Method and apparatus for scrip distribution and management permitting redistribution of issued scrip
View Patent ↗A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for transferring credits from one gaming device to another via the use of coded scrip is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of accepting a cash-out command in the gaming device, scanning a magnetically manifested code uniquely identifying a scrip stored in the gaming device, transmitting a cash-out message comprising the code to a remote processor having access to a database configured to store and retrieve codes from a plurality of gaming devices, receiving a scrip dispense message from the remote processor, and dispensing the scrip. The apparatus comprises a scrip storage unit, a scrip dispensing unit having a scrip transducer for reading and recording a magnetically manifested code on a scrip retrieved from the scrip storage unit, and a processor, communicatively coupled to the scrip transducer and a remote computer having access to a database for storing and retrieving code information from the plurality of gaming devices.
1. A method for transferring game credits among a plurality of gaming devices, comprising the steps of:
accepting a cash-out command in a first gaming device;
retrieving a reusable card stored in the first gaming device, the reusable card accepted into the first gaming device from another of the plurality of gaming devices;
recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device on the reusable card;
dispensing the reusable card;
accepting the reusable card in a second gaming device;
reading the code;
providing a number of credits in the second gaming device based upon the read code; and
storing the reusable card in the second gaming device for reuse by the second gaming device wherein:
the step of recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device comprises the steps of:
transmitting a cashout balance to a remote computer;
receiving a code from the remote computer;
recording the code on the reusable card; and
the step of recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device comprises the steps of
transmitting a second cashout balance to the remote computer;
receiving a second code from the remote computer; and
recording the second code on the reusable card.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
accepting a second cash out command in the second gaming device;
recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device; and
dispensing the reusable card.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the card is self-authenticating.
4. An apparatus for transferring game credits among a plurality of gaming devices, comprising:
means for accepting a cash-out command in a first gaming device;
means for retrieving a reusable card stored in the first gaming device, the reusable card accepted into the first gaming device from another of the plurality of gaming devices;
means for recording a code uniquely identifying a reusable card stored in the first gaming device on the reusable card;
means for dispensing the reusable card;
means for accepting the reusable card in a second gaming device;
means for reading the code;
means for providing a number of credits in the second gaming device based upon the read code; and
means for storing the reusable card in the second gaming device for reuse by the second gaming device; wherein:
the means for recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device comprises:
means for transmitting a cashout balance to a remote computer;
means for receiving a code from the remote computer;
means for recording the code on the reusable card; and
the means for recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device comprises
means for transmitting a second cashout balance to the remote computer;
means for receiving a second code from the remote computer; and
means for recording the second code on the reusable card.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:
means for accepting a second cash out command in the second gaming device;
means for recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device; and
means for dispensing the reusable card.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the card is self-authenticating.
7. A method for transferring game credits among a plurality of gaming devices, comprising the steps of:
accepting a cash-out command in a first gaming device;
retrieving a reusable card stored in the first gaming device, the reusable card accepted into the first gaming device from another of the plurality of gaming devices;
recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device on the reusable card;
dispensing the reusable card;
accepting the reusable card in a second gaming device;
reading the code;
providing a number of credits in the second gaming device based upon the read code; and
storing the reusable card in the second gaming device for reuse by the second gaming device; wherein
the step of recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device comprises the steps of:
transmitting a request for a code to a remote computer;
receiving the requested code from the remote computer;
generating a second combined code from the received code and a cashout balance;
recording the combined code on the reusable card; and
the step of recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device comprises the steps of
transmitting a second request for a code to the remote computer;
receiving the requested second code from the remote computer;
generating a second combined code from the received code and a second cashout balance;
recording the second code on the reusable card.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
accepting a second cash out command in the second gaming device;
recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device; and
dispensing the reusable card.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the card is self-authenticating.
10. A method for transferring game credits among a plurality of gaming devices, comprising the steps of:
accepting a cash-out command in a first gaming device;
retrieving a reusable card stored in the first gaming device, the reusable card accepted into the first gaming device from another of the plurality of gaming devices;
recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device on the reusable card;
dispensing the reusable card;
accepting the reusable card in a second gaming device;
reading the code;
providing a number of credits in the second gaming device based upon the read code; and
storing the reusable card in the second gaming device for reuse by the second gaming device; wherein:
the step of recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device comprises the steps of:
generating the code in the first gaming device;
transmitting the code and a cashout balance to a remote computer;
receiving a dispense message from the remote computer;
recording the generated code on the reusable card;
the step of recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in second gaming device comprises the steps of:
generating a second code in the second gaming device
transmitting the second code and a second cashout balance to the remote computer;
receiving a dispense message from the remote computer; and
recording the second code on the reusable card.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
accepting a second cash out command in the second gaming device;
recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device; and
dispensing the reusable card.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the card is self-authenticating.
13. An apparatus for transferring game credits among a plurality of gaming devices, comprising:
means for accepting a cash-out command in a first gaming device;
means for retrieving a reusable card stored in the first gaming device, the reusable card accepted into the first gaming device from another of the plurality of gaming devices;
means for recording a code uniquely identifying a reusable card stored in the first gaming device on the reusable card;
means for dispensing the reusable card;
means for accepting the reusable card in a second gaming device;
means for reading the code;
means for providing a number of credits in the second gaming device based upon the read code; and
means for storing the reusable card in the second gaming device for reuse by the second gaming device; wherein:
the means for recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device comprises:
means for transmitting a request for a code to a remote computer;
means for receiving the requested code from the remote computer;
means for generating a second combined code from the received code and a cashout balance;
means for recording the combined code on the reusable card; and
the means for recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device comprises the steps of
means for transmitting a second request for a code to the remote computer;
means for receiving the requested second code from the remote computer;
means for generating a second combined code from the received code and a second cashout balance;
means for recording the second code on the reusable card.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
means for accepting a second cash out command in the second gaming device;
means for recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device; and
means for dispensing the reusable card.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the card is self-authenticating.
16. An apparatus for transferring game credits among a plurality of gaming devices, comprising:
means for accepting a cash-out command in a first gaming device;
means for retrieving a reusable card stored in the first gaming device, the reusable card accepted into the first gaming device from another of the plurality of gaming devices;
means for recording a code uniquely identifying a reusable card stored in the first gaming device on the reusable card;
means for dispensing the reusable card;
means for accepting the reusable card in a second gaming device;
means for reading the code;
means for providing a number of credits in the second gaming device based upon the read code; and
means for storing the reusable card in the second gaming device for reuse by the second gaming device; wherein:
the means for recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device comprises:
means for generating the code in the first gaming device;
means for transmitting the code and a cashout balance to a remote computer;
means for receiving a dispense message from the remote computer
means for recording the generated code on the reusable card;
the means for recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in second gaming device comprises:
means for generating a second code in the second gaming device;
means for transmitting the second code and a second cashout balance to the remote computer; and
means for receiving a dispense message from the remote computer; and
recording the second code on the reusable card.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising:
means for accepting a second cash out command in the second gaming device;
means for recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device; and
means for dispensing the reusable card.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the card is self-authenticating.