Pulltab/bingo controller

Abstract

The present invention provides a gaming network device that maintains pools of game determinations and provides ticket authorization and validation services. In some embodiments of the invention, the network device electronically distributes the game determinations to gaming machines. In other embodiments, the network device prints tickets, or authorizes the printing of tickets, that indicate game determinations and the tickets are input to gaming machines to display corresponding game outcomes. Preferably, the network device also determines whether to approve cashout requests. In some embodiments, the network device may be implemented in a gaming machine or a cashout kiosk.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to game playing methods for gaming machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing Class II games, such as pulltab games, lottery games and bingo games, on a gaming machine. [0002] Playing games of chance on gaming machines, such as slot machines and video poker machines, has proven to be a very popular form of entertainment. After game play has been initiated, the gaming machine indicates a game outcome, presents the game outcome to the player and may dispense an award of some type depending on the outcome of the game. A game outcome presentation may utilize many different visual and audio components such as flashing lights, music, sounds and graphics. The visual and audio components of the game outcome presentation may be used to draw a player's attention to various game features and to heighten the player's interest in additional game play. [0003] A traditional pulltab game...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a gaming network device that can maintain a pool of game determinations and provide ticket authorization and validation services. The device can electronically distribute game determinations to gaming machines and print tickets that indicate game outcomes. The device can also determine whether to approve cashout requests. The network device can be implemented in a gaming machine or a cashout kiosk. The invention also provides a gaming method that involves maintaining a local pool of game determinations, communicating with a local network device to obtain a game determination, issuing a game ticket that includes the game determination to a player, displaying a game outcome corresponding to the game determination, and printing a cash out ticket indicating the game outcome. The game ticket may be valid for a plurality of games. The invention allows for the validation of winning cash out tickets and the use of winning tickets to play additional games.

Problems solved by technology

One drawback is the potential for a ticket to be damaged or lost before the player may play it.

There is no way to recreate the ticket for the player.

Another drawback is the possibly of a player attempting to forge a winning ticket.

This is usually addressed with by adding special printing techniques to encode secure information on the tickets, but these techniques raise the cost of printing the ticket.

Such systems are new to Class II gaming and are not fully integrated with, e.g., pulltab gaming systems.

However, prior art devices for implementing such systems would represent a significant monetary investment.

Therefore, smaller gaming establishments may not have enough gaming machines to offset the cost of prior art systems.

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