EP1947620A1 - System for managing a group of gaming machines - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a recording terminal (8) including a unit for receiving a game amount and for opening a game session by delivering a passive medium e.g. game ticket (12), carrying a personalized identical code e.g. bar code, to the player. The unit records the amount correlated to the code, in a player's account. A game machine e.g. fruit machine (4), has a reading unit to read the code and available amount in correlation with the code and to maintain the available amount based on gains and losses of the player. A control unit allows or limits the game based on specific rules. An independent claim is also included for a method for managing and controlling a course performed by a player.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of gaming machines, of the type used in casinos, such as in particular slot machines or casters, and more particularly relates to a system for controlling and managing a player's access. to a set of various gaming machines made available to him, and this from the recognition of a series of unique and specific signs presented on a support. It also relates to a method of implementing such a system.

This is known, in particular by the patent FR-A-2762118 , a secure method for controlling transfers of units of value between a smart card-type card and a plurality of gaming machines. Systems of this type have a number of disadvantages and in particular that of significant cost. from the menu.

Gaming machine control systems are also known operating on the basis of the issue, at the beginning of a gaming session, of a paper ticket which supports a recognition marking constituted by a barcode system. This ticket is distributed to the player upon entry into a casino in exchange for the payment by the latter of a certain amount of money representing the amount of the game. With this ticket the player may successively access various gaming machines and, at the end of each of the different stages of the game, a new ticket is given to him, this ticket bearing the amount of the sum that is attributable to him after this stage of the game, the amount of play available, given his earnings and of losses during the game stage. There is therefore a permanent renewal of the game ticket, which imposes significant technical constraints on the casino.

Indeed it is necessary, at each change of machine, on the one hand to take the ticket of the player and on the other hand to deliver a new one. These two operations are a source of complications since the the receipt of the ticket is done by the acceptor device of banknotes, it is necessary, thereafter, to sort between tickets and tickets admitted in the device, and the delivery to the customer of the new ticket implies that each machine of The game has its own printer which entails significant costs in terms of the acquisition of these machines and their maintenance.

The permanent renewal of the game tickets also imposes constraints on the player who, at each change of game machine, must withdraw a new ticket.

It was also proposed in the application PCT WO 01/82176 to use a biometric fingerprint of the player in order to give him access to gaming machines. However, the implementation of such biometric-type recognition means involves the creation and use of complex electronic means and a particularly delicate use insofar as it involves in particular constraints on the taking of the impression by the user. It was thus found that if the positioning adopted by the player during the admission control performed by a gaming machine was not strictly identical to that which he had adopted during the recording, there was a risk that the player is not recognized by the machine. Such a situation is difficult to accept in a gambling hall because of the serious disturbances that may be caused by such an error.

The present invention proposes to remedy the various aforementioned drawbacks, in particular by improving the safety of the player, by making it more enjoyable and easier his journey with the different gaming machines, and by allowing, moreover, the casino to decrease the amount of investment in the acquisition of gaming machines and the cost of their maintenance. The present invention also eliminates any risk of a bad recognition of a player and an unwarranted rejection thereof by a gaming machine.

• le terminal enregistreur comprend des moyens aptes à recevoir un montant de jeu et à ouvrir une session de jeu en délivrant au joueurs un support passif portant un code unique personnalisé restant inchangé pendant au moins une session de jeu, et à enregistrer dans le compte joueurs du serveur le montant de jeu qui est disponible corrélé audit code,
• chacune des machines de jeu comporte des moyens aptes à lire le code du support passif et, en corrélation avec ce code, d'une part être en mesure de lire à tout moment ledit montant de jeu disponible et, d'autre part, maintenir à jour dans le compte joueurs de la mémoire du serveur ledit montant de jeu disponible en fonction des gains ou des pertes du joueur,
• il comporte des moyens aptes à autoriser ou interdire le jeu en fonction de règles spécifiques.

The subject of the present invention is thus a system for the secure management and control of the journey made by a player on a site of several gaming machines which are connected to a centralized server comprising a player account directory, this system comprising a connected registering terminal. server audit, characterized in that:

• the recording terminal comprises means adapted to receive a game amount and to open a game session by delivering to the players a passive medium carrying a personalized unique code remaining unchanged for at least one game session, and to record in the players account of the game. server the amount of game that is available correlated to that code,
• each of the game machines comprises means able to read the code of the passive support and, in correlation with this code, firstly be able to read at any time said amount of available game and, secondly, maintain day in the player account of the server memory said amount of game available according to the winnings or losses of the player,
• it comprises means able to allow or prohibit the game according to specific rules.

The present invention is particularly interesting in that it makes it possible to achieve such controlled management by means of a low-cost passive support including a ticket made of a light and flexible material such as for example paper or cardboard .

The unique code that will for example be generated by a random number generator will be carried on the passive medium in the form of numbers and / or barcodes.

Preferably, a gaming machine will be provided with means capable of receiving a game amount in the form of coins, notes or credit card and to update the amount of game available in a player account of the memory of the server in correlation with said code.

The system according to the invention will comprise a terminal which will be able, after reading the code supported by the passive support, to close a game session when the player wishes to stop playing. This terminal may advantageously be the same as the one having made the opening of the game session.

This terminal may include means for paying the player after reading the code supported by the passive support and reading in the server of the amount of available game.

• enregistrer le joueur au moyen du terminal enregistreur en recevant de celui-ci un montant de jeu et en créant un code personnalisé unique mis en mémoire dans un compte joueurs du serveur en corrélation avec ledit montant de jeu, et en délivrant au joueur un support passif pourvu dudit code,
• identifier le joueur se présentant sur une machine de jeu par la lecture du code porté par le support passif,
• vérifier dans le serveur le montant de jeu disponible dans le compte joueurs corrélé audit code,
• autoriser ou refuser l'accès à la machine de jeu,
• créditer ou débiter le compte joueurs en fonction des gains ou des pertes de celui-ci, de façon à maintenir à jour après chaque jeu, le montant de jeu disponible,
• régler au joueur à la fin d'une session de jeu le montant de jeu disponible.

The subject of the present invention is also a method for the management and secure control of the journey made by a player on a site of several gaming machines which are connected to a centralized server comprising a player account directory, this system comprising a connected registering terminal. audit server, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

• registering the player by means of the recording terminal by receiving a game amount from it and creating a unique personalized code stored in a player account of the server in correlation with said game amount, and delivering to the player a passive support provided with said code,
• identify the player appearing on a gaming machine by reading the code carried by the passive medium,
• check in the server the amount of game available in the players account correlated to the code,
• allow or deny access to the gaming machine,
• credit or debit the players account according to the winnings or losses of the latter, so as to keep up to date after each game, the amount of game available,
• pay the player at the end of a game session the amount of play available.

It is understood that the present invention is particularly interesting in that the medium carrying the code has no value of its own, which is interesting in terms of implementation and management costs of the system, especially with regard to smart card devices of the prior art. Another advantage is that even if the user loses his ticket or destroys it inadvertently, it will be possible, after course of the usual checks, to issue another one of the amount of available game stored in the memory.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique générale montrant l'agencement des divers éléments d'un système de gestion et de contrôle sécurisé suivant l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique d'un terminal enregistreur utilisé dans le système suivant l'invention,
• la figure 3a est une vue externe d'une machine à sous utilisée suivant l'invention,
• la figure 3b est une vue schématique des éléments électroniques internes de la machine à sous représentée sur la figure 3a,
• la figure 4 est un second exemple d'une machine de jeu, à savoir un roulette, utilisée dans le système suivant l'invention,
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique d'une variante d'un terminal enregistreur utilisé dans le système suivant l'invention,
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique d'une variante de mise en oeuvre d'une machine à sous,

An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• the figure 1 is a general schematic view showing the arrangement of the various elements of a secure management and control system according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a schematic view of a recording terminal used in the system according to the invention,
• the figure 3a is an external view of a slot machine used according to the invention,
• the figure 3b is a schematic view of the internal electronic elements of the slot machine shown in FIG. figure 3a ,
• the figure 4 is a second example of a gaming machine, namely a wheel, used in the system according to the invention,
• the figure 5 is a schematic view of a variant of a recording terminal used in the system according to the invention,
• the figure 6 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of a slot machine,

The system according to the invention which is represented on the figure 1 consists of a server 1 comprising a memory 2 provided with a database containing a players account, which is connected by a data transmission line 3, which may be a wireless link, to gaming machines constituted for example by slot machines 4 and by an electronic roulette table 5.

The server 1 is also connected, by a data transmission line 6, to a recording terminal 8 which, as also shown in FIG. figure 2 , comprises a printer 10 intended to deliver game tickets 12, as well as a reader 14 able to receive the banknotes 15 as well as the game tickets 12. The terminal 8 preferably comprises a microcomputer 16 which is notably provided with means able to manage the different communications with the server 1. In a variant represented on the figure 1 this recording terminal may also consist of an automatic terminal 8 '.

The terminal 8 is also provided with an encoder, in particular constituted by a random number generator and verification means making it possible to check that there are not two players with a code during the same game session. identical.

The microcomputer 16 also includes means capable of sending the server 1, the amount paid by the player (which is then the amount of available game), and the unique code generated that is correlated to it. It also comprises means making it possible, via the printer 10, to print this code on the ticket 12, for example in the form of a barcode 13.

Under these conditions, at the beginning of a game session, the player appears in front of the recording terminal 8 and introduces into the reader / ticket receiver 14 thereof one or more bank notes 15 representing the amount he wishes to devote to its future game session, and this amount is read by the reader / receiver 14, then the code generator, edits the unique code that is correlated to this amount, and these two parameters are sent, by the transmission line of data 6, in the player account of the memory 2 of the server 1. At the same time the printer 10 publishes, for the attention of the player, a ticket 12 carrying the printed code, in particular in the form of a barcode 13.

The player can then go to any of the gaming machines 4 or 5 he has chosen and then change the machine if he wants during his game session, and this while keeping the same ticket 12.

In a first example of implementation of the invention the gaming machine consists of a slot machine 4, which is represented on the Figures 3a and 3b . This slot machine consists of a structure 20 inside which are arranged its management means and which supports a display screen 22 representing the rotating cylinders 23 of any slot machine, a score display screen 24 and control buttons 25. It also comprises a reader / ticket receiver 26, the same type as the reader 14 that is to say that is able to admit and read both the tickets 12 and the banknotes. bank 15.

The reader / receiver 26 is connected to the electronic management assembly 28 which provides both management of the operation of the slot machine, and which is known in itself, but also the own management of the new functions introduced by the present invention. This set of electronic management is thus in communication with the server 1 by the data transmission line 6 so, as soon as the game ticket 12 is read, to search the player account of the memory 2 for the unique code and the amount with which it correlates and return it to the machine 4 where the display screen 24 displays this amount, that is to say the amount of available game. If this amount is positive the player has the opportunity to engage it during a game. At the end of this one the player can request the collection of the sums possibly gained by pressing on a suitable button of command and the value of the gain where the loss is sent towards the server 1 which makes the assessment, and registered in the memory 2 player account the new amount of game available in correlation with the code, and the poster on the display screen 24 of the machine, and the ticket 12 is returned to the player. The latter has the possibility to replay on the same machine and in this case an identical process takes place, either to change the machine, or to end his session of play. If, during the game, the amount of available game becomes zero the management set 28 blocks the machine and invites the player to introduce a new game amount into the player / receiver 26. If the player does not do so the game session is interrupted until the player feeds again the current amount, or decides to stop playing.

If the player changes the machine the game session takes place on the new machine in the same way, from the new amount of available game stored in the memory 2 of the server 1, and from the same game ticket 12.

When the player wishes to close his gaming session, he introduces his ticket 12 in the recording terminal 8 which reads his code 13 and addresses it to the server which, as before, will read in the account players of the memory 2 the amount of game available in correlation with the code, and this amount is returned to the recorder terminal 8 where it is displayed at the end of payment to the player.

The ticket 12 can then be destroyed and this without prejudice to both the player and the casino, since its intrinsic value is negligible.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the server 1 may have verification means for controlling the admission of players, that is to say to deny them access to a particular gaming machine or all the machines of a gaming site if they satisfy one or more specific conditions given. For example use of the game ticket a number of times or for a fixed period of time, loss of money reaching a ceiling amount, insufficient amount of available game, etc.

Although the mode of operation of the gaming machine management system according to the invention has been described with regard to slot machines 4, it can of course be used with many other types of gaming machines, as shown in FIGS. figures 1 and 4 , where the game machine consists of an electronic roulette wheel 5.

This wheel 5 consists of a structure 20 'which supports a game cylinder 30 and contains an electronic management unit 28' comprising, as in the case of slot machines, management means specific to the electronic roulette, known in themselves, and means for managing the various functions relating to the present invention. The management unit 28 'is in communication with a reader / receiver 26' able to read both the tickets 12 and the banknotes 15, as well as with a display meter 32. The operation of such a machine game is identical to that described above for slot machines 4.

It is possible, as necessary, to increase the level of security provided by the system according to the present invention, in particular by adding to it biometric control means. It will thus be possible, during the registration phase of the player, to take a biometric imprint thereof, and in particular a fingerprint, and to provide some or all of the game machines with means for reading such a print.

We have shown on the figure 5 such an embodiment in which the recording terminal 8 or 8 'is provided with both a printer 10, a reader / ticket receiver 14 and tickets 12 and a biometric fingerprint sensor 31. In these circumstances, as soon as the player has paid the amount of play on the one hand and placed his finger on the impression sensor 31, the unique code is generated and then printed on the ticket 12 and this, as before, is issued to the player, and the three parameters, namely the amount of play, the unique code and the biometric characteristics are addressed in correlation with each other in the player account of the memory 2 of the server 1.

As a result, the operation of the system proceeds substantially as described above. In such a configuration, as shown on the figure 6 certain gaming machines will be provided both with a ticket reader / ticket receiver 26 and with a fingerprint sensor 31 controlled by a data management assembly 28 '. .

It is understood that in such a mode of implementation the security thus given to the player is maximum insofar as it prohibits a third party in possession of the ticket 12 to have undue access to a gaming machine and / or to to pay the amount of a ticket that does not belong to him. Conversely, such a system also allows, if desired, to allow greater flexibility of use for the player. The system thus allows the player to use, according to his free choice, either the ticket 12 or the biometric fingerprint to obtain access to a gaming machine.

Claims (10)

System for the management and secure control of the journey made by a player on a site of several game machines (4,5) which are connected to a centralized server (1) comprising a player account directory, this system comprising a recording terminal ( 8.8 ') connected to said server (1), characterized in that : the recording terminal (8,8 ') comprises means able to receive a game amount and to open a game session by delivering to the player a passive medium carrying a personalized unique code remaining unchanged for at least one game session, and registering in the server account of the server the amount of game that is available correlated to said code, each of the gaming machines comprises means able to read the code of the passive support and, in correlation with this code, firstly be able to read at any time said amount of available game and, secondly, maintain in the player account of the server memory said amount of available game according to the player's winnings or losses, it comprises means capable of authorizing or prohibiting the game according to specific rules. Secure management and control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the passive support (12,17) consists of a support of light and flexible material such as in particular paper or cardboard. Secure management and control system according to claim 2, characterized in that the passive medium consists of a ticket. Secure management and control system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said code is carried on the passive medium in the form of a barcode. Secure management and control system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one game machine comprises means capable of receiving a game amount and updating the amount of game available in a player account of the game. server in correlation with said code. Secure management and control system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a terminal (8,8 ') adapted, after reading the code supported by the passive medium, to close a game session. Secure management and control system according to claim 6, characterized in that the terminal (8,8 ') able to close the gaming session is the same as the one having made the opening thereof. Management and secure control system according to one of claims 6 or 7 characterized in that the terminal comprises means for paying the player after reading the code supported by the passive support and reading in the server of said amount of available game. Secure management and control system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the registering terminal (8,8 ') and at least one gaming machine (4,5) comprise reading means (31) from minus a biometric parameter of the player. A method for managing and securely controlling the path taken by a player on a site of a plurality of gaming machines (4,5) which are connected to a centralized server (1) comprising a players account directory, this system comprising a recording terminal ( 8.8 ') connected to said server (1), characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - register the player by means of the recording terminal by receiving from it a game amount and by creating a unique personalized code stored in a player account of the server in correlation with said amount of game, and delivering to the player a passive support provided with said code, identify the player who is on a gaming machine by reading the code carried by the passive medium, - check in the server the amount of game available in the players account correlated to the code, - allow or deny access to the gaming machine, - credit or debit the players account according to the winnings or losses of the latter, so as to keep updated after each game, the amount of available game, - pay the player at the end of a game session the amount of play available.

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