(12) United States Patent
`Sanford et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
`*Nov. 24, 2015
`
`USOO919.6123B2
`
`(54) SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BALANCE
`TRANSFERS ASSOCATED WITH GAMING
`ENVIRONMENTS
`O
`O
`(71) Applicant: Sighties Interactive LLC, Las Vegas,
`(US)
`(72) Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Las Vegas, NV (US);
`Thomas M. Sears, Henderson, NV
`(US); Omer Sattar, Las Vegas, NV (US)
`O
`O
`(73) Assignee: Sightline Interactive LLC, Las Vegas,
`NV (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`past lst G adjusted under 35
`.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`This patent is Subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 14/326,527
`(22) Filed:
`Jul. 9, 2014
`9
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2014/0324680 A1
`Oct. 30, 2014
`
`(65)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 14/228,363,
`filed on Mar. 28, 2014, now Pat. No. 8,998,708, which
`is a continuation of application No. 14/033,493, filed
`on Sep. 22, 2013, now Pat. No. 8,708,809.
`(60) Provisional application No. 61/744,564, filed on Sep.
`28, 2012.
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`G07F 17/32
`G06O 50/34
`G06O20/22
`G06O20/36
`
`(2006.01)
`(2012.01)
`(2012.01)
`(2012.01)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC .......... G07F 17/3244 (2013.01); G06O20/227
`(2013.01); G06O20/3676 (2013.01); G06Q
`50/34 (2013.01); G07F 17/3255 (2013.01)
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC ......................................... 463/25; 705/39, 40
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`wkw
`
`aO (ca.
`
`5,902,983 A
`5/1999 Crevelt et al.
`6,508,710 B1
`1/2003 Paravia et al.
`233 R 38 sian r
`8,113,948 B1
`2/2012 Coronel
`8,201.229 B2
`6/2012 Ruppert et al.
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`“Sightline Payments Along With Industry Leading Partners
`Announces Loyalty Card Plus Prepaid Card for the Gaming Indus
`try': <http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201209260060917
`en; Sep. 26, 2012; 2 pages.
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner – Pierre E. Elisca
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Ulmer & Berne LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Systems and methods are disclosed for selectively increasing
`and decreasing the balances of gaming accounts and stored
`value accounts. Each of the gaming account and the stored
`value account are associated with a player. The stored value
`account is associated with a stored value payment vehicle that
`is issued to the player. Instructions for balance transfers can
`be provided by the player to a remote computing device.
`
`20 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`114
`
`PLAYER
`
`GAMING
`ACCOUNT
`
`STORED WALUE
`PAYMENT VEHICLE
`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 1
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`US 9,196,123 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`8,282.468 B2 10/2012 Huntley et al.
`8.333,653 B2 12/2012 Nyman et al.
`8,550,900 B2 10/2013 Walker et al.
`9,047,731 B2 *
`6/2015 Gagner et al. ........................ 1f1
`2001/0054003 A1 12/2001 Chien et al.
`2002/0152125 A1 * 10, 2002 Goedde ........................... 705/22
`2003, OOO3983 A1
`1/2003 Walker et al.
`2003/0236120 A1 12/2003 Reece et al.
`2004/025401.0 A1 12, 2004 Fine
`2005, OO33645 A1
`2/2005 Duphily
`2005.0054439 A1
`3/2005 Rowe et al.
`3882, A.
`123
`Water s al
`2006/021 1488 A1
`9, 2006 Walker et al.
`2006/0273155 A1 12, 2006 ThackSton
`2007/OOO4509 A1
`1/2007 Banton
`2008.0113776 A1
`5, 2008 Sommer
`
`6/2008 Lutnicket al.
`2008/0139306 A1
`2/2009 Patel et al.
`2009 OO48012 A1
`3/2010 Babi et al.
`2010/0076892 A1
`2011/0145139 A1* 6, 2011 Valdes et al. .................... 705/39
`2011 O151964 A1
`6, 2011 Race
`2011/0231314 A1
`9, 2011 Sears et al.
`2012/O123943 A1* 5, 2012 Potts et al. ...................... TO5/44
`2012/0142403 A1
`6, 2012 Prather et al.
`2012/0166265 A1
`6, 2012 Rowe et al.
`2012/019 1977 A1* 7, 2012 Foster et al. .................. 713/17O
`2013,0046675 A1* 2, 2013 Chiuli et al. ...
`705/37
`2013/0172075 A1* 7/2013 Gagner et al.
`... 463,25
`2013/03 11376 A1* 11/2013 Blair et al. ...................... TO5/44
`
`
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT Patent
`Application No. PCT/US2013,062074, mailed on Jul. 8, 2014, 11
`pageS.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 2
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
`Sheet 1 of 17
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
`
`-e-c:----------- Y,
`GAMINGENVIRONMENT
`
`
`
`114N PLAYER
`
`GAMING
`ACCOUNT
`
`STORED WALUE
`PAYMENT VEHICLE
`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 3
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
`Sheet 2 of 17
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
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`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 4
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
`
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`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 5
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
`Sheet 4 of 17
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
`
`
`
`GAMING
`ACCOUNT
`
`STORED WALUE
`PAYMENT VEHICLE
`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 6
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
`Sheet 5 Of 17
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
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`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 7
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
`Sheet 6 of 17
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
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`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 8
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
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`US 9,196,123 B2
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`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 9
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
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`US 9,196,123 B2
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`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 10
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`
`
`
`
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
`Sheet 9 Of 17
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
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`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 11
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
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`US 9,196,123 B2
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`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 12
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
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`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 13
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`
`
`
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
`Sheet 12 of 17
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`COMPUTING
`DEVICE
`
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`SOURCE1
`
`SOURCE2
`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 14
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
`Sheet 13 of 17
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
`
`
`
`LOAD FUNDS
`LOADJACKPOT
`WITHDRAW
`FUNDS
`SEARCH
`
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`APPROVED
`
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`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 15
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
`Sheet 14 of 17
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
`
`
`
`SEARCH
`
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`
`EXISTING CARD
`
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`
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`
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`DATE
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`AMOUNT
`
`FIG. 12
`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 16
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
`Sheet 15 of 17
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
`
`LOAD FUNDS
`
`LOADJACKPOT
`
`WITHDRAW
`FUNDS
`SEARCH
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`FUNDS FROM
`PREPAID
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`
`FIG. 13
`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 17
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
`Sheet 16 of 17
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
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`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 18
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 24, 2015
`
`Sheet 17 Of 17
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
`
`CASINOKIOSK
`
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`
`COMPUTING
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`
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`
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`CARD
`
`FIG. 16
`
`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 19
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`US 9,196,123 B2
`
`1.
`SYSTEMIS AND METHODS FOR BALANCE
`TRANSFERS ASSOCATED WITH GAMING
`ENVIRONMENTS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`10
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of prior applica
`tion U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/228,363, entitled
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADMINISTRATION
`OF NON-WAGERING ACCOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH
`GAMING ENVIRONMENT filed on Mar. 28, 2014, which
`is a continuation of prior application U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 14/033,493, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS
`FOR ADMINISTRATION OF NON-WAGERING
`15
`ACCOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH GAMING ENVIRON
`MENT filed Sep. 22, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,708,809,
`which claims priority to the disclosure of U.S. Provisional
`Patent Application Ser. No. 61/744,564, entitled “DUAL
`PREPAID/LOYALTY CARD FORGAMING, filed Sep. 28,
`2012, the disclosures of which are all incorporated herein by
`reference in their entirety.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Within gaming establishments, such as casinos, gaming
`devices are typically networked via a central computer. Such
`configuration allows for the gaming establishment to monitor
`a player's gameplay for tracking purposes. Gaming devices
`typically issue paper tickets that are redeemable for cash.
`These paper tickets can be redeemed either at assisted-service
`counters (i.e., a casino cage) or through self-service computer
`systems, sometimes called Ticket-In-Ticket-Out (TITO)
`machines. Drawbacks of using paper tickets, however, is that
`the players may very easily lose tickets, tickets can become
`destroyed or damaged, casinos incur cost from replenishing
`tickets, and casinos incur cost for maintaining ticket printers.
`Additionally, the use of tickets requires that operators of
`casinos ensure that sufficient amounts of cash are available on
`the gaming floor to accommodate redemptions at both the
`assisted-service counters and the TITO machines. Players
`wishing to play a table game at a casino typically first
`exchange cash for an amount of chips which can then be used
`for gaming. When the player wants to convert the chips back
`to the cash, the player typically exchanges their chips for an
`equivalent amount of cash at a cashier cage at the casino.
`Thus, in addition to ensure sufficient cash is available for
`ticket redemptions, operators of casinos must ensure also
`Sufficient amounts of cash are available at the cashier cage to
`accommodate player exchanging chips for cash. This process
`for routinely replenishing cash by the casino operator is both
`costly and burdensome.
`Additionally, in many gaming establishments players can
`register demographic information to obtain a player card,
`Sometimes referred to as a loyalty card. Typical player cards
`include a unique identifier that enables the casino to centrally
`track the players wagering activity. Applying the players
`historic activity, the gaming establishment can, for example,
`develop a targeted marketing campaign including promo
`tions, gifts, and advertisements. A problem with casino loy
`alty systems, however, is that they do not capture spending
`player activity that occurs in non-gaming environments, such
`the player's purchases at a merchant or the player's ATM
`activity.
`Therefore, the field can benefit from systems and methods
`providing cashless wagering and redemption, which provides
`advantages to both game players and casino operators. The
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`field can also benefit from systems and methods that conve
`niently allow a gaming establishment to track player gaming
`activity and player purchase activity, both inside and outside
`the casino, to associate Such activity with the player's loyalty
`profile.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`In an embodiment, the present disclosure is directed, in
`part, to a computer-based computer-based method of trans
`ferring funds between a stored value account and a gaming
`account. The method comprises receiving, by one or more
`processors, player credentials for a player, wherein the player
`credentials are associated with a player identifier and a gam
`ing account having a balance, wherein the player credentials
`were entered into a remote computing device. The method
`further comprises, based at least partially on the player iden
`tifier, identifying, by any of the one or more processors, a
`stored value account, wherein the stored value account is
`associated with a stored value payment vehicle issued to the
`player, and wherein a balance of the stored value account is
`maintained by an issuer processor computing system. The
`method further comprises receiving, by any of the one or
`more processors, a funding instruction, wherein the funding
`instruction identifies a balance amount to be transferred from
`the stored valued account to the gaming account, wherein the
`funding instruction was entered into the remote computing
`device. The method further comprises causing, by any of the
`one or more processors, a decrease of the balance of the stored
`value account and an increase of the balance of the gaming
`acCOunt.
`In another embodiment, the present disclosure is directed,
`in part, to a computer-based method of funding an account
`associated with a player. The method comprises receiving, by
`a transaction facilitator computing system, a load request,
`wherein the load request is initiated at an application executed
`on a remote computing device and comprises a request to
`fund a gaming account with player funds held by a stored
`value account associated with a stored value payment vehicle,
`wherein the gaming account has a balance amount. The
`method also comprises causing, by the transaction facilitator
`computing system, an increase of the balance amount of the
`gaming account based on an amount of funds requested in the
`load request.
`In another embodiment, the present disclosure is directed,
`in part, to a gaming account funding System. The gaming
`account funding system comprises a stored value payment
`vehicle issued to a player, wherein funds accessible by the
`stored value payment vehicle are maintained in a stored value
`account and are accessible through a payment network. The
`gaming account funding System also comprises a gaming
`account to hold funds for the player and a loyalty account
`assigned to the player, wherein the loyalty account is main
`tained by a customer management system, wherein the loy
`alty account assigned to the player is associated with the
`stored value account. The gaming account funding system
`also comprises at least one processor and non-transitory com
`puter readable medium having instructions stored thereon
`which when executed by a processor cause the processor to
`selectively increase and decrease funds held by the stored
`value account and the gaming account based on one funding
`commands provided by the player through an application
`executing on a remote computing device.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`It is believed that certain embodiments will be better under
`stood from the following description taken in conjunction
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`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 20
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`with the accompanying drawings, in which like references
`indicate similar elements and in which:
`FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an association between a
`stored value payment vehicle and a gaming account in accor
`dance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present dis- 5
`closure.
`FIG. 2A depicts an example system view and flow process
`utilizing the stored value payment vehicle of FIG. 1 in accor
`dance with one non-limiting embodiment.
`FIG. 2B depicts the system view and flow process of FIG. 10
`2A further comprising a casino level player account in accor
`dance with one non-limiting embodiment.
`FIGS. 3-4 are diagrammatic representations of associa
`tions between stored value payment vehicles and gaming
`accounts in accordance with various non-limiting embodi- 15
`mentS.
`FIG. 5 schematically illustrates example cash flows
`between example gaming accounts associated with a player
`and cash flows between the gaming accounts and stored value
`payment vehicle issued to the player in accordance with one 20
`non-limiting embodiment.
`FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of an example
`gaming system and flow process in accordance with one
`non-limiting embodiment.
`FIG. 7 is an example arrangement of a transaction facilita- 25
`tor interacting with a gaming environment and an issuer pro
`cessor computing system in accordance with one non-limit
`ing embodiment.
`FIG. 7A depicts an example system diagram that includes
`a computing device executing an application for facilitating 30
`balance transfers.
`FIG. 8 is an example arrangement for tracking and reward
`ing player activity in accordance with one non-limiting
`embodiment.
`FIG. 9 schematically illustrates various techniques for a 35
`player to load funds to a stored value account.
`FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of various com
`puting devices associated with a casino that are in communi
`cation with a transaction facilitator that performs various
`financial transactions associated with a stored value account 40
`managed by an issuer processor computing system.
`FIGS. 11-14 depict example simplified screen displays of
`the casino cage computing device of FIG. 10.
`FIG. 15 depicts an example user interface screen on a
`display of a computing device that is associated with an 45
`unattended casino kiosk.
`FIG. 16 depicts an example user interface screen on a
`display of a computing device that is associated with a casino
`gaming pit.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`50
`
`The presently disclosed system and methods can generally
`allow for gaming-related financial transactions. As described
`in more detail below, utilizing a financial facilitator, a player 55
`can selectively transfer funds between various types of gam
`ing accounts and an associated account. Such as a stored value
`account and/or a casino level player account. The stored value
`account can be a financial account that is maintained by an
`issuing financial institution, with funds in the stored value 60
`account accessible to the cardholder through an associated
`stored value payment vehicle using open-loop or closed-loop
`payment processing, for example. The stored value payment
`vehicle can be any Suitable payment vehicle. Such as a physi
`cal card, a virtual payment device, or have any other Suitable 65
`format. In some embodiments the stored value payment
`vehicle is a general purpose reloadable prepaid card.
`
`US 9,196,123 B2
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`4
`Gaming environments can utilize different types of gaming
`accounts, such as casino level player accounts and/or wager
`ing accounts. With regard to wagering accounts, some types
`of wagering accounts are regulated by jurisdictional gaming
`statutes. For the purposes of illustration, three different types
`of wagering accounts are described herein (internet gaming
`wagering accounts, brick-and-mortar wagering accounts, and
`race-and-sports wagering accounts), although this disclosure
`is not so limited. In fact, the systems and methods described
`herein are generally applicable to the transfer of between any
`Suitable wagering account and an associated Stored value
`account, or intermediary account, such as a casino level
`player account, as described below.
`As used herein, internet gaming wagering account (or
`iGaming wagering account), generally means an electronic
`ledger wherein the following types of transactions relative to
`internet or mobile gaming system are recorded: (a) deposits;
`(b) withdrawals; (c) amounts wagered; (d) amounts paid on
`winning wagers; (e) service or other transaction-related
`charges authorized by the patron; and (f) adjustments to the
`acCOunt.
`As used herein, brick-and-mortar wagering account gen
`erally means an electronicledgerfor a brick-and-mortar cash
`less wagering system patron deposit account wherein the
`following types of transactions are recorded to and from
`gaming devices (i.e., slots): (a) deposits and withdrawals of
`cash or cash equivalents at a designated area of accountabil
`ity; (b) deposits initiated with a debit instrument; (c) wagering
`account transfers to and from gaming devices; (d) wagering
`account adjustments.
`As used herein, race-and-sports wagering account gener
`ally means an electronic ledger wherein the following types
`of transactions relative to sports and non-pari-mutuel race
`wagers are recorded: (a) deposits; (b) withdrawals; (c)
`amounts wagered; (d) amounts paid on winning wagers; (e)
`amounts paid for horse racing-related services or merchan
`dise, (f) service or other transaction-related charges autho
`rized by the patron; and (g) adjustments to the account.
`As described in more detail below, a financial facilitator
`can generally direct or enable transactions with the issuing
`financial institution to affect the increasing and decreasing of
`an account balance of the stored value account. A financial
`facilitator can also generally direct or enable transactions
`with a computing System that manages a gaming account of a
`gaming environment to affect the increasing and decreasing
`of an account balance of the gaming account. The issuing
`financial institution can also receive communications related
`to the stored value account in a traditional fashion via an open
`system from merchants through existing bank card networks.
`Such communications can authorize? decline purchases using
`funds held in the stored value account.
`In some embodiments, a player can be associated with a
`unique player identifier that can be used by a casino or other
`gaming environment to identify a particular player. Such a
`player identifier may be issued Subsequent to the player
`enrolling in a casino loyalty program, for example. In some
`cases, the unique player identifier is embossed on a player
`card, Sometimes referred to as a loyalty card, or is otherwise
`accessible or presentable by a player. In some embodiments,
`the player identifier can be a graphical code, Such as a quick
`response (QR) code displayable on a mobile computing
`device or the player identifier can be a barcode printed on a
`keychain fob or other substrate. In any event, the player
`identifier can be provided to a gaming device or casino rep
`resentative to enable the casino to centrally track the players
`wagering activity. The player identifier is linked by the issu
`ingentity (such as a casino) a loyalty profile that can be stored
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`EVERI EX. 1034; Page 21
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`5
`or otherwise maintained by customer relationship software
`that is maintained by the casino or on behalf of the casino by
`an affiliated service provider.
`As described in more detail below, a player identifier for a
`particular player can be linked to, or otherwise associated
`with, a stored value account held by a financial institution and
`accessible by the particular player. Such a linkage or associa
`tion offers a variety of benefits, both to players and an asso
`ciated casino. For example, in one example implementation,
`a player can interact with a gaming device (such as a slot
`machine) by providing a player identifier to the device. In
`Some cases, additional credentials, such as a PIN or password,
`can be provided by the player. Through network communi
`cations, the gaming device can communicate with various
`computing platforms. Such as a slot management system and/
`or casino management system, which generally may be
`referred to as a casino computing system, to authenticate the
`player's identity. Once authenticated, the player can selec
`tively access funds that are maintained in the stored value
`account of an issuing financial institution for use at the gam
`ing device. The casino computing system can communicate
`with a transaction facilitator (Such as through API-calls, or
`other Suitable communication techniques) to provide the
`information to identify the player that is seeking to access
`funds. In one embodiment, a player identifier of the player is
`provided to the transaction facilitator. As described in more
`detail below, the player identifier can be the loyalty account
`number or other type of identifier. The transaction facilitator,
`in turn, can determine a stored value account associated with
`that player and, through closed network communications
`with the issuing financial institution, dispatch appropriate
`messaging to debit the stored value account. Indication of a
`Successful debit can be provided to the casino computing
`system by the transaction facilitator. The casino computing
`system can then credita one or more gaming accounts of the
`player to increase their available balance. Funds, in the form
`of gaming credits, can then be distributed to the gaming
`device (sometimes referred to as a wagering account transfer
`in “WAT in'). At a laterpoint in time, when the player wishes
`to "cash out the credits of the gaming device can be trans
`ferred to a gaming account (sometimes referred to as a wager
`ing account transfer out “WAT out”). Once received into the
`gaming account, the gaming credits can be converted to a
`fund amount and used to credit the stored value account, held
`in the gaming account, or even transferred to another gaming
`acCOunt.
`In some embodiments, various transfers described below
`can be performed in Substantially real-time. As used herein,
`Substantially real-time means generally less than about 20
`minutes, generally less than about 10 minutes, generally less
`that about 5 minutes, generally less than about 1 minutes, or
`generally less than about 30 seconds. Therefore, in the
`example described above, Subsequent to the player "cashing
`out', the funds transferred to the stored value account can be
`accessible to make purchases using the associated Stored
`value payment vehicle in Substantially real-time
`The stored value payment vehicle can be, for example, a
`general purpose reloadable card (sometimes referred to as a
`GPR card) that is an open-loop payment vehicle. Being an
`open loop payment vehicle, it is associated with a bank card
`network (MASTERCARD, VISA, DISCOVER, and so forth)
`and can generally be used at any merchant or ATM accepting
`payment cards associated with the bank card network. Open
`loop transactions seeking authorization from funds of the
`stored value account send authorization requests to the issu
`ing financial institution through an open bank card network.
`In accordance with the systems and methods disclosed herein,
`
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`US 9,196,123 B2
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`10
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`15
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`6
`using secured communication links, the issuing financial
`institution can provide a financial facilitator with information
`based on Stored value card transactions. The financial facili
`tator can determine a player identifier associated with that
`stored value account and then provide reporting to the casino
`computing system. This reporting can be used, for example,
`to Supplement or update a loyalty profile of a player based on
`the increased knowledge about the player gained from track
`ing their spending.
`Embodiments are hereinafter described in detail in connec
`tion FIGS. 1-16, wherein like numbers indicate the same or
`corresponding elements throughout the figures. It is noted
`that reference throughout the specification to “various
`embodiments.” “some embodiments.” “one embodiment.”
`“some example embodiments.” “one example embodiment.”
`or “an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure,
`or characteristic described in connection with the embodi
`ment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appear
`ances of the phrases “in various embodiments.” “in some
`embodiments.” “in one embodiment.” “some example
`embodiments.” “one example embodiment, or “in an embodi
`ment' in places throughout the specification are not neces
`sarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the
`particular features, structures or characteristics may be com
`bined in any Suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
`FIG. 1 is a schematically illustrates an association between
`a stored value payment vehicle 116 and a gaming account 188
`in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
`The gaming account 188 can be associated with a gaming
`environment 102. As used herein, gaming environment can
`refer to, without limitation, a brick-and-mortar casino and/or
`an online or virtual casino. In some cases, the gaming envi
`ronment also extends to entities or services, such as third
`party computer systems generally controlled by or operated
`on behalf of a casino operator. FIG. 2A depicts an example
`system view and flow process 100 utilizing the stored value
`payment vehicle 116 in accordance with one non-limiting
`embodiment.
`Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2A, a player 114 can be issued
`the stored value payment vehicle 116 that is associated with a
`stored value account 128 maintained by an issuer processor
`computing system 126. The issuer processor computing sys
`tem 126 can be a system used to maintain and/or process
`transactions associated with the stored value payment vehicle
`116 and the stored value account 128. The stored value pay
`ment vehicle 116 can be a physical card, a virtual card, or any
`other suitable type of vehicle. In some embodiments, the
`stored value payment vehicle 116 is a general purpose reload
`able card (sometimes referred to as a prepaid card). The stored
`value payment vehicle 116 can be an “open-loop card, which
`a consumer can use anywhere that accepts payment from a
`retail electronic payments network associated with the stored
`value payment vehicle, such as MASTERCARD, VISA, DIS
`COVER, and so forth, as discussed above. The stored value
`payment vehicle 116 can be a “closed-loop card', which a
`consumer can use at particular merchant locations, for
`example. The player 114 can fund (i.e., increase the available
`balance) the stored value account 128 through traditional
`techniques, such as by transfers funds from a demand acces