Voucher gaming system

• US 8,444,468 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert Anthony Jr., White, Warren R., Bradford, Russ T.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US12/969,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20110086691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/081 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 3/002 Precutting and tensioning or breaking
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 3/02 Tearing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/12 Guards, shields or dust excluders
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/10 from or with devices for breaking partially-cut or perforated webs, e.g. bursters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value

Abstract

A gaming system and related methods comprising a gaming device and a voucher mechanism in communication with the gaming device. The voucher mechanism is configured to present various types of vouchers to the player depending on a game outcome. The types of vouchers include, without limitation, a jackpot voucher, a merchandise voucher, a free play voucher, a mystery voucher, a competition entry voucher, and a restricted machine play voucher.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of prizes for a game of chance;

a special award for the game of chance;

at least one player terminal; and

a communications network interconnecting the gaming system and at least one player terminal;

wherein the at least one player terminal configured for;

allowing a player to place a wager;

allowing the player to play the game of chance with the player terminal;

producing a randomly determined outcome that entitles the player to the special award; and

providing the player with a voucher, the voucher being usable to redeem the special award;

wherein the step of providing the special award comprises;

determining if the player terminal is local or remote;

if the player terminal is local, providing the special award by referring to a prize table in the player terminal;

if the player terminal is remote, providing the special award by;

sending a request from the player terminal to the gaming system through the communications network,

at the gaming system, providing the special award by referring to a prize table in the gaming system, and

sending a message from the gaming system to the player terminal specifying the special award.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising;

a jackpot prize; and

a cashier terminal coupled to the communication network;

wherein the player terminal is further configured for producing a randomly determined outcome that entitles the player to the jackpot prize, and providing the player with a voucher, the voucher being usable to redeem the jackpot prize; and

the cashier terminal is configured for requiring the player to redeem the jackpot prize by presenting the voucher at a cashier terminal.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the cashier terminal is further configured for requiring an attendant to execute a procedure associated with the entitlement of the jackpot prize before awarding the jackpot prize.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the procedure comprises providing the player with a government form associated with the entitlement of the jackpot prize.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the player terminal is further configured for disabling the player terminal after producing the randomly determined outcome that entitles the player to the jackpot prize.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising providing the player with a government form associated with the jackpot prize upon redemption of the jackpot prize.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the player terminal is further configured for:

receiving the voucher from the player to redeem the jackpot prize;

determining authenticity of the voucher; and

enabling the player terminal after determining the authenticity of the voucher.

8. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of prizes for a game of chance;

a special award for the game of chance;

at least one player terminal; and

a communications network interconnecting the gaming system and the at least one player terminal;

wherein the at least one player terminal is configured for;

allowing a player to place a wager;

allowing the player to play the game of chance with a player terminal;

producing a randomly determined outcome that entitles the player to the special award; and

providing the player with a voucher, the voucher being usable to redeem the special award;

wherein the special award is at least one of;

(a) a merchandise voucher;

(b) a competition entry voucher, (c) a restricted play voucher, (d) a machine play voucher and (e) a mystery voucher.