Retrofit devices for providing virtual ticket-in and ticket-out on a gaming machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016284166-A1
Application number	US-201615178351-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 9, 2016
Priority date	Sep 9, 2011
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can include electronic gaming machines that are compatible to receive both virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that are redeemable for credits on the electronic gaming machines. Information associated with a virtual ticket voucher can be stored on a patron-controlled portable electronic device and then can be wireless transmitted to the electronic gaming machines. The electronic gaming machines can be configured to issue virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for cash or additional game play on another electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, the electronic gaming machine can be configured to issue a virtual ticket voucher to a patron-controlled portable electronic device.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1 . A player tracking device comprising:
a processor; and a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor when the processor is in communication with a cashless handling system, cause the processor to:
(a) wirelessly receive, from a mobile device, data associated with a cashless wagering account accessed via a mobile device application of the mobile device,
(b) request, from the cashless handling system, an amount of funds from the cashless wagering account, said amount of funds being determined in association with the mobile device application of the mobile device, and
(c) if the requested amount of funds is approved from the cashless handling system:
(i) cause a modification of a credit balance of a gaming machine based on the requested amount of funds, and
(ii) wireless transmit, to the mobile device, data associated with a fund transfer confirmation to be displayed by the mobile device.

2 . The player tracking device of claim 1 , which includes a display device configured to display a player tracking interface.

3 . The player tracking device of claim 1 , wherein the player tracking interface includes at least one of: a service window, a status indicator, an electronic cash-out button and an electronic cash-in button.

4 . The player tracking device of claim 1 , wherein the wirelessly received data is associated with a loyalty program account accessed via the mobile device application of the mobile device.

5 . The player tracking device of claim 1 , wherein the data is wirelessly received from and wirelessly transmitted to the mobile device via a wireless protocol selected from the group consisting of: a near field communication protocol, a WiFi protocol, a Bluetooth protocol, and a mobile device network protocol.

6 . A player tracking device comprising:
a processor; and a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor when the processor is in communication with a cashless handling system, cause the processor to:
(a) wirelessly receive, from a mobile device, data associated with a request to cashout a credit balance of a gaming machine to a cashless wagering account accessed via a mobile device application of the mobile device,
(b) wirelessly transmit, to the cashless handling system, an amount of the credit balance of the gaming machine,
(c) cause a modification of the credit balance of the gaming machine based on the amount wireless transmitted to the cashless handling system, and
(d) wireless transmit, to the mobile device, data associated with a fund transfer confirmation to be displayed by the mobile device.

7 . The player tracking device of claim 6 , which includes a display device configured to display a player tracking interface.

8 . The player tracking device of claim 6 , wherein the player tracking interface includes at least one of: a service window, a status indicator, an electronic cash-out button and an electronic cash-in button.

9 . The player tracking device of claim 6 , wherein the wirelessly received data is associated with a loyalty program account accessed via the mobile device application of the mobile device.

10 . The player tracking device of claim 6 , wherein the data is wirelessly received from and wirelessly transmitted to the mobile device via a wireless protocol selected from the group consisting of: a near field communication protocol, a WiFi protocol, a Bluetooth protocol, and a mobile device network protocol.

11 . A gaming system comprising:
a player tracking device including:
a player tracking device processor; and
a player tracking device memory device which stores a plurality of player tracking device instructions, which when executed by the player tracking device processor, cause the player tracking device processor to:
(a) wirelessly receive, from a mobile device, data associated with a cashless wagering account accessed via a mobile device application of the mobile device,
(b) request, from a cashless handling system, an amount of funds from the cashless wagering account, said amount of funds being determined in association with the mobile device application of the mobile device, and
(c) if the requested amount of funds is approved from the cashless handling system:
(i) cause a modification of a credit balance based on the requested amount of funds, and
(ii) wireless transmit, to the mobile device, data associated with a fund transfer confirmation to be displayed by the mobile device; and

a gaming machine configured to communicate with the player tracking device, said gaming machine including:
a gaming machine display device;
a gaming machine input device;
a gaming machine processor; and
a gaming machine memory device which stores a plurality of gaming machine instructions, which when executed by the gaming machine processor if a wager is placed in association with a play of a game, cause the gaming machine processor to operate with the gaming machine display device, and the gaming machine input device to:
(a) deduct the placed wager from the credit balance,
(b) determine a game outcome,
(c) display the determined game outcome,
(d) determine any award associated with the determined game outcome, and
(e) display any determined award associated with the determined game outcome.

12 . The gaming system of claim 11 , wherein the player tracking device includes a player tracking device display device configured to display a player tracking interface.

13 . The gaming system of claim 11 , wherein the player tracking interface includes at least one of: a service window, a status indicator, an electronic cash-out button and an electronic cash-in button.

14 . The gaming system of claim 11 , wherein the wirelessly received data is associated with a loyalty program account accessed via the mobile device application of the mobile device.

15 . The gaming system of claim 11 , wherein the data is wirelessly received from and wirelessly transmitted to the mobile device via a wireless protocol selected from the group consisting of: a near field communication protocol, a WiFi protocol, a Bluetooth protocol, and a mobile device network protocol.

16 . A gaming system comprising:
a gaming machine including:
a gaming machine display device;
a gaming machine input device;
a gaming machine processor; and
a gaming machine memory device which stores a plurality of gaming machine instructions, which when executed by the gaming machine processor if a wager is placed in association with a play of a game, cause the gaming machine processor to operate with the gaming machine display device, and the gaming machine input device to:
(a) deduct the placed wager from a credit balance,
(b) determine a game outcome,
(c) display the determined game outcome,
(d) determine any award associated with the determined game outcome, and
(e) display any determined award associated with the determined game outcome; and

a player tracking device configured to communicate with the gaming machine, said player tracking device including:
a player tracking device processor; and
a player tracking device memory device which stores a plurality of player tracking device instructions, which when executed by the player tracking device processor, cause the player tracking device processor to:
(a) wirelessly receive, from a mobile device, data associated with a request to cashout the credit balance to a cashless wagering account accessed via a mobile device application of the mobile device,
(b) w

Assignees

• Igt Reno Nev

Inventors

• Nelson Dwayne R
• Lemay Steven G
• Vasquez Jim A
• Gowin Scott T

Classifications

• G06Q20/0457 Primary

  the tickets being sent electronically · CPC title

• G07F17/3223

  Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, leader-follower, wireless communication · CPC title

• G07F17/3244

  Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes · CPC title

• G07F17/3251 Primary

  involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens · CPC title

• G06Q30/0226

  Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems · CPC title