Method and apparatus for cashless gaming

Abstract

A method for providing game players with an incentive to redeem winnings using a cashless device. The method includes providing a wagering game on a gaming device to a player and allowing the player to transfer value to the gaming device. The value transferred by the player to the gaming device is recorded. A game is presented to the player and the player is allowed to place a wager and play the game. It is determined whether the result of the game is a winning event or a losing event. The recorded value is updated by adding or subtracting from the recorded value depending on whether the result of the game was a winning or losing event. The player is allowed to cash out at least a portion of the updated recorded value using a cashless device. A prize is awarded to the player if the cashout occurs during a certain time period.

1 . A method for providing a player an incentive to redeem winnings using a cashless device, comprising, but not necessarily in the order shown: 
 (A) providing a wagering game to a player;    (B) allowing the player to transfer value to the wagering game;    (C) recording the value transferred by the player to the wagering game;    (D) presenting a game to the player;    (E) allowing the player to place a wager;    (F) playing the game;    (G) determining whether the result of the game is a winning event or a losing event;    (H) updating the recorded value by adding or subtracting from the recorded value depending on whether the result of the game was a winning or losing event;    (I) allowing the player to cash out at least a portion of the updated recorded value using a cashless device; and    (J) awarding a prize to the player if the cashout occurs during a first pre-determined time period.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined time period is randomly determined.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the player is awarded the prize if an initial wager occurs during a second pre-determined time period.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a list of possible prizes to the player.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising allowing the player to select at least one prize from the list.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying the prize for using the cashless device to the player prior to allowing the player to cash out.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prize awarded can only be used on a downloadable gaming system.  
     
     
         8 . A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to redeem winnings comprising: 
 (A) a value acceptor and dispenser, wherein the value acceptor and dispenser is configured to accept currency or currency equivalents from the player;    (B) a controller in communication with the value acceptor and dispenser, the controller configured to present the player with a game of chance and to determine whether the player has won or lost the game of chance, the controller configured to store the amount of value accepted from the player and update the value according to whether the player has won or lost the game of chance;    (C) a cashless gaming system, the cashless gaming system in communication with the controller and the value acceptor and dispenser, the cashless gaming system configured to compare information from the controller to a set of predefined instructions to determine whether the player is entitled to a prize and to dispense at least a portion of the stored value to the game player.    
     
     
         9 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a prize indicator, the prize indicator indicating to the player the prize to which the player may be entitled.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the player is awarded the prize if an initial wager occurs during a first time period.  
     
     
         11 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the player is awarded the prize if the player elects to receive a cashless cashout during a second time period.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second time period is randomly determined.  
     
     
         13 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising displaying a list of possible prizes to the player.  
     
     
         14 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising allowing the player to select at least one prize from the list.  
     
     
         15 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the prize can only be used on a downloadable gaming system.  
     
     
         16 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses that are adapted to be played by a plurality of players, wherein the cashless gaming system is adapted to award a prize to all of the players when all of the players elect to use the cashless gaming system to cash out.  
     
     
         17 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses that are adapted to be played by a plurality of players, wherein the cashless gaming system is adapted to award a prize to the last player that elects to use the cashless gaming system to cash out.  
     
     
         18 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses that are adapted to be played by a plurality of players, wherein the cashless gaming system is adapted to award a plurality of prizes, the awarded prize depending on when the players elect to cash out.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for awarding a gaming player a prize, comprising: 
 (A) a controller for controlling a gaming device;    (B) a value acceptor and dispenser in communication with the controller, the value acceptor and dispenser configured to accept and dispense a value.    (C) a cashless gaming system in communication with the controller and the value acceptor and dispenser;    (D) software operable on the controller and the cashless gaming system to: 
 (a) monitor if the gaming player selects a cashless cashout;  
 (b) determine if the cashless cashout is associated with a prize;  
 (c) award the prize to the gaming player.  
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the player is awarded the prize if an initial wager occurs during a first time period and the cashless cashout occurs during a second time period.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the player is awarded the prize if the player selects the cashless cashout during a second time period.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the second time period is randomly determined.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising displaying a list of possible prizes to the player.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising allowing the player to select at least one prize from the list.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the prize can only be used on a downloadable gaming system.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of gaming devices that are adapted to be played by a plurality of players, wherein the cashless gaming system is adapted to award a prize to all of the players when all of the players elect to use the cashless gaming system to cash out.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of gaming devices that are adapted to be played by a plurality of players, wherein the cashless gaming system is adapted to award a prize to the last player that elects to use the cashless gaming system to cashout.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of gaming devices that are adapted to be played by a plurality of players, wherein the cashless gaming system is adapted to award a plurality of prizes, the awarded prize depending on when the players elect to cashout.