Patent ID: 7107245

Claim:
A method for cashless and tokenless access to a plurality of casino gaming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a tokenless biometric registration apparatus having at least one registration biometric input means for a player to input a biometric sample, said biometric registration apparatus having at least one payment input means, said biometric registration apparatus connected to a central computer having a central data repository; (b) providing the plurality of gaming apparatus, each gaming apparatus connected to said central computer, each gaming apparatus having at least one gaming apparatus biometric input means and a player logoff means; (c) registering a player comprising the steps of inputting at least one biometric sample of the player into the registration biometric input means, storing unique biometric data created by the biometric input means in the central data repository but not associating the unique biometric data with other details of identity of the player, inputting into the payment input means an amount of money, creating a unique player's account in the central computer associated with the at least one biometric sample of the player and storing the amount of money input in the unique player's account; (d) identifying said player at one of said plurality of gaming apparatus by said player entering a gaming apparatus biometric sample input into said one of said plurality of gaming apparatus biometric input means and comparing said biometric sample input to said unique biometric data stored in said central data repository; (e) authorizing said player at said one of said plurality of gaming apparatus to play on said one of said plurality of gaming apparatus; (f) debiting and or crediting said unique player's account based on the player's wins and losses at the gaming apparatus until said player logs off using said player logoff means or until said player's account is exhausted; and (g) paying said player any money remaining in said player's account after said player no longer desires to play; whereby a player can move to another of the plurality of gaming apparatus, input a biometric sample into one of the at least one gaming apparatus biometric input means, play the gaming apparatus for a period of time, and log off the gaming apparatus, said unique player's account being credited and debited for wins and losses on the gaming apparatus.