Instant anonymous account creation

Abstract

A device and method is provided to create an anonymous account to play a wager-based game of chance on an mobile gaming device comprises obtaining a cashless ticket voucher having a unique identifier, the cashless ticket voucher having a monetary value, inputting the unique identifier into the mobile gaming device to expend the monetary value of the cashless ticket voucher, validating the unique identifier, and generating a game of chance on the mobile gaming device if the unique identifier is validated.

1 . A portable gaming device adapted to play at least one wager-based game, comprising:
 a communication interface adapted to communicate with a remote gaming server;   a display;   an input mechanism to receive a unique identifier of a cashless ticket voucher;   a controller operatively coupled to the display, communication interface, and the input mechanism; and   a validator operatively coupled to the controller to transmit the unique identifier to the remote gaming server for validation, the validator to receive an approval or a rejection message from the remote gaming server;   wherein the controller is programmed to cause the display to generate a game display relating to the at least one wager-based game and display an outcome of the at least one wager-based game if an approval message is received by the validator.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the input mechanism is a user interface on the portable gaming device. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the input mechanism is a transceiver. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier is associated with a security code. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the security code is a biometric data obtained from a biometric sensor coupled to the portable gaming device. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the remote gaming server is a gaming machine configured for providing wager-based games of chance. 
   
   
       7 . A validation server, comprising:
 an interface to receive a cashless ticket voucher unique identifier; and   a confirmation number database having a list of confirmation numbers of distributed cashless ticket vouchers;   wherein the unique identifier is matched to a confirmation number, and wherein an approval message is transmitted to a remote gaming server if a match is found.   
   
   
       8 . The validation server of  claim 7 , wherein the remote gaming server is a gaming machine configured for providing games of chance. 
   
   
       9 . The validation server of  claim 7 , wherein the remote gaming server is a mobile gaming device. 
   
   
       10 . The validation server of  claim 7 , wherein a rejection message is relayed to the remote gaming server if the unique identifier is not matched to a confirmation number. 
   
   
       11 . The validation server of  claim 7 , wherein the interface is a wireless transceiver. 
   
   
       12 . A mobile gaming network, comprising:
 a validation server, comprising:
 an interface to receive a cashless ticket voucher unique identifier; and 
 a confirmation number database having a list of confirmation numbers of distributed cashless ticket vouchers; 
 wherein the unique identifier is matched to a confirmation number; 
   at least one portable gaming device to play at least one wager-based game, comprising:
 a communication interface adapted to communicate with a remote gaming server; 
 a display; 
 an input mechanism to receive the unique identifier; 
 a controller operatively coupled to the display, communication interface, and the input mechanism; and 
   a validator operatively coupled to the controller to transmit the unique identifier to the remote gaming server for validation, the validator to receive an approval or a rejection message from the remote gaming server;   wherein an approval message is relayed from the validation server to the remote gaming server if a match is found; and   wherein the controller is programmed to cause the display to generate a game display relating to the at least one wager-based game and display an outcome of the at least one wager-based game if an approval message is received by the validator.   
   
   
       13 . The network of  claim 12 , wherein the remote gaming server is a gaming machine configured for providing games of chance. 
   
   
       14 . The network of  claim 12 , wherein the validation server relays a rejection message to the remote gaming server if the unique identifier is not matched to a confirmation number. 
   
   
       15 . The network of  claim 12 , wherein the interface and wager input mechanism is a wireless transceiver. 
   
   
       16 . The network of  claim 12 , wherein the wager input mechanism is a user interface on the portable gaming device. 
   
   
       17 . The network of  claim 12 , wherein the unique identifier is associated with a security code. 
   
   
       18 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the security code is a biometric data obtained from a biometric sensor coupled to the portable gaming device. 
   
   
       19 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the security code is a personal identification number. 
   
   
       20 . A method for creating an anonymous account to play a game of chance, comprising:
 forming a cashless ticket voucher via a first device, the cashless ticket voucher having a unique identifier and a monetary value;   inputting the unique identifier into a second device to expend the monetary value of the cashless ticket voucher;   forwarding the unique identifier to a validation server to validate the cashless ticket voucher; and   generating the game of chance on the second device if the unique identifier is validated.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first device is a gaming machine configured for providing games of chance. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first device is a personal computer. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the second device is a mobile gaming device. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the forming further comprises entering credit card information. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the generating further comprises associating a security code with the unique identifier. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the security code is a personal identification number or password. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the security code is a biometric identifier obtained from a biometric device. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the inputting further comprises wirelessly inputting the unique identifier to the second gaming machine. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the inputting further comprises:
 inserting the second device in a docking station; and   downloading the unique identifier to the second device.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the inputting further comprises reading the unique identifier with a scanner coupled to the second device. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the inputting further comprises:
 reading the unique identifier with a scanner coupled to the first device; and   downloading the unique identifier to the second device.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the downloading occurs in a docking station. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , where the downloading occurs wirelessly. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the forwarding comprises:
 comparing the unique identifier to a list of confirmation numbers; and   marking the unique identifier as used if the unique identifier matches a confirmation number.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the forming further comprises coating the ticket voucher with a light sensitive coating. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the step of exposing the ticket voucher to light, thereby voiding the ticket voucher. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the inputting further comprises inserting the ticket voucher into a ticket reader in communication with a validation server. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the ticket reader is coupled to the first device. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the ticket reader is removably coupled to the second device. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising printing a written indicium on the cashless ticket voucher to indicate the ticket voucher is void. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the inputting further comprises manually inputting the unique identifier into the second device. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 returning the validated cashless ticket voucher to a third party; and   redeeming a retained amount from the value of the cashless ticket voucher.   
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 returning the validated cashless ticket voucher to a third party; and   entering the validated ticket voucher into a second game of chance.   
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the second game of chance is a lottery drawing. 
   
   
       45 . A method for creating an anonymous account to play a game of chance on a mobile gaming device, comprising:
 forming a cashless ticket voucher having a unique identifier, the cashless ticket voucher having a monetary value;   inputting the unique identifier into the mobile gaming device to expend the monetary value of the cashless ticket voucher;   validating the unique identifier; and   generating a game of chance on the mobile gaming device if the unique identifier is validated.   
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising voiding the validated ticket voucher. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the forming further comprises entering credit card information. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the cashless ticket voucher is obtained from a remote gaming machine. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the remote gaming machine is a gaming machine configured for providing games of chance. 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the inputting comprises reading the unique identifier with a scanner. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the scanner is removably coupled to the mobile gaming device. 
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the scanner is coupled to a gaming machine. 
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising wirelessly inputting the unique identifier to the mobile gaming device. 
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the inputting further comprises inserting the cashless ticket voucher into a ticket reader in communication with a validation server. 
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the ticket reader is coupled to a gaming machine. 
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising wirelessly downloading the value of the ticket voucher to the mobile gaming device if the unique identifier is validated. 
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the ticket reader is removably coupled to the mobile gaming device. 
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the voiding further comprises printing a written indicium on the ticket voucher to indicate the ticket voucher is void. 
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the voiding further comprises:
 coating the ticket voucher with a light sensitive coating; and   exposing the ticket voucher to light.   
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the inputting further comprises manually inputting the unique identifier into the mobile gaming device. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the validating further comprises:
 forwarding the unique identifier to a validation server; and   matching the unique identifier to a list of confirmation numbers.   
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising marking the unique identifier as used if there is a match. 
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the forming further comprises associating a security code with the unique identifier. 
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the security code is a personal identification number or password. 
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the security code is a biometric identifier obtained from a biometric device. 
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the forming further comprises deducting a retained amount from the monetary value. 
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising:
 returning the ticket voucher to a third party; and   redeeming the retained amount.   
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising:
 entering the validated ticket voucher into a second game of chance.   
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the second game of chance is a lottery drawing. 
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising:
 returning the validated ticket voucher to a third party; and   entering the validated ticket voucher into a second game of chance.   
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein the second game of chance is a lottery drawing.