Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system and method for integrating player tracking and cash access in a casino or other gaming environment. One aspect of the invention allows for fund access and management wherein gaming machines, such as slot machines, receive playable credits directly from a patron&#39;s banking or credit card account. Another aspect of the present invention relates to integrating player tracking and cash access transactions by allowing the players to provide a player tracking card for each financial transaction conducted in the casino. In return, the casino issues gaming or bonus points to the players for allowing their transactions to be tracked. Yet another aspect of the present invention consolidates the players&#39; financial account information into a single casino database. Players can subsequently credit or debit cash from the players&#39; financial accounts using any associated customer identification cards or otherwise receive such credits in other forms that permit negotiations, including quasi-cash documents.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/957,283, filed Oct. 1, 2004 and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/508,063, filed Oct. 1, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a system and method for integrating player tracking and cash access transactions in a casino environment. Specifically, the invention relates to a system and method, used in a variety of environments including casinos, to facilitate cash-access/credit-access and player tracking. 
         [0003]    Casino gaming is a highly popular activity in today&#39;s society. Often times, enjoyment of the casino gaming experience is predicated upon a player&#39;s ability to easily and effectively access a sufficient supply of money, which in turn allows the player to participate in gaming activities for a desired length of time. Casino patrons typically attempt to bring a sufficient amount of currency to the casino that can be used with various gaming machines or exchanged for negotiable chips or casino-issued cards. Not infrequently, however, patrons forget to bring a sufficient amount of currency to the casino or patrons deplete the supply they brought before they are ready for the gaming experience to end. 
         [0004]    In these instances, the casino patrons will want to access additional currency, or otherwise extend their time playing the casino games, by withdrawing the necessary currency from a financial institution at which the player maintains an account. For example, a player with a financial institution card, such as a credit card, debit card, or bank card, can utilize an automated teller machine (ATM) that is located on the casino&#39;s premises to withdraw currency. 
         [0005]    Such financial institution transactions are commonplace in casinos. However, existing cash access and cash advance systems often require manual entry of customer identification information as part of the transaction. Existing systems may also require the players to remember multiple PIN&#39;s that are associated with each of their financial intuition accounts or require that the players retrieve cash at an ATM and then physically transport the cash to a gaming machine. Although these current processes allow access to currency, players continue to look for more convenience while at the casino. Therefore, a need exists for a system and method of facilitating expeditious cash/credit access for players in a casino environment that minimizes the complications that currently exist for such transactions. 
         [0006]    In addition to the complications that hinder current cash/credit access systems and methods, these current systems and methods also fail to provide comprehensive tracking of the players&#39; financial transactions in casinos. While it is commonplace to attempt to track some of the patrons&#39; actions in a casino that relate to gaming, these attempts typically fail to capture many financial transactions that occur on the casino&#39;s premises and to provide a comprehensive picture of the cash flow in the casino. Often casinos will provide patrons with player tracking cards that the player inserts at gaming machines, which allows the casino to monitor some of the patrons&#39; gaming activities. As an incentive to use the player tracking cards, casinos often award gaming points to the patrons to encourage use of the cards. However, many financial transactions that occur in a casino are not effectively monitored or tracked by the casino. 
         [0007]    The quality and breadth of current player tracking can be increased by providing additional incentives to the players. Therefore, in addition to the need for facilitating expeditious cash/credit access transactions, there is a concurrent need for providing more comprehensive tracking of players&#39; financial transactions in casinos. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention generally relates to a system and method for integrating player tracking and cash access in a casino or other gaming environment. 
         [0009]    Integrated Player Tracking/Cash Access System on Gaming Machine 
         [0010]    One aspect of the present invention relates to a system and method for accessing and managing funds for cashless gaming. A gaming machine is provided, which includes any type of apparatus designed for player betting such as a slot machine, and is located in a casino environment. To initiate a transaction, a player provides a bank card to the gaming machine. The phrase “bank card” encompasses any card issued to the player by a bank or another financial institution. For instance, the bank card may be an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, debit card, credit card, or POS card. The bank card typically bares a magnetic strip that includes machine readable information that can be read by a magnetic strip reader on the gaming machine. The bank card may be associated with an independent financial account that is typically unrelated to the casino. 
         [0011]    After the player&#39;s bank card is introduced to the gaming machine, the machine electronically reads the card and retrieves the machine readable information. The gaming machine processes the information to translate it into a machine usable format, such as binary or hexadecimal code. After successfully processing the bank card, the gaming machine prompts the player to select a transaction type, such as a credit or debit transaction. Upon receiving a selection from the player to perform a credit transaction, which requests that credit be added to the gaming machine, the machine prompts the player to enter a desired credit value that the player wishes to add to the machine. If necessary, the machine will also prompt the player to enter a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that is associated with the independent financial account. 
         [0012]    Once the gaming machine has collected the transaction type and desired creditvalue from the player, along with any other necessary information, the machine electronically issues a request to the independent financial account to transfer the desired credit value from the financial account to the gaming machine. The credit request includes the desired credit value and at least a portion of the data derived from the machine readable information, and the request is transmitted to an authorization center that is associated with the financial account. The authorization center determines whether to approve the request and acts as an intermediary between the gaming machine and the financial account. Upon approval of the request, the desired credit value is electronically transferred from the financial account to the gaming machine, and the player is then able to use the transferred credit on the gaming machine. This system and method allow a player to directly access funds for playing on a gaming machine without first visiting an ATM or other intermediate step for acquiring cash or credit. 
         [0013]    When the gaming machine prompts the player to select a transaction type, the player may also select a debit transaction on the gaming machine. A debit transaction requests that the credit remaining on the gaming machine after the player has finished using the machine, or any credit won by the player on the gaming machine, be transferred to the independent financial account. The request effectively attempts to debit the gaming machine and credit the independent financial account. Upon receiving a selection from the player to perform a debit transaction, the gaming machine electronically issues a request to debit the player&#39;s gaming balance and transfer it to the independent financial account. The debit request, which is transferred to the authorization center, includes the dollar value to transfer and at least a portion of the machine readable information on the bank card. The authorization center determines whether to approve the request, and, upon approval, the winnings from the gaming machine are electronically transferred to the independent financial account. 
         [0014]    Integrated Player Tracking/Cash Access System on ATM, CCCA, and Check Cashing Terminals 
         [0015]    Another aspect of the present invention relates to a system and method for integrating player tracking and cash access transactions in a gaming environment. To initiate a cash access transaction, a player introduces a bank card into a banking machine in a casino environment. The banking machine may take a variety of forms, such as an ATM, Credit Card Cash Advance kiosk (CCCA), Check Cashing Terminal, and a gaming device equipped with cashless gaming software. As previously noted, the term “bank card” includes any of the various card types issued by banks or other financial institutions, and the bank card typically bares a magnetic strip that includes machine readable information. The banking machine includes a magnetic strip reader that can read and process the machine readable information on the card. The bank card is also associated with an independent financial account that is typically unrelated to the casino. 
         [0016]    After the player&#39;s bank card is introduced to the banking machine, the machine electronically reads the card and retrieves the machine readable information. The banking machine processes the information to translate it into a machine usable format, such as binary or hexadecimal code. After successfully processing the bank card, the banking machine prompts the player to enter a transaction type. If the player wishes to withdraw cash from the independent financial account, the player may select a cash withdrawal transaction on the banking machine and indicate a desired cash value. 
         [0017]    The system maintains a database of bankcard numbers and associates each of those numbers to a player&#39;s name and, optionally, a player tracking number. In order to track the transaction and associate it with the specific player performing the cash request, the banking machine prompts the player to provide his or her player tracking card (PTC) into the machine. The PTC is typically a casino-issued card that includes a unique identifier and is associated with the player in a player transaction database. The database may include a variety of data including a player profile, player transaction information, and other data relating to the player&#39;s activities in the casino. The player swipes or feeds the PTC into the banking machine, and the machine electronically processes the PTC. For instance, if the unique identifier on the PTC is encoded in a barcode, the banking machine will include a barcode reader capable of reading the barcode and decoding the encoded unique identifier. Alternatively, if the unique identifier on the PTC is encoded in a magnetic strip, the banking machine includes a magnetic strip reader for reading the strip and decoding the unique identifier. 
         [0018]    After acquiring the appropriate data from the bank card, the PTC, and the player, the banking machine electronically issues a request to the independent financial account to withdraw the desired cash value. The withdrawal request includes the desired value and at least a portion of the machine readable information on the bank card, and the request is transmitted to an authorization center. The authorization center is associated with the financial account and determines whether to approve the request. Upon approval of the request, the desired cash value is electronically transferred from the financial account to the banking machine and dispensed to the player in cash or gaming credit form. 
         [0019]    The transaction is tracked so that the player&#39;s identity and the cash withdrawal amount are associated and stored in the transaction database. The transaction information can subsequently be used by the casino. The transaction information can provide the casino with valuable consumer behavior data, such as amounts and frequency of cash withdrawals by casino patrons. The casino, in turn, may issue gaming points to the player. The gaming points reward the player for offering the transaction information to the casino and for allowing that information to be tracked. Typically, gaming points can be redeemed for a variety of goods and services, such as free or discounted meals at the casino, hotel accommodations, and gift shop items. The number of points awarded to the player may be based on a variety of factors such as the number of cash withdrawal transactions performed by the player or the amount of cash withdrawn by the player. The overall system of integrating cash access and player tracking transactions thereby benefits both the players and the casino. 
         [0020]    In an alternative embodiment, the system may operate without a multi-function banking machine that is capable of performing both cash access and player tracking functions as described above. Rather than provide the bank card and the PTC to a banking machine, these same cards may instead be presented to a casino representative. For instance, the casino may provide a central “cage” station at which a teller is available for processing the bank card and the PTC. If necessary, the teller will have card readers capable of processing magnetic strips, barcodes, or other forms of encoded information that resides on the bank card and the PTC. The teller will also have access to the transaction database and the authorization center, thereby allowing the teller to facilitate cash access and player tracking transactions. Aside from the added element of interacting with a casino representative, this alternative method operates similarly to the system described above. 
         [0021]    Multi-Function Player Tracking Card 
         [0022]    Yet another aspect of the present invention also relates to a system and method for integrating player tracking and enhanced cash access services in a gaming environment. First, an account is opened for a player at the casino. The system requires an initial setup by the player, where the player provides information to the casino. This is accomplished by having the player complete a form that includes personal data and information relating to at least one of the player&#39;s independent financial accounts. For instance, the player may provide the account information for one of the player&#39;s banking accounts or credit card accounts. The account information may include the player&#39;s name and other identifying information, an account and routing number, and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) if necessary to access the financial account. The player may also be required to provide other personal information such as the player&#39;s address, telephone number, and social security number. The information provided by the player is either entered electronically into a computer or entered onto a paper form and later entered into a computer by a casino representative. The player may also be required to prove his or her identity by providing a state-issued identification card, such as a driver&#39;s license. 
         [0023]    Once the player has provided the appropriate personal information and account information, that information is stored in a player tracking database. The player is then issued a PTC that contains a unique identifier. The unique identifier is also stored in the player tracking database and associated with the player&#39;s personal information and financial account information. 
         [0024]    With the player&#39;s casino account successfully opened, the player is able to use the PTC to access cash or credit for gaming purposes in the casino. For example, a cash access machine of the present invention, such as a multi-function ATM, may be adapted to electronically process the PTC. The cash access machine reads and electronically processes the PTC to retrieve the unique identifier. If the unique identifier on the card is encoded in a barcode, the cash access machine will include a barcode reader capable of reading and decoding the unique identifier. The machine then prompts the player to select a transaction type, and, in response, the player elects to perform a cash withdrawal. 
         [0025]    The cash access machine communicates with the player tracking database to determine which financial account is associated with the unique identifier on the player&#39;s PTC. If more than one financial account is associated with the unique identifier, the machine may prompt the player to select one of the accounts for the withdrawal. Next, the cash access machine electronically issues a withdrawal request to the selected financial account to withdraw the desired cash value. The request includes the desired cash value and the necessary account information and PIN associated with the financial account, which the player provided at the time he or she opened the casino account. 
         [0026]    The withdrawal request is transmitted to an authorization center that is associated with the financial account, and the authorization center determines whether to approve the request. Upon approval of the request, the desired cash value is electronically transferred from the financial account to the cash access machine. If the machine is an ATM, the cash value is typically dispensed to the player in cash form, which the player can then use in the casino. If the machine is a slot machine, or other gaming machine, the cash value may be directly credited to the machine and used for gaming purposes. 
         [0027]    Importantly, because the financial account information is initially provided by the player and stored in the player tracking database, the subsequent withdrawal request can be issued to the independent financial account without requiring a bank card, such as an ATM card or credit card, from the player. The player tracking database links the unique identifier on the casino-issued PTC with all the necessary financial account information necessary to withdraw cash. 
         [0028]    The withdrawal transaction is also tracked by the casino such that the unique identifier on the player&#39;s card and the cash withdrawal amount are associated with each other and stored in the transaction database. The casino may then issue gaming points to the player based on the number of withdrawal transactions or the amount withdrawn. If the player is identified by the system, the player tracking database may also store the awarded gaming points and associate them with the player&#39;s unique identifier. The gaming points reward the player for offering cash withdrawal information to the casino and for electing to use the system of the present invention to obtain cash or credit in the casino. The system thereby benefits both the player and the casino by integrating cash access and player tracking. 
         [0029]    Other embodiments are also disclosed including the use of an ATM or similarly equipped gaming machine for authorizing the transfer of money to the machine or ATM in order to be converted into a casino ticket. In this context, a casino ticket can be any number of identification cards or systems including a paper ticket with a bar code, a magnetic stripe card, a smart card, RFID or other portable digital memory that is encoded with personal and financial information. This casino ticket can then be used on another gaming machine as credit in connection with casino gaming or redeemed for cash. In the preferred embodiment, in order to redeem the casino ticket for cash, the customer can either present the casino ticket for validation by a cashier at a cashier cage or insert the casino ticket into a ticket redemption kiosk (including kiosks integrated with one or more casino game machines or other multi-purpose entertainment devices). The casino ticket could also be created in a way that permits (or limits) negotiation within different geographical areas (such as a group of mutually linked casinos, restaurants and service providers), to acquire different products or services (such as 50% or more must be used to purchase goods), to trigger different bonuses or awards (free games, discounts, casino points), or any number of features that either limit negotiation or enhance the functionality and features available to the player. These and other embodiments will be further described with reference to the figures below. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an integrated player tracking and cash access system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a method for initiating a player tracking/cash access transaction on a gaming machine in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of a method for completing a player tracking/cash access transaction where the gaming machine is credited in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of a method for completing a player tracking/cash access transaction where a credit card account is credited in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of a method for completing a player tracking/cash access transaction where a checking or savings account is credited in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of a method for integrating player tracking and cash access transactions in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of a another method for integrating player tracking and cash access transactions in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 8  provides a flow diagram illustrating one system and method that can be used for converting a ATM/POS debit/credit transaction into a negotiable casino ticket linked to a player tracking card in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0038]    One embodiment of an integrated player tracking and cash-access system  100  is shown in  FIG. 1 . In a preferred embodiment, the system  100 , which contains the elements described herein, is operated in a casino environment. The system  100  includes players  110  who interact with a plurality of gaming machines  120  and banking machines  130 . The players interact with the machines through any methods known in the art such as buttons and touch-sensitive screens. A player  110  is issued a bank card  135  and a player tracking card (PTC)  140  as described in more detail herein. The gaming machine  120  and the banking machine  130  are configured to read the information contained on the bank card  135  and a PTC  140  as provided for in more detail below. 
         [0039]    The PTC  140  is typically a casino-issued card, which is used to track the player&#39;s actions in the casino. The casino may award gaming points for certain player actions and associates the gaming points with the PTC. The bank card  135  may be any type of card that is issued to the player  110  by a bank or other independent financial institution, and the bank card is associated with an independent financial account at the financial institution. For instance, the bank card  135  may be an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, debit card, credit card, or POS card. The bank card  135  includes machine readable information, which, in a preferred embodiment, is encoded in a magnetic strip (not shown) on the card that can be read by a card reader (not shown) on the gaming machine  120 . 
         [0040]    As described in more detail below, a player  110  can bring his or her bank card  135  or PTC  140  to either the gaming machine  120  or the banking machine  130 . The gaming machine  120  is configured to perform traditional gaming functions, such as providing an interactive slot machine game, and is also configured to allow the player  110  to perform cashless gaming and player tracking transactions. The banking machine  130  is configured to perform traditional transactions such as cash withdrawal, credit/debit transactions, and electronic fund transfers, which are well known in the art. The banking machine  130  of the present invention is also configured to perform cashless gaming and player tracking transactions as described herein. 
         [0041]    To perform these functions, both the gaming machine  120  and the banking machine  130  communicate with an authorization server  150  to transmit information relating to the bank card  135  and a PTC  140  as well as other information relating to cash-access and player tracking transactions. While the authorization sever  150  is typically located at or near the casino environment, it may also be physically located outside of the casino so long as it is configured to communicate with the gaming machine  120  and the banking machine  130 . The casino, or a casino vendor, will typically maintain the authorization server  150  to ensure that it functions properly. The authorization server  150  stores a subset of the information it receives on a transaction database  160 , a cashless gaming database  170 , and a player&#39;s club database  180 . The authorization server  150  also retrieves information from these databases, including information that is stored on the databases by the authorization server  150  as well as other information that resides on the databases. 
         [0042]    The transaction database  160  stores information relating to the player&#39;s transactions including the types of transactions performed by the player  110  and the dollar amounts of those transactions. The transaction database  160  associates the transaction information with an identifier that uniquely identifies the player  110 . In addition, the transaction database  160  may also store information regarding the player&#39;s credit history. When a commission is collected for utilizing the integrated player tracking and cash-access system  100 , the appropriate commission information for each player  110  is also stored on the transaction database  160  as are commission fee overrides for certain players such as VIP&#39;s. The cashless gaming database  170  stores financial account information provided by the player  110 , and the cashless gaming database  170  associates the account information with the player&#39;s unique identifier. The gaming points awarded to the player  110  are associated with the PTC  140  and stored on the player&#39;s club database  180 . The player&#39;s club database  180  maintains each players&#39; total awarded gaming points and increments and decrements the total points according to the players&#39; accumulation and usage of points. 
         [0043]    The authorization server  150  many also communicate with various authorization centers  190  to request authorization for the various transactions described herein. The authorization centers  190  are typically associated with financial accounts owned by the player and are configured to either credit or debit those financial accounts. 
         [0044]    Integrated Player Tracking/Cash Access System on Gaming Machine 
         [0045]    In operation, and with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one aspect of the present invention relates to a system and method for accessing and managing funds for cashless gaming. At step  200 , the player  110  selects either a standard gaming transaction or a cashless gaming transaction, and the banking machine receives the selection. At step  210 , if the player  110  selects a standard gaming transaction, the gaming machine  120  operates as a traditional betting apparatus, such as a slot machine, and the player  110  uses cash or another known method to acquire credits on the gaming machine  110 . 
         [0046]    At step  220 , if the player  110  wishes to perform a cashless transaction, which will credit the gaming machine  120 , the player  110  provides the bank card  135  to the gaming machine  120 . The player  110  swipes the bank card  135  through a card reader (not shown) of the gaming machine  120  or otherwise introduces the bank card  135  to the gaming machine  120  through a method known in the art. 
         [0047]    After the player&#39;s bank card  135  is introduced to the gaming machine  120 , the card reader electronically reads and decodes the machine readable information on the bank card  135 . The gaming machine  120  processes the information to translate it into a machine usable format, such as binary or hexadecimal code. After successfully processing the bank card  135 , the gaming machine  120  prompts the player to select a transaction type, such as crediting the gaming machine  120  or crediting a financial account that is associated with the bank card  135 . At step  230 , the player  110  selects a cashless transaction type. In one embodiment of the present invention, the transaction types include “Credit Gaming Machine,” “Credit to Credit Card,” and “Deposit to Checking/Savings.” 
         [0048]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , if the player  110  selects the transaction type “Credit to Gaming Machine,” step  300 , the gaming machine  120  proceeds with a gaming machine credit transaction, which requests that a specified credit be added to the gaming machine  120  from the player&#39;s independent financial account. At step  310 , the gaming machine  120  prompts the player  110  to enter a desired credit value that the player  110  wishes to add to the gaming machine  120 . If necessary, the gaming machine  120  will also prompt the player  110  to enter a PIN, which is used to verify permission to access to the independent financial account, and any other information that is required to transfer funds from the independent financial account. 
         [0049]    At step  320 , the gaming machine  120  electronically issues a debit request, such as a Point of Sale (POS) debit request, to the authorization server  150 , which attempts to debit the independent financial account and credit the gaming machine  120 . The request includes the desired credit value and at least a portion of the data derived from the machine readable information. 
         [0050]    Although the request attempts to transfer the desired credit value to the gaming machine  120 , the total amount requested from the independent financial account may actually exceed the desired credit value when a commission is charged for performing the transaction. The authorization server  150  determines the total amount to request from the independent financial account; the total amount is typically the desired credit value plus a commission or transaction fee. The appropriate commission may be determined based on the specific player  110  requesting the funds and a player profile that is associated with the player. The player profile (not shown), which indicates the player&#39;s preference level, may be stored on the transaction database  160  or player&#39;s club database  180 . For instance, a new player may have a standard commission taken out of his or her winnings, whereas a VIP player may have the commission waived altogether based on the VIP&#39;s player profile. 
         [0051]    At step  330 , once the total request amount has been established, the authorization sever  150  transmits the debit request to the authorization center  190 , which is associated with the independent financial account. At step  340 , the authorization center  190  determines whether to approve the request. At step  350 , if the request is not approved by the authorization center  190 , a decline message is transmitted from the authorization center  190  to the authorization server  150 . The authorization server then  150  instructs the gaming machine  120  to display a message to the player  110  indicating that the gaming machine  120  was not credited and that the player  110  may see a casino cashier (not shown) if the player believes an error has occurred. 
         [0052]    At step  360 , if the request is approved by the authorization center  190 , the desired credit value is electronically transferred from the financial account to the gaming machine  120  via the authorization server  150 . If a commission is required for the transaction, the additional amount of the commission is also transferred from the independent financial account. The desired credit value is credited to the gaming machine  120 , and the player  110  is able to use the transferred credit to place bets on the gaming machine  120  and perform standard gaming transactions as described in step  210 . 
         [0053]    At step  370 , the authorization sever  150  tracks the successful request, and data relating to the transaction is stored in the transaction database  160 . The data stored in the transaction database  160  may include the dollar value credited to the machine and the commission paid for the transaction. If the authorization server  150  has identified the player  110  performing the transaction, the player&#39;s identity may also be stored in the transaction database  160  and associated with the other transaction data. The authorization server  150  may identify the player  110  by requesting that the player enter identifying information into the gaming machine  120 . The identifying information may be provided by having the player  110  swipe the PTC  140 , which uniquely identifies the player  110 , through the card reader on the gaming machine  120 . If the player is awarded gaming points for performing a successful cashless gaming transaction, the points may be accumulated, stored, and associated with the player  110  on the player&#39;s club database  180 . 
         [0054]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , if the player  110  selects the transaction type “Credit to Credit Card,” step  400 , the gaming machine  120  proceeds with a credit to credit card transaction, which requests that credit be added to the independent financial account. This type of transaction is particularly appropriate when the player  110  has completed playing on the gaming machine  120  and wishes to “cash out” his or her winnings or the remaining credit on the gaming machine. The player  110  may cash out either all of the credits or a portion of the credits. In this aspect of the present invention, the independent financial account is typically a credit card account, and the bank card  135  is typically a credit card that is associated with the credit card account. 
         [0055]    At step  410 , the gaming machine  120  prompts the player  110  to enter a desired credit value that the player  110  wishes to add to the independent financial account that is associated with the bank card  135 . If necessary, the gaming machine  120  will also prompt the player  110  to enter a PIN, which is used to verify permission to access to the independent financial account, and any other information that is required to transfer funds to the independent financial account. 
         [0056]    At step  420 , the gaming machine  120  electronically issues a credit request to the authorization server  150 . The request includes the desired credit value and at least a portion of the data derived from the machine readable information on the bank card  135 . Although the request attempts to transfer the desired credit value to the independent financial account, the total amount transferred to the independent financial account may actually be less than the desired credit value if a commission is charged for performing the transaction. The authorization server  150  determines the total amount to request to transfer to the independent financial account. The total amount is typically the desired credit value less a commission or transaction fee. 
         [0057]    At step  430 , once the total request amount has been established, the authorization sever  150  transmits the credit request to the authorization center  190 , which is associated with the independent financial account. At step  440 , the authorization center  190  determines whether to approve the request, and if the request is approved, the independent financial account is credited with the total request amount. At step  450 , if the request is not approved by the authorization center  190 , a decline message is transmitted from the authorization center  190  to the authorization server  150 . The authorization server then  150  instructs the gaming machine  120  to display a message to the player  110  indicating that the independent financial account was not credited. 
         [0058]    At step  460 , if the request is approved and the total request amount is credited to the independent financial account, the authorization server  150  receives notification from the authorization center  190  of the successful request, and the authorization server  150  updates the transaction database  160  to reflect the completed transaction. Data relating to the transaction, such as the dollar value credited to the financial account and the commission paid for the transaction, is stored on the transaction database  160 . If the authorization server  150  has identified the player  110  performing the transaction, the player&#39;s identity may also be stored in the transaction database  160  and associated with the other transaction data. If the player is awarded gaming points for performing a successful cashless gaming transaction, the points may be accumulated, stored, and associated with the player  110  on the player&#39;s club database  180 . At step  470 , the authorization server  150  transmits a receipt message to the gaming machine  120 , and at step  480 , the gaming machine  120  issues a receipt to the player  110 . 
         [0059]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , if the player  110  selects the transaction type “Deposit to Checking/Savings,” step  500 , the gaming machine  120  proceeds with a deposit to checking or savings account transaction. This transaction requests that a deposit be made to the independent financial account. In this aspect of the present invention, the independent financial account is typically a checking or savings account, and the bank card  135  is typically an ATM card that is associated with the checking or savings account. This type of transaction is also appropriate when the player  110  has completed playing on the gaming machine  120  and wishes to cash out. 
         [0060]    At step  510 , the gaming machine  120  prompts the player  110  to enter a desired credit value that the player  110  wishes to add to the independent financial account that is associated with the bank card  135 . If necessary, the gaming machine  120  will also prompt the player  110  to enter a PIN, which is used to verify permission to access to the independent financial account, and any other information that is required to transfer funds to the independent financial account. 
         [0061]    At step  520 , the gaming machine  120  electronically transmits a deposit request to the authorization server  150 . The request includes the desired deposit value and at least a portion of the data derived from the machine readable information on the bank card  135 . The authorization server  150  determines the total amount to request to transfer to the independent financial account. The total amount is typically the desired deposit value less a commission or transaction fee. 
         [0062]    At step  530 , once the total request amount has been established, the authorization sever  150  issues a deposit request, such as an Automated Clearing House (ACH) request, to the authorization center  190 , which is associated with the independent financial account. At step  540 , the authorization center  190  determines whether to approve the request, and if the request is approved, the total request amount is deposited in the independent financial account. At step  550 , if the request is not approved by the authorization center  190 , a decline message is transmitted from the authorization center  190  to the authorization server  150 . The authorization server then  150  instructs the gaming machine  120  to display a message to the player  110  indicating that the deposit was not made to the independent financial account. 
         [0063]    At step  560 , if the request is approved and the total request amount is deposited in the independent financial account, the authorization server  150  receives notification from the authorization center  190  of the successful request, and the authorization server  150  updates the transaction database  160  to reflect the deposit. Data relating to the transaction, such as the dollar value deposited to the financial account and the commission paid for the transaction, is stored in the transaction database  160 . If the authorization server  150  has identified the player  110  performing the transaction, the player&#39;s identity may also be stored in the transaction database  160  and associated with the other transaction data. If the player is awarded gaming points for performing a successful cashless gaming transaction, the points may be accumulated, stored, and associated with the player  110  on the player&#39;s club database  180 . At step  570 , the authorization server  150  transmits a receipt message to the gaming machine  120 , and at step  580 , the gaming machine  120  issues a receipt to the player  110 . 
         [0064]    Integrated Player Tracking/Cash Access System on ATM, CCCA, and Check Cashing Terminals 
         [0065]    In another aspect of the present invention, the system  100  provides for integrating player tracking and cash access transactions. As previously described, when the player  110  requests a credit transfer to the gaming machine  120  using the bank card  135 , the machine may prompt the player  110  to provide the PTC  140  to identify the player to the gaming machine. Further, when the player attempts to obtain cash from the banking machine  130  using the bank card  140 , the banking machine  130  may also prompt the player to provide the PTC  140  as described herein. 
         [0066]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , to initiate a cash access transaction, the player  110  introduces the bank card  135 , which is associated with the player&#39;s independent financial account, into the banking machine  130 , at step  600 . In a preferred embodiment, the machine readable information on the bank card  135  is encoded in a magnetic strip, and the player  110  swipes the bank card  135  through the card reader (not shown) of the banking machine  130 . The card reader is configured to read the encoded magnetic strip. After the player&#39;s bank card  135  is introduced to the banking machine  130 , the card reader electronically reads and decodes the machine readable information on the banking card. The banking machine  130  processes the information to translate it into a usable format. 
         [0067]    In addition to providing the bank card  135  to the banking machine  130 , the player  110  also enters into the banking machine  130  a desired cash value that the player wishes to obtain from the banking machine  130 . If necessary, the player  110  will also enter a PIN, which is used to verify permission to access to the independent financial account, and any other information that is required to access funds from the independent financial account. 
         [0068]    At step  605 , the banking machine  130  prompts the player to provide the PTC  140 , and at step  610 , the player  110  decides whether to provide the PTC  140 . If the player  110  does not decide to provide the PTC  140 , the banking machine  130  proceeds with the cash access transaction. At step  615 , the banking machine  130  electronically issues a request to the authorization server  150 , which attempts to obtain cash from the independent financial account. The request includes the desired cash value and at least a portion of the data derived from the machine readable information on the bank card  135 . Although the request attempts to transfer the desired cash value to the player  110 , the total amount requested from the independent financial account may actually exceed the desired cash value to allow for commissions and bank charges that may be assessed for performing the transaction. 
         [0069]    The authorization server  150  determines the total amount to request from the independent financial account, which is typically the desired cash value plus the commission or transaction fee. As previously described, the commission or transaction fee may be determined based on the player profile of the player  110 . Once the total request amount has been established, the authorization sever  150  transmits the cash request to the authorization center  190 , which is associated with the independent financial account. 
         [0070]    At step  620 , the authorization center  190  determines whether to approve the request. At step  625 , if the request is not approved by the authorization center  190 , a decline message is transmitted from the authorization center  190  to the authorization server  150 . The authorization server then  150  instructs the banking machine  130  to display a message to the player  110  indicating that the request failed. At step  630 , if the request is approved by the authorization center  190 , an authorization message is transmitted from the authorization center  190  to the banking machine  130 . The desired cash value is dispensed by the banking machine  130  to the player  110 . If a commission is required for the transaction, the additional amount of the commission is also transferred from the independent financial account to the party receiving the commission. 
         [0071]    Returning to step  610 , where the player  110  decides whether to provide the PTC  140 , if the player  110  chooses to provide his or her PTC  140  to the banking machine  130 , the system  100  will be able to track the cash access transaction performed by the player  110 . At step  635 , if the player provides the PTC  140  to the banking machine  130 , the banking machine reads the PTC. The PTC  140  includes machine readable information, which is stored on the PTC by a storage means such as a magnetic strip, barcode, integrated circuit, digital image, optical memory, or finger imaging. 
         [0072]    The banking machine  130  is configured to read the machine readable information on the PTC  140 , and at step  640  the banking machine  130  attempts capture the machine readable information. If the machine readable information is encoded, the banking machine  130  attempts to decode the information into a usable format. The banking machine  130  determines whether the machine readable information on the PTC  140  is readable and correctly formatted, and, if not, the banking machine  130  displays a message to the player  110  indicating the error. 
         [0073]    If the machine readable information is readable and correctly formatted, the banking machine  130  attempts to identify the player  110  and determine whether the PTC can be validated against the transaction database  160  or the player&#39;s club database  180  by transmitting the decoded information from the banking machine  130  to the authorization server  150 . The authorization server  150  then communicates with the transaction database  160  or the player&#39;s club database  180  to verify that the PTC is valid and to identify the player  110 . If the PTC cannot be validated against one of the databases, the banking machine  130  displays a message to the player  110  indicating the error. If the PTC is successfully validated, the banking machine  130  continues processing the request. 
         [0074]    Once the banking machine  130  collects the necessary transaction information, the machine electronically issues a request to the authorization server  150 , which attempts to obtain cash from the independent financial account. The request includes the desired cash value and at least a portion of the data derived from the machine readable information on the bank card  135 . As described herein, the total amount requested from the independent financial account may actually exceed the desired cash value to account for commissions and bank charges that may be assessed for performing the transaction. The authorization server  150  determines the total amount to request from the independent financial account. Once the total request amount has been established, the authorization sever  150  transmits the cash request to the authorization center  190 , which is associated with the independent financial account. 
         [0075]    At step  645 , the authorization center  190  determines whether to approve the request. At step  650 , if the request is not approved by the authorization center  190 , a decline message is transmitted from the authorization center  190  to the authorization server  150 . The authorization server  150  then instructs the banking machine  130  to display a message to the player  110  indicating that the request failed. Although the transaction was not successful insofar as the player  110  did not receive the requested cash, the transaction information is tracked and recorded nonetheless. At step  655 , upon receiving the decline message, the authorization server  150  stores the relevant transaction information on the transaction database  160 . 
         [0076]    Returning to step  645 , where the authorization center  190  determines whether to approve the request, if the request is approved by the authorization center  190 , an authorization message is transmitted from the authorization center  190  to the banking machine  130  via the authorization server  150  at step  660 . The desired cash value is dispensed by the banking machine  130  to the player  110 . If a commission is required for the transaction, the additional amount of the commission is also transferred from the independent financial account to the party receiving the commission. At step  665 , upon receiving the authorization message, the authorization server  150  stores the relevant transaction information on the transaction database  160 . 
         [0077]    Multi-Function Player Tracking Card 
         [0078]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, the system  100  provides for an alternate method of performing integrated player tracking and cash access transactions. In this aspect of the present invention, a method is provided that facilitates player tracking and cash access transactions with a single card, rather than with the combination of the bank card  135  and the player tracking card  140 . This aspect of the invention requires the player to initially provide financial account information to the casino, and that information is stored in the cashless gaming database  170 . A subsequent withdrawal request can then be issued to the independent financial account without requiring a bank card, such as an ATM card or credit card, as described herein. 
         [0079]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , at step  700  the player  110  opens an account with the casino or with a vendor that manages accounts on the casino&#39;s behalf. To open the account, the player  110  provides specific information to the casino. This can be accomplished by the player  110  completing a form that includes personal data and information relating to the player&#39;s independent financial account. As previously described, the independent financial account may be any type of financial account, such as a banking account or credit card account. The player  110  may already have a card associated with the financial account, such as an ATM card, a credit/debit card. Alternatively, where the financial account is a checking account, the player might have existing checks that include a routing number and an account number, which the player can provide to the casino. 
         [0080]    The account information provided by the player  110  may include data such as the player&#39;s name and other identifying information, an account and routing number, and a PIN. The player  110  may also be required to provide other personal information such as the player&#39;s address, telephone number, and social security number. The player  110  may have already provided some of this information to the casino, for instance, if the player  110  previously applied for a player tracking card  140 . If the casino already has the player&#39;s personal information, it may not be necessary to re-acquire the information. The player  110  may also be required to prove his or her identity at the time the account is opened by providing a state-issued identification card, such as a driver&#39;s license. 
         [0081]    At step  705 , the information provided by the player is either entered electronically into a computer or written on a paper form and later entered into a computer by a casino representative. Once the casino has acquired the necessary information from the player  110 , the financial account information and the player&#39;s personal information are stored and associated in the cashless gaming database  170 . The player  110  is issued a unique identifier, typically a number or alpha-numeric string, that is also stored on the cashless gaming database  170  and associated with the player&#39;s financial account information. 
         [0082]    At step  710 , once the casino has acquired the necessary personal information and financial account information from the player  110 , the casino issues the player  110  a PTC  140  that bears the unique identifier that was assigned to the player  110  and stored in the cashless gaming database  170 . The unique identifier borne by the PTC  140  is readable by both the gaming machine  120  and the banking machine  130 . As described herein, the gaming machine  120  and the banking machine  130  can read the unique identifier on the PTC  140 , communicate with the cashless gaming database  170 , and match the unique identifier with the player&#39;s financial account information and personal information stored on the cashless gaming database  170 . 
         [0083]    The player  110  may now use the PTC  140  to access cash or credit from the gaming and banking machines, or to perform any other function that could otherwise be performed by an ATM card or a credit/debit card that is associated with the independent financial account. For instance, if the player  110  introduces the PTC  140  to the gaming machine  120 , the player may request that a credit be added to the gaming machine directly from the independent financial account. Alternatively, if the player  110  introduces the PTC  140  to the banking machine  130 , the player may issue a cash request from the financial account without providing a bank card. 
         [0084]    The following example describes the process of accessing cash from the banking machine  130  with the PTC  140 , but a similar process may be performed to access credit on the gaming machine  120  with the PTC  140 . At step  715 , the player  110  initiates a cash access transaction by introducing the PTC  140  into the banking machine  130 . As previously described, the machine readable information on the PTC  140  is encoded, and the player  110  swipes the PTC  140  through the card reader of the banking machine  130 , which handles the encoded information. After the player&#39;s PTC  140  is introduced to the banking machine  130 , the card reader retrieves the unique identifier on the PTC by electronically reading and decoding the machine readable information. 
         [0085]    In addition to providing the PTC  140  to the banking machine  130 , the player  110  also enters into the banking machine  130  a desired cash value that the player  110  wishes to obtain. If necessary, the player  110  also enters a PIN, which is used to verify permission to access to the independent financial account, and any other information that is required to access funds from the independent financial account. 
         [0086]    At step  720 , the unique identifier on the PTC  140  is matched to the same unique identifier that is stored on the cashless gaming database  170 . To accomplish this step, the banking machine  130  transmits the unique identifier read from the PTC  140  to the authorization server  150 . The authorization server  150 , in turn, communicates with the cashless gaming database  170  in an attempt to match the unique identifier with the identifiers stored on the cashless gaming database  170 . The authorization server  150  transmits the unique identifier read from the PTC  140  to the cashless gaming database  170  and issues a query to determine whether the same unique identifier is stored on the cashless gaming database  170 . Once the cashless gaming database  170  locates the unique identifier issued in the query, at step  725 , the cashless gaming database  170  retrieves the financial account information associated with the unique identifier and transmits the appropriate financial account information to the authorization server  150 . The specific financial account information retrieved is dependent upon the cash access transaction requested by the player  110  in step  715  and the type of financial account from which the cash is being requested. For instance, certain requests may require an account routing number or a PIN, whereas this information may not be appropriate for other types of cash access requests. 
         [0087]    At step  730 , the authorization server  150  electronically issues a request to obtain cash from the independent financial account. The request includes the desired cash value and at least a portion of the financial account information retrieved from the cashless gaming database  170 . Although the request attempts to transfer the desired cash value to the player  110 , the total amount requested from the independent financial account may actually exceed the desired cash value to account for commissions and bank charges that may be assessed for performing the transaction. The authorization server  150  determines the total amount to request from the independent financial account, and once the total request amount has been established, the authorization sever  150  transmits the cash request to the authorization center  190 , which is associated with the independent financial account. 
         [0088]    At step  735 , the authorization center  190  determines whether to approve the request. At step  740 , if the request is not approved by the authorization center  190 , a decline message is transmitted from the authorization center  190  to the authorization server  150 . The authorization server then  150  instructs the banking machine  130  to display a message to the player  110  indicating that the request failed. Although the transaction was not successful insofar as the player  110  did not receive the requested cash, the transaction information is tracked and recorded nonetheless. Upon receiving the decline message, the authorization server  150  stores the relevant transaction information on the transaction database  160 . 
         [0089]    Returning to step  735 , where the authorization center  190  determines whether to approve the request, if the request is approved by the authorization center  190 , an authorization message is transmitted from the authorization center  190  to the banking machine  130  via the authorization server  150  at step  745 . At step  750 , the desired cash value is dispensed by the banking machine  130  to the player  110 . If a commission is required for the transaction, the additional amount of the commission is also transferred from the independent financial account to the party receiving the commission. At step  755 , the transaction information is tracked and recorded in the transaction database  160 . Upon receiving the authorization message, the authorization server  150  stores the relevant transaction information on the transaction database  160 . 
         [0090]    In another aspect of the present invention, the player  110  interacting with the gaming machine  120  may similarly use the PTC  140  and the financial account information stored on the cashless gaming database  170  to transfer the desired cash value to the player by directly crediting the gaming machine  120  from the independent financial account. The steps required to perform this type of transaction are comparable to the steps described in  FIG. 7 , the primary differences being that the player  110  interacts with the gaming machine  120  rather than the banking machine  130  and rather than receiving the desired value in cash form, the desired value is credited directly to the gaming machine  120  from the independent financial account. 
         [0091]    Because the transaction data may constitute valuable information to the casino, the casino may issue gaming points to the player  110  based on the number of withdrawal transactions performed by the player  110  with the PTC  140  or the amount withdrawn in those transactions. The awarded gaming points may be stored in the transaction database  160  or the player&#39;s club database  180  and associated with the unique identifier on the player&#39;s PTC  140 . The system  100  thereby benefits both the player and the casino by integrating cash access and player tracking. 
         [0092]      FIG. 8  provides a flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the banking machine  140  can be used to dispense a casino ticket or other identification card that represents a cash value. In the first step, the casino patron (customer) swipes their identification card (such as a debit card, a credit card, a state issued ID or other identification token) and selects a financial transaction. In this example, the selected financial transaction would be the acquisition of a casino “ticket”. Following selection, an amount of money is entered and an account type is selected, such as an ATM and/or POS debit or credit request. In the preferred embodiment, an account type is selected in order to minimize any fees, overhead and/or monetary limits. For example, a POS debit transaction may be preferred because it provides a higher limit withdrawal limit. Once the withdrawal amount and financial account have been collected, the banking machine  140  requires confirmation of identity by asking for a secret password, or code or other security device. Once the player  110  confirms his/her identity, the banking machine  140  will perform the requested transaction by transmitting request information to the ATM/Credit/POS debit network  800 . 
         [0093]    In the preferred embodiment, a third party intermediary records audit information associated with any requests and approvals in order to support redemption and anti-fraud detection systems managed by a casino or by the third party intermediary. Following approval of the transaction and creation of an audit trail, a casino ticket (not shown) with the withdrawal value (or some portion thereof) is issued to the player  110  by the banking machine  140 . In this context, a casino ticket can be any number of identification cards or systems including a paper ticket with a bar code, a magnetic stripe card, a smart card, RFID or other portable digital memory that is encoded with personal and financial information. This casino ticket can then be used on a gaming machine as credit in connection with casino gaming or redeemed for cash. In the preferred embodiment, the customer  120  can either present the casino ticket for validation by a cashier at a cashier cage  820  or insert the casino ticket into a ticket redemption kiosk (including kiosks integrated with one or more casino game machines or other multi-purpose entertainment devices). 
         [0094]      FIG. 8  provides a flow diagram illustrating one system that can be used for converting a ATM/POS debit/credit transaction into a negotiable casino ticket that can be linked to a player tracking system. As one skilled in the art would know, such a system provides a number of advantages over the prior art. The casino ticket could be negotiable within different areas (such as a group of mutually linked casinos, restaurants and service providers), to acquire different products or services (such as 50% or more must be used to purchase goods), to trigger different bonuses or awards (free games, discounts, casino points), or any number of features that either limit negotiation or enhance the functionality and features available to the player  110 . 
         [0095]    For example, a customer/player  110  could link a debit card with a player-tracking card in a casino database such that, whenever that same debit card is used to acquire a casino ticket, the ticket is encoded with that customer&#39;s player tracking code or ID. This could further be used to initiate certain security procedures or verifications that are stored in the casino&#39;s database that is associated with that player tracking code. A player could be asked to enter certain identification information (something they know, something they have or something they are) on certain types of types of machines. Likewise, gaming features could be provided at casino gaming machines in which such a casino ticket was entered. A customer that has entered a casino ticket onto a game machine could be provided with gaming audio and visual content that is associated with the user in the casino&#39;s player tracking/customer database. This embodiment provides a number of advantages. The casino ticket provides a simple financial tool that is highly managed from both an access standpoint (through dynamic security), from a negotiation standpoint (where it can be used and how) that is still highly portable and personalized. 
         [0096]    Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central attributes thereof. In that the foregoing description of the present invention discloses only exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that other variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited in the particular embodiments that have been described in detail therein. Rather, reference should be made to the appended claims as indicative of the scope and content of the present invention.