Gaming System Bill Validator

Abstract

A method and system for player payment management In a multiple electronic gaming machine (EGM) environment is described. Multiple bin validators (BVs] throughout a casino receive payments of various fund types. A central computer system (CCS) associates these payments with a given adjacent EGM 1 though there Is no direct electronic communication between EGM and BV. In this method and system, the BV only directly communicates with the CCS. The CCS in turn provides the sole and complete management function for crediting BV player payments to appropriate EGMs. The BV Is preferably not housed within the EGM, but alternatively can be In the same housing. This advantageous method eliminates the need for EGMs to communicate with or manage the operation of a BV or other payment device. This system also allows existing casino systems to be upgraded with local BVs, without the need to rewire or reprogram existing EGMs.

1 . A method for obtaining credits to play a gaming machine in a multi game establishment comprising the steps of:
 (A) providing a central computer system within the multi game establishment;   (B) providing a plurality of electronic gaming machines where each of said plurality of electronic gaming machines is in exclusive communicative connection with said central computer system;   (C) providing a plurality of payment accepting devices where each of said plurality of payment accepting devices is in exclusive communicative connection with said central computer system;   (D) locating each of said plurality of payment accepting devices operatively close to at least one corresponding electronic game machine of said plurality of electronic gaming machines;   (E) accepting a payment for credits at one of said plurality of payment accepting devices;   (F) said one of said plurality of payment accepting devices exclusively communicating a payment acceptance message for credits to said central computer system and an identification of a designated electronic game machine to which a credit is requested;   (G) said central computer system exclusively communicating a credit message to said electronic game machine designated by said payment accepting device, said electronic gaming machine operatively close to said payment accepting device; and   (H) registering the additional credits corresponding to the credit message on the game credit meter of the designated electronic game machine operatively close to said payment accepting device at which the payment for credits was accepted.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  with a further step of validating said payment acceptance message for credits at said central computer system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said payment acceptance message includes payment acceptance device asset identification information. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said central computer system is preprogrammed to identify the at least one corresponding electronic game machine which is operatively close to said one of said plurality of payment accepting devices at which the payment for credits was accepted based on said payment acceptance device asset identification information. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said payment acceptance message includes an optional designation of the selection between multiple electronic game machines to which the central computer system should direct said credit message. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the payment acceptance message includes an optional designation that the central computer system credit the validated payment to a designated player account on the central computer system for later use. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a player provides a funds request from a specific electronic game machine to the central computer system to initiate exclusively communicating a credit message from said central computer system to the at least one corresponding electronic game machine. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  with a further step of designating that said at least one corresponding electronic game machine transmit a credit return message to the central computer which initiates the transfer of remaining game credit value back to a designated player account. 
     
     
         9 . A System for obtaining credits to play an electronic gaming machine in a multi game establishment comprising:
 (A) a central computer system;   (B) multiple electronic gaming machines, each of said multiple electronic gaming machines in exclusive communicative connection with said central computer system;   (C) multiple payment accepting devices, each of said multiple payment accepting devices in exclusive communicative connection with said central computer system, each of said multiple payment accepting devices is operatively close to at least one corresponding electronic game machine of said multiple electronic gaming machines; and   (D) control programming in said central computer system to receive valid payment communications from said payment accepting devices designating one of said multiple electronic game machines for which credits are issued by said central computer system.   
     
     
         10 . The System of  claim 9 , said central computer system further comprising a memory means for storing information regarding player accounts, asset identification, and ticket validation information. 
     
     
         11 . The System of  claim 10  wherein one or more of said multiple payment accepting devices can optionally designate to said central computer system a selection between one or more of said multiple electronic gaming machines to which the central computer system should issue purchased credits. 
     
     
         12 . The System of  claim 10  where the plurality of payment accepting devices include bill validators. 
     
     
         13 . The System of  claim 10  where the plurality of payment accepting devices include devices equipped to accept bills, tickets, and credit card payments. 
     
     
         14 . The System of  claim 10  where the plurality of payment accepting devices include at least one device equipped to accept payments from mobile wireless means. 
     
     
         15 . A method for obtaining credits to play a gaming machine in a multi game establishment comprising the steps of:
 (A) providing a central computer system within the multi game establishment;   (B) providing electronic gaming machines each in exclusive communicative connection with said central computer system;   (C) providing payment accepting devices each in exclusive communicative connection with said central computer system, said payment accepting devices operatively close to at least one corresponding electronic game machine;   (D) accepting a payment for credits at one of said payment accepting devices and exclusively communicating a payment acceptance message for credits to said central computer system, the payment acceptance message including a designation to cause the central computer system to credit the validated payment to a designated player account on the central computer system for later use.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein a funds request from a specific electronic game machine to the central computer system initiates a credit message from a designated account maintained on said central computer system to the specific electronic game machine issuing the funds request, the amount of which is deducted from the designated player account. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  with a further step of designating that said at least one corresponding electronic game machine transmit a credit return message to the central computer which initiates the transfer of remaining game credit value back to said designated player account.