Amusement System Having Central Credit Card Transaction Terminal

Abstract

An amusement system includes at least one amusement device having a video touchscreen, a controller, and a memory. The memory stores a plurality of electronic games playable on the amusement device using the video touchscreen. The amusement device is operable upon payment by a user. A credit card transaction terminal is operable to receive the payment by the user and is separate from the amusement device. A method of operating an amusement device, operable once one or more playable credits are obtained by a user, includes establishing a user account. The user account is configured to store money for a user for obtaining playable credits. Money is deposited into the player account. At least a portion of any deposited money that has not been used to obtain playable credits after a predetermined amount of time is withdrawn. The withdrawn money is unavailable to the user.

1 . A method of operating an amusement device, the amusement device having a video touchscreen, a controller, and a memory, the memory storing a plurality of electronic games playable on the at least one amusement device using at least the video touchscreen, the amusement device being operable once one or more playable credits are obtained by a user, the method comprising:
 (a) establishing a user account, the user account being configured to store money for a user for obtaining playable credits;   (b) depositing money into the player account; and   (c) withdrawing at least a portion of any deposited money that has not been used to obtain playable credits after a predetermined amount of time, the withdrawn money being unavailable to the user.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user authorizes the amusement device to withdraw money from the user account to obtain one or more playable credits. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein all of the deposited money that has not been used to obtain playable credits after a predetermined amount of time is withdrawn. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the money withdrawn in step (c) is transferred to one of an operator of the amusement device, a manufacturer of the amusement device, and a provider of the user account. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user account is accessible over the Internet. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is set by one of an operator of the amusement device, a manufacturer of the amusement device, and a provider of the user account. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a minimum deposit is required to establish a user account. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein money is deposited into the user account using the amusement device, the amusement device being configured to accept at least one of credit cards/debit cards, coins, bills, and electronic funds transfer (EFT). 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein money is deposited into the user account through a credit card transaction terminal separate from the at least one amusement device, the credit card transaction terminal being configured to accept at least one of credit cards/debit cards, coins, bills, and electronic funds transfer (EFT). 
   
   
       10 . An amusement system comprising:
 (a) at least one amusement device having a video touchscreen, a controller, and a memory, the memory storing a plurality of electronic games playable on the at least one amusement device using at least the video touchscreen, the at least one amusement device being operable once one or more playable credits are obtained by a user;   (b) a server in communication with the at least one amusement device and managing a user account, the user account including money deposited by the user for obtaining the one or more playable credits, the server being configured to withdraw from the user account at least a portion of any deposited money that has not been used to obtain playable credits after a predetermined amount of time, the withdrawn money being unavailable to the user.   
   
   
       11 . The amusement system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one amusement device further includes a currency input configured to receive payment of money for deposit in the user account, the currency input being one of a credit card/debit card reader, a coin slot, a bill acceptor, and an interface for electronic funds transfer (EFT). 
   
   
       12 . The amusement system of  claim 10 , further comprising a credit card transaction terminal, the credit card transaction terminal including a currency input configured to receive payment of money for deposit in the user account, the currency input being one of a credit card/debit card reader, a coin slot, a bill acceptor, and an interface for electronic funds transfer (EFT). 
   
   
       13 . The amusement system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one amusement device connects to the server via one of a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and the Internet. 
   
   
       14 . The amusement system of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is set by one of an operator of the at least one amusement device, a manufacturer of the at least one amusement device, and a provider of the user account. 
   
   
       15 . The amusement system of  claim 10 , wherein the money withdrawn from the user
 account by the server is transferred to one of an operator of the at least one amusement device, a manufacturer of the at least one amusement device, and a provider of the user account.