishes to cash out, at step 31, he will have an option to insert an inactive temporary player card. These may, for example, be place in racks or stands in the gaming machine area, or even associated with each machine. [0031] With the credit still on the machine, the player will insert the (at this stage inactive) transfer card at step 32. According to this option no attendant intervention is required, although attendants may be available to assist and guide the player if required. The machine will advise the gaming server that a new temporary player account is to be created and associated with the card which has been inserted. If the card is already activated, the server will send the machine an appropriate message for display to the player, indicating that this card is already activated. Similarly, if the card is damaged or otherwise not recognised by the server, no temporary account will be created. [0032] It will be appreciated that there are additional optional arrangements which could be used by the operator to activate temporary cards. For example, the temporary cards may be issued either on request, or automatically, by the gaming machine, for example using a system similar to that proposed in the Okada reference, U.S. patent application No 20060183541, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. In this case, the cards could be stored in an activated form, or only activated when a card is requested by a player. [0033] The cards could be held in a more secure way, for example by a cashier, and only issued on request, for activation by the player at the machine. Other options for activation can be envisaged, consistent with the policies of the venue, gaming regulations, and the operational requirements of the venue. It may be that 9 the operator will commence with a more restrictive set of rules, and change once the use of the cards is well established. [0034] In another possible optional activation procedure, the transfer card may be issued by a card dispenser which is located within the venue, but not associated with an individual gaming machine. In one form, an activated card may be issued from the dispenser on request, and then taken to a machine to be inserted. When the card is removed, the credit will be transferred from that machine to the account associated with the transfer card. [00351 In another form, the dispenser device may request details of the machine from which credit is to be transferred, and issue a card associated with the appropriate transferred balance. This approach may require the player to have activated an appropriate function on the machine, e.g. 'locked pending credit transfer', prior to the credit being available for transfer to an activated card issued by the dispenser. [0036] The machine will preferably indicate that the transfer card has been successfully initialised, for example with a suitable noise. The player can remove 33 the temporary transfer card and the credit will be removed from the machine and loaded onto the transfer card account. In the event that the card is not initialised, when the player removes the card, the credit will still be on the machine. The player may then use the card in another EGM, or ask for a payout at a cashier, as described in relation to the other option. [0037] Depending upon the preferences of the venue operator, use of a transfer card may be either at the option of the player, or mandatory [0038] A successful refund of the full balance will cause the temporary transfer card to be deactivated. If requested by the player, it can be activated and reissued 10 on the spot to the same player. However, in the normal course the card will go back into the stock of deactivated cards, ready to be re-used. [0039] All transfer card transactions are captured in the audit trail and fully identifiable. A detailed transaction report would generally be available in the reporting module of the gaming management system. [0040] We will now describe in more detail the process by which temporary transfer cards are issued according to the present implementation. It will be appreciated that there are many alternative implementations and corresponding operational steps by which the present invention could be implemented. For security reasons it is preferred that the stock of transfer cards are not enabled by default. [0041] Cards authorisations are preferably controlled by a secure database, accessible only to appropriately authorised staff. Temporary cards are recognised by this system as such, as opposed to player cards, with appropriate conditions and restrictions as discussed. According to the present invention, an option to allow only attendant activation, or activation by players, for temporary cards is selected within the credit management system. In the former case, authorised cards can only become active temporary cards with appropriate actions by the floor attendant, as described below. In the latter case, the cards can be activated by a player inserting them into a card slot when there is pre-existing credit on the machine. Of course, if additional alternative activation modes are available, these will be accessible from the relevant screen of the database. It may be that in some cases, multiple activation modes are available. [0042] The specific operating mode for activation that is selected by a venue operator may be selected in a variety of ways. It is preferably set as a configuration in the base system, at the time of installation, and is not generally accessible to the venue operator. This activation mode may then be used as the basis for training of staff and education of patrons. However, in this system, the venue operator can 11 decide to change activation modes, and the system can be reconfigured to reflect this. [00431 In an alternative implementation, a screen based selection may be available to the operator. It would clearly be impractical to change this with any frequency, and so preferably in such a system, significant difficulty of access and security systems would be imposed around the change of activation mode. [0044] The process of enabling a temporary transfer card is called activation. According to one option, this is carried out by the floor attendant when a card is issued to a player. The activation process is performed at the machine once the card is inserted by the attendant keying in a code on the player tracking keypad, which is located on the gaming machine as part of the existing player card infrastructure. Once the card is activated, the player removes the card which transfers the credit off the machine, and into the account in the gaming management system associated with activated temporary transfer card. The player is now able to use that card to transfer credit on to and off any gaming machine on the floor. [0045] Unlike player card based cashless systems, which are account based, the temporary transfer card is transaction based. This requires that functionality is restricted to an "all on / all off" process when inserting or removing the card and similarly at the cashier desk as opposed to the expanded functionality available with Card Based Cashless system play. [0046] The "all off" credit removal process is initiated by the removal of the temporary transfer card from the card reader at the machine. When removing credit from a machine the system will create a transaction record in the gaming management system that records the machine, date and time, amount, unique temporary transfer card identifier and a unique transaction number.

12 [0047] The credit transfer process is initiated by the player inserting the temporary transfer card into the card reader at the machine. The system receives the unique temporary transfer card identifier from the card reader and retrieves each unique transaction number and balance associated with the card, and transfers the full value on to the machine. If the full value on the "Temporary Transfer Card" is greater than $2,000.00, no credits will transfer onto a machine, (the same as current TITO Ticket In Limits), instead, the player will be prompted to see the cashier via a message on the PIM. [0048] To cash out any residual balance the player must present the temporary transfer card to the cashier. The cashier will swipe or scan the temporary transfer card and the cashier system will retrieve the current balance. The cashier will pay out the recorded balance. In the preferred implementation, any balance greater than $2,000 will automatically activate the cheque payment process as per requirements of the NSW Gaming Machine Regulation 2010. It will be appreciated that the details of this aspect will vary with the regulations operative in each jurisdiction. A venue will be able to set a lower limit for activating the cheque payment process or in the event a player requests a cheque for a lower value. [0049] Once the balance is paid out in full the card is disabled and put aside ready to be re-issued. [0050] According to this implementation, if the player leaves the venue with the card it will remain activated and able to be used in machines at the venue for two business days. This period of time is known as the transfer card activity time limit and is preferably configurable within the system. After the activity time limit has expired the card will need to be presented at the cashier to refund the balance. Temporary transfer cards that have not been redeemed within 13 months following the date of the last transaction, for example, will be deemed to have expired.

13 [0051] Expired temporary transfer cards will be treated in a manner that is consistent with regulations applying in the case of expired gaming machine tickets. Following the expiry and display of information regarding expired temporary transfer cards, the unclaimed monies will be removed from the system and dealt with in a manner that is consistent with that applying in the case of expired tickets. [00521 The temporary transfer card is not a membership loyalty card as it does not provide the player the benefits associated with venue membership. Specifically, it is preferred that the temporary transfer card will not be included in any venue promotions, whether loyalty point based or other forms of card based promotion. [0053] The temporary transfer card facility involves the concept of a temporary transfer card session which is transaction based. This provides the ability for the system to track how long an individual session is active and offers the opportunity to prompt the player with harm minimisation messages. These may be, for example, pop up messages that provide the player with information, e.g.: 0 Take a break message after an hour of continuous play [0054] Alternatively, it may provide pop up messages referring to assistance for problem gamblers based on venue affiliations, for example: * G-Line . BetSafe " ClubSAFE [0055] The introduction of a temporary transfer card according to this implementation should result in a larger section of the non-member or non-carded playing community being exposed to and using cards to play gaming machines. This is an important first step in facilitating further ham minimisation measures that may be proposed in the future.

14 [0056] A particular advantage of implementations of the present invention is that they may use the existing hardware and software infrastructure which already exists for player cards in a venue, with appropriate software modifications, as has been explained above. Further, operators can select the mode of operation which best suits their operating needs, and indeed could decide to have attendant operation for an initial start period, and move to player activation once the system becomes established and well understood.

Claims

1. A gaming management system, including: a gaming management server; a plurality of gaming machines; a card reader unit associated with each gaming machine; a plurality of cards, including player cards and temporary cards; wherein the gaming management server maintains a credit balance associated with each card, and when a card is inserted into one of said card reader units, credit may be transferred to the associated gaming machine from the credit balance, and when the card is removed, credit is transferred to the credit balance and removed from that associated gaming machine; and wherein the gaming management server includes software which permits a system operator to selectively enable and/or disable a temporary card activation mode from two or more possible activation modes, wherein a temporary card can only be activated by an enabled activation mode; wherein a temporary card activated by an enabled activation mode, and while remaining active, allows an associated player to transfer credit.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the possible activation modes include one or more of: activating said temporary cards at a gaming machine only by an attendant and at the request of the player; activating using cards available in the venue without the intervention of an attendant; activating by a gaming machine issuing an activated card; and activation by a dispensing machine. 16

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein an activated temporary card remains active only for a predetermined period of time.

4. A method for enabling card based credit transfer between gaming machines, in a system including: a gaming management server; a plurality of gaming machines; and a card reader unit associated with each gaming machine; the method including at least the steps of: providing a plurality of cards, including player cards and temporary cards maintaining a credit balance associated with each card, transferring credit to an associated gaming machine from said credit balance when a card is inserted into one of said card reader units; transferring credit from the associated gaming machine to said credit balance when said card is removed from the gaming machine; and wherein the gaming management server includes software which permits a system operator to selectively enable and/or disable a temporary card activation mode from two or more possible activation modes; wherein a temporary card can only be activated by an enabled activation mode; wherein a temporary card activated by an enabled activation mode, and while remaining active, allows an associated player to transfer credit.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the possible activation modes include one or more of: activating said temporary cards at a gaming machine only by an attendant and at the request of the player; activating using cards available in the venue without the intervention of an attendant; 17 activating by a gaming machine issuing an activated card; and activation by a dispensing machine.