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

Claim 12:
13. A method of operating a virtual ticket audit device, the method comprising:
responsive to receipt, from a mobile device and via a wireless communication interface, of first data associated with a first virtual ticket voucher accessible via a mobile device application of the mobile device:
storing, via a memory device of the virtual ticket audit device that is distinct from the wireless communication interface and independent of storage by a memory device of an electronic gaming machine, first virtual ticket voucher identifying information associated with the first virtual ticket voucher, wherein:
the first virtual ticket voucher is associated with a first value,
the electronic gaming machine, a master gaming controller of the electronic gaming machine, a bill validator supported by a 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, and

the wireless communication interface is configured to operate independent of any operation of any wireless communication component of the electronic gaming machine, after the memory device stores first virtual ticket voucher identifying information associated with the first virtual ticket voucher, communicating the first data associated with the first virtual ticket voucher to the electronic gaming machine, wherein responsive to the first data associated with the first virtual ticket voucher being communicated to the electronic gaming machine, a processor of the electronic gaming machine causes a modification of a credit balance of the electronic gaming machine based on the first value associated with the first virtual ticket voucher and the first data associated with the first virtual ticket voucher is received from the mobile device prior to the first data associated with the first virtual ticket voucher being communicated to the electronic gaming machine, and
communicating the first virtual ticket voucher identifying information associated with the first virtual ticket voucher to a portable memory device inserted into a port supported by the housing of the electronic gaming machine, 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, and

responsive to an input being made to cashout the credit balance of the electronic gaming machine:
receiving second data associated with a second virtual ticket voucher from the electronic gaming machine, said second virtual ticket voucher having a second value based on the cashed out credit balance of the electronic gaming machine,
storing, via the memory device of the virtual ticket audit device and independent of storage by the memory device of the electronic gaming machine, second virtual ticket voucher identifying information associated with the second virtual ticket voucher, after storing second virtual ticket voucher identifying information associated with the second virtual ticket voucher, communicating, via the wireless communication interface, the second data associated with the second virtual ticket voucher to the mobile device, wherein the second data associated with the second virtual ticket voucher is received from the electronic gaming machine prior to the second data associated with the second virtual ticket voucher being communicated to the mobile device, and
communicating the second virtual ticket voucher identifying information associated with the second virtual ticket voucher to the portable memory device.