Digital currency in a gaming system

Abstract

There is disclosed a gaming machine. The gaming machine includes an electronic arrangement configured to receive digital currency data from an electronic device that is remote to the gaming machine. The digital currency data represents a store of value of a digital currency. The gaming machine further includes a data transfer arrangement configured to transfer the digital currency data via a data network to a data storage arrangement that is remote to the gaming machine. The gaming machine further includes a data recording arrangement configured to create record data representing a record of a unique attribute of the digital currency data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use with a computer server system that comprises a secure data storage device, one or more management servers configured to account for all currency inserted into and paid out by a plurality of gaming apparatuses, each gaming apparatus of the plurality of gaming apparatuses being arranged to play a game and disposed remote to the one or more management servers, and a central digital wallet on the secure data storage device for storing digital currency data, the method comprising:
 receiving the digital currency data via one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses, the one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses being configured to transfer the digital currency data to the central digital wallet;   storing the digital currency data in the central digital wallet,   instructing via the one or more management servers the one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses to put a number of credits on the one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses in exchange for the digital currency data received, the credits being used to play the one of the plurality of electronic gaming apparatuses, and   accounting for the number of credits put on the one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses and the number of unplayed credits.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses receives value data from the one or more management servers and determines the number of credits to be put on the one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to redeem unplayed credits for digital currency data, and   transferring digital currency data from the central digital wallet via the one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses, the digital currency data in exchange for a number of credits to be redeemed.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to redeem credits;   providing an option to redeem credits in digital currency and an option to redeem credits in governmental currency;   transferring digital currency data from the central digital wallet via the one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses if the option to redeem credits in digital currency is selected, the digital currency data in exchange for a number of credits to be redeemed; and   issuing governmental currency via the one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses if the option to redeem credits in governmental currency is selected.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the one or more management servers updating an electronic record to represent a value of a government currency related to the digital currency data.   
     
     
         6 . A computer server system comprising:
 a secure data storage device comprising a central digital wallet configured to store digital currency data;   one or more management servers; and   a plurality of gaming apparatuses,   the one or more management servers configured to account for all currency inserted into and paid out by the plurality of gaming apparatuses, each gaming apparatus of the plurality of gaming apparatuses being arranged to play a game and disposed remote to the one or more management servers,   at least one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses configured to receive digital currency data, the digital currency data transferred from the at least one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses to the central digital wallet,   the central digital wallet configured to store the digital currency data received from the at least one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses,   the one or more management servers configured to instruct the at least one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses to put a number of credits on the at least one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses in exchange for the digital currency data received, the credits being used to play the at least one of the plurality of electronic gaming apparatuses, and   the one or more management servers configured to account for the number of credits put on the at least one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses and the number of unplayed credits.   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses is configured to receive value data from the one or more management servers and to determine the number of credits to be put on the at least one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the one or more management servers are configured to receive a request to redeem unplayed credits for digital currency data, and   the central digital wallet is configured to transfer digital currency data via the at least one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses, the digital currency data in exchange for a number of credits to be redeemed.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the one or more management servers are configured to receive a request to redeem credits;   the at least one of the plurality of gaming apparatus is configured to provide an option to redeem credits in digital currency and an option to redeem credits in governmental currency;   the central digital wallet is configured to transfer digital currency data via the at least one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses if the option to redeem credits in digital currency is selected, the digital currency data in exchange for a number of credits to be redeemed; and   the at least one of the plurality of gaming apparatus is configured to issue governmental currency if the option to redeem credits in governmental currency is selected.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the one or more management servers are configured to update an electronic record to represent a value of a government currency related to the digital currency data.   
     
     
         11 . A method for use with a computer server system that comprises a secure data storage device, one or more management servers configured to account for all currency inserted into and paid out by a plurality of gambling apparatuses, each gambling apparatus of the plurality of gambling apparatuses being arranged to receive a wager on an event and disposed remote to the one or more management servers, and a central digital wallet on the secure data storage device for storing digital currency data, the method comprising:
 receiving the digital currency data via one of the plurality of gambling apparatuses, the one of the plurality of gambling apparatuses being configured to transfer the digital currency data to the central digital wallet;   storing the digital currency data in the central digital wallet,   instructing via the one or more management servers the one of the plurality of gambling apparatuses to put a number of credits on the one of the plurality of gambling apparatuses in exchange for the digital currency data received, the credits being used to place the wager on the event at the one of the plurality of electronic gambling apparatuses, and   accounting for a number of credits wagered at the one of the plurality of gambling apparatuses and a number of unwagered credits.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the one of the plurality of gambling apparatuses receives value data from the one or more management servers and determines the number of credits to be put on the one of the plurality of gambling apparatuses. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to redeem unwagered credits for digital currency data, and   transferring digital currency data from the central digital wallet via the one of the plurality of gambling apparatuses, the digital currency data in exchange for a number of credits to be redeemed.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to redeem credits;   providing an option to redeem credits in digital currency and an option to redeem credits in governmental currency;   transferring digital currency data from the central digital wallet via the one of the plurality of gambling apparatuses if the option to redeem credits in digital currency is selected, the digital currency data in exchange for a number of credits to be redeemed; and   issuing governmental currency via the one of the plurality of gambling apparatuses if the option to redeem credits in governmental currency is selected.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the one or more management servers updating an electronic record to represent a value of a government currency related to the digital currency data.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the credits are used to place the wager on an outcome of a game of chance at the one of the plurality of electronic gambling apparatuses. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the credits are used to place the wager on the outcome of the game of chance at the one of the plurality of electronic gambling apparatuses, the game of chance depicted on a display as a number of spinning reels, each reel depicted as an arrangement of various discrete symbols.