Wagering Game System Secure Identification Module

Abstract

A computerized wagering game system has a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a secure user identification module comprising a biometric identification element, wherein the secure user identification module is removable from the wagering game system such that it may be retained by a game player. In a further embodiment, the secure user identification module is operable to store monetary value.

1 . A computerized wagering game system, comprising: 
 a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and    a secure user identification module comprising a biometric identification element, wherein the secure user identification module is removable from the wagering game system such that it may be retained by a game player.    
   
   
       2 . The computerized wagering game system of  claim 1 , wherein the biometric identification element comprises a fingerprint reader.  
   
   
       3 . The computerized wagering game system of  claim 1 , wherein the biometric identification element comprises stored signature dynamics.  
   
   
       4 . The computerized wagering game system of  claim 1 , wherein the biometric identification element comprises body image identification.  
   
   
       5 . The computerized wagering game system of  claim 1 , wherein the secure user identification module further comprises a nonvolatile memory.  
   
   
       6 . The computerized wagering game system of  claim 5 , wherein the wagering game system is operable to store player-specific data in the nonvolatile memory.  
   
   
       7 . The computerized wagering game system of  claim 1 , wherein the secure user identification module is operable to store monetary value.  
   
   
       8 . A method of operating a computerized wagering game system, comprising: 
 executing gaming code to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and    verifying a game player identity via a secure user identification module comprising a biometric identification element, wherein the secure user identification module is removable from the wagering game system such that it may be retained by a game player.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the biometric identification element comprises a fingerprint reader.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the biometric identification element comprises stored signature dynamics.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the biometric identification element comprises body image identification.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the secure user identification module further comprises a nonvolatile memory.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wagering game system is operable to store player-specific data in the nonvolatile memory.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the secure user identification module is operable to store monetary value.  
   
   
       15 . A machine-readable medium with instructions encoded thereon, the instructions when executed operable to cause a computerized wagering game system to: 
 conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and    verify a game player identity via a secure user identification module comprising a biometric identification element, wherein the secure user identification module is removable from the wagering game system such that it may be retained by a game player.    
   
   
       16 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the biometric identification element comprises a fingerprint reader.  
   
   
       17 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the secure user identification module further comprises a nonvolatile memory.  
   
   
       18 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further operable to store player-specific data in the nonvolatile memory.  
   
   
       19 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further operable to store monetary value via the secure user identification module.  
   
   
       20 . A secure user identification module, the secure user identification module comprising a biometric identification element, wherein the secure user identification module is removably attachable to a wagering game system such that the module may be retained by a game player.  
   
   
       21 . The secure user identification module of  claim 20 , wherein the biometric identification element comprises a fingerprint reader.  
   
   
       22 . The secure user identification module of  claim 20 , wherein the biometric identification element comprises stored signature dynamics.  
   
   
       23 . The secure user identification module of  claim 20 , wherein the biometric identification element comprises body image identification.  
   
   
       24 . The secure user identification module of  claim 20 , wherein the secure user identification module further comprises a nonvolatile memory.  
   
   
       25 . The secure user identification module of  claim 24 , wherein the wagering game system is operable to store player-specific data in the nonvolatile memory.  
   
   
       26 . The secure user identification module of  claim 1 , wherein the secure user identification module is operable to store monetary value.  
   
   
       27 . A computerized wagering game system, comprising: 
 a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and    an secure user identification module interface operable to couple the wagering game to a secure user identification module comprising a biometric identification element, wherein the secure user identification module is removable from the wagering game system such that it may be retained by a game player.    
   
   
       28 . The computerized wagering game system of  claim 27 , wherein the secure user identification module interface is further operable to interface with a nonvolatile memory comprising part of the secure user identification module.  
   
   
       29 . The computerized wagering game system of  claim 28 , wherein the wagering game system is operable to store player-specific data in the nonvolatile memory.  
   
   
       30 . The computerized wagering game system of  claim 27 , wherein the wagering game is further operable to store monetary value via the secure user identification module.