Electronic transaction access system and method using a player tracker card
A electronic transaction access system and method using a player tracker card is provided in which a player tracker card issued by a casino may be used as an access device for an electronic transaction. The electronic transaction that may be accessed using the player tracker card may include, for example, an electronic check cashing transaction, a check cashing transaction, a debit transaction, a credit card cash advance transaction or an ATM transaction.
The invention relates to a financial transaction access system and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPlayer tracker cards that permit a casino to track the gambling of a particular player are well known. Typically, the user is encouraged to use the player tracker card since a casino will offer discounted rooms and other benefits based on the use of the player tracker card. In typical use, the player tracker card is only used to track a user's gaming activities in the casino. However, it would be desirable to provide a method so that the player tracker card may also be used to perform an electronic transaction so that the player tracker card then serves an additional beneficial purpose.
The use of automatic teller machine (ATM) access and/or debit cards is widespread. The ATM cards permit the holder of the card to access an ATM anywhere once the holder of the card enters an access code (sometimes known as a personal identification number (PIN)). A debit card permits the holder to purchase an item and withdraw the money to pay for the item directly from their checking or savings account when an access code is entered. It is desirable to permit a user to access these types of financial transactions using another card, such as a player tracker card.
The use of check cashing services is also well known and widespread. During a check cashing transaction, the person holding a check submits the check (or does so electronically in an electronic check transaction) to an entity that then pays him the amount of the check. It is desirable to permit a user to access these types of financial transactions using another card, such as a player tracker card. Thus, it is desirable to provide an electronic transaction access system and method using a player tracker card and it is to this end that the present invention is directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn electronic transaction access system and method are provided in which a player tracker card is used to access the electronic transaction. A player tracker card is a card issued by an entity, such as a casino, to track a player's activities/gaming while at the property, such as the casino and then often used for redemption of services within the casino's environment (such as comps, meals, bonuses, hotel stays, gifts, etc.) The player tracker card is typically not used for any other functions. However, in accordance with the invention, the player tracker card may also be used to provide access to an electronic transaction wherein the electronic transaction may be a check cashing transaction, a credit card cash advance transaction, a debit transaction or an automatic teller machine (ATM) transaction. In a preferred embodiment, the electronic transaction is an electronic check cashing transaction. In addition, the electronic transaction access system and method may be used to access a transaction in an establishment/business that is not related to the casino. For example, the player tracker card may be used to conduct a retail POS transaction at a store not connected with the casino that issued the player tracker card so that the casino may generate revenue from the retail POS transaction in accordance with the invention.
The electronic transaction access system and method may include a reader device and financial transaction system. The reader device is able to read a piece of information contained on a player tracker card wherein the information may include access data for a financial transaction. In accordance with the invention, the access data may include one or more of a password, an account number and a personal identification number (PIN.)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is particularly applicable to an electronic cash checking transaction that is accessible using a player tracker card and it is in this context that the invention will be described. It will be appreciated, however, that the system and method in accordance with the invention has greater utility since the player tracker card may also be used to access other types of transactions including but not limited to a check cashing transaction, a debit transaction, a credit card cash advance transaction or an ATM transaction. Prior to describing the electronic transaction access system and method using player tracker card in accordance with the invention, a typical player tracker system is described.
In accordance with the invention, the electronic transaction system using the player tracker card does not require that a PIN is used for each type of transaction. However, it is understood that the PIN may be used. In most cases, the system may instead require an identification check of the player that holds the player tracking card wherein the identification check is performed by the cashier/retail store clerk when a transaction using the player tracker card occurs.
While the foregoing has been with reference to a particular embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes in this embodiment may be made without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A system for accessing an electronic transaction, comprising:
- a reader device that reads a piece of information contained on a player tracker card, the piece of information including a piece of access data for a financial transaction, the reader device located at a cashier's location of a casino; and
- a financial transaction system that performs a financial transaction using an account wherein the financial transaction is authorized by the piece of access data contained on the player tracker card.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial transaction is an electronic check cashing transaction.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial transaction is a credit card cash advance transaction.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial transaction is a debit transaction.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial transaction further comprises an automatic teller machine transaction.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the piece of access data further comprises an account number.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial transaction system further comprises an entry pad wherein a personal identification number is entered into the entry pad in order to authorize the financial transaction.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader device further comprises a player tracking card reader and a check reader.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the financial transaction may be authorized based on the scanning of a check by the check reader.
10. A method for performing a financial transaction, comprising:
- reading a piece of data from a player tracker card at a location of a cashier;
- determining an identity of the player based on the data contained on the player tracker card;
- executing a financial transaction at the location of the cashier based on the data contained on the player tracker card; and
- providing at item of value to the player based on the executed financial transaction.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the financial transaction is an electronic check cashing transaction.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the financial transaction is a credit card cash advance transaction.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the financial transaction is a debit transaction.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the financial transaction further comprises an automatic teller machine transaction.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the piece of data further comprises an account number.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein executing the financial transaction further comprises receiving a personal identification number from the user to authorize the financial transaction.
17. The method of claim 10, wherein executing the financial transaction further comprises checking an identification of the user prior to authorizing the financial transaction.
18. The method of claim 10, wherein the item of value further comprises cash.
19. The method of claim 10, wherein the item of value further comprises chips.
20. A system for accessing an electronic transaction, comprising:
- a reader device that reads a piece of information contained on a player tracker card, the piece of information including a piece of access data for a financial transaction, the reader device being located at a location outside of a casino that issued the player tracker card; and
- a financial transaction system that performs a financial transaction using an account wherein the financial transaction is authorized by the piece of access data contained on the player tracker card wherein the financial transaction is a retail purchase that occurs outside of the casino.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the piece of access data further comprises an account number.
22. The system of claim 20, wherein the financial transaction system further comprises an entry pad wherein a personal identification number is entered into the entry pad in order to authorize the financial transaction.
23. The system of claim 20, wherein the reader device further comprises a player tracking card reader and a check reader.
24. The system of claim 20 further comprising a player tracking system with a database containing a player record wherein the player record is associated with the player tracker card and wherein the player record has a plurality of points attributed to the player based on activities in the casino and wherein the financial transaction system is coupled to the player tracking system so that points are deducted from the player record based on the retail purchase.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 18, 2005
Publication Date: Mar 15, 2007
Inventors: Scott Yankton (La Mesa, CA), Shanna Howatt (La Mesa, CA)
Application Number: 11/208,100
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);