Ticket Voucher Fee Refund Tracking for Cashless Gaming Transfers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems impose fees for transferring funds from external accounts to gaming establishment devices, discouraging users and increasing operational complexities and risks associated with cash transactions.

Innovation Solution

A system that tracks activities at gaming establishment devices to determine eligibility for refunding part or all of the fees incurred, using ticket vouchers or direct credits to the gaming establishment device, thereby minimizing the impact of these fees and encouraging non-cash transactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If fees are imposed for transferring funds from external accounts to gaming establishment devices, then the gaming establishment can cover operational costs and generate revenue, but users are discouraged from making transfers and the psychological impact reduces user engagement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational costsVSAvoiduser engagement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of fees (which discourage users) into a benefit by implementing a refund mechanism. The system tracks gaming activities and refunds fees to users who meet certain criteria, thereby eliminating the negative psychological impact while maintaining the ability to cover operational costs through non-qualifying users or partial refunds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where user gaming activities are tracked and evaluated against predetermined criteria. Based on this feedback, the system automatically determines fee refund eligibility, creating a dynamic system that adjusts fee imposition based on user behavior and gaming outcomes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If cash transactions are used at gaming establishment devices, then users can easily access and withdraw funds, but security risks and operational complexities increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefund accessibilityVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cash handling system with an electronic fund transfer and tracking system. Instead of physical cash withdrawals and deposits, the system uses electronic accounting, digital transaction records, and automated fee assessment mechanisms, thereby eliminating security risks associated with cash while maintaining ease of fund access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Speed

If cash transactions are processed at gaming establishment devices, then users can make immediate withdrawals, but operational complexities and processing burdens increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewithdrawal speedVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automated self-service functionality where the fee assessment and refund determination is performed automatically by the system without requiring manual intervention. The tracking system autonomously monitors gaming activities, evaluates criteria, and processes fee adjustments, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining rapid transaction processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250363862A1Ticket voucher based tracking of gaming establishment device activities for refund of financial institution fees

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Systems and methods that enable a transfer of funds from an external account to a ticket voucher and employ that ticket voucher in association with tracking a quantity of occurrences of an activity to determine any amount of a refund of fees assessed on the transfer.