System for integrated gaming

Abstract

A system ( 1 ) for gaming, for example in a casino ( 8 ), comprising a terminal ( 2 ) adapted to issue a ticket, and a gaming device ( 3 - 7 ), such as a slot-machine ( 4 - 7 ), remote from the terminal, e.g. in the casino ( 8 ), which is adapted to accept the ticket. The system provides a means ( 9 ) for storing ticket related information, such as in a database, and the arrangement is such that the terminal ( 2 ) mimics the gaming device ( 3 - 7 ) so that an issued ticket is accepted by the gaming device ( 3 - 7 ).

1 . A system for gaming, comprising a terminal adapted to issue a ticket, a gaming device remote from the terminal which is adapted to accept the ticket, and a means for storing ticket related information, the arrangement being such that the terminal mimics the gaming device so that an issued ticket is accepted by the gaming device. 
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , the terminal comprising a stand-alone terminal. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , the terminal being located at a location remote from the gaming device and/or means for storing information carried by the ticket. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , the gaming device comprising an electronic gaming machine (EGM). 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 4 , the EGM comprising a slot-machine. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 4 , the EGM being adapted to communicate electronically with the means for storing information carried by the ticket via a protocol and to authenticate the said information. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , the means for storing information carried by the ticket comprising a database means on the back end of a gaming location. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , the database means comprising a ticketing database or server. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 2 , the terminal being adapted to generate a ticket randomly. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 2 , the terminal being adapted to generate a ticket based on input from an attendant. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 2 , the terminal being adapted to generate a ticket based on a customer loyalty card. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 9 , the terminal being adapted to provide a tabular record of information for each ticket issued. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 2 , the terminal being adapted to generate a validation number for each ticket issued. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 13 , the validation number being the only parameter on the ticket which is verifiable. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 14 , the terminal being adapted to issue a ticket comprising promotional data. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for gaming, comprising the steps of providing a terminal adapted to issue a ticket, providing a gaming device adapted to accept the ticket, providing a means for storing ticketing-related information, and the step of accessing the means to record and verify a transaction at the gaming device.