Abstract: A system for tracking casino promotional funds given to a casino patron, comprising a plurality of gaming machines A bank controller is provided for the plurality of gaming machines. A server is connected to the bank controller. A plurality of memory devices are provided. Each memory device has a memory which has encoded therein an identification of a serial number which is assigned to a casino patron receiving the memory device. The system provides an account balance for the casino patron which is associated with the memory device supplied to the casino patron. An interface device is provided on each gaming machine and is adapted to interface with the memory device to permit operation of the gaming machine and to permit debiting of the account balance of the casino patron as the gaming machine is operated by the casino patron utilizing the assigned memory device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an Expected Value Payment Method for the purpose of reducing the expected per unit costs incurred in paying and/or receiving a given amount of a commodity. An Expected Value Payment Method uses a random number supplier to decide bets that can reduce expected per unit costs in two ways. First, expected per unit costs can be reduced for the payer and/or receiver of a commodity by giving the receiver a chance to win a greater amount of the commodity than a given amount, the greater amount having a lower per unit cost than the given amount which was originally to be paid and received. Second, in special situations, certain businesses can offer customers who bet to win a given amount of a commodity a better expected price for that amount than the price offered to customers paying conventionally for that same amount.

Abstract: Disclosed is the use of a Random Number Supplier to execute bets in an Expected Value Payment Method for the purpose of reducing the expected per unit costs incurred in paying and/or receiving a given amount of a commodity. An expected Value Payment Method uses bets to reduce expected per unit costs in two ways.First, expected per unit costs can be reduced for the payer and/or receiver of a commodity by giving the receiver a chance to win a greater amount of the commodity than a given amount, the greater amount having a lower per unit cost than the given amount which was originally to be paid and received. Second, in special situations, certain businesses can offer customers who bet to win a given amount of a commodity a better expected price for that amount than the price offered to customers paying conventionally for that same amount.Also disclosed are Expected Value Payment Execution Systems that make an Expected Value Payment Method practical by preventing cheating in Expected Value Payment bets.

Abstract: The apparatus for enabling a gaming machine in an establishment to provide credit to a player operating the machine without the player leaving the machine. The gaming machine has a card reader associated with it for transmitting player related financial data to a remote location for approval. A first code identifies the particular gaming machine and a second code identifies the establishment in which the gaming machine is located. A visual display on the gaming machine indicates the amount of credit approved and usable by the player and enables the player to operate the gaming machine to use the credit.

Abstract: A lottery system using a public switched network to enter a lottery and to receive an indication of winning while connected on a lottery call. A lottery customer dials a telephone number to enter the lottery. The customer has his eligibility verified by a credit card number or the telephone number of the calling station. The customer is then prompted to speak or key a lottery entry which may be a full number, partial number, or an indication that a lottery comparison number is to be generated by a lottery processor. From the customer's lottery entry, a lottery comparison number is generated. This is compared with a random lottery target number generated by the lottery processor. If the comparison number and target number match, the customer is informed of his winning. Advantageously, lottery customers are quickly notified of their winnings.

Abstract: A usage promotion method for use with a payment card data interchange system in which a computer examines card transaction data files to select transactions conforming to specified criteria. The computer eliminates arbitrarily all but a fraction of the selected transactions, selects winning transactions by using the bytes of the computer's system clock, and produces a verifiable list of winning transactions which, after manual verification, are used to create credits to the accounts of the card holders of the winning transactions.