Player tracking and identification system

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the game is a slot machine wherein the player plays the game by inputting a wager into the machine, the method including sensing each wager made by the player during play of the machine and generating signals corresponding thereto, sending the wager corresponding signals to said data processor, said data processor matching the wagering signals to the player's file to track the wagering by the player at the machine.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 the game is a slot machine wherein the player plays the game by inputting a wager into the machine, the method including locating a camera on the machine at a position to scan the player playing the machine to acquire the image data of the player.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 further including giving the player an instrument including machine readable player identifying data, storing in the memory of the data processor files data corresponding to each player assigned an instrument, locating the instrument at an instrument reader at the game played by the player, said reader sending data signals to the data processor corresponding to the readable identifying data, said data processor comparing the data signals sent which correspond to the readable identifying data and image data to identify the player and his data file and confirm allocation of parameter data to a player's file.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 further including inputting and storing reference informational data from each player including player identification image data and matching the image data into the memory of a data processor to form a library of files of identified players and their corresponding physical identification images, comparing the inputted physical image identification data to any previously acquired image data files assigned a doe identification and if there is a match, said processor allocating all game parameters previously allocated to the corresponding doe file to the corresponding player file.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 including sending wagering data as the parameter of play.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 including sending wagering data per unit time as the parameter of play.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 including storing the physical identification data as data corresponding to the facial image of the player.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 including storing the physical identification data as data corresponding to the characteristics of the player's eyes.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 including storing the physical identification data as data corresponding to an infrared image of the player's face.

Claim 14

In a system for allocating to a player account the wagering activity of said player playing an electronic gaming device of the type having adapted to generate bet data representative of each wager made by the player, a player tracking processor, a memory structure including for each player an account file including personal data to identify the player and historical wagering activity data for the player, means for identifying each machine and communicating the bet data to the tracking processor and means for allocating the bet data to a player's account for recording said historical wagering activity, the improvement comprising: a player-identifying data processor having for each player a memory structure including (i) digital physical image data of said player and (ii) corresponding player identification data; an image acquirer at each machine to acquire image data of the player playing the machine corresponding to said stored image data; a first data link to transmit said acquired image data to said player-identifying data processor; means for generating a signal identifying the machine which is the source of the acquired image data; said player-identifying data processor including means for comparing the acquired image data to the image data of the memory structure to determine if the acquired image data corresponds to the stored image data to identify the player; means for the player-identifying data processor to communicate with the player tracking processor; and means for, if the player is identified, directing the bet data from the identified machine to the identified player's account file, whereby tracking of the player wagering activity is enabled without active entry of personal player data at the time of play by either player or casino personnel or by a player identification card.

Claim 15

In a system for allocating to a player account the wagering activity of said player playing an electronic gaming device of the type having adapted to generate bet data representative of each wager made by the player, a player tracking processor, a memory structure including for each player an account file including personal data to identify the player and historical wagering activity data for the player, means for identifying each machine and communicating the bet data to the tracking processor and means for allocating the bet data to a player's account for recording said historical wagering activity, the improvement comprising: a player-identifying data processor having for each player a memory structure including (i) digital physical image data of said player and (ii) corresponding player identification data; an image acquirer at each machine to acquire image data of the player playing the machine corresponding to said stored image data; a first data link to transmit said acquired image data to said player-identifying data processor; means for generating a signal identifying the machine which is the source of the acquired image data; said player-identifying data processor including means for comparing the acquired image data to the image data of the memory structure to determine if the acquired image data corresponds to the stored image data to identify the player; means for the player-identifying data processor to communicate with the player tracking processor; and means for, if the player is identified, directing the bet data from the identified machine to the identified player's account file, whereby tracking of the player wagering activity is enabled without active entry of personal player data at the time of play by either player or casino personnel or by a player identification card.