Virtual Ticket Voucher System for Cashless Gaming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic gaming machines (EGMs) incur significant labor costs due to the need for frequent cash handling and security measures, including the manual removal and counting of cash and tickets, which is labor-intensive and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a gaming system that utilizes portable electronic devices for storing and transmitting virtual ticket voucher information, allowing for wireless communication between EGMs and devices, enabling cashless transactions and reducing the need for physical cash handling through the issuance and redemption of virtual ticket vouchers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical cash and ticket vouchers are used for transactions on EGMs, then cash handling capabilities are provided, but labor costs increase due to frequent manual removal and counting of cash and tickets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cash handling system (bill validators, ticket printers, cash boxes) with an electronic/digital system using portable devices, wireless communication, and virtual ticket vouchers. This substitution eliminates the need for physical cash processing and manual ticket handling, directly resolving the contradiction between providing cash handling capabilities and maintaining labor efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of physical ticket vouchers in the form of digital credentials stored on portable devices. These virtual ticket vouchers replicate the functionality of physical tickets without requiring physical printing, storage, or manual handling, thereby eliminating labor-intensive operations while maintaining the essential cashless transaction capability.
2Reliability
If physical cash and ticket vouchers are handled manually, then cash management is achieved, but security risks increase due to potential theft and tampering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the physical cash management system with an electronic transaction system that uses wireless communication and digital validation. This substitution eliminates physical cash from the transaction process, removing the target for theft and tampering while maintaining secure cash management through electronic record-keeping and validation protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces portable electronic devices as intermediaries between the player and the EGM transaction system. These devices securely store virtual ticket vouchers and facilitate wireless communication, acting as a secure intermediary that eliminates the need for players to physically handle cash or tickets, thereby reducing security risks associated with physical cash handling.
3Adaptability or versatility
If bill validators and ticket printers are installed on EGMs, then cashless transaction capabilities are provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cashless transaction functionality from the EGM itself and relocates it to portable electronic devices. By removing the bill validator and ticket printer hardware from the EGM and implementing virtual ticket voucher functionality in software on portable devices, the patent reduces EGM complexity while preserving cashless transaction capabilities through wireless communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the portable electronic device universal by enabling it to serve multiple functions: storing virtual ticket vouchers, communicating wirelessly with the EGM, and facilitating cashless transactions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated cash handling devices on the EGM, reducing device complexity while maintaining transaction versatility.
4Productivity
If virtual ticket vouchers are issued and redeemed wirelessly, then labor costs are reduced, but wireless communication infrastructure is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service system where portable electronic devices automatically manage virtual ticket voucher issuance and redemption through wireless communication. The system performs cash handling functions autonomously without requiring manual intervention or complex centralized infrastructure, achieving high productivity through decentralized, device-level processing.
Data Source
AI summary
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.