Cashless reservation system

Abstract

A gaming system having a server connected to a plurality of gaming consoles for playing a game in which a player wagers credits held in a credit meter. The gaming consoles having a player tracking apparatus to receive an identifier from a current player of the console. The gaming console can be reserved by a player, in which case play of the gaming console is prevented by any player other than a player with the same identifier for a predetermined period time. If the predetermined period of time expires, the credits on the console are automatically recorded by the server and associated with the current player, the credit meter is cleared, and the reserve on the gaming console ceases.

1 . A gaming system comprising a server communicably connected to a plurality of gaming consoles each comprising a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller for providing a game in which a plurality of playing elements are selected and a number of outcomes is defined within said plurality of playing elements, and if a winning combination of playing elements occurs in at least one of said outcomes the game controller causes the award of an award, the player having wagered one or more credits held in a credit meter of the gaming console to play the game, the gaming consoles each further comprising player tracking apparatus operable to receive an identifier from a current player of the console and a network communication interface to enable communication with the server, wherein upon a predetermined action by the current player when the credit meter has credits on it, the gaming console becomes reserved by preventing play of the gaming console by any player other than a player with the same identifier for a predetermined period of time, and wherein if the predetermined period of time expires, the credits on the gaming console are automatically recorded by the server and associated with the current player, the credit meter is cleared, and the reserve on the gaming console ceases.  
   
   
       2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises a player card and an associated personal identification number.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system determines whether the identifier of the current player indicates that the current player is eligible to reserve the gaming console and the gaming console only becomes reserved following the predetermined action by the current player only if the current player is determined to be eligible.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein the gaming system includes a plurality of different classes of gaming console and wherein at least some player identifiers indicate that the player is eligible to reserve at least one said class of gaming console but not eligible to reserve at least one other said class of gaming console.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of different classes of gaming console are classified according to at least one of the physical location of the gaming console and the denomination of the gaming console.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one said gaming console is not eligible to be reserved by at least one class of player during a period of time.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming system of  claim 6 , wherein the period of time is preset by an operator of the gaming system.  
   
   
       8 . The gamins system of  claim 6 , wherein the period of time is dynamically determined depending on a level of game play of the gaming consoles.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein the gaming system determines the current player to be eligible to reserve the gaming console dependent on a player history of the current player.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time is variable depending on at least one of the player identifier and data associated with the player identifier.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the data associated with the player identifier comprises tradeable units and wherein the system is operable to trade the tradeable units for reservation of a gaming console.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the system is operable to trade the tradeable units in proportion to the time that the gaming console remains reserved.  
   
   
       13 . A gaming system comprising a server communicably connected to a plurality of gaming consoles each comprising a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller for providing a game in which a plurality of playing elements are selected and a number of outcomes is defined within said plurality of playing elements, and if a winning combination of playing elements occurs in at least one of said outcomes the game controller causes the award of an award, the player having wagered one or more credits held in a credit meter of the gaming console to play the game, the gaming consoles each further comprising player tracking apparatus operable to receive an identifier from a current player of the console and a network communication interface to enable communication with the server, wherein upon a predetermined action by the current player when the credit meter has credits on it, the gaming console is reserved by preventing play of the gaming console by any player other than a player with the same identifier for a predetermined period time, the credits on the gaming console are recorded by the server and associated with the current player and the credit meter is cleared, wherein if the predetermined period of time expires the reserve ceases and if a player with the same identifier returns to the gaming console during the predetermined period of time, the gaming console allows play of the game.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein if a player with the same identifier returns to the gaming console during the predetermined period of time, the credits recorded by the server are automatically added to the credit meter.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the identifier comprises a player card and an associated personal identification number.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the gaming system determines whether the identifier of the current player indicates that the current player is eligible to reserve the gaming console and the gaming console only becomes reserved following the predetermined action by the current player only if the current player is determined to be eligible.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming system of  claim 16 , wherein the gaming system includes a plurality of different classes of gaming console and wherein at least some player identifiers indicate that the player is eligible to reserve at least one said class of gaming console but not eligible to reserve at least one other said class of gaming console.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of different classes of gaming console are classified according to at least one of the physical location of the gaming console and the denomination of the gaming console.  
   
   
       19 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one said gaming console is not eligible to be reserved by at least one class of player during a period of time.  
   
   
       20 . The gaming system of  claim 19 , wherein the period of time is preset by an operator of the gaming system.  
   
   
       21 . The gaming system of  claim 19 , wherein the period of time is dynamically determined depending on a level of game play of the gaming consoles.  
   
   
       22 . The gaming system of  claim 16 , wherein the gaming system determines the current player to be eligible to reserve the gaming console dependent on a player history of the current player.  
   
   
       23 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined period of time is variable depending on at least one of the player identifier and data associated with the player identifier.  
   
   
       24 . The gaming system of  claim 23 , wherein the data associated with the player identifier comprises tradeable units and wherein the system is operable to trade the tradeable units for reservation of a gaming console.  
   
   
       25 . The gaming system of  claim 24 , wherein the system is operable to trade the tradeable units in proportion to the time that the gaming console remains reserved.  
   
   
       26 . A gaming console comprising a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller for providing a game in which a plurality of playing elements are selected and a number of outcomes is defined within said plurality of playing elements, and if a winning combination of playing elements occurs in at least one of said outcomes the game controller causes the award of an award, the player having wagered one or more credits held in a credit meter of the gaming console to play the game, the gaming consoles further comprising player tracking apparatus operable to receive an identifier from a current player of the console and a communication interface to enable transmission and reception of information with a remote communication device, wherein upon a predetermined action by the current player when the credit meter has credits on it, the gaming console becomes reserved by preventing play of the gaming console by any player other than a player with the same identifier for a predetermined period time, and wherein if the predetermined period of time expires, the gaming console automatically transmits data onto the communication interface that specifies the amount on the credit meter, clears the credit meter and ceases the reserve.  
   
   
       27 . The gaming console of  claim 26 , wherein the gaming console awaits receipt of information on the communication interface that the data that specifies the amount on the credit meter has been received by a device remote from the gaming console before clearing the credit meter and ceasing the reserve.  
   
   
       28 . A gaming console comprising a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller for providing a game in which a plurality of playing elements are selected and a number of outcomes is defined within said plurality of playing elements, and if a winning combination of playing elements occurs in at least one of said outcomes the game controller causes the award of an award, the player having wagered one or more credits held in a credit meter of the gaming console to play the game, the gaming console further comprising player tracking apparatus operable to receive an identifier from a current player of the console and a communication interface to enable communication with a remote device, wherein upon a predetermined action by the current player when the credit meter has credits on it, the gaming console is reserved by preventing play of the gaming console by any player other than a player with the same identifier for a predetermined period time, information indicating the credits on the credit meter is sent by the communication interface and the credit meter is cleared, wherein if the predetermined period of time expires the reserve ceases and if a player with the same identifier returns to the gaming console during the predetermined period of time, the gaming console allows play of the game.  
   
   
       29 . The gaming console of  claim 28 , wherein if a player with the same identifier returns to the gaming console during the predetermined period of time, the console indicates this by transmitting information on its communication interface and then receives information on its communication interface, and in response thereto adds credits to the credit meter.