Abstract: A modular transaction printer for generating financial transaction records such as gaming vouchers and coupons. The printer uses expansion modules which are self-contained devices to allow for modular expansion and open system architecture of the printer where an expansion module can be plugged into a port of the printer for easy in-field upgradeability, to expand the printer's main controller functionality, and to share the printer resources. Each module snaps in, is hot swappable, and prepackaged to perform certain functions such as promotional printing.

Abstract: The present invention identifies a promotional coupon system (PCS) for use with cash-less slot machines and games to perform promotional couponing using patron recognition while maintaining patron anonymity, to perform promotional couponing on one or more segments of a gaming establishment floor, and to perform promotional couponing to direct patrons to a particular location or service in a gaming establishment such as a restaurant or show, among others.

Abstract: A gaming table device which allows casinos and other types of gambling establishments to link gaming tables and point of sale terminals in or associated with a casino to connect and use systems. The systems may include a TITO (Ticket In Ticket Out) host system for credit transfer from cash, RFID chips, non-RFID chips, gaming vouchers, and promotional coupons to gaming vouchers, promotional coupons, chips and rewritable cards, among others, thereby expanding the use of credit transfer within a gaming establishment and or associated gaming establishments and their slot machines, change machines, and cashier cages to include gaming tables.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a promotional printer for use within a cashless enabled gaming machine or vending machine are disclosed. A promotional printer includes a coupon database describing a stack of coupons that are specified using a template based couponing printer language. A coupon is selected for creation and issued to a user or player based on a matrix of event-based triggers involving factors or parameters known to the promotional printer directly or supplied by a master promotional controller. Triggers may include the time of day, the date or amount of a cash-out voucher to be issued to the user or player, the duration of play on a gaming machine, a player classification, the amount of money or credits added to a game, or a random frequency of coupon issuance having satisfied any or all of the aforementioned factors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a vending promotional printer for use within a vending machine are disclosed. A vending promotional printer includes a coupon database describing a stack of coupons that are specified using a template based couponing printer language. A coupon is selected for creation and issued to the customer based on a matrix of event-based triggers involving factors or parameters known to the vending promotional printer directly or supplied by master promotional controller. Triggers may include the time of day, the date or amount of a cash-out voucher to be issued to a customer, the duration of play on a vending machine, a customer classification, the amount of money or credits added to a game, or a random frequency of coupon issuance having satisfied any or all of the aforementioned factors.

Abstract: A distributed processing printer which may include separate controllers and/or separate memory where one controller and/or memory may be used to support legacy applications and another controller and/or memory may be used to support printing promotional materials and/or messages in a manner completely transparent to the legacy applications. The printer is capable of magnetically, electronically, and/or thermally reading, writing, erasing, and/or encoding gaming vouchers, promotional coupons, and rewritable cards. The printer can be integrated into a cashless slot machine and other games and/or a promotional system in a casino that produces gaming vouchers, promotional coupons and messages and/or print on demand player tracking card/vouchers capable of communicating with a game or host. The printer may accept various kinds of media, such as thermally writable media, smart cards, or magnetic strip cards.

Abstract: A secured gaming table vouchering system to enable the use of game vouchers and promotional coupons and cashless gaming at gaming tables such as a poker table and a gaming table device for use therein. The secured gaming table vouchering system and gaming table device allows casinos and other types of gambling establishments to link gaming tables and point of sale terminals in or associated with a casino to connect and use systems in use, such as the TITO (Ticket In Ticket Out) host system, for credit transfer from cash, RFID chips, non-RFID chips, gaming vouchers, and promotional coupons to gaming vouchers and promotional coupons thereby expanding the use of credit transfer within a gaming establishment and or associated gaming establishments and their slot machines, change machines, and cashier cages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the creation and management of promotional coupons or vouchers. When used in a mixed gaming and promotional couponing system, a printer appends printed indicia to printed output when receiving data on an auxiliary port configured for printing promotional coupons. In addition, the printer, upon receiving data on the auxiliary port, may analyze the received data in order to suppress data for generating certain patterns which are not desirable to appear on the printed output. Suppressed data may include text, barcode, graphic, line, and box data used for printing vouchers but not promotional coupons.

Abstract: Guest services system for couponing and gaming where guests using an access point such as their room or kiosk select which promotions to view, which incentives and/or coupons to print and request and/or receive play credits. Additionally, secured means include using a PIN, password, and/or a secured card such as a room card or player tracking card to access and view incentives, request play credit, receive incentives and/or play credit, and/or purchase play credit. The system includes a connection to host systems, a controller, a user interface, input device, output device, card reading device as well as personal communication devices such as a computer.

Abstract: A gaming machine printer. The gaming machine printer creates printed vouchers, tickets, receipts, etc. for use in gaming applications employing cashless enabled gaming systems. The gaming machine printer includes a voucher management system having a burster bar for separating vouchers and a serpentine voucher guide that may be opened for inspection. The gaming machine printer further includes various electrical features that protect the gaming machine printer from electrostatic discharges.

Abstract: A promotional couponing system for the creation and management of promotional coupons, coupon templates, promotions, promotional campaigns, and triggers using a host system and a graphical front-end for use in a gaming, vending, or other business environment. A promotional couponing system runs on its own network though can connect to other host systems, and directly or indirectly to games such as slot machines and game tables and a printer of a game using a third port or interface. The promotional couponing system monitors play and other metrics to use triggers based on game and other data. The printer connection to a game only receives information which can be sent to the promotional couponing system.

Abstract: Couponing system including one or more games and/or point of redemption in one or more gaming establishments and/or business entities worldwide. Each game and/or point of redemption includes a printer and bill validator, where each connect to the couponing system using a port or interface for issuance, tracking, and redemption of coupons and/or prizes and using another port or interface to connect to other systems for player tracking or issuance, tracking and redemption of game vouchers. The system offers varying prize levels with coupons issued based on player's participation and/or activity, independent of participation and/or activity of other players. Player receives coupon with value of anything including nonplaying credits. At redemption, coupon is replaced with another or new coupon with additional rewards.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a gaming promotional printer for use within a cashless enabled gaming machine are disclosed. A gaming promotional printer includes a coupon database describing a stack of coupons that are specified using a template based couponing printer language. A coupon is selected for creation and issued to the player based on a matrix of event-based triggers involving factors or parameters known to the gaming promotional printer directly or supplied by master promotional controller. Triggers may include the time of day, the date or amount of a cash-out voucher to be issued to a player, the duration of play on a gaming machine, a player classification, the amount of money or credits added to a game, or a random frequency of coupon issuance having satisfied any or all of the aforementioned factors.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for a downloadable financial transaction printer supporting multiple interfaces and single encoding for worldwide languages configuration. The financial transaction printer interfaces with multiple host systems and multiple gaming machine protocols, downloads application code or code patches, receives printer maintenance instructions, arbitrates print jobs received from various communication interfaces, supports worldwide languages, and utilizes firmware version consolidation whereby fewer firmware versions are required to support worldwide requirements, such as regional and jurisdictional requirements. The financial transaction printer further includes security features for gaming regulatory requirements, memory protection, and preventing the execution of downloaded code on unauthorized hardware. The financial transaction printer further includes segmented memory for content related to each communication interface, gaming machine, or host system, among others.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a distributed promotional coupon system for use within a casino which has cash-less gaming machines involving a plurality of game installed cash-out vouchers printers networked to a central server. The system can provide promotions to all patrons of a casino, either through player tracking or anonymously. The system provide a means for the creation and issuance of promotional coupons as well as the tracking of the redemption of such coupons, real-time monitoring of a gaming printer's activities, connecting to other existing systems in a casino, such as an accounting system or point-of-sale system. Additionally, such a system may use existing equipment such as a gaming printer to produce such coupons, however, only after the existing equipment produces a cash-out voucher.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a promotional coupon system which can provide promotions and promotional coupons to all patrons of a casino, specifically to patrons who do not want to provide personal information yet would enjoy receiving promotions. Casinos can track an anonymous player and offer incentives such as promotional coupons to the player to entice them to return to the casino. The system provides a means for the creation and issuance of promotional coupons as well as the tracking of the redemption of such coupons and the tracking of anonymous players, to provide real-time monitoring of a gaming printer's activities; for connecting to other existing systems in a casino, such as an accounting system or point-of-sale system. Additionally, such a system may use existing equipment such as a gaming printer to produce such coupons, however, only after the existing equipment produces a cash-out voucher.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the creation and management of promotional coupons are provided. Promotional coupon templates are written in a template definition language and promotions, promotional campaigns, and triggers for the generation and issuance of promotional coupons based on the promotional coupon templates are defined. The promotional coupons may be printed either in real time, based on a predetermined date and/or time, or based on other triggers by a printer. Furthermore, the method and apparatus facilitate management of the redemption of promotional coupons for use in a gaming, vending, or other business environment. The system uses a host system and a graphical front-end. The system further includes at least one printer and may include routing devices. The system may interface with other systems such as a point of sale system or slot accounting system.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for a downloadable financial transaction printer supporting multiple interfaces and single encoding for worldwide languages configuration. The financial transaction printer interfaces with multiple host systems and multiple gaming machine protocols, downloads application code or code patches, receives printer maintenance instructions, arbitrates print jobs received from various communication interfaces, supports worldwide languages, and utilizes firmware version consolidation whereby fewer firmware versions are required to support worldwide requirements, such as regional and jurisdictional requirements. The financial transaction printer further includes security features for gaming regulatory requirements, memory protection, and preventing the execution of downloaded code on unauthorized hardware. The financial transaction printer further includes segmented memory for content related to each communication interface, gaming machine, or host system, among others.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a gaming promotional printer for use within a cashless enabled gaming machine are disclosed. A gaming promotional printer includes a coupon database describing a stack of coupons that are specified using a template based couponing printer language. A coupon is selected for creation and issued to the player based on a matrix of event-based triggers involving factors or parameters known to the gaming promotional printer directly or supplied by master promotional controller. Triggers may include the time of day, the date or amount of a cash-out voucher to be issued to a player, the duration of play on a gaming machine, a player classification, the amount of money or credits added to a game, or a random frequency of coupon issuance having satisfied any or all of the aforementioned factors.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for randomized record storage using bidirectional shifting wherein a printer is coupled to a conveyor system housed in a temporary storage bin. The conveyor system shifts in a bidirectional fashion to randomize the order of the printouts temporarily stored in the temporary storage bin and prevent the storage of sequentially generated printouts in a storage tray.