Gaming terminal having a prize fulfillment mechanism
View Patent ↗A gaming terminal is configured to permit each player of a plurality of players to play a game in a tournament. The gaming terminal includes a processor configured to specify the maximum number of games which may be played in the tournament, count the number of games which have been played by each player, and verify the identity of a winning player. The gaming terminal also includes a prize fulfillment mechanism configured to pay out a cash prize to the winning player. The prize fulfillment mechanism pays out the cash prize instantly and directly to the winning player upon verification of the winning player's identity and when the number of games played equals the maximum number of games which may be played in the tournament.
1. A gaming terminal configured to permit a plurality of players to play a game in a tournament, the offline tournament being played only on the single gaming terminal by the plurality of players, the single gaming terminal comprising:
a processor configured to: (i) specify the maximum number of games which may be played in the tournament; (ii) count the number of games which have been played by the plurality of players; (iii) determine a winning score by comparing scores earned by the plurality of players; and (iv) after the plurality of players have played the game on the single gaming terminal and when the number of games played equals the maximum number of games which may be played in the offline tournament, verify the identity of a winning player by comparing a player identifier entered into the single gaming terminal against a unique player identifier previously stored in the single gaming terminal and associated with the winning score; and
a prize fulfillment mechanism configured to pay out a cash prize to the winning player, the prize fulfillment mechanism paying out the cash prize instantly and directly to the winning player upon verification of the winning player's identity.
2. The gaming terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the gaming terminal is an offline terminal and/or a skill with prize machine.
3. The gaming terminal according to claim 1 further comprising a storage mechanism configured to store a score earned by each player of the plurality of players at the end of each game.
4. The gaming terminal according to claim 3 , wherein, at the end of each game, the score earned by each player of the plurality of players is stored in association with a unique player identifier.
5. The gaming terminal according to claim 4 , wherein the unique identifier is one of a number, a code, a password and an alphanumeric combination, the unique identifier being chosen by the player and stored within the terminal upon the player's entry in the offline tournament.
6. The gaming terminal according to claim 1 , further comprising a verification mechanism arranged and configured to compare a player identifier entered into the terminal against a unique player identifier previously stored in the terminal and associated with a winning score.
7. The gaming terminal according to claim 3 , wherein the scores are sorted and/or displayed on a screen in ascending or descending order.
8. The gaming terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal comprises a volatile and/or a non-volatile storage device configured to store at least one of the number of games played, the maximum number of games which may be played in the offline tournament, a score earned by each player of the plurality of players during the offline tournament, and a unique code, number or password associated with each player of the plurality of players.
9. The gaming terminal according to claim 1 further comprising a touch screen for the presentation and input of information.
10. The gaming terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the prize fulfillment mechanism comprises a mechanical device configured to dispense coins or bank notes.
11. The gaming terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is arranged and configured to permit verification of the identity of a winning player of the offline tournament for a fixed period of time.
12. The gaming terminal according to claim 1 further comprising an input mechanism configured to receive a cash entry fee from a player to permit the player to enter the offline tournament.
13. The gaming terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal is configured to permit a player to claim a prize for a offline tournament selected from a list of tournaments.
14. The gaming terminal according to claim 1 , wherein a guaranteed prize value is presented to each player of the plurality of players prior to entering the offline tournament.
15. The gaming terminal according to claim 1 , wherein a number of games which remain unplayed in the offline tournament is displayed on a screen.
16. A method of managing an offline tournament of individual games played only on a gaming terminal having a processor by a plurality of players, the method comprising: i) setting, by the processor, the maximum number of games which may be played in the offline tournament; ii) counting, by the processor, the number of games which have been played in the offline tournament; iii) determining, by the processor, a winning score by comparing scores earned by the plurality of players; iv) after the plurality of players have played the games on the single gaming terminal and when the number of games played equals the maximum number of games which may be played in the offline tournament, verifying, by the processor, the identity of a winning player by comparing a player identifier entered into the single gaming terminal against a unique player identifier previously stored in the single gaming terminal and associated with the winning score; and v) paying out a cash prize instantly and directly to the winning player, by a prize fulfillment mechanism, upon verification of the winning player's identity.
17. The method of managing an offline tournament of individual games according to claim 16 , wherein the cash prize comprises coins and/or bank notes.
18. The method of managing an offline tournament of individual games according to claim 16 , wherein verification of the winning player's identity comprises comparing a player identifier entered into the terminal against a unique player identifier previously stored in the terminal and associated with the winning score.
19. A method of managing an offline tournament of individual games according to claim 16 , wherein the terminal is an offline skill with prize machine.
20. An offline gaming terminal configured to permit a plurality of players to play a game in an offline tournament, the game being played by the plurality of players only on the offline gaming terminal, the offline gaming terminal comprising: a processor configured to: (i) specify the maximum number of games which may be played in the offline tournament; (ii) count the number of games which have been played by the plurality of players; (iii) determine a winning score by comparing scores earned by the plurality of players; and (iv) after the plurality of players have played the game on the offline gaming terminal and when the number of games played equals the maximum number of games which may be played in the offline tournament, verify the identity of a winning player by comparing a player identifier entered into the offline gaming terminal against a unique player identifier previously stored in the offline gaming terminal and associated with the winning score; and a prize fulfillment mechanism configured to pay out a cash prize to the winning player, the prize fulfillment mechanism paying out the cash prize instantly and directly to the winning player upon verification of the winning player's identity.