Gaming apparatus with customised features

Abstract

A gaming machine, a gaming system and associated methods are described in which a player provides a player identifier (PID) and that identifier is used to configure the gaming machine. The identifier may include biometric data. The configuration information may include information on one or more limits on game play and an award may be provided if the limits are not exceeded. In other embodiments, limits on game play may be enforced, for example by terminating game play.

1 . A gaming machine including a player interface that includes a game play activator, wherein the game play activator includes a fingerprint scanner that scans a fingerprint of a player when the player operates the game play activator by placing his or her finger on the game play activator for a duration sufficient to obtain the scan. 
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the game play activator includes a contoured surface that tends to locate a finger of player onto the fingerprint scanner. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the game play activator includes at least one indicator, the indicator indicating to the player the status of the fingerprint scanner. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 3 , wherein the status of the fingerprint scanner includes a first status in which a fingerprint scan is required and is yet to be completed and a second status in which a fingerprint scan has been obtained. 
     
     
         5 . A gaming system including a plurality of gaming machines that implement a ticket-in-ticket-out system for recording credit of a player, wherein the tickets include a player identifier that is associated in a database system with biometric information and wherein the gaming machines each include a biometric data reader and require the provision of biometric data before allowing redemption or spending of funds from a ticket, wherein said redemption of spending is refused in the biometric data does not match the biometric information associated with the player identifier. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 5 , wherein the gaming system stores a record of unredeemed or spent funds on tickets. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a plurality of gaming machines in communication with a centralised or distributed database system containing biometric data for a plurality of players, the method including implementing a ticket-in-ticket-out system for recording credit of a player, printing on tickets of the ticket-in-ticket-out system a player identifier that is associated in a database system with biometric information, and before allowing redemption or spending of funds from a said ticket requiring the provision of biometric data and refusing said redemption or spending if the biometric data does not match the biometric information associated with the player identifier.