Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A RESPONSIBLE GAMING SYSTEM
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit U.S. Provisional Application
No.
60/725,961, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if stated
in full herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a responsible gaming system which uses
cashless enabled
games having printers issuing and printing cool down period indicia, and
recording and
reading cool down period data, a timing mechanism which creates, identifies,
verifies, and
validates a cool down period, media readers which verify and validate the cool
down period
and redeem the media, and/or a scanning device which may verify and validate a
cool down
period.
Background
[0003] The gaming machine manufacturing industry provides a variety of gaming
machines for the amusement of gaming machine players. An exemplary gaming
machine is a
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slot machine. A slot machine is an electro-mechanical game wherein chance or
the skill of a
player determines the outcome of the game. Slot machines are usually found in
casinos or
other more informal gaming establishnlents.
[0004] Gaming macliine manufacturers have introduced cashless enabled games to
the
market and these have found a wide acceptance to date. Cashless enabled games
are so
named due to the fact that they can conduct their financial exchange with a
player with a
mixture of traditional currency and media. Typically, a cashless enabled game
may have a
media printer to issue and print the media and a media reader to read the
media. To
coordinate the activities of multiple cashless enabled gaines, one or more
cashless enabled
games may be electronically coupled to a cashless enabled gaming system that
controls the
cashless operations of a cashless enabled game.
[0005] In a cashless enabled gaming system, when a player cashes out, the
system is
signaled and depending on the size of the pay out, the system can either
present coins in the
traditional method, or it can cause the media printers which are installed in
such machines to
produce media containing the value of the pay out. The media may then either
be redeemed
for cash, or it may be inserted into a media reader which is installed in the
same or another
cashless enabled game at the same or a participating gaming establishment, at
which point the
system will recognize the media, redeem it, and place the appropriate amount
of playing
credits on the cashless enabled game.
[0006] Cashless enabled games have found an increasing acceptance and use in
the
gaming industry with both the players, who enjoy the speed of play and ease of
transporting
their winnings around a gaming establishment, and the gaming establishnlents
who have
realized significant labor savings in the form of reduced coin hopper reloads
in the games,
and an increase in revenue due to speed of play.
[0007] Currently, there are few mechanisms or methods in place that can aid
players who
experience gambling problems to cut back on their gambling. Of the few
existing
mechanisms or methods, most place the responsibility on a player and do not
otherwise
prevent players from excessively gambling or reduce or monitor a player's
gambling
activities.
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[0008] Therefore, a need exists for a solution to excessive gambling. Such a
solution
should promote responsible gaming and target those players who may be
excessively
gambling. This invention provides the capability for such a solution.
DEFINITIONS
[0009] For the purposes of this document the following definitions apply:
[0010] "RGS" - acronym for Responsible Gaming System.
[0011] "Gaming Establishment" - a gaming entity such as a casino, which may
include
one or a plurality of locations.
[0012] "Media" - a voucher, rewritable card, or other media such as paper,
containing
information to identify at a minimum, a cashout value, validation information,
and gaming
establishment location.
[0013] "Media Printer" = a voucher printer, rewritable card printer, or other
printer used
in conjunction with cashless enabled games which generate media.
[0014] "Media Reader" - a bill acceptor/voucher validator, rewritable card
reader, or
other apparatus that reads data from media.
[0015] "Cool Down Period" - the amount of allotted time from the cashout of a
game by
a player to the redemption of cashout media.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In one aspect of the present invention, a Responsible Gaming System
(herein
referred to as "RGS") includes a processor, memory, a storage device, a media
printer
controller, a media printer, media reader, timing mechanism, procedures,
media, a network
controller, and a network device, or a plurality of any or all.
[0017] In another aspect of the present invention, the RGS includes a
processor, memory,
a storage device, a media printer controller, a media printer, media reader,
timing mechanism,
procedures, media, scanning device, network controller, and a network device,
or a plurality
of any or all.
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[0018] In another aspect of the present invention, the RGS, includes a
processor and
memory, coupled to a plurality of media printers and media readers installed
within cashless
enabled games, gaming tables, or within cashier cages or redemption kiosks,
the RGS, in
response to the player requesting cash-out on a particular game, signaling the
media printer
installed in said game with a sequence identifier and anlount of a cash-out
media, the media
printer creating the cash-out media in response to the signaling, the RGS
logging the
sequence identifier of the media in a database along with a time and date
stamp, the media
inserted in a media reader installed in a cashless enabled game, gaming table,
cashier's cage,
or redemption kiosk also coupled to the master controller, the RGS retrieving
the time and
date stamp from its database, and the RGS according to a procedure determining
if a
sufficient amount of time has elapsed since the time of the media's creation
("cool down
period") in order to redeem the media for game credits or cash.
[0019] In another aspect of the present invention, a scanning device is
located in a
cashless enabled game, at a ganiing table, within a cashier's cage or
redemption kiosk, or on
the gaming floor.
[0020] In another aspect of the present invention, a scanning device may be
coupled to a
timing mechanism.
[0021] In another aspect of the present invention, the scanning device is a
portable
handheld device.
[0022] In another aspect of the present invention, the media includes cool
down period
data that may be read by a media printer.
[0023] In another aspect of the present invention, the media includes cool
down period
data that may be read by a media reader.
[0024] In another aspect of the present invention, the media includes cool
down period
data that may be read by a scanning device.
[0025] In another aspect of the present invention, the media includes cool
down period
indicia in machine-readable form such as a barcode.
[0026] In another aspect of the present invention, the media includes cool
down period
indicia in human-readable form such as a date and time.
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[0027] In another aspect of the present invention, the RGS includes the
capability to
create a cool down period.
[0028] In another aspect of the present invention, the RGS includes the
capability to
verify and validate cool down period information. If the cool down period has
passed or is no
longer valid, the RGS signals a media reader, scanning device, timing
mechanism, or media
printer to accept the media for redemption. If the cool down period has not
passed or is still
valid, the RGS signals a media reader, scanning device, timing mechanism, or
media printer
to reject the media.
[0029] In another aspect of the present invention, a media printer includes
the capability
to create and print cool down period indicia on media.
[0030] In another aspect of the present invention, a media printer includes
the capability
to create, record, and read cool down period data on media.
[0031] In another aspect of the present invention, a media printer includes
the capability
to verify and validate cool down period information.
[0032] In another aspect of the present invention, a media printer includes
the capability
to erase cool down period indicia, cool down period data, or a plurality of
such from media.
[0033] In another aspect of the present invention, the cool down period
indicia is the
sequence identifier logged in the RGS with a time and date stamp.
[0034] In another aspect of the present invention, the cool down period may be
a time
stamp, date stamp, or a combination thereof.
[0035] In another aspect of the present invention, the cool down period
indicia includes
the means by which a visual scan may be conducted to verify and validate the
cool down
period before the media can be redeemed.
[0036] In another aspect of the present invention, a media reader includes the
capability to
read the media for cool down period indicia, cool down period data, or a
plurality of such to
verify and validate the cool down period before the media can be redeemed. If
the cool down
period has passed or is no longer valid, the media reader after receiving
signaling from the
RGS accepts the media for redemption. If the cool down period has not passed
or is still
valid, the media reader after receiving signaling from the RGS rejects the
media.
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[0037] In another aspect of the present invention, a scanning device includes
the
capability to read the cool down period indicia, cool down period data, or a
plurality of such
to verify and validate the cool down period before the media can be redeemed.
If the cool
down period has passed or is no longer valid, the scanning device after
receiving signaling
from the RGS signals the media reader in the cashless enabled game, a gaming
table, a
cashier's cage or redemption kiosk to accept the media for redemption. If the
cool down
period has not passed or is still valid, the scanning device after receiving
signaling from the
RGS signals the media reader in a cashless enabled game, a gaming table, a
cashier's cage or
redemption kiosk to reject the media.
[0038] In another aspect of the invention, a timing mechanism includes the
capability to
create a cool down period.
[0039] In another aspect of the invention, a timing mechanism includes the
capability to
read the cool down period indicia, cool down period data, or a plurality of
such to verify and
validate the cool down period before the media can be redeemed.
[0040] In another aspect of the invention, a timing mechanism includes the
capability to
verify and validate the cool down period before the media can be redeemed.
[0041] In another aspect of the present invention, the RGS using procedures
includes the
capability to create, read, verify, and validate cool down period information.
[0042] In another aspect of the present invention, the RGS using procedures
includes the
capability to erase cool down period information.
[0043] - In another aspect of the present invention, the cool down period
prevents
redemption of the media for gaine credits in a cashless enabled game or gaming
table.
[0044] In another aspect of the present invention, the cool down period
prevents
redemption of the media for cash at a cashier's cage or redemption kiosk.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present
invention will
become better understood with regard to the following description and
accompanying
drawings where:
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[0046] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an RGS and compoiients thereof in accordance
with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0047] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an RGS in a gaming establislunent in
accordance with
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an RGS using a scanning device in
accordance with
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0049] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the potential parameters that may be used
with
procedures in an RGS in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0050] FIG. 5 is a process diagram of the cool down period information
issuance process
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0051] FIG. 6 is a process diagram of the validate cool down period
information process
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary voucher media currently used
in gaming
in accordance with an exemplary embodiinent of the present invention.
[0053] FIG. 8 is an illustration of an exemplary voucher media with cool down
period
indicia in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0054] FIG. 9 is an illustration of an exemplary rewritable card media with
magnetic
stripe in according with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0055] FIG. 10 is an illustration of an exemplary rewritable card media with
cool down
period indicia in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0056] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an RGS and components thereof in accordance with
an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A component or plurality of
components
shown in FIG. 1 are optional.
[0057] An RGS 100 includes a processor 102, operatively coupled via a system
bus 104
to memory 106. The processor is further operatively coupled via the system bus
to a storage
device 108. Program instructions 110 implementing the procedures as later
described in
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FIGS. 4 and 5 are stored in the storage device until the processor retrieves
the program
instructions and stores them in the memory. The processor then executes the
program
instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the features of the RGS
as described
herein.
[0058] The processor is further coupled via the system bus to a media reader
112 or
plurality of such. The media reader may be used to read media for cool down
period indicia,
cool down period data, or a plurality of such to verify and validate the cool
down period
before the media can be redeemed.
[0059] The processor is further coupled via the systenl bus to a scanning
device 114 or
plurality of such. A scanning device also may be coupled via the system bus to
a media
printer 116 and/or the media reader. A scanning device may be used to read the
cool down
period indicia, cool down period data, or a plurality of such to verify and
validate the cool
down period before the media can be redeemed.
[0060] The processor is further coupled via the system bus to a network
controller 118
that is coupled to a network device 120 or plurality of such. The media
printer controller
uses the network device to transmit and receive control signals from a gaming
system, such as
cash-out.
[0061] The processor is further coupled via the system bus to a media printer
controller
122 that is coupled to the media printer. The media printer controller uses
the media printer
to generate the media as described in FIGS. 2 through 6. The media printer may
be used to
create and print cool down period indicia on media or create, record, and read
cool down
period data on media. The media printer also may be used to verify and
validate cool down
period information. The media printer also may be used to erase cool down
period indicia,
cool down period data, or a plurality of such from media.
[0062] Also shown in FIG. 1 are timing mechanisms 124a, 124b and 124c that may
be
coupled to a media printer, media reader, or scanning device. A timing
mechanism may be
used to create a cool down period. A timing mechanism also may be used to read
cool down
period indicia, cool down period data, or a plurality of such to verify and
validate the cool
down period before media can be redeemed.
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[0063] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an RGS in a gaming establislnnent in
accordance with
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A component or plurality of
components
shown in FIG. 2 may be optional.
[0064] An RGS includes components which may be located in one or a plurality
of
cashless enabled games, such as games 200a and 200b, one or more gaming tables
202, one
or more cashier's cages or redemption lcioslcs 204, or on a gaming floor 206.
[0065] A cashless enabled game, such as game 200a, is coupled to a media
reader 208a
and a media printer 210a. After receiving a cashout signal, the cashless
enabled game
activates the media printer to issue media 212. The media printer may generate
the media
using procedures and cool down period information from a timing mechanism
214a. The
media that provides the transport of monies includes cash-out and cool down
period
information. Redemption of the media at a gaming table, a cashier's cage or
redemption
kiosk, another cashless enabled game, or on the gaming floor may be accepted
after the media
passes validation of the cool down period using one of the media readers 208a,
208b, 208c,
208d or 208e at a gaming table, a cashier's cage or redemption kiosk, another
cashless
enabled game, or on the gaming floor. Each media reader may be coupled to a
timing
mechanism, such as timing mechanisms 214b, 214c, 214d, 214e and 214f and use
procedures
to validate the cool down period. If the cool down period has passed and is no
longer valid,
the media reader may signal that the media is available for redemption. If the
cool down
period has not passed or is still valid, the media reader may signal that the
media is not
available for redemption and reject the media.
[0066] The redemption of the media at a gaming table, a cashier's cage or
redemption
kiosk, or another cashless enabled game, also may be accepted after the media
passes
validation of the cool down period using one of the media printers 210b, 210c
and 210d at a
gaming table, a cashier's cage or redemption kiosk, or another cashless
enabled game. Each
media printer may be coupled to a timing mechanism, such as timing mechanisms
214g, 214h
and 214i and use procedures to validate the cool down period. If the cool down
period has
passed and is no longer valid, the media printer may signal that the media is
available for
redemption. If the cool down period has not passed or is still valid, the
media printer may
signal that the media is not available for redemption and reject the media.
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[0067] As the cool down period indicia may also be human discernable or
readable, a
visual scan may be performed at a gaming table, a cashier's cage, redemption
kiosk, or on the
gaming floor.
[0068] In another embodiment of the present invention, the RGS, includes a
processor
and memory, coupled to a plurality of media printers and media readers
installed within
cashless enabled games, gaming tables, or within cashier cages or redemption
kiosks. The
RGS, in response to the player requesting cash-out on a particular game,
signals the media
printer installed in a game with a sequence identifier and amount of a cash-
out media. The
media printer creates the cash-out media in response to the signaling with the
RGS logging
the sequence identifier of the media in a database along with a time and date
stamp. The
media is inserted in a media reader installed in a cashless enabled game,
gaming table,
cashier's cage, or redemption kiosk also coupled to the master controller. The
RGS then
retrieves the time and date stamp from its database, and the RGS according to
a procedure
determines if a sufficient amount of time has elapsed since the time of the
media's creation in
order to redeem the media for game credits or cash.
[0069] In another embodiment of the present invention, the media reader is a
portable
handheld device.
[0070] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an RGS using a scanning device in
accordance with
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A component or plurality of
components
shown in FIG. 3 may be optional.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 3 an RGS includes components which may be located in
one or
a plurality of cashless enabled games, gaming tables, cashier's cage or
redemption kiosk, or
on a gaming floor.
[0072] A cashless enabled game, such as games 300a and 300b, may be coupled to
a
scanning device 302a, a media reader 302b, and a media printer 304b. The
scanning device
also may be coupled to the media reader and/or a media printer. After
receiving a cashout
signal, the cashless enabled game activates the media printer to issue media
308. The media
printer may generate the media using procedures and cool down period
information from a
timing mechanism 310a. The media that provides the transport of monies
includes cash-out
and cool down period information.
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[0073] Redemption of the media at a gaming table 316, a cashier's cage or
redemption
kiosk 312, another cashless enabled game 300b, or on the gaming floor 314 may
be accepted
after the media passes validation of the cool down period using one of the
scanning devices
302b, 302c, 302d and 302e at the gaming table, the cashier's cage or
redemption kiosk,
another cashless enabled game, or on the gaming floor. Each scanning device
may be coupled
a timing mechanism, such as timing mechanisms 310b, 310c, 310d or 310e, and
use
procedures to validate the cool down period. If the cool down period has
passed or is no
longer valid, the scaiming device may signal the media reader or media printer
to accept the
media for redemption. If the cool down period has not passed or is still
valid, the scanning
device may signal the media reader or media printer to reject the media.
[0074] As the cool down period indicia may also be human discemable or
readable, a
visual scan, such as visual scans 320a, 320b and 320c, may be performed at a
gaming table,
cashier's cage, redemption kiosk, or on the gaming floor.
[0075] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the potential parameters that may be used
with
procedures in an RGS in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0076] As shown, the potential parameters 400 may include among others CD
Period
401, CD Date Begin 402, CD Date End 404, CD_Time Begin 406, and CD_Time End
408.
[0077] CD_Period may be used to formulate the overall cool down period based
on the
other parameters.
[0078] CD_Date Begin may be used to identify the cashout date. The format may
include
any currently existing date format such as mm/dd/yyyy or yyyy/dd/mm.
[0079] CD_Date End may be used to identify the end date of a cool down period.
The
format may include any currently existing date format such as mm/dd/yyyy or
yyyy/dd/mm.
[0080] CD Time Begin may be used to identify the cashout time. The format may
include any currently existing time format such as hh/mm/ss.
[0081] CD_Time End may be used to identify the end time of a cool down period.
The
format may include any currently existing time format such as hh/mm/ss.
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[0082] FIG. 5 is a process diagram of the cool down period information
issuance process
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0083] As shown, the process 500 begins (502) with the receipt (504) of a cash-
out signal,
which prompts the process of issuing (506) of cool down period data using
procedures, after
which a media printer issues (508) the media with cool down period data and
ends (510).
[0084] An example procedure for generating cool down period data is:
CD Period = (CDDate Begin = 09/27/2005) +(CD_Time Begin = 10:30:00) +
(CD_Time_End = 4)
where:
CD Date Begin equals the date of the cashout; in this example, 09/27/05
CD Time Begin equals the time of the cashout; in this example, 10:30 a.m.
CD_Time End equals the time allotted for the cool down period; in this
example, four hours.
[0085] FIG. 6 is a process diagram of the validate cool down period
information process
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0086] As shown, the process 600 begins (602) with the receipt (604) of a cash-
in signal,
which prompts the process of validating (606) cool down period data using
procedures. If the
cool down period has passed or is no longer valid (608), a signal is sent from
the RGS and the
media is accepted (610) for redemption. If the cool down period has not passed
or is still
valid, a signal is sent from the RGS and the media is rejected (612). The
process then ends
(614)
[0087] An example procedure for the validation of a cool down period is:
CD Period = (CDDate End = CD Date Begin) +(CD_Time End > CD Time Begin)
CI Validation = (CashIn Date = Current_Date) + (CashIn Time = Current Time)
CI Validation > CD Period
where:
CD Period validates that the end date of the cool down period is equal to the
begin
date, and the end time is greater than the begin time of the cool down period.
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CI Validation identifies the current date and time of a cash-in signal.
CI Validation > CD Period validates the current date aiid time of a cash-in
signal
against the cool down period validation, whereby the contents of CI_Validation
must
be greater than the CD Period.
[0088] FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary voucher media 700 currently
used in
gaming in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As
shown in
FIG. 7, a voucher media is produced from commands issued by the cashless
enabled game in
response to a player's request to cashout. The voucher media includes features
such as a
validation number, printed in both human-readable form such as time and date,
and in a
machine-readable form such as a bar code, cash out amount, gaming
establishment location
information, cashless enabled game ID, a unique ticket number, and an
expiration time frame.
The information on the voucher media is sufficient to verify that a valid cash-
out request was
generated at some time, but may not ensure that the voucher media presented
for redemption
contains cool down period information.
[0089] FIG. 8 is an illustration of an exeniplary voucher media 800 with cool
down
period indicia 802 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. As
shown in FIG. 8, the voucher media contains the information included in the
voucher media
of FIG. 7. However, the voucher media of FIG. 8 also includes cool down period
indicia in
both human-readable form 804 such as time and date, and machine-readable form
806 such as
a bar code. The use of procedures and a timing mechanism takes information
provided by a
cashless enabled game to create cool down period indicia with a media printer.
Verification
of the cool down period may be accomplished by a media printer, a media
printer coupled to a
timing mechanism, a media reader, a media reader coupled to a timing
mechanism, a
scanning device, a scanning device coupled to a timing mechanism, or a visual
scan.
[0090] FIG. 9 is an illustration of an exemplary rewritable card media 900
with magnetic
stripe 902 in according with an exeniplary embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in
FIG. 9, the rewritable card media includes a magnetic stripe. The use of
procedures and a
timing mechanism takes information provided by a cashless enabled game to
create and
record cool down period information on the magnetic stripe with a media
printer.
Verification of the cool down period may be accomplished using a media
printer, a media
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printer coupled to a timing mechanism, a media reader, a media reader coupled
to a timing
mechanism, a scamiing device, or a scanning device coupled to a timing
mechanism.
[0091] FIG. 10 is an illustration of an exemplary rewritable card media with
cool down
period indicia in accordance with an exemplary enlbodiment of the present
invention. As
shown in FIG. 10, the rewritable card media may include a gaming establishment
name 1002
and logo. The rewritable card media may include cool down period indicia in
both human-
readable form 1004 such as a date and time and machine-readable form such as a
bar code
1006. The use of procedures and a timing mechanism takes information provided
by a
cashless enabled game to create cool down period indicia witli a media
printer. Verification
of the cool down period may be accomplished using a media printer, a media
printer coupled
to a timing mechanism, a media reader, a media reader coupled to a timing
mechanism, a
scanning device, a scanning device coupled to a timing mechanism, or a visual
scan. In
addition, as the media is rewritable, a media printer may erase the cool down
period indicia,
cool down period data, or a plurality of such from the media.
[0092] Although the present invention has been described in certain specific
embodiments, many additional modifications and variations would be apparent to
those
skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that this invention may
be practiced
otherwise than as specifically described. Thus, the present embodiments of the
invention
should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the
scope of the
invention to be determined by any claims supportable by this application and
the claims'
equivalents rather than the foregoing description.
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