Offline payout system and method

Abstract

A method and computer program product for a method includes defining a first data set and a second data set on a handheld device. The first data set defines at least an identity of a winner at an electronic gaming device, The second data set defines at least an amount of winnings. At least a portion of the first data set and at least a portion of the second data set are stored for subsequent submission to a casino management system. The portions stored define transaction data.

1 . A method comprising:
 defining a first data set and a second data set, on a handheld device, the first data set defining at least an identity of a winner at an electronic gaming device and the second data set defining at least an amount of winnings; and   storing at least a portion of the first data set and at least a portion of the second data set for subsequent submission to a casino management system, wherein the portions stored define transaction data.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein defining the first data set includes processing encoded data to define the identity of the winner. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein defining the second data set includes coupling the handheld device to the electronic gaming device. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 generating one or more forms relevant to a procedure for paying out the winnings based, at least in part, upon at least a portion of the transaction data.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 processing the transaction data to generate processed transaction data; and   storing the processed transaction data.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 providing the processed transaction data to an online casino management system.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining whether a casino management system is online.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 if it is determined that the casino management system is online, processing a payment of the amount of winnings on the casino management system.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the handheld device is chosen from the group consisting of: a personal data assistant, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, and a specialized device. 
   
   
       10 . A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 defining a first data set and a second data set, on a handheld device, the first data set defining at least an identity of a winner at an electronic gaming device and the second data set defining at least an amount of winnings; and   storing at least a portion of the first data set and at least a portion of the second data set for subsequent submission to a casino management system, wherein the portions stored define transaction data.   
   
   
       11 . The computer program product of  claim 10  wherein the instructions for defining the first data set include instructions for processing encoded data to define the identity of the winner. 
   
   
       12 . The computer program product of  claim 10  wherein the instructions for defining the second data set include instructions for coupling the handheld device to the electronic gaming device. 
   
   
       13 . The computer program product of  claim 10  further comprising instructions for:
 generating one or more forms relevant to a procedure for paying out the winnings based, at least in part, upon at least a portion of the transaction data.   
   
   
       14 . The computer program product of  claim 10  further comprising instructions for:
 processing the transaction data to generate processed transaction data; and   storing the processed transaction data.   
   
   
       15 . The computer program product of  claim 14  further comprising instructions for:
 providing the processed transaction data to an online casino management system.   
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 10  further comprising instructions for:
 determining whether a casino management system is online.   
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 16  further comprising instructions for:
 if it is determined that the casino management system is online, processing a payment of the amount of winnings on the casino management system.   
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 10  wherein the handheld device is chosen from the group consisting of: a personal data assistant, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, and a specialized device.