Method and apparatus for gaming vouchering system
a vouchering system and gaming technology, applied in the field of voucher distribution, can solve the problems of inconvenience for patrons, reduced effectiveness and redemption of promotions, and the need for patrons to request free play
Inactive Publication Date: 2006-12-14
FUTURELOGIC
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- Summary
- Abstract
- Description
- Claims
- Application Information
AI Technical Summary
Benefits of technology
"The invention is a method for operating a Reward Control System (RCS) that provides free play vouchers to gaming machines. The method involves inputting sales transaction data from a point of sale system and calculating the amount of free play credits based on the data. The amount of credits is then requested from a Ticket-In Ticket Out Management System (TITOMS) and received. The RCS printer then prints the free play voucher for the calculated amount of credits. The voucher can be inserted into a cashless enabled gaming machine to obtain free game play. The sales transaction data can include the amount of purchase, type of sale, location of sale, time of sale, and other metrics. The calculation of the amount of credits can be set by an administrator and can include various parameters such as the identity of the merchant, location of the merchant, and quantity of vouchers. The RCS can also process, record, and send statistics on various parameters of the participating points of sale locations. The invention provides a method for efficiently providing free play vouchers to gaming machines."
Problems solved by technology
However, currently existing free play promotions suffer from the problem that patrons must request the free play while in the gaming establishment.
This creates inconvenience for the patron.
Further, the effectiveness and redemption of promotions are reduced when the patron is not physically in the gaming establishment.
Another problem currently existing free play promotions suffer from is that promotions are sent via mail to patrons.
This causes increased costs for the gaming establishment in creating and sending the promotion in, for example, printing, mailing, and handling redemption of the promotions.
Method used
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Embodiment Construction
[0049]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the components of the RCS in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, RCS 100 includes a processor 102, application code 104, memory 106, and storage 108. Storage 108 is a device for long term storage of data such as a disk drive or an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM). The RCS further includes ports for interfacing with external devices and systems. Interface ports include Ticket In Ticket Out Management System (TITOMS) port 110, Lodging Management System (LMS) port 112, Player Tracking System (PTS) port 114, Point Of Sale System (POSS) port 116, Accounting port 118, Other port 120, Printers port 122, Keypads port 124, Patron Alert Device port 126, and Administrator Link port 128.
[0050] In operation, processor 102 of the RCS executes application code 104 stored in memory 106 to perform the functions of an RCS as described herein. TITOMS port 110 performs communication wit...
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Method and apparatus for a shopping award system for gaming establishments and their affiliated retail stores, hospitality stores, service organizations, hotels, and other point-of-sale type businesses, which produces free play vouchers that are redeemable for free play credits by insertion into cashless enabled games located in the gaming establishment. The free play credits granted under the award system are related to the amount of any given purchase. The apparatus includes a reward control system connected to one or more servers managing various accounting and game control for the gaming establishment, and a network of printers located at point-of-sale locations which produce the free play vouchers.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 690,135 filed Jun. 14, 2005, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully stated herein.BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to the distribution of vouchers for use in a gaming machine and more specifically to distribution of free play vouchers based on point-of-sale transactions. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Gaming machine manufacturers have introduced cashless enabled gaming machines to the market and these have found wide acceptance in the gaming industry. Cashless enabled gaming machines are so named because they conduct financial exchanges using a mixture of traditional currencies and vouchers produced by printers installed within a cashless enabled game. Typically, a cashless enabled gaming machine has a gaming printer to produce vouchers and a bill acce...
Claims
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IPC IPC(8): A63F9/24
CPCG07F17/32G07F17/42G07F17/3248
Inventor WILHITE, DANE L.MEYERHOFER, ERICVICENS, ELIZABETH L.
Owner FUTURELOGIC