Remote gaming cash voucher printing system

• US 9,916,735 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2015
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Chun, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): LIM, SENG HENG
• Application Number:
  US14/806,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20170024975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 a plurality of wager-based table games, wherein each of the plurality of electronic gaming tables includes;

a physical surface configured to enable a play of at least one of the wager-based table games in association with 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 table controller and one or more external system components;

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

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

one or more display components coupled to the gaming terminal controller and configured to provide an 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 gaming terminal communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the gaming terminal controller and the one or more external system components; and

a remote print server separate from and in communication with each of 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 of the first electronic gaming table and cause the printer of the first electronic gaming table 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 a live human dealer at the first electronic gaming table.

6. The gaming table system of claim 5, wherein every tip amount provided to the live human dealer is printed to a separate cash voucher.

7. The gaming table system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of gaming tables further comprises

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

8. 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.

9. The gaming table system of claim 8, wherein the cash voucher server comprises a ticket in-ticket out server, and wherein the remote print server is configured to emulate an electronic gaming terminal that is eligible to receive a cash voucher authorization and data from the ticket in-ticket out server.

10. A 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 to enable a play of at least one of a plurality of wager-based table games in association with 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 a debiting of 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.

11. The remote print server of claim 10, wherein the partial monetary value represents a tip amount for a live human dealer.

12. The remote print server of claim 11, 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.

13. The gaming table system of claim 12, wherein the cash voucher server comprises a ticket in-ticket out server, and wherein the remote print server is further configured to

emulate an electronic gaming terminal that is eligible to receive a cash voucher authorization and data from the ticket in-ticket out server.

14. A method of providing a partial payout for an electronic player terminal configured to facilitate a play of at least one of a plurality of wager-based table games at a remotely located gaming table, 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 of the electronic 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 of the electronic gaming terminal; and

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

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the partial monetary value represents a tip amount for a live human dealer.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

emulating an electronic gaming terminal that is eligible to receive a cash voucher authorization and data from a ticket in-ticket out server; and

communicating with the ticket in-ticket out server to obtain an authorization and voucher data for the remote monetary payout request.

17. A gaming terminal comprising:

a display device;

an input device;

a communication interface;

a processor; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

enable a player to place, via the input device, a wager on at least one of a plurality of wager-based table games at a plurality of gaming tables, wherein each of the plurality of gaming tables includes a printer configured to issue a cash voucher at the gaming table and a physical surface configured to enable a play of at least one of the wager-based table games in association with one or more physical game components,

cause the display device to display the wagered on play of the wager-based table game,

enable the player to make an input, via the input device, that initiates a remote monetary payout request associated with a first one of the gaming tables located remote from the gaming terminal, and

responsive to the player making the input that initiates the remote monetary payout request associated with the first one of the gaming tables, communicate, via the communication interface, data to a remote print server which routes the remote monetary payout request to the printer of the first gaming table and causes the printer of the first gaming table to issue a cash voucher at the first gaming table.

18. The gaming terminal of claim 17, wherein the remote monetary payout request represents a partial payout of a credit balance of the gaming terminal, the remote monetary payout request comprising a partial monetary value that is less than a full monetary value of the credit balance.

19. The gaming terminal of claim 18, wherein the remote print server further facilitates a debiting of the partial monetary value from the full monetary value at the gaming terminal.