Patent ID: 7169053
Filing Date: 2007-01-30
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving a smart card in a card reader associated with a gaming machine, the smart card having electronic tokens stored in a first memory; transferring electronic tokens from the smart card to a second memory internal to a gaming machine, the gaming machine being connected to a communications network; and transferring electronic tokens via the network between a third memory, external to the gaming machine, and the second memory, the third memory not being part of the smart card having the first memory, wherein transferring electronic tokens between the third memory and the second memory comprises transferring electronic tokens from the third memory to the second memory to increase the number of electronic tokens in the second memory to at or above a predetermined lower limit, wherein the transferring of electronic tokens between the third memory and the second memory is initiated and performed automatically to increase the number of electronic tokens in the second memory to at or above the predetermined lower limit and not pursuant to any request by a player to transfer electronic tokens between the third memory and the second memory.