Gaming Machine Virtual Ticket Vouchers for Secure Cash Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic gaming machines (EGMs) incur significant labor costs and security risks due to the need for manual cash handling and reconciliation processes, which involve opening the EGM cabinet and transporting cash, making them vulnerable to tampering and requiring extensive personnel for counting and record-keeping.

Innovation Solution

Implement a gaming system that utilizes patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smartphones, to manage virtual ticket vouchers, enabling wireless communication with EGMs for secure and automated cash transactions, including the issuance and redemption of both virtual and printed ticket vouchers, reducing the need for physical handling and manual labor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual cash handling and reconciliation processes are used, then cash transactions can be processed, but labor costs and security risks increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecash transaction automationVSAvoidsecurity risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cash handling system with an electronic system. Portable electronic devices store and transmit virtual ticket voucher information electronically, eliminating the need for physical cash transportation and manual handling. The wireless communication interface enables automated electronic transactions, substituting mechanical cash processing with electronic data transmission, thereby reducing labor costs and security risks associated with physical cash management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If physical cash is transported and handled manually, then cash transactions are completed, but the process requires extensive personnel for counting and record-keeping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction processing efficiencyVSAvoidtime for manual counting and reconciliation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service cashless transactions where patrons use their own portable electronic devices to store, present, and redeem virtual ticket vouchers. The EGM automatically processes transactions through wireless communication, eliminating the need for manual cash counting, handling, and record-keeping. The system serves itself by automatically reconciling transactions through electronic records stored on the portable devices and the EGM, significantly improving productivity and eliminating time loss associated with manual processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the EGM cabinet is opened for cash removal, then cash can be transported, but the EGM becomes vulnerable to tampering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecash removal operationVSAvoidtampering risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cash storage and removal system with an electronic cashless system. Virtual ticket vouchers are stored on portable electronic devices outside the EGM cabinet, eliminating the need to open the cabinet for cash removal. Transactions are conducted electronically through wireless communication, keeping the EGM cabinet closed and secure, thereby preventing tampering while maintaining ease of operation for cashless transactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Extent of automation

If virtual ticket vouchers are used for cashless transactions, then labor costs are reduced, but the system requires wireless communication interfaces and portable electronic devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecashless transaction capabilityVSAvoidsystem configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes portable electronic devices that patrons already possess and are familiar with, making the system universally accessible. The EGM's wireless communication interface can communicate with various types of portable devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) using standard protocols, eliminating the need for proprietary hardware. This multi-functionality approach reduces device complexity by leveraging existing ubiquitous technology rather than requiring specialized equipment for each patron.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12444267B2Virtual ticket-in and ticket-out on a gaming machine

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

An electronic gaming machine includes a cabinet, a display mounted to the cabinet, a wireless interface for communicating with a portable electronic device, a network interface for communicating with a validation server, a bill validator coupled to a game controller configured to accept bills and printed ticket vouchers, and a removable cash box. The game controller includes a processor and a memory configured to control a wager-based game played on the EGM, redeem virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers, receive an indication to transfer value to the EGM via a virtual ticket voucher, receive the virtual ticket voucher including a virtual ticket voucher validation number from the portable electronic device via the wireless interface, validate the virtual ticket voucher with the validation server via the network interface, deposit a credit amount associated with the virtual ticket voucher, and notify the validation server that the virtual ticket voucher is redeemed.