Cashless reservation system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gaming machine including:
- a game controller for controlling play of one or more games on the gaming machine;
a bill acceptor and associated circuitry configured to determine a ticket value when a first ticket is read by the bill acceptor and a currency value when a currency is read by the bill acceptor;
a ticket printer configured to print tickets readable by a ticket reader;
a reservation actuator operable by a player of the gaming machine to indicate that the gaming machine is reserved for a predefined period of time, wherein the reservation actuator causes the ticket printer to print a second ticket and the gaming machine locks, maintaining the ticket reader active;
a player tracking apparatus operable to receive an identifier from the player, wherein a locked gaming machine is configured to be unlocked when the ticket reader reads the second ticket and the player tracking apparatus receives the identifier of the player associated with the second ticket; and
a reservation counter that commences a countdown of the predefined period of time when the gaming machine is locked, the gaming machine being unlocked when the predefined period of time expires, wherein the game controller is configured to deduct a denomination amount for one or more game play credits from the ticket value and the currency value, the game controller further configured to determine a remainder value and cause the ticket printer to print a third ticket that includes the remainder value, the remainder value being the difference between the ticket value or the currency value and the denomination amount.
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Abstract
A gaming machine and a gaming system is described. Gaming machines may be reserved by operating a button panel. In certain embodiments the reserved gaming machine or a head system causes the printing of a ticket and when that ticket is read by a bill acceptor, the gaming machine unlocks. In other embodiments, reservation is made by other means, including player cards.
74 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A gaming machine including:
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a game controller for controlling play of one or more games on the gaming machine; a bill acceptor and associated circuitry configured to determine a ticket value when a first ticket is read by the bill acceptor and a currency value when a currency is read by the bill acceptor; a ticket printer configured to print tickets readable by a ticket reader; a reservation actuator operable by a player of the gaming machine to indicate that the gaming machine is reserved for a predefined period of time, wherein the reservation actuator causes the ticket printer to print a second ticket and the gaming machine locks, maintaining the ticket reader active; a player tracking apparatus operable to receive an identifier from the player, wherein a locked gaming machine is configured to be unlocked when the ticket reader reads the second ticket and the player tracking apparatus receives the identifier of the player associated with the second ticket; and a reservation counter that commences a countdown of the predefined period of time when the gaming machine is locked, the gaming machine being unlocked when the predefined period of time expires, wherein the game controller is configured to deduct a denomination amount for one or more game play credits from the ticket value and the currency value, the game controller further configured to determine a remainder value and cause the ticket printer to print a third ticket that includes the remainder value, the remainder value being the difference between the ticket value or the currency value and the denomination amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A gaming system including:
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a system controller communicably coupled to a plurality of gaming machines that each include ticket readers and ticket printers and a reservation actuator operable by respective players of the gaming machines to reserve the gaming machines, wherein when the reservation actuator of a gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines is actuated, the ticket printer of the gaming machine prints a ticket and the gaming machine locks for a predefined period of time and maintains the ticket reader active, and wherein the gaming machine is configured to unlock in response to the ticket reader of the gaming machine reading the ticket, and unlock in response to a signal from the system controller, the signal being communicated by the system controller in response to the ticket being read by a ticket reader of another gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines; and a reservation counter that commences a countdown of the predefined period of time when the gaming machine is locked, wherein the gaming machine unlocks when the predefined period of time expires, and wherein the system controller is configured to control a display of a reservation status indicative of the predefined period of time that the gaming machine is to remain locked, the reservation status being displayed on a display that is viewable by the player at a location remote from the gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A gaming system including:
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a system controller in communication with a plurality of gaming machines that each include a game controller, a ticket reader, a ticket printer and a reservation actuator operable by a player of a gaming machine to indicate that the gaming machine is to be reserved, wherein when the reservation actuator of the gaming machine is actuated, the ticket printer of the gaming machine prints a ticket and the gaming machine locks for a predefined period of time, maintaining the ticket reader active, wherein the gaming machine unlocks in response to the ticket reader of the gaming machine reading the ticket, and also unlocks in response to a signal from the system controller, the signal being communicated by the system controller in response to the ticket being read by a ticket reader of another gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines, and wherein at least one gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines includes an electronic controller coupled to the game controller and the ticket reader, wherein the electronic controller controls the ticket reader to be active when the gaming machine is locked; and a reservation counter that commences a countdown of the predefined period of time when the gaming machine is locked, the gaming machine being unlocked when the predefined period of time expires, wherein the system controller is configured to control a display of a reservation status indicative of the predefined period of time that the gaming machine is to remain locked, the reservation status being displayed on a display that is viewable by the player at a location remote from the gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification