Voucher Gaming Player Terminal
A gaming system and related methods comprising a gaming device and a voucher mechanism in communication with the gaming device. The voucher mechanism is configured to present various types of vouchers to the player depending on a game outcome. The types of vouchers include, without limitation, a jackpot voucher, a merchandise voucher, a free play voucher, a mystery voucher, a competition entry voucher, and a restricted machine play voucher.
1 . In a gaming system in communication with a player terminal via a communication network, wherein the gaming system receives a request from the player terminal via the network, and responsive to the request refers to a prize table and sends data representing a special award to the player terminal via the network, the player terminal comprising:
a player input device for allowing a player to place a wager and play a game of chance generating a randomly determined outcome that entitles a player to a special award;
a voucher printer for providing the player with a voucher useable to redeem the special award by:
sending a request to the gaming system through the communications network;
receiving from the gaming system data representing the special award; and
printing a voucher representing the special award in response to receipt of the data.
2 . The player terminal of claim 1 , wherein the player terminal further comprises a display device for displaying the playing of the game of chance.
3 . The player terminal of claim 1 , wherein the player terminal further comprises a processor, coupled to the network, for controlling the operation of the player terminal, wherein:
the processor sends the request to the gaming system via the network;
the processor receives the special award representative data from the gaming system via the network.
4 . The player terminal of claim 3 , wherein the processor controls the player terminal to disable the player terminal after receiving special award representative data specifying a special award in the form of a jackpot prize
5 . The player terminal of claim 4 , wherein the processor controls the player terminal to:
receive from a player data represented by a voucher specifying a jackpot prize to redeem;
determine authenticity of the voucher; and
enable the player terminal after determining the authenticity of the voucher.
6 . The player terminal of claim 1 wherein the player terminal is coupled to the network via a wired connection.