Pulltab/bingo controller

Abstract

The present invention provides a gaming network device that maintains pools of game determinations and provides ticket authorization and validation services. In some embodiments of the invention, the network device electronically distributes the game determinations to gaming machines. In other embodiments, the network device prints tickets, or authorizes the printing of tickets, that indicate game determinations and the tickets are input to gaming machines to display corresponding game outcomes. Preferably, the network device also determines whether to approve cashout requests. In some embodiments, the network device may be implemented in a gaming machine or a cashout kiosk.

1 . A network device, comprising: 
 means for maintaining a pool of game determinations from a game server, each game determination corresponding to a game outcome for a Class II game of chance;    means for distributing game determinations from the pool;    means for receiving cashout requests corresponding to game outcomes; and    means for determining whether the cashout requests are valid.    
   
   
       2 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the distributing means comprises means for transmitting game determinations to a gaming machine.  
   
   
       3 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the distributing means comprises means for causing a ticket to be printed, the ticket indicating at least one of a first game determination and a first game outcome.  
   
   
       4 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the maintaining means comprises: 
 means for determining that the pool has been depleted to a threshold level; and    means for obtaining additional game determinations from the game server.    
   
   
       5 . The network device of  claim 1 , further comprising means for simulating a game of chance corresponding to a game determination.  
   
   
       6 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the maintaining means comprises means for storing first information regarding the game outcomes, and wherein the determining means comprises means for comparing second information in the cashout requests with the first information.  
   
   
       7 . The network device of  claim 1 , further comprising means for dispensing cash for valid cashout requests.  
   
   
       8 . The network device of  claim 3 , wherein the ticket indicates at least one of a second game outcome and a second game determination.  
   
   
       9 . The network device of  claim 3 , wherein the ticket indicates the first game outcome in human-readable form.  
   
   
       10 . The network device of  claim 3 , wherein the ticket causes a gaming machine to display a game outcome.  
   
   
       11 . A gaming network, comprising: 
 a clerk validation terminal, comprising: 
 means for maintaining a pool of game determinations from a game server, each game determination corresponding to a game outcome;  
 means for distributing game determinations from the pool;  
 means for receiving cashout requests corresponding to game outcomes; and  
 means for determining whether the cashout requests are valid; and  
 a gaming machine, comprising:  
 means for receiving game determinations; and  
 means for simulating a game of chance corresponding to a game determination.  
   
   
   
       12 . The network of  claim 10 , further comprising means for recording game outcomes on a portable physical medium.  
   
   
       13 . The network of  claim 10 , wherein the receiving means comprises a ticket reader.  
   
   
       14 . The network of  claim 10 , wherein the receiving means comprises a port for receiving game determinations in electronic form.  
   
   
       15 . The network of  claim 12 , wherein the portable physical medium comprises a rewriteable medium.  
   
   
       16 . The network of  claim 12 , wherein the portable physical medium comprises a non-rewriteable medium.  
   
   
       17 . The network of  claim 12 , wherein the portable physical medium causes the gaming machine to display a game outcome.  
   
   
       18 . The network of  claim 12 , wherein the recording means records a game outcome in human-readable form on the physical medium.  
   
   
       19 . The network of  claim 13 , wherein the ticket reader comprises a scanner.  
   
   
       20 . The network of  claim 13 , wherein the ticket reader comprises a radio frequency identification reader.  
   
   
       21 . The network of  claim 13 , wherein the ticket reader comprises a bill validator.  
   
   
       22 . A gaming method, comprising: 
 maintaining a local pool of game determinations in a network device of a gaming establishment;    communicating with a local network device to obtain a game determination;    issuing a game ticket that includes the game determination to a player in the gaming establishment;    displaying a game outcome corresponding to the game determination; and    printing a cashout ticket indicating the game outcome.    
   
   
       23 . The gaming method of  claim 22 , wherein the game determination is indicated by an RNG seed.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing the player an opportunity to win a bonus.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing the player an opportunity to win a progressive jackpot.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of validating the cashout ticket by the local network device.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the game ticket is valid for a plurality of games.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the cashout ticket indicates a plurality of game outcomes.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a winning cashout ticket may be used to play additional games.