Methods and apparatus for providing tickets from gaming devices and/or lottery terminals which are not dependent on a player's success on the underlying game

• US 20030157979A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Anchor Gaming (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cannon, Lee E., Guinn, Robert, Roemer, Mick D., Maroney, Mike, Adams, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,686,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/146 by issuing a winning ticket
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0665 having a message becoming legible after rubbing-off a coating or removing an adhesive layer for educational purposes G09B
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards

Abstract

Gaming devices dispense tickets which are unrelated to a player'"'"'s success on a particular game played on a gaming device or to the player'"'"'s credits on a credit meter or other “cash out” indicator. The gaming devices provide gaming awards and also provide tickets. Other methods provide tickets during the play of wagering games. Still other embodiments comprise lottery terminals which dispense tickets other than those purchased by a lottery patron or won on a purchased lottery ticket.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

means for receiving a wager;

means for playing a wagering game wherein a player'"'"'s success at said wagering game is, at least partially, randomly determined; and

means for providing a gaming award when a player is successful in said wagering game and for dispensing tickets which are not dependent on a player'"'"'s success at said wagering game or on a player'"'"'s existing credits.

2. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said playing means comprises at least one reel display.

3. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said playing means comprises a video display.

4. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means is operable independent of said providing means.

5. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means dispenses a ticket after a predetermined number of plays on said gaming device.

6. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means dispenses a ticket randomly while said gaming device is being played.

7. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means dispenses a ticket randomly regardless of whether said gaming device is being played.

8. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means dispenses a ticket if said gaming device is being played at or above a certain rate of play.

9. The gaming device according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving a player tracking card, and

wherein said dispensing means only dispenses tickets if the player tracking card has been inserted in said gaming device.

10. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means dispenses promotional tickets.

11. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means dispenses tickets redeemable for at least one play on said gaming device.

12. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means dispenses tickets redeemable for at least one play on another gaming device.

13. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means dispenses tickets redeemable for services provided by a gaming establishment.

14. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means dispenses scratch-off tickets.

15. The gaming device according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary gaming unit comprising means for displaying a randomly selected second indicia from a plurality of possible secondary indicia.

16. The gaming device according to claim 15, wherein said secondary gaming unit comprises a wheel.

17. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means dispenses a game ticket redeemable for play on said gaming device and a ticket providing eligibility to a drawing.

18. The gaming device according to claim 17, wherein said drawing ticket and said game ticket are on a single ticket.

19. The gaming device according to claim 17, wherein said drawing ticket and said game ticket are on separate tickets.

20. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means dispenses tickets for a drawing.