Coinless slot machine system and method
DCFirst Claim
1. A gaming apparatus that pays credits responsive to the outcome of a game played, said gaming apparatus comprising:
- a. an electronic memory means for storing an amount of credit available for the play of said game, said amount of credit being determined by at least one of the outcome of the game played and an amount of currency inputted into said gaming apparatus;
b. a first input associated with means for recognizing and validating paper currency, said first input providing a first input signal to said electronic memory means representing an amount of credit represented by said paper currency;
c. means for generating a first code on a first permanent storage record, said first code representing credit stored in said electronic memory means, and an outlet for said first permanent storage record;
d. a second input associated with means for reading said first code on said first permanent storage record; and
e. means for providing a second input signal to said electronic memory means representing an amount of credit represented by said first code, said electronic memory means generating a second signal representing at least one of an amount of credit and currency to be dispensed by said gaming apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming apparatus which comprises a slot machine capable of accepting either paper currency, preprinted coupons, or cash out slips. The slot machine also includes a printer that prints and dispenses cash out slips which include a bar code representing a unique identification that provides the amount of "winnings". The cash out slips can be scanned into a separate currency dispenser at a Cashier'"'"'s Station for receiving currency, either from the dispenser or from an attendant. A central processing unit (CPU) generates the unique codes for regulating the game to be played, the wager limits of the game and the validity of the free play coupons or the cash out tickets. The above gaming system avoids having to use coins or tokens in the operation of slot machines.
1426 Citations
76 Claims
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1. A gaming apparatus that pays credits responsive to the outcome of a game played, said gaming apparatus comprising:
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a. an electronic memory means for storing an amount of credit available for the play of said game, said amount of credit being determined by at least one of the outcome of the game played and an amount of currency inputted into said gaming apparatus; b. a first input associated with means for recognizing and validating paper currency, said first input providing a first input signal to said electronic memory means representing an amount of credit represented by said paper currency; c. means for generating a first code on a first permanent storage record, said first code representing credit stored in said electronic memory means, and an outlet for said first permanent storage record; d. a second input associated with means for reading said first code on said first permanent storage record; and e. means for providing a second input signal to said electronic memory means representing an amount of credit represented by said first code, said electronic memory means generating a second signal representing at least one of an amount of credit and currency to be dispensed by said gaming apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A gaming apparatus that pays credits responsive to an outcome of a game played comprising:
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a. an electronic memory means for storing an amount of credit available for the play of said game, said amount of credit being determined by at least one of the outcome of the game played and an amount of currency inputted into said gaming apparatus; b. a code reader for reading a code on a permanent storage record corresponding to an amount of credit represented by said code for play of said game; c. a means for generating a first code on a first permanent storage record representing the amount of credit stored in said electronic memory means, said first code capable of being read by said code reader; and d. means for providing a signal to said electronic memory means corresponding to the amount of credit stored in said first permanent storage record, said electronic memory means generating a second signal representing at least one of an amount of credit and currency to be dispensed by said gaming apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A gaming apparatus that pays credits responsive to an outcome of a game played comprising:
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a. an electronic memory means for storing an amount of credit available for the play of said game; b. a code reader for reading a code on a permanent storage record corresponding to an amount of credit represented by said code for play of said game; c. means for generating a first code on a first permanent storage record representing the amount of credit stored in said electronic memory means, said first code capable of being read by said code reader; d. means for providing a signal to said electronic memory means corresponding to the amount of credit stored in said first permanent storage record; and e. an automatic pay-out system comprising; means for validating said first code and for providing a first input signal to said electronic memory means representing an amount of credit represented by said first code, said electronic memory means generating a second output signal representing the amount of currency to be dispensed; means for storing currency within said gaming apparatus; means for recognizing and distinguishing different values of currency and for dispensing said currency in response to said second output signal from said electronic memory system. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method for employing a gaming apparatus, said gaming apparatus consisting of:
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a. a game that pays credits responsive to the outcome of the game played, said game being associated with an electronic memory means for storing the amount of credit available for the play of said game, said amount of credit being determined by at least one of the outcome of the game played and an amount of currency inputted into said gaming apparatus; b. means for recognizing and validating paper currency and providing a first input signal to said electronic memory means representing an amount of the credit represented by said paper currency; c. means for generating a code on a permanent storage record representing an amount of credit stored in said electronic memory means, said electronic memory means generating a second signal representing at least one of an amount of credit and currency to be dispensed by said gaming apparatus; d. a code reading means for reading said code on said permanent storage record and means for providing a second input signal to said electronic memory means representing the amount of credit represented by said code; said method comprising the steps of; (1) depositing paper currency or a permanent storage record having a code in the paper currency recognition means or code reading means; and (2) upon completion of use of the gaming apparatus generating a first permanent storage record corresponding to the amount of credit stored in said electronic memory means available for play of said game. - View Dependent Claims (64)
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65. A change station comprising an exchange system for providing currency in exchange for credits generated by a game in response to the outcome of the game played and for providing credits in exchange for currency, said change station, comprising:
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means for receiving a first permanent storage record having a first code corresponding to an amount of credit for playing said game; means for reading said first code on said first permanent storage record; means for validating said first code and for providing a first signal to an electronic memory representing the amount of credit represented by said first code; means for storing currency, and means for recognizing and dispensing currency in response to a second signal from said electronic memory representing the amount of currency to be dispensed; means for accepting currency into said change station; and means for generating a second code on a second permanent storage record representing the amount of currency accepted by said currency accepting means, said second code on said second permanent storage record being readable by said code reading means.
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66. A gaming system comprising:
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a. a game that pays credits responsive to the outcome of the game played, said game associated with an electronic memory means for storing an amount of credit available for the play of said game; b. means for generating a first code on a permanent storage record representing the amount of credit stored in said electronic memory means; c. a change system for providing currency in exchange for said credits; d. input means for receiving a permanent storage record; e. code reading means for reading said first code on said permanent storage record; f. means for validating said first code and for providing a first signal to said electronic memory means representing the amount of credit represented by said first code; and g. means for storing currency, and means for recognizing and dispensing currency in response to a second signal from said electronic memory means representing the amount of currency to be dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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Specification