Networked gaming system with stored value cards and method

Abstract

Disclosed are gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including stored value cards. Networked gaming systems are described which include one or more gaming machines with a stored value card acceptor, casino and/or slot management systems with a stored value server for authenticating stored value cards, verifying stored value, and updating value associated with the stored value cards, and a kiosk system for issuing, validating, and accounting for value associated with updateable stored value cards. The stored value server may also be configured to accept and enforce issuance and redemption rules such as providing for discounted purchase and enhanced redemption.

1 . A method for accepting, analyzing and altering the use of stored value cards in an environment including (i) one or more gaming venues providing gaming at one or more gaming machines, (ii) point of sale (POS) venues offering goods or services for purchase and (iii) a communication network for said gaming and POS venues, said method comprising;
 enabling issuance of stored value cards to having an initial stored redemption value X at one or more of said gaming venues, a third party venue or at an Internet website;   providing for redemption of said value cards at a gaming machine or POS terminal at one of said gaming venues;   enabling a stored value server to be configured for (a) storing data relating to the issuance of stored value cards including for each issuance tracking data and said stored redemption value X, for (b) communicating with said gaming machine or POS terminal to enable redemption of said stored value cards and to receive and store redemption tracking data with respect to said value cards and for (c) one or more of (i) receiving and enforcing redemption rule data for increasing the redemption value X where said rule is satisfied and receiving and enforcing a stored value card issuance rule which, if satisfied, provides for the acquisition of said value card for value less than X;   programming a business intelligence server for analyzing one or more of said issuance tracking data and said redemption tracking data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising enabling said stored value card server to be configured for receiving and enforcing redemption rule data relating to one or more of a time, a location, a gaming machine or a POS terminal at which a redemption value greater than X will be accorded to the value card. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said one or more gaming venues include a player loyalty system configured award loyalty points to a player, said method comprising enabling communication between said loyalty system and said stored value server and enabling said stored value card server to accept loyalty points to purchase a stored value card. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said one or more gaming venues include a player loyalty system configured award loyalty points to a player, said method comprising enabling communication between said loyalty system and said stored value card server and enabling said stored value card server and said loyalty system to award loyalty points to a player for one or more of acquisition or redemption of a stored value card. 
     
     
         5 . A method for accepting, analyzing and altering the use of stored value cards in an environment including (i) one or more gaming venues providing gaming at one or more gaming machines, (ii) a loyalty system configured to award loyalty points to players in exchange for gaming activities, (iii) point of sale (POS) venues offering goods or services for purchase and (iii) a communication network for said gaming and POS venues, said method comprising;
 enabling issuance of stored value cards to having an initial stored redemption value X at one or more of said gaming venues, a third party venue or at an Internet website;   providing for redemption of said value cards at a gaming machine or POS terminal at one of said gaming venues;   enabling a stored value server to be configured for (a) storing data relating to the issuance of stored value cards including for each issuance tracking data and said stored redemption value X, for (b) communicating with said gaming machine or POS terminal to enable redemption of said stored value cards and to receive and store redemption tracking data with respect to said value cards and for (c) one or more of (i) receiving and enforcing redemption rule data for increasing the redemption value X where said rule is satisfied and receiving and enforcing a stored value card issuance rule which, if satisfied, provides for the acquisition of said value card for value less than X;   enabling a player to exchange loyalty points to acquire a stored value card;   providing for the awarding of loyalty points to a player in exchange for acquisition of a stored value card; and   programming a business intelligence server for analyzing one or more of said issuance tracking data and said redemption tracking data.   
     
     
         6 . A system to accept, analyze and alter the use of stored value cards in an environment including (i) one or more gaming venues providing gaming at one or more gaming machines, (ii) point of sale (POS) venues offering goods or services for purchase and (iii) a communication network for said gaming and POS venues, said method comprising;
 stored value cards having an initial stored redemption value X issued to players at one or more of said gaming venues, a third party venue or at an Internet website;   redemption apparatus a gaming machine or POS terminal to interface with said issued stored value cards for redemption of the stored value for gaming or a POS transaction;   a stored value server in communication with said network and an associated data structure to (a) store in a data file tracking data related to the issuance of stored value cards including for each issuance card identification data and said stored redemption value X, (b) communicate with said redemption apparatus to enable redemption of said stored value cards and to update said tracking to include data reflecting said redemption and (c) one or more of (i) receive and enforce redemption rule data for increasing the redemption value X when said rule is satisfied and receive and enforce a stored value card issuance rule which, if satisfied, provides for the acquisition of said value card for value less than X;   a business intelligence server configured to analyze said issuance tracking data.