Method and system for wireless validation of gaming vouchers

Abstract

A system and method for wireless validation of gaming vouchers output from electronic gaming machines includes a centralized computer which receives and stores game transaction information, including records of printed vouchers and pay-out amounts. To cash-out a voucher, the voucher information is entered into a wireless, portable computer device, and relayed to a remote wireless interface connected to the centralized computer. A verification program verifies that the voucher is valid and not paid out. It then updates the voucher record to indicate that the voucher has been paid and transmits the pay-out amount to the wireless, portable computer device, where it is displayed. If a voucher is not valid or already paid out, a denial message is transmitted to the wireless, portable computer device. The system may include a primary network and a secondary network with redundant, cross-referenced voucher databases.

1 . A method for validating gaming vouchers printed by an electronic gaming machine, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving voucher identification information at a wireless, portable computer device, said voucher identification information corresponding to a voucher printed by an electronic gaming machine;    transmitting, over a wireless connection, a voucher validation request from the wireless, portable computer device to a remote wireless interface, said remote wireless interface connected to a central network computer;    conveying the voucher validation request from the remote wireless interface to the central network computer;    retrieving a voucher record in a voucher database based upon said voucher identification information;    confirming, based on payment information in said voucher record, that the corresponding voucher has not yet been paid;    updating said voucher record to indicate that the voucher has been paid;    transmitting, via said remote wireless interface, a voucher pay-out approval from said central network computer to a said wireless, portable computer device if said voucher record was found and not yet paid, or else a voucher pay-out disapproval if either said voucher record was not found or else the voucher was already paid; and    displaying an indication of said voucher pay-out approval or voucher pay-out disapproval on-screen at said wireless, portable computer device.