Cardless distributed video gaming system

摘要

A distributed players' club network comprised of a plurality of games positioned in a plurality of locations that are interconnected by a wide area network to a central computer which has files for each player who has enrolled to play in a bonus club system. The gaming machines have communication devices which send information to the central computer indicative of a player playing at the game and also receive information from the central computer. The communication devices are configured to allow the player to enroll directly at the game by selecting a member ID number and a personal identification number which are then transmitted to the central computer causing the central computer to open a file for the particular player. Further, the gaming machine provides information to a processor within the communication device while the player is playing the game and the processor, in conjunction with the central computer, determines whether the player is entitled to receive a bonus award based upon his or her play. In the event that the player is entitled to a bonus award, this award can be distributed to the player by adding credits to the gaming machine.