Redemption of virtual tickets using a portable electronic device

Abstract

A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can include electronic gaming machines that are compatible to receive both virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that are redeemable for credits on the electronic gaming machines. Information associated with a virtual ticket voucher can be stored on a patron-controlled portable electronic device and then can be wireless transmitted to the electronic gaming machines. The electronic gaming machines can be configured to issue virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for cash or additional game play on another electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, the electronic gaming machine can be configured to issue a virtual ticket voucher to a patron-controlled portable electronic device.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A gaming system comprising:
 an input device;   a processor; and   a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 receive, via the input device, an input to purchase a virtual ticket voucher, 
 reduce a credit balance by a first monetary value associated with the purchased virtual ticket voucher, and 
 wirelessly communicate, to a mobile device, data associated with the purchased virtual ticket voucher. 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to wirelessly communicate, to the mobile device, the data associated with the purchased virtual ticket voucher without printing any physical ticket vouchers associated with the received input to purchase the virtual ticket voucher. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual ticket voucher is associated with the first monetary value at a first point in time and the virtual ticket voucher is associated with a second, different monetary value at a second, subsequent point in time. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein the second, different monetary value is greater than the first monetary value. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display device, wherein the input to purchase the virtual ticket voucher is received prior to causing the display device to display a portion of a play of a game. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the input to purchase the virtual ticket voucher occurs independent of any placement of any wager on a game of chance. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the purchased virtual ticket voucher is associated with a ticket validation number maintained by a remote server. 
     
     
         8 . A gaming system comprising:
 a display device;   an input device;   a processor; and   a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 cause the display device to display a play of a game, 
 receive, via the input device, an input to cause a transaction associated with a virtual ticket to occur, 
 reduce a credit balance by a first monetary value associated with the transaction, and 
 wirelessly communicate, to a mobile device, data associated with the virtual ticket. 
   
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the play of the game comprises a play of a game of chance. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 9 , wherein the transaction occurs independent of the play of the game of chance. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to wirelessly communicate, to the mobile device, the data associated with the virtual ticket without printing any physical tickets associated with the transaction. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the virtual ticket is associated with the first monetary value at a first point in time and the virtual ticket is associated with a second, greater monetary value at a second, subsequent point in time. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the virtual ticket is associated with a ticket validation number maintained by a remote server. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a input device, an input to purchase a virtual ticket voucher,   reducing, by a processor, a credit balance by a first monetary value associated with the purchased virtual ticket voucher, and   wirelessly communicating, to a mobile device, data associated with the purchased virtual ticket voucher.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein wirelessly communicating, to the mobile device, the data associated with the purchased virtual ticket voucher occurs without printing any physical ticket vouchers associated with the received input to purchase the virtual ticket voucher. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the virtual ticket voucher is associated with the first monetary value at a first point in time and the virtual ticket voucher is associated with a second, different monetary value at a second, subsequent point in time. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second, different monetary value is greater than the first monetary value. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the input to purchase the virtual ticket voucher is received prior to causing a display, by a display device, of a portion of a play of a game. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the input to purchase the virtual ticket voucher occurs independent of any placement of any wager on a game of chance. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the purchased virtual ticket voucher is associated with a ticket validation number maintained by a remote server.