REMOTE GAMING CASH VOUCHER PRINTING SYSTEM

• US 20170024975A1
• Filed: 07/22/2015
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Chun, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 9,916,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• 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

Remote gaming cash voucher printing systems facilitate partial cash voucher payouts of cash value balances on electronic gaming terminals, such as to provide tips. Systems can include electronic gaming tables that host wager-based table games facilitated by live human dealers, cash voucher printers at the gaming tables, remotely located electronic gaming terminals that provide remote play at the electronic gaming tables, and a remote print server coupled with the gaming tables and gaming terminals. The remote print server debits a cash value of a partial monetary payout request from a gaming terminal credit balance, and routes the request from the gaming terminal to a gaming table printer for issuance of a cash voucher. The remote print server can communicate with an existing TITO server and emulate authorized TITO requests in some arrangements.

Claims

1. A gaming table system, comprising:

a plurality of electronic gaming tables configured to provide wager-based table games, wherein each of the plurality of electronic gaming tables includes;

a physical surface configured for the administration of wager-based table games facilitated by a live human dealer that include the use of one or more physical game components,

a table controller configured to control a plurality of electronic gaming table functions,

a printer coupled to the table controller and configured to issue cash vouchers at the electronic gaming table, and

a table communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the electronic gaming table and one or more external system components;

a plurality of gaming terminals configured to facilitate the play of wager-based table games at the plurality of electronic gaming tables, wherein each of the plurality of gaming terminals includes;

a terminal controller configured to facilitate the play of wager-based table games by a player thereat,

one or more display components coupled to the terminal controller and configured to provide output to the player regarding the play of the wager-based table games,

a user interface configured to receive an input that initiates a remote monetary payout request, and

a terminal communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the gaming terminal and one or more external system components; and

a remote print server in communication with at least a first electronic gaming table of the plurality of electronic gaming tables and at least a first gaming terminal of the plurality of gaming terminals, the first gaming terminal being located remotely from the first electronic gaming table, wherein the remote print server is configured to route the remote monetary payout request from the first gaming terminal to the printer at the first electronic gaming table and cause the printer to issue a cash voucher at the first electronic gaming table.

2. The gaming table system of claim 1, wherein the remote monetary payout request represents a partial payout of a credit balance at the first gaming terminal, the remote monetary payout request comprising a partial monetary value that is less than a full monetary value of the credit balance.

3. The gaming table system of claim 2, wherein the remote print server is further configured to facilitate debiting the partial monetary value from the full monetary value at the first gaming terminal.

4. The gaming table system of claim 2, wherein the partial monetary value represents a tip amount.

5. The gaming table system of claim 4, wherein the tip amount is for the live human dealer at the first electronic gaming table.

6. The gaming table system of claim 5, wherein the printer issues the cash voucher with the tip amount to the live human dealer at or about the time that the remote monetary payout request is made.

7. The gaming table system of claim 5, wherein the system is configured to provide the live human dealer with an indication that a tip is being provided at the time that the remote monetary payout request is made, whereby the live human dealer is provided an opportunity to acknowledge the tip.

8. The gaming table system of claim 5, wherein every tip amount provided to the live human dealer by way of a remote monetary payout request is printed to a separate cash voucher.

9. The gaming table system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of gaming tables further includes:

a dealer station having at least a separate dealer display and a separate dealer input device configured for use by the live human dealer, wherein the separate dealer display is configured to display information to the live human dealer regarding the remote monetary payout request.

10. The gaming table system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cash voucher server in communication with the remote print server, wherein the remote print server is configured to communicate with the cash voucher server to obtain authorization and voucher data for the remote monetary payout request.

11. The gaming table system of claim 10, wherein the cash voucher server comprises a ticket in ticket out (“

TITO”

) server, and wherein the remote print server is configured to emulate an electronic gaming terminal that is eligible to receive cash voucher authorization and data from the TITO server.

12. A remote print server configured to operate within a gaming table system that provides wager-based table games, the remote print server comprising:

a communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the remote print server and at least a first electronic gaming table and a first gaming terminal, wherein the first electronic gaming table includes a physical surface configured for the administration of wager-based table games facilitated by a live human dealer that include the use of one or more physical game components, and the first gaming terminal is located remotely from the first electronic gaming table; and

a processor coupled to the communication interface and configured to;

receive a remote monetary payout request from the first gaming terminal, wherein the remote monetary payout request represents a partial payout of a credit balance at the first gaming terminal, the remote monetary payout request comprising a partial monetary value that is less than a full monetary value of the credit balance,

facilitate debiting the partial monetary value from the full monetary value at the first gaming terminal, and

route the remote monetary payout request from the first gaming terminal to a printer at the first electronic gaming table, wherein receipt of the remote monetary payout request results in the printer issuing a cash voucher corresponding to the partial monetary value.

13. The remote print server of claim 12, wherein the remote print server routes the remote monetary payout request to the printer at or about the time that the remote monetary payout request is made.

14. The remote print server of claim 12, wherein the partial monetary value represents a tip amount for the live human dealer.

15. The remote print server of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

facilitate providing the live human dealer with an indication that a tip is being provided at or about the time that the remote monetary payout request is made, whereby the live human dealer is provided an opportunity to acknowledge the tip.

16. The remote print server of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

communicate with a cash voucher server to obtain authorization and voucher data for the remote monetary payout request.

17. The gaming table system of claim 16, wherein the cash voucher server comprises a TITO server, and wherein the remote print server is further configured to:

emulate an electronic gaming terminal that is eligible to receive cash voucher authorization and data from the TITO server.

18. A method of providing a partial payout for an electronic player terminal configured to facilitate the play of wager-based table games administered by a live human dealer at a remotely located electronic gaming table within a gaming system, the method comprising:

receiving a remote monetary payout request from the electronic gaming terminal, wherein the remote monetary payout request represents a partial payout of a credit balance at the first gaming terminal, the remote monetary payout request comprising a partial monetary value that is less than a full monetary value of the credit balance;

facilitating a debit of the partial monetary value from the full monetary value at the electronic gaming terminal; and

routing the remote monetary payout request from the electronic gaming terminal to a printer at the remotely located electronic gaming table, wherein receipt of the remote monetary payout request results in the printer issuing a cash voucher corresponding to the partial monetary value.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the partial monetary value represents a tip amount for the live human dealer, the method further comprising:

facilitating an indication to the live human dealer that a tip is being provided at or about the time that the remote monetary payout request is made, whereby the live human dealer is provided an opportunity to acknowledge the tip.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

emulating an electronic gaming terminal that is eligible to receive cash voucher authorization and data from a TITO server; and

communicating with the TITO server to obtain authorization and voucher data for the remote monetary payout request.