Voucher-based terminals for use in a gaming system
View Patent ↗Voucher-enabled player terminals having games of chance thereon, for use in a gaming system having a network connection and a central server, are disclosed. The terminals can both read and print vouchers, and are active in processing the vouchers. One specific functional aspect of the terminals is that they are enabled to generate unique transaction identifiers that are used with a value (game credits or prize redemption values) to enable printing of voucher when cash-out occurs. Upon cash-out from a player terminal (or other terminal type), a player will be issued a new voucher having a transaction ID generated by the terminal, the transaction ID being unique to the particular system installation and associated with the value of the voucher, which the player may then take to a different terminal to continue game play.
1. A cash/voucher terminal configured for use in a cashless gaming environment, where the gaming environment comprises player terminals having games usable for gambling and where cash cannot be used at the player terminals, and where the player terminals use cashless vouchers and the cashless vouchers further comprise indicia thereon, where the indicia further comprises a transaction identifier, the cash/voucher terminal comprising:
an enclosure operably containing said cash/voucher terminal;
a network interface for operably connecting said cash/voucher terminal to a communications network;
a cashless voucher reader operably disposed within said cash/voucher terminal and configured to read cashless voucher indicia;
a cash dispenser operably disposed within said cash/voucher terminal; and,
where said cash/voucher terminal is further configured to receive cashless voucher indicia from said cashless voucher reader comprising a transaction identifier and where said transaction identifier was previously generated by a player terminal or an exchange terminal and sent, along with a value, to a server to be retrievably stored thereon using said transaction identifier,
send said cashless voucher indicia operably out of said network interface,
receive data from said network interface where said data comprises a cash value associated with said transaction identifier, and,
send said cash value to said cash dispenser, where said cash dispenser dispenses a cash amount according to said cash value.
2. The cash/voucher terminal of claim 1 where said indicia on said cashless vouchers further comprises at least partially encrypted data.
3. The cash/voucher terminal of claim 1 where said transaction identification comprises a value derived from time.
4. The cash/voucher terminal of claim 1 where said transaction identification comprises a value making use of at least one of: date, machine number, or random number.
5. A method for redeeming cashless vouchers using a cash/voucher terminal in a gaming environment where the gaming environment comprises player terminals having games usable for gambling and where cash cannot be used at the player terminals, and where the player terminals use cashless vouchers and the cashless vouchers further comprise indicia thereon, where the indicia further comprises a transaction identification, the method comprising:
receiving a cashless voucher into a cashless voucher reader;
reading indicia from said cashless voucher;
sending said indicia via a network comprising said transaction identifier and where said transaction identifier was previously generated by a player terminal or an exchange terminal and sent, along with a value, to a server having a database thereon to be retrievably stored using said transaction identifier;
associating said transaction identification with a value using said database on said server;
receiving said value from said computer via said network; and,
dispensing currency in accordance with said value.
6. The method of claim 5 where said transaction identification is at least partially encrypted.
7. The method of claim 5 where said transaction identification comprises a value derived from time.
8. The method of claim 5 where said transaction identification comprises a value making use of at least one of: date, machine number, or random number.