Abstract: Gaming machines connected to a network each have a smart card reader and an internal memory for receiving electronic tokens downloaded from the smart cards. In a secure room of a casino, there are a number of card readers containing smart cards having an appropriate memory size. These external card readers are connected to the various gaming machines via the network to provide secure financial transactions over the network. Whenever the electronic token balance of a gaming machine's internal memory exceeds a configurable upper limit, the balance is automatically reduced to a default level by the gaming machine transferring the excess money to an idle external smart card. Whenever the electronic token balance of a gaming machine's internal memory falls below a configurable lower limit, the balance is automatically increased to a default level by the gaming machine transferring the money from an idle external smart card.

Abstract: A tournament server intermittently initiates a tournament for any number of gaming machines connected to a network. An operator sets the parameters of the tournament, such as the scheduling, the criteria for winning, and the awards. The tournament server controls a display, such as an overhead display or a display on each gaming machine. The tournament server receives pay-in/pay-out data or any other relevant data from the gaming machines and determines the rankings of the players. At the end of the tournament, the winning player is awarded a prize. The tournament server and tournament technique can be implemented without reconfiguring the gaming machines, and a variety of types of gaming machines by different manufacturers may participate in the same tournament.

Abstract: Gaming machines connected to a network each have a smart card reader and an internal memory for receiving electronic tokens downloaded from the smart cards. In a secure room of a casino, there are a number of card readers containing smart cards having an appropriate memory size. These external card readers are connected to the various gaming machines via the network to provide secure financial transactions over the network. Whenever the electronic token balance of a gaming machine's internal memory exceeds a configurable upper limit, the balance is automatically reduced to a default level by the gaming machine transferring the excess money to an idle external smart card. Whenever the electronic token balance of a gaming machine's internal memory falls below a configurable lower limit, the balance is automatically increased to a default level by the gaming machine transferring the money from an idle external smart card.