Method and apparatus for managing hotel transactions from a gaming device

Abstract

A customer may be permitted to use a gaming device such as a slot machine to manage various transactions related to a hotel, such as checking in and/or checking out of the customer's room at the hotel. A customer may receive a benefit in exchange for using a gaming device for a transaction.

1 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a player identifier at a gaming device;    assigning a hotel room to a player identified by the player identifier; and    using the gaming device to communicate to the player information regarding the assigning of the hotel room.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving step includes reading the player identifier from a player tracking card interfaced to the gaming device.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving step includes reading the player identifier from a credit or debit card interfaced to the gaming device.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communicated information includes a room number which corresponds to the assigned hotel room.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 transmitting the player identifier to an electronic door lock mechanism associated with the assigned hotel room.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 generating a room access code.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 transmitting the room access code to an electronic door lock mechanism associated with the assigned hotel room.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 magnetically writing the room access code on a player tracking card interfaced to the gaming device.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming device is located at a hotel that includes the assigned hotel room.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming device is a slot machine.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 accessing a hotel reservation database on the basis of the received player identifier.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 associating the received player identifier with a room identifier that corresponds to the assigned hotel room.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 using the gaming device to present hotel room preferences information to the player.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 using the gaming device to present a reservation confirmation page to the player.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving at the gaming device information regarding a hotel stay desired by the player.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the information regarding the hotel stay includes a desired check-out date.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the information regarding the hotel stay includes a desired type of room.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 using the gaming device to communicate to the player an offer for the player to relinquish the assigned room.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 using the gaming device to communicate to the player an offer for the player to delay occupying the assigned room.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 applying to payment for the assigned room gaming credits won via the gaming device.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 awarding free use of the assigned room based on a game outcome provided by the gaming device.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 offering a benefit to the player in exchange for using the gaming device to check in.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 awarding gaming credit at the gaming device in response to the player using the gaming device to check in to a hotel that includes the assigned hotel room.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 using the gaming device to inform the player concerning a telephone message for the player.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 allowing the player to use the gaming device to access or send an electronic mail message.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 retrieving a credit card number for the player in response to receiving the player identifier.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 charging payment for the assigned hotel room to a credit card account associated with the retrieved credit card number.    
   
   
       28 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a player identifier at a gaming device; and    accessing a hotel reservation database on the basis of the received player identifier.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 using the gaming device to present hotel room preferences information to a player identified by the player identifier.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 using the gaming device to present a reservation confirmation page to a player identified by the player identifier.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 assigning a hotel room to a player identified by the player identifier.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the receiving step includes reading the player identifier from a player tracking card interfaced to the gaming device.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the receiving step includes reading the player identifier from a credit or debit card interfaced to the gaming device.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the gaming device is a slot machine.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 offering a benefit to the player in exchange for using the gaming device to check in.    
   
   
       36 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a player identifier at a gaming device;    associating the received player identifier with a room identifier;    presenting to a player identified by the player identifier at least one of a reservation confirmation page and hotel room preferences information; and    generating a room access code associated with the room identifier.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the gaming device is a slot machine.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the receiving step includes reading the player identifier from a player tracking card interfaced to the gaming device.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the receiving step includes reading the player identifier from a credit or debit card interfaced to the gaming device.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 magnetically writing the room access code on a player tracking card interfaced to the gaming device.    
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 transmitting the received player identifier to an electronic door lock mechanism.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 transmitting the room access code to an electronic door lock mechanism.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the gaming device is located at a hotel that includes a room associated with the room identifier.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the at least one of a reservation confirmation page and the hotel room preferences information is presented to the player via the gaming device.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 retrieving a credit card number for the player in response to receiving the player identifier.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 offering a benefit to the player in exchange for using the gaming device to check in.    
   
   
       47 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a player identifier at a gaming device; and    receiving at the gaming device an indication that a player identified by the player identifier wishes to check out of a hotel room.    
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 accessing a hotel reservation database on the basis of the received player identifier.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 accessing a hotel room database on the basis of the received player identifier.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the receiving step includes reading the player identifier from a player tracking card interfaced to the gaming device.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the gaming device is a slot machine.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 presenting to the player a billing statement in response to the received indication.    
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising: 
 receiving from the player an indication that the player approves the billing statement.    
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the indication that the player approves the billing statement is received via the gaming device.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the billing statement is presented to the player via the gaming device.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising: 
 printing the billing statement at the gaming device.    
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 offering a benefit to the player in exchange for using the gaming device to check out.    
   
   
       58 . A method comprising: 
 receiving at a gaming device an identifier that identifies a customer;    receiving via the gaming device a request by the customer for a hotel room;    associating a hotel room with the customer; and    transmitting to the customer an identifier that identifies the hotel room.    
   
   
       59 . A method comprising: 
 receiving at a gaming device an identifier that identifies a customer;    receiving at the gaming device a request by the customer to check in; and    transmitting a signal to a casino representative, the signal indicating an instruction to assist the customer at the gaming device with check-in.    
   
   
       60 . A method comprising: 
 receiving an identifier that identifies a player at a gaming device;    receiving a wager from the player at the gaming device;    assigning a hotel room to the player; and    transmitting to the player at the gaming device data that indicates the assignment of the hotel room.    
   
   
       61 . An apparatus for handling a hotel transaction, comprising: 
 a processor; and    a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor and the processor operative with the program to: 
 receive a player identifier via a gaming device;  
 assign a hotel room to a player identified by the player identifier; and  
 use the gaming device to communicate to the player information regarding assignment of the hotel room.  
   
   
   
       62 . An apparatus for handling a hotel transaction, comprising: 
 a processor; and    a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor and the processor operative with the program to: 
 receive a player identifier via a gaming device; and  
 access a hotel reservation database on the basis of the received player identifier.  
   
   
   
       63 . An apparatus for handling a hotel transaction, comprising: 
 a processor; and    a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor and the processor operative with the program to: 
 receive a player identifier via a gaming device;  
 associate the received player identifier with a room identifier;  
 present to a player identified by the player identifier at least one of a reservation confirmation page and hotel room preferences information; and  
 generate a room access code associated with the room identifier.  
   
   
   
       64 . An apparatus for handling a hotel transaction, comprising: 
 a processor; and    a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor and the processor operative with the program to: 
 receive a player identifier via a gaming device;  
 receive via the gaming device an indication that a player identified by the player identifier wishes to check out of a hotel room.  
   
   
   
       65 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a medium readable by a computer, the computer readable medium having: 
 program code adapted to receive a player identifier via a gaming device;  
 program code adapted to assign a hotel room to a player identified by the player identifier; and  
 program code adapted to use the gaming device to communicate to the player information regarding the assigning of the hotel room.  
   
   
   
       66 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a medium readable by a computer, the computer readable medium having: 
 program code adapted to receive a player identifier via a gaming device; and  
 program code adapted to access a hotel reservation database on the basis of the received player identifier.  
   
   
   
       67 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a medium readable by a computer, the computer readable medium having: 
 program code adapted to receive a player identifier via a gaming device;  
 program code adapted to associate the received player identifier with a room identifier;  
 program code adapted to present to a player identified by the player identifier at least one of a reservation confirmation page and hotel room preferences information; and  
 program code adapted to generate a room access code associated with the room identifier.  
   
   
   
       68 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a medium readable by a computer, the computer readable medium having: 
 program code adapted to receive a player identifier via a gaming device; and  
 program code adapted to receive via the gaming device an indication that a player identified by the player identifier wishes to check out of a hotel room.