Reusable cashless instruments for gaming machines and systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for utilizing reusable tickets or other suitable cashless instruments for gaming machines systems are disclosed. Each reusable cashless instrument includes a unique validation code designated thereon, an associated monetary value and no monetary designation stored or encoded thereon. The validation code corresponds to an associated account stored in a central system, which stores a monetary value for each reusable cashless instrument. Systems can include reusable cashless instruments, gaming machines and devices, storage and stacking mechanisms, escrow devices, servers, databases, reusable ticket issuing and reading devices, and cashier stations. The reusable ticket issuing devices may not write to the reusable tickets upon issuance. Reusable cashless instrument may comprise paper, reinforced paper or a plastic material. Methods include issuing a reusable ticket with a first value, receiving a request to redeem a specified credit amount, updating the monetary value, and reissuing the reusable ticket with a second different value.

1 . A gaming system adapted for accepting wagers, playing games based on the wagers and granting payouts based on the results of the games, comprising:
 a plurality of reusable cashless instruments, each having a unique validation code designated thereon, an associated monetary value and no monetary designation printed, stored or encoded thereon;   a server configured to compare the unique validation codes of each of said reusable cashless instruments with a plurality of stored validation codes to determine a monetary value associated with one or more of said reusable cashless instruments;   a database in communication with said server and adapted to store said plurality of validation codes and associated account information for said plurality of reusable cashless instruments, wherein said associated account information includes said associated monetary value for each of said reusable cashless instruments; and   a plurality of gaming machines adapted to accept wagers, play games and grant payouts based on the results of the games, wherein each of said plurality of gaming machines includes   a plurality of input and output devices adapted to accept wagers, play games and grant payouts based on the results of the games,   a master gaming controller in communication with one or more of said plurality of input and output devices, said master gaming controller adapted to control one or more aspects of said games,   at least one reusable cashless instrument issuing device in communication with at least one of said server and said master gaming controller, said at least one reusable cashless instrument issuing device configured to issue one or more of said reusable cashless instruments,   at least one reusable cashless instrument reading device in communication with at least one of said server and said master gaming controller, said at least one reusable cashless instrument reading device configured to read one or more of said reusable cashless instruments, and   at least one storage mechanism adapted to store one or more of said plurality of reusable cashless gaming instruments, wherein said gaming machine is adapted to accept a first reusable cashless instrument having a first associated monetary value, provide a gaming credit corresponding to said first associated monetary value on said gaming machine, and issue said first reusable cashless instrument with a second different associated monetary value.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a cashier station in communication with said server and adapted to facilitate the redemption of one or more of said reusable cashless instruments.   
   
   
       3 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein said server is further configured to generate an indication of a possibly counterfeit cashless instrument. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the reusable cashless instrument is substantially constructed with paper, reinforced paper or a plastic material. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein each unique validation code is a number, a bar code, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said reusable cashless instrument reading devices is reconfigurable such that it is capable of reading cash currency, other forms of cashless instruments, or both. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein said reusable cashless instrument reading device also functions as said reusable cashless instrument issuing device. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein said reusable cashless instrument issuing device does not write to the reusable cashless instrument. 
   
   
       9 . A gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a payout based on the result of the game, comprising:
 an exterior housing arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein;   a master gaming controller in communication with at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components as well as an external server adapted to administer a reusable cashless instrument system, said master gaming controller being adapted to execute or control one or more aspects of said game;   a reusable cashless instrument issuing device in communication with said master gaming controller, located within or about said exterior housing and configured to issue one or more reusable cashless instruments having a validation code;   a reusable cashless instrument reading device in communication with said master gaming controller, located within or about said exterior housing and configured to read one or more reusable cashless instruments having a validation code; and   at least one storage mechanism adapted to store one or more reusable cashless gaming instruments, wherein said gaming machine is adapted to accept a first reusable cashless instrument having a first associated monetary value, provide a gaming credit corresponding to said first associated monetary value on said gaming machine, and issue said first reusable cashless instrument with a second different associated monetary value.   
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 9 , wherein said storage mechanism is adapted to stack a plurality of reusable cashless instruments therein. 
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 9 , wherein the unique validation code is a number, a bar code or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 9 , wherein said reusable cashless instrument reading device is also adapted to read cash currency, other forms of cashless instruments, or both. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 9 , wherein said reusable cashless instrument reading device also functions as said reusable cashless instrument issuing device. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 9 , wherein said reusable cashless instrument issuing device does not write to the reusable cashless instrument. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 at least one escrow area coupled to said reusable cashless instrument reading device and adapted to hold at least one reusable cashless instrument during game play.   
   
   
       16 . A reusable cashless gaming instrument system, comprising:
 one or more gaming devices adapted for accepting wagers, playing games based on the wagers and granting payouts based on the results of the games;   a server in communication with said one or more gaming devices and configured to compare the unique validation codes of each of a plurality of reusable cashless instruments with a plurality of stored validation codes to determine a monetary value associated with each of said reusable cashless instruments;   a database in communication with said server and adapted to store said plurality of validation codes and associated account information for said plurality of reusable cashless instruments, wherein said associated account information includes said associated monetary value for each of said reusable cashless instruments;   at least one reusable cashless instrument issuing device in communication with said server, said at least one reusable cashless instrument issuing device configured to issue one or more of said reusable cashless instruments;   at least one reusable cashless instrument reading device in communication with said server, said at least one reusable cashless instrument reading device configured to read one or more of said reusable cashless instrument,   wherein said reusable cashless gaming instrument system is adapted to reuse one or more of said plurality of reusable cashless instruments after said one or more reusable cashless instruments have already been redeemed by one or more players.   
   
   
       17 . The reusable cashless gaming instrument system of  claim 16 , wherein said reusable cashless gaming instrument system is adapted to accept a first reusable cashless instrument having a first associated monetary value, provide a gaming credit corresponding to said first associated monetary value on at least one of said one or more gaming devices, and issue said first reusable cashless instrument with a second different associated monetary value. 
   
   
       18 . The reusable cashless gaming instrument system of  claim 16 , wherein said reusable cashless gaming instrument system is adapted to issue a first reusable cashless instrument having a first associated monetary value and then later issue said first reusable cashless instrument with a second different associated monetary value. 
   
   
       19 . A method of using reusable cashless instruments in a reusable cashless gaming instrument system adapted for accepting wagers, playing games based on the wagers and granting monetary payouts based on the results of the games, the method comprising:
 providing a first reusable cashless instrument having a unique validation code designated thereon, an associated first monetary value and no monetary designation printed, stored or encoded thereon;   accepting said first reusable cashless instrument into a reusable cashless instrument reading device;   reading said first reusable cashless instrument;   comparing the unique validation code on said first reusable cashless instrument with a plurality of stored validation codes to determine said first monetary value associated with said first reusable cashless instrument;   providing credit in a gaming device to match said first monetary value associated with said first reusable cashless instrument; and   issuing said first reusable cashless instrument with a second different associated monetary value.   
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising the step of:
 storing said first reusable cashless instrument in an escrow within said gaming device.   
   
   
       21 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 retaining and storing within the gaming device additional previously issued reusable cashless instruments having no associated monetary values;   associating monetary values to said additional previously issued reusable cashless instruments; and   reissuing said additional previously issued reusable cashless instruments.   
   
   
       22 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving a request or instruction to redeem a specified credit amount at said gaming device, said specified credit amount comprising all or part of a total credit balance stored on said gaming device; and   updating the monetary value associated with said first reusable cashless instrument from said first associated monetary value to said second different associated monetary value.