Gaming system with phone card payout

Abstract

The gaming system with phone card payout is a system for playing a video game using a smart card. A dispensing station includes a smart card reader, a bill acceptor and a phone card dispenser. The bill acceptor reads the monetary value of currency inserted in the machine and stores the monetary value on a smart card. The stored monetary value can be used to either purchase prepaid phone cards at the dispensing station or to play video games at an establishment hosting the dispensing station. The video games at the establishment are equipped with smart card readers. Logic in the video games verifies that the smart card monetary value was purchased at the hosting establishment and accepts the monetary value from a verified smart card for playing the video game. Video game credits accumulated on the game may be transferred back to the smart card.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to video gaming systems, and more specifically to a gaming system with phone card payout awarding a non-monetary pay out as an incentive to play the game. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Video-based gaming machines are very effective revenue generating sources for businesses. Operators of such establishments as restaurants and nightclubs value both the revenue directly generated by playing the game, and the revenue indirectly attributed to the games generated when customers visit the establishment to play the game and spend money during their on other goods offered by the establishment. [0005] Video machines offering a cash incentive for playing the game are very attractive to many games players. With a conventional cash incentive game, players who obtain successful outcomes while playing a video game accumulate points on the game. The accumulated points can be converted...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] In an alternate embodiment of the game, the phone card dispensing station is not required and no smart cards or smart card readers are used. Instead the video games are provided with a phone card dispenser and a bill acceptor. A game control board in the video game maintains stored game credit value that can be incremented by feeding bills into the bill acceptor. The bill acceptor reads the value of the currency fed into the bill acceptor and increments the game credit by an amount proportional to the currency value. The game credit value is decremented when a round of a video game is played and may be incremented when a successful game outcome is obtained during a round of the video game. The player may convert the accumulated game credits into phone cards.

[0013] These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

Problems solved by technology

Even when the players are not being rewarded with illegal cash or merchandise prizes, the operation of the machine may create an impression of illegal gambling activity discouraging patronage by players who want to avoid illegal activity.

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