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 player's wagering activity. Applying the player's historic activity, the gaming establishment can, for example, develop a targeted marketing campaign including promotions, gifts, and advertisements. A problem with casino loyalty 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 field can also benefit from systems and methods that conveniently 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 method of transferring funds between a stored value account and a gaming account. The method comprises receiving, by one or more computing devices, a player identifier of a player, wherein the player identifier is associated with a gaming account having a balance maintained by a casino computing system. The method also comprises identifying, by any of the one or more computing devices, a stored value account based at least partially on the player identifier, wherein the stored value account is associated with a non-reloadable stored value payment vehicle linked to the player, and wherein a balance of the stored value account is maintained by an issuer processor computing system. The method also comprises instructing, by any of the one or more computing devices, the issuer processor computing system to decrease the balance of the stored value account. The method also comprises instructing, by any of the one or more computing devices, the casino computing system to increase the balance of the gaming account with non-cashable credits.

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 comprises a request to load player funds to a stored value account associated with a non-reloadable stored value payment vehicle, wherein the stored value account has a balance amount that is maintained by an issuer processor computing system. The method comprises receiving, by the transaction facilitator computing system, player funds information, wherein the player funds information comprises at least a total value of the player funds. The method comprises instructing, by the transaction facilitator computing system, the issuer processor computing system to increase the balance amount of the stored value account based on the total value of the player funds, wherein non-reloadable stored value payment vehicle is linked to a loyalty account of the player.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure is directed, in part, to a system for a gaming environment comprising a non-reloadable stored value payment vehicle linked 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 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 maintained by a customer management system, wherein the loyalty account assigned to the player is associated with the stored value account. The system also comprises at least one processor and non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by a processor cause the processor to selectively cause the funds maintained in the stored value account to be decreased and selectively cause the funds held by the gaming account to be increased, wherein the funds are available to the player as non-cashable credits.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure is directed, in part, to a computer-based method of player tracking, the method performed by one or more computing devices comprising instructions stored in a memory, which when executed by one or more processors of the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform the method comprising associating in computer memory of the one or more computing devices, a stored value account of a player with a player identifier of a gaming environment, wherein the stored value account holds funds accessible through use of a non-reloadable card associated with a bank card network, wherein the non-reloadable card is usable for open-loop payment transactions at any of a plurality of merchants unaffiliated with the gaming environment and each associated with the bank card network. The method also comprises receiving transaction-related information associated with the access of the funds held by the stored value account of the player based on use of the general purpose reloadable card for an open-loop payment transaction at one of the plurality of merchants unaffiliated with the gaming environment and each associated with the bank card network. The method also comprises generating a player intelligence report based at least partially on the transaction-related information, wherein the player intelligence report comprises the player identifier and identifies the merchant at which the non-reloadable card was used for the open-loop payment transaction.

