International Game Technology

Dwight E Crevelt

Robert A Luciano, Jr

Logan L Pease

Eugene T Bond

Chris D Reddicks

Verne F Holmes, Jr

Marc D Foodman

Robert A Luciano

A gaming machine is disclosed which includes apparatus necessary to send requests to and receive authorizations from an EFT system. All such requests for credit are limited to a preset amount, so that when a player uses an EFT transfer to obtain playing credit, that credit will be limited to no more than a specified amount. In practice, the player inserts his or her ATM card (debit card), keys in a PIN number, requests playing credit, and receives the preset amount of credit which can be converted to plays on the gaming machine.

Preset amount electronic funds transfer system for gaming machines

A gaming machine includes apparatus necessary to send requests to and receive authorizations from an EFT system. All such requests for credit are limited to a preset amount, so that when a player uses an EFT transfer to obtain playing credit, that credit will be limited to no more than a specified amount. In practice, the player inserts his or her ATM card (debit card), keys in a PIN number, requests playing credit, and receives the preset amount of credit which can be converted to plays on the gaming machine.

A progressive gaming system with wide applicability to a potentially large number of players is provided. A three-level hierarchy can be used in which a portion of wagers and individual terminals are earmarked for contribution to a progressive jackpot, each casino is allotted one chance at a prize for each threshold amount of contribution and a win/loss decision is made, for each such chance, by a central computer system.

Progressive gaming system

Progressive gaming system and method for wide applicability

An automated casino gaming system includes a central game controller to which a number of automated writer stations are connected. In the keno playing embodiment disclosed, the automated writer stations each have a keypad with two colored LEDs mounted under each key. To play a game, patrons first insert a card into the automated writer station to identify their account maintained on the central game controller. The patron then enters a wager on the automated writer station. As the patron picks the desired numbers, LEDs of one color associated with the keys for the numbers will light. The patron presses a PLAY key to transmit an electronic 'ticket' to the central game controller. When the period for entering wagers has ended, the central game controller requests a random draw from a separate, secure random number generator. The central game controller credits the accounts of winning players according to a preconfigured pay table before transmitting the results to the automated writer stations, where the draw is displayed on the keypad one number at a time using a second color of LED. The system can be configured with a cutoff level, with wins above the cutoff level being flagged for handpayment or for the automatic generation of tax forms. Cashier workstations connected to the central game controller implement a total cash management system which tracks all transactions and determines the amount of cash that should be at each cashier station.

Growing community of inventors

Las Vegas, NV, United States of America

Dwight E Crevelt