Dealer and gaming apparatus control system for gaming establishments

A computer-implemented method for managing dealer operation of a wager-based gaming apparatus, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving a dealer login request from a dealer seeking to serve as dealer at the wager-based gaming apparatus;
• (b) determining whether the dealer is authenticated;
• (c) determining whether operation of the wager-based gaming apparatus by the dealer complies with a management schedule;
• and
• (d) automatically permitting the dealer to serve as dealer of the wager-based gaming apparatus provided that (i) the determining determines that the dealer is authenticated and (ii) the determining determines that operation of the wager-based gaming apparatus by the dealer complies with a management schedule;
• and
• (e) automatically denying the dealer to serve as the dealer of the wager-based gaming apparatus by initiating automatic activation of an electronic lock of one or more gaming support appliances associated with the wager-based gaming apparatus, provided that (i) the determining determines that the dealer is not authenticated or (ii) the determining determines that operation of the wager-based gaming apparatus by the dealer does not comply with a management schedule.

A computer readable non-transitory medium including at least computer program code tangibly stored therein for managing dealer operation of a wager-based gaming apparatus, the computer readable medium comprising:

• computer program code for receiving a dealer login request from a dealer seeking to serve as dealer at the wager-based gaming apparatus;
• computer program code for determining whether the dealer is authenticated;
• computer program code for determining whether operation of the wager-based gaming apparatus by the dealer complies with a management schedule;
• computer program code for permitting the dealer to serve as dealer of the wager-based gaming apparatus provided that the computer program code for determining determines that the dealer is authenticated and provided that the computer program code for determining determines that operation of the wager-based gaming apparatus by the dealer complies with a management schedule;
• and
• computer program code for automatically denying the dealer to serve as the dealer of the wager-based gaming apparatus initiating automatic activation of an electronic lock of one or more gaming support appliances associated with the wager-based gaming apparatus provided that the computer program code for determining determines that the dealer is not authenticated or that the computer program code for determining determines that operation of the wager-based gaming apparatus by the dealer does not comply with a management schedule.