Wagering Game Funding Mechanisms and Methods Therefor
First Claim
1. A method of adding credits to a handheld gaming machine, comprising:
- receiving, at the handheld gaming machine via a communication link from a portable data unit remote from the handheld gaming machine, a signal representing an amount of funds, the portable data unit having a display that indicates a level of the amount of funds associated with the portable data unit;
crediting, on the handheld gaming machine, a number of credits commensurate with the amount of funds;
receiving a signal representing a wager amount; and
responsive to the receiving, displaying a wagering game on the handheld gaming machine.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for adding funds to a handheld gaming machine. The system includes a portable digital wallet that wirelessly communicates with a handheld gaming machine (“handheld”). The digital wallet stores an amount of funds or funds associated with a remotely stored player account, and is used by the player to add credits to a handheld. The credit meter may be stored remotely, though the player perceives that the funds are actually being transferred via the digital wallet. Other funding techniques include a kiosk that accepts cash or credit/debit cards and dispenses tickets or other media that encodes information representing an amount of funds. The player uses this media to add credits to the handheld. The media may be player-dependent such that the player'"'"'s identity is somehow linked to the media or it may be player-agnostic such that the player'"'"'s identity is not linked to the funds associated with the media.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of adding credits to a handheld gaming machine, comprising:
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receiving, at the handheld gaming machine via a communication link from a portable data unit remote from the handheld gaming machine, a signal representing an amount of funds, the portable data unit having a display that indicates a level of the amount of funds associated with the portable data unit; crediting, on the handheld gaming machine, a number of credits commensurate with the amount of funds; receiving a signal representing a wager amount; and responsive to the receiving, displaying a wagering game on the handheld gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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14-15. -15. (canceled)
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23. A system of crediting funds, comprising:
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a handheld gaming machine having a display that displays a wagering game, a controller that is programmed to receive a signal indicative of a wager for playing the wagering game, and a communication interface for communicating over a communication link; and a portable data unit having a communication interface for communicating over the communication link with the handheld gaming device, wherein the controller of the handheld gaming machine is further programmed to receive via the communication link a signal representing an amount of funds and, responsive thereto, cause a number of credits commensurate with the amount of funds to be credited. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification