Patent ID: 11922765
Assignee: IGT
Field: Control (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 6:
7. A virtual ticket audit device comprising:
a support structure configured to be supported by a housing of an electronic gaming machine, wherein the electronic gaming machine, a master gaming controller of the electronic gaming machine, a bill validator supported by the housing of the electronic gaming machine, a ticket printer supported by the housing of the electronic gaming machine, and a player tracking unit supported by the housing of the electronic gaming machine are each distinct from the virtual ticket audit device;
a port supported by the support structure;
a wireless communication interface supported by the support structure, wherein the wireless communication interface is distinct from and configured to operate independent of any operation of any wireless communication component of the electronic gaming machine;
a processor supported by the support structure, the processor being distinct from a processor of the electronic gaming machine and distinct from the wireless communication interface; and
a memory device supported by the support structure, said memory device being distinct from a memory device of the electronic gaming machine, distinct from the wireless communication interface and storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
responsive to an input being made to cashout a credit balance of the electronic gaming machine, receive first data associated with a virtual ticket voucher from the electronic gaming machine, said virtual ticket voucher having a value based on the cashed out credit balance of the electronic gaming machine, wherein the first data associated with the virtual ticket voucher is received from the electronic gaming machine prior to the first data associated with the virtual ticket voucher being communicated to any mobile device,
store, via the memory device of the virtual ticket audit device and independent of storage by the memory device of the electronic gaming machine, virtual ticket voucher identifying information associated with the virtual ticket voucher,
after the memory device stores virtual ticket voucher identifying information associated with the virtual ticket voucher, communicate, via the wireless communication interface, the first data associated with the virtual ticket voucher to a mobile device, and
communicate the virtual ticket voucher identifying information associated with the virtual ticket voucher to a portable memory device inserted into the port, wherein the portable memory device is distinct from a drop box of the bill validator supported by the housing of the electronic gaming machine distinct from the mobile device, distinct from the memory device of the virtual ticket audit device, and distinct from the memory device of the electronic gaming machine.