Gaming system and gaming machines utilizing cash tickets having a feature trigger
A casino gaming system includes gaming machines which are configured to accept and read tickets. The ticket may comprise cash-value tickets or non-cash value tickets. The tickets may also include secondary feature triggering indicia. A player may obtain a ticket from a system kiosk. The player may then present that ticket to a gaming machine, such as by inserting it into a media reader such as a bill acceptor. Associated monetary value or non-monetary credits may be credited to the machine. In addition, if the ticket includes a feature triggering indicia, when such an indicia is detected, the gaming machine preferably triggers or initiates the feature.
1. A method of presenting a feature at a wagering gaming machine, said method comprising:
issuing a ticket from a ticket-dispensing kiosk, said ticket having first information associated therewith pertaining to a monetary value of said ticket and said ticket having at least one feature triggering indicia;
accepting said ticket at a media reader of said wagering gaming machine;
crediting the monetary value of said ticket to said wagering gaming machine; and
triggering at least one feature at said wagering gaming machine in response to the presence of said at least one feature triggering indicia.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising validating the monetary value of said ticket before crediting the monetary value of said ticket to said gaming machine.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said feature triggering indicia is a logo in a predefined location on said ticket.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said media reader is a bill acceptor.
5. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein triggering at least one feature occurs after a delay that is determined at least in part by said feature triggering indicia.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein triggering at least one feature comprises at least one of adding credits to said wager gaming machine, enabling a bonus game, changing a pay table, and providing free play.
7. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one feature triggering indicia is printed by the ticket-dispensing kiosk.
8. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one feature triggering indicia is pre-printed on the ticket before being issued by the ticket-dispensing kiosk.
9. A gaming system comprising:
a server configured to generate feature triggering indicia;
a kiosk communicatively coupled with said server and configured to print the generated feature triggering indicia on a ticket; and
a gaming machine communicatively coupled with said server and said kiosk, said gaming machine configured to:
accept the ticket using a media reader;
determine if the generated feature triggering indicia is present on the ticket; and
if the generated feature triggering indicia is present on the ticket, triggering a feature.
10. A gaming system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said gaming machine is further configured to validate the generated feature triggering indicia on the ticket using said server.
11. A gaming system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said server is further configured to:
receive the generated feature triggering indicia from said gaming machine;
determine if the generated feature triggering indicia is valid; and
if the generated feature triggering indicia is valid, instruct said gaming machine to trigger the feature.
12. A gaming system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said server is further configured to close the generated feature triggering indicia from further use if the generated feature triggering indicia is valid.
13. A gaming system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said gaming machine is configured to determine if the feature triggering indicia is present on the ticket by reading a predefined location on the ticket.
14. A gaming system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said server is further configured to generate the feature triggering indicia such that the feature triggering indicia indicates which feature is to be triggered.
15. A gaming system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the generated feature triggering indicia provides a visual notification to a player that the ticket includes a feature trigger.
16. A gaming system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the feature includes limiting game play of said gaming machine.
17. A ticket-dispensing kiosk comprising a printer, said ticket-dispensing kiosk configured to print, using said printer, a ticket that is associated with a monetary value and that includes a feature triggering indicia, the feature triggering indicia capable of triggering a feature in a gaming machine.
18. A ticket-dispensing kiosk in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said ticket-dispensing kiosk is communicatively coupled with a server, said ticket-dispensing kiosk configured to receive the feature triggering indicia from said server.
19. A ticket-dispensing kiosk in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said ticket-dispensing kiosk is further configured to print the feature triggering indicia in a predefined location.
20. A ticket-dispensing kiosk in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the feature triggering indicia is a barcode or a QR code.