Gaming system with rewritable display card and LCD input display for reading same

A method of administering a wager based gaming event, comprising:

• permitting a player at the location of said gaming event to check in with a player tracking instrument;
• reading said player tracking instrument through a display device having a display and read region, wherein said display device is adapted both to display gaming related information and to read player related information through said display and read region;
• associating information read from said player tracking instrument with an account assigned to said player;
• allowing funds from said account assigned to said player to be available to said player for the play of said gaming event;
• accepting a wager from said player for the play of said gaming event at said gaming event location, wherein at least a portion of said wager involves funds from said account assigned to said player;
• and
• playing said gaming event at said gaming event location.

A gaming system for use in conjunction with gaming events involving the placement of wagers, the play of games, and the possibility of monetary awards based upon the outcomes of the games, the gaming system comprising:

• a computer server adapted to facilitate the tracking of information associated with a plurality of said gaming events;
• a gaming device in communication with said computer server and adapted for use in association with one or more of said plurality of gaming events, wherein said gaming device includes a display panel having a display and read region adapted both to display gaming related information therethrough and to read player related information therethrough;
• a plurality of player tracking instruments for use by one or more players within said gaming system, wherein at least one of said plurality of player tracking instruments contains a radio frequency identification tag therein and a rewritable display thereupon;
• and
• a radio frequency communication device in communication with said gaming device and adapted to communicate via radio frequency waves with one or more of said plurality of player tracking instruments.

An electronic gaming machine adapted for accepting wagers, playing games thereupon and granting monetary awards, comprising:

• a master gaming controller adapted to provide one or more gaming events at said electronic gaming machine and control a plurality of functions associated with the operation of said electronic gaming machine;
• an external cabinet defining an interior region of said electronic gaming machine, said external cabinet adapted to house a plurality of gaming machine components within or about said interior region;
• at least one display device located within or about said external cabinet, said at least one display device having a display and read region adapted to display gaming related information therethrough and to scan player related information from a substantially flat surface of a player tracking instrument therethrough;
• a communication link or path between said master gaming controller and said at least one display device;
• a radio frequency communication device located within or about said external cabinet, said radio frequency communication device being adapted to communicate via radio frequency waves with said player tracking instrument;
• and
• a communication link or path between said master gaming controller and said radio frequency communication device.