Coinless slot machine system and method

Abstract

A gaming apparatus which comprises a slot machine capable of accepting either paper currency, preprinted coupons, or cash out slips. The slot machine also includes a printer that prints and dispenses cash out slips which include a bar code representing a unique identification that provides the amount of “winnings”. The cash out slips can be scanned into a separate currency dispenser at a Cashier's Station for receiving currency, either from the dispenser or from an attendant. A central processing unit (CPU) generates the unique codes for regulating the game to be played, the wager limits of the game and the validity of the free play coupons or the cash out tickets. The above gaming system avoids having to use coins or tokens in the operation of slot machines.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . A gaming apparatus that pays credits responsive to the outcome of the game played comprising: 
 a. an electronic memory means for storing the amount of credit available for the play of said game;    b. an input associated with a paper currency recognition means for recognizing and validating paper currency and providing a first input signal to said electronic memory means representing the amount of the credit represented by said paper currency;    c. a means for generating a first code on a first permanent storage record means representing credit stored and an outlet for said first permanent storage record means;    d. an input associated with a code reading means for reading said first code on said first permanent storage record; and    e. means for providing a signal to said electronic memory means representing the amount of credit go represented by said first code.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1  in which said first code is in the form of a bar code and said code reading means comprises a bar code reader.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1  in which said means for generating said first code is a bar code printer.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1  in which said permanent storage record is paper, said paper being stored in said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 4  in which said paper is stored in said gaming apparatus in the form of a roll.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1  in which said first code is in the form of a magnetic code on a magnetic strip, and said code reading means comprises a magnetic code reader.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1  in which said means for generating said first code is a magnetic code printer.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 6  in which said permanent storage record means is a card, said card being stored in said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1  in which said code reading means reads and validates preprinted coded coupons.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 9  comprising a means for determining the validity of said coded coupons and generating a signal to the electronic memory means corresponding to the value of said coded coupons only if valid.  
     
     
         11 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1  in which said first code includes a security code portion for the electronic memory means to validate the code of said first storage means.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11  comprising a means for accepting coded coupons.  
     
     
         13 . A gaming apparatus that pays credits responsive to the outcome of the game played comprising: 
 a. an electronic memory means for storing the amount of credit available for the play of said game;    b. a code reader for reading a code on a permanent storage record means corresponding to the amount of credit represented by said code; and    c. a means for generating a first code on a first permanent storage record representing the amount of credit stored.    
     
     
         14 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 13  in which said first code is in the form of a bar code and said code reading means comprises a bar code reader.  
     
     
         15 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 13  in which said means for generating said first code is a bar code printer.  
     
     
         16 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 13  in which said permanent output record is paper, said paper being stored in said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         17 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 16  in which said paper is stored in said gaming apparatus in the form of a roll.  
     
     
         18 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 13  in which said first code is in the form of a magnetic code on a magnetic strip, and said code reading means comprises a magnetic code reader.  
     
     
         19 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 18  in which said means for generating said first code is a magnetic code printer.  
     
     
         20 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 18  in which said permanent storage record is a card, said card being stored in said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         21 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 13  comprising a means for accepting paper currency.  
     
     
         22 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 21  comprising a means for determining the validity of said paper currency and generating a signal to the electronic memory means corresponding to the value of said currency.  
     
     
         23 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 13  comprising a means for accepting coded coupons.  
     
     
         24 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 23  comprising a means for determining the validity of said coded coupons and generating a signal to the electronic memory means corresponding to the value of said coded coupons.  
     
     
         25 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 13  comprising a paper currency recognition means for recognizing and validating paper currency and providing a first input signal to said electronic memory means representing the amount of the credit represented by said paper currency  
     
     
         26 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 13  in which said first code is a unique code, representing the value of the amount of credit.  
     
     
         27 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 26  in which said first code is in the form of a bar code and said code reading means comprises a bar code reader.  
     
     
         28 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 26  in which said means for generating said first code is a bar code printer.  
     
     
         29 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 26  in which said permanent output record is paper, said paper being stored in said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         30 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 29  in which said paper is stored in said gaming apparatus in the form of a roll.  
     
     
         31 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 26  in which said first code is in the form of a magnetic code on a magnetic strip, and said code reading means comprises a magnetic code reader.  
     
     
         32 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 31  in which said means for generating said first code is a magnetic code printer.  
     
     
         33 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 31  in which said permanent storage record is a card, said card being stored in said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         34 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 26  comprising a means for accepting paper currency.  
     
     
         35 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 26  comprising a means for determining the validity of said paper currency and generating a signal to the electronic memory means corresponding to the value of said currency.  
     
     
         36 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 26  comprising a means for accepting coded coupons.  
     
     
         37 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 26  comprising a means for determining the validity of said coded coupons and generating a signal to the electronic memory means corresponding to the value of said coded coupons.  
     
     
         38 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 14  including an automatic pay-out system comprising: 
 a second code reader for reading said first code on said permanent storage record corresponding to the amount of credit represented by said code;  
 a means for validating said first code and for providing a first input signal to said electronic memory means representing the amount of credit represented by said code, said electronic memory system generating a second output signal representing the amount of currency to be dispensed;  
 a means for storing currency within said gaming apparatus;  
 a recognition means for recognizing and distinguishing different values of currency and for dispensing said currency in response to said second signal from said electronic memory system.  
 
     
     
         39 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 38  in which said first code is in the form of a bar code and said code reading means comprises a bar code reader.  
     
     
         40 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 38  in which said means for generating said first code is a bar code printer.  
     
     
         41 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 38  in which said permanent output record is paper, said paper being stored in said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         42 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 40  in which said paper is stored in said gaming apparatus in the form of a roll.  
     
     
         43 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 38  in which said first code is in the form of a magnetic code on a magnetic strip, and said code reading means comprises a magnetic code reader.  
     
     
         44 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 42  in which said means for generating said first code is a magnetic code printer.  
     
     
         45 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 42  in which said permanent storage record is a card, said card being stored in said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         46 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 38  comprising a means for accepting paper currency.  
     
     
         47 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 38  comprising a means for determining the validity of said paper currency and generating a second input signal to the electronic memory means corresponding to the value of said currency.  
     
     
         48 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 38  comprising a means for accepting coded coupons.  
     
     
         49 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 38  comprising a means for determining the validity of said coded coupons and generating a second input signal to the electronic memory means corresponding to the value of said coded coupons.  
     
     
         50 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 38  comprising a paper currency recognition means for recognizing and validating paper currency and providing a second input signal to said electronic memory means representing the amount of the credit represented by said paper currency  
     
     
         51 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 38  in which said first code is a unique code, representing the value of the amount of credit.  
     
     
         52 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 50  in which said first code is in the form of a bar code and said code reading means comprises a bar code reader.  
     
     
         53 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 50  in which said means for generating said first code is a bar code printer.  
     
     
         54 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 50  in which said permanent output record is paper, said paper being stored in said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         55 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 53  in which said paper is stored in said gaming apparatus in the form of a roll.  
     
     
         56 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 50  in which said first code is in the form of a magnetic code on a magnetic strip, and said code reading means comprises a magnetic code reader.  
     
     
         57 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 55  in which said means for generating said first code is a magnetic code printer.  
     
     
         58 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 55  in which said permanent storage record is a card, said card being stored in said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         59 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 50  comprising a means for accepting paper currency.  
     
     
         60 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 50  comprising a means for determining the validity of said paper currency and generating a second input signal to the electronic memory means corresponding to the value of said currency.  
     
     
         61 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 50  comprising a means for accepting coded coupons.  
     
     
         62 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 50  comprising a means for determining the validity of said coded coupons and generating a signal to the electronic memory means corresponding to the value of said coded coupons.  
     
     
         63 . A method employing gaming apparatus said gaming apparatus consisting of: 
 a. a game that pays credits responsive to the outcome of the game played, said game associated with an electronic memory means for storing the amount of credit available for the play of said game;    b. a paper currency recognition means for recognizing and validating paper currency and providing a first input signal to said electronic memory means representing the amount of the credit represented by said paper currency;    c. a means for generating a first code on a first permanent storage record representing the amount of credit stored;    d. a code reading means for reading said first code on said first permanent storage record and means for providing a signal to said electronic memory means representing the amount of credit represented by said first code, consisting of the steps of depositing paper currency or a permanent storage record having a code in the paper currency recognition means or code reading means and upon completion of use of the gaming apparatus generating a first permanent storage record corresponding to the credits available.    
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62  further including the steps of inserting the first permanent storage record at a remote location in a second code reader means associated with said second code reader indicating the value of the credits.  
     
     
         65 . A gaming system comprising: 
 a. a game that pays credits responsive to the outcome of the game played, said game associated with an electronic memory means for storing the amount of credit available for the play of said game;    b. a change system for providing currency in exchange for said credits:    c. a input means for receiving a permanent storage record;    d. a code reading means for reading a code on said permanent storage record corresponding to the amount of credit represented by said code;    e. a means for validating said code and for providing a first signal to said electronic memory means representing the amount of credit represented by said first code; and    f. a means for storing currency, and a currency recognition means for recognizing and dispensing currency in response to a second signal from said electronic memory means representing the amount of currency to be dispensed.    
     
     
         66 . A change station comprising an exchange system for providing currency in exchange for credits generated by a game in response to the outcome of the game played comprising: 
 an input means for receiving a permanent storage record;    a code reading means for reading a code on said permanent storage record corresponding to the amount of credit represented by said code;    a means for validating said code and for providing a first signal to an electronic memory means representing the amount of credit represented by said first code; and    a means for storing currency, and a currency recognition means for recognizing and dispensing currency in response to a second signal from said electronic memory means representing the amount of currency to be dispensed.    
     
     
         67 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 65  in which said first code is in the form of a bar code and said code reading means comprises a bar code reader.  
     
     
         68 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 65  in which said first code is in the form of a magnetic code on a magnetic strip, and said code reading means comprises a magnetic code reader.  
     
     
         69 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 67  in which said permanent storage record is a card, said card being stored in said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         70 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 65  comprising a means for accepting coded coupons.  
     
     
         71 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 65  comprising a means for determining the validity of said coded coupons and generating a signal to the electronic memory means corresponding to the value of said coded coupons.  
     
     
         72 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 65  in which said first code is a unique code representing the value of the amount of credit.  
     
     
         73 . The gaming apparatus of claim  71  in which said first code is in the form of a bar code and said code reading means comprises a bar code reader.  
     
     
         74 . The gaming apparatus of claim  71  in which said first code is in the form of a magnetic code on a magnetic strip, and said code reading means comprises a magnetic code reader.  
     
     
         75 . The gaming apparatus of claim  73  in which said permanent storage record is a card, said card being stored in said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         76 . The gaming apparatus of claim  71  comprising a means for accepting coded coupons.