Distributed generation of a coupon

1. A method for electronically delivering coupons via a plurality of independently operating coupon generating subsystems to a plurality of mobile devices via gaming sessions experienced on the mobile devices, each coupon generating subsystem including (i) a coupon generating engine having a central processing unit, a random number generator, and a memory, and (ii) a mobile communications interface, each mobile device including (i) a contactless communications interface, (ii) a display, (iii) application software that displays results of a game of chance, the method comprising:

(a) electronically programming a campaign management system with a set of rules associated with delivery of the coupons from the coupon generating subsystems to the mobile devices, wherein the set of rules include a payout table that determines the value of coupons that are delivered;

(b) electronically communicating the set of rules, including the payout table, from the campaign management system to the memory of each of the coupon generating engines in each of the coupon generating subsystems, wherein the coupon generating subsystems operate independently of the campaign management system using the set of rules in their respective coupon generating engines;

(c) automatically initiating a gaming session on the mobile device using the application software in the mobile device upon detection by the contactless communications interface that the mobile device is within a broadcast range of a coupon generating subsystem, wherein communications for the gaming session occurs using the contactless communications interface of the mobile device and the mobile communications interface of the coupon generating subsystem;

(d) displaying the gaming session on the display of a mobile device, wherein the gaming session uses the random number generator and central processing unit to generate a result for the game of chance using the payout table in the memory, the result determining the value of a coupon to be electronically delivered via the coupon generating subsystem to the mobile device; and

(e) electronically delivering the coupon from the coupon generating subsystem to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the game of chance is a video slot machine experience.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the contactless communications interface is a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(f) generating by the coupon generating engine a digital signature or cryptogram that includes an encrypted value of each generated coupon and associating the digital signature or cryptogram with each generated coupon for subsequent use in verifying the authenticity of the coupon.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the coupon generating engine is a computer on a chip embedded in packaging.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications for the gaming session uses a communications protocol selected from the group consisting of: a Near Field Communication (NFC) protocol, a Wi-Fi communication protocol, a Bluetooth communication protocol, and a sound wave communication protocol.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic communication of the set of rules is performed via an encrypted communication channel from end-to-end, thereby providing a secure and authenticated channel between the campaign management system and the coupon generating engine.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile devices are selected from the group consisting of: a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, and a personal digital assistant.