Abstract:
Method and apparatus for a shopping award system for gaming establishments and their affiliated retail stores, hospitality stores, service organizations, hotels, and other point-of-sale type businesses, which produces free play vouchers that are redeemable for free play credits by insertion into cashless enabled games located in the gaming establishment. The free play credits granted under the award system are related to the amount of any given purchase. The apparatus includes a reward control system connected to one or more servers managing various accounting and game control for the gaming establishment, and a network of printers located at point-of-sale locations which produce the free play vouchers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/690,135 filed Jun. 14, 2005, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully stated herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to the distribution of vouchers for use in a gaming machine and more specifically to distribution of free play vouchers based on point-of-sale transactions.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Gaming machine manufacturers have introduced cashless enabled gaming machines to the market and these have found wide acceptance in the gaming industry. Cashless enabled gaming machines are so named because they conduct financial exchanges using a mixture of traditional currencies and vouchers produced by printers installed within a cashless enabled game. Typically, a cashless enabled gaming machine has a gaming printer to produce vouchers and a bill acceptor that supports automatic reading of vouchers.  
         [0006]     To coordinate the activities of multiple cashless enabled gaming machines, one or more cashless enabled gaming machines are electronically coupled to a cashless enabled gaming machine system that controls the cashless operations of the cashless enabled gaming machines.  
         [0007]     Gaming establishments use multiple promotion methods to induce individuals to patronize the gaming establishment or affiliated gaming establishments. One such promotion is a free play, wherein a gaming establishment offers a patron chips, tokens, coupons, or vouchers for the patron to play on gaming machines within the gaming establishment. These free play promotions are often used to promote certain gaming machines.  
         [0008]     However, currently existing free play promotions suffer from the problem that patrons must request the free play while in the gaming establishment. This creates inconvenience for the patron. Additionally, the patron may have to apply for a complimentary card prior to playing the gaming machine.  
         [0009]     Further, the effectiveness and redemption of promotions are reduced when the patron is not physically in the gaming establishment.  
         [0010]     Another problem currently existing free play promotions suffer from is that promotions are sent via mail to patrons. This causes increased costs for the gaming establishment in creating and sending the promotion in, for example, printing, mailing, and handling redemption of the promotions.  
         [0011]     Therefore, a need exists to provide a gaming vouchering system that allows for vouchers and promotions to be issued quickly to a patron that may not be physically present in the gaming establishment. A gaming vouchering system in accordance with various aspects of the present invention meets such a need.  
         [0000]     Definitions  
         [0012]     For the purposes of this document, the following definitions apply:  
         [0013]     “Free Play Credits”—gaming machine credits which allow a patron to play a game in a casino for free. free play credits typically can only be played and may not be redeemed for cash.  
         [0014]     “Free Play Voucher”—a voucher, card, or other media which is generated by a printer or encoding device and contains indicia necessary to allow it to be inserted into a cashless enabled game to obtain free play credits.  
         [0015]     “Gaming Establishment”—a location where gambling and wagering is conducted, such as a casino, hotel, associated shopping and recreation areas, and affiliated businesses and locations.  
         [0016]     “Gaming Management System”—a management system used in gaming establishments such as a Lodging Management System, Player Tracking System, Casino Management System, Customer Relations Management System, Point of Sale System, Event Management System, Slot Management System, and Table Management System.  
         [0017]     “Non-Gaming POS”—a retail store, hospitality store, service organization, attraction tickets sale location, hotel, or other point-of-sale location or business which is not part of a gaming establishment such as those located in proximity to a casino, but not within the casino.  
         [0018]     “PTS”—Player Tracking System, a patron tracking and reward system within the gaming establishment which monitors the activity of participating players.  
         [0019]     “RCS”—Reward Control System, a system which regulates, processes statistics on, and links to other systems for the issuance and redemption of free play Vouchers.  
         [0020]     “RCS Printer”—a printer or encoding device used either standalone at a point-of-sale or other kiosk location, or a printer or encoding device installed in a cashless enabled game, which generates free play vouchers and other promotional vouchers.  
         [0021]     “point-of-sale”—a location where a sale between a business and its patron is conducted, either within a gaming establishment, adjunct to it, at an affiliated gaming establishment, or at another participating point-of-sale establishment.  
         [0022]     “POSS”—Point of Sale System. A system which monitors and controls transaction activity, typically through a cash register and other peripherals, at point-of-sale locations.  
         [0023]     “TITOMS”—an acronym for TITO management system, the server system of the gaming establishment which controls the issuance and redemption of credit vouchers for the cashless enabled games within a gaming establishment. Cashless gaming is commonly referred to in the gaming industry as Ticket In Ticket Out, hence the TITO acronym.  
         [0024]     “automated redemption machine”—a machine usually located on a gaming floor which provides patron self service redemption of TITO vouchers and other transactions.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     In one aspect of the invention, a method of operating a Reward Control System (RCS) providing free play vouchers including credits used in a gaming machine is provided. Sales transaction data are input for a sales transaction from a point of sale system and an amount of free play credits for a free play voucher is calculated using the sales transaction data. Additionally, the method includes requesting the amount of free play credits from a Ticket-In Ticket Out Management System (TITOMS) and receiving the amount of free play credits from the TITOMS. The method also includes transmitting the amount of free play credits to a RCS printer located where the sales transaction has taken place. The RCS printer prints the free play voucher for the amount of credits for the patron involved in the sales transaction. The free play voucher is capable of being inserted into a cashless enabled gaming machine to obtain free game play.  
         [0026]     In another aspect of the invention, the sales transaction data includes the amount of the purchase, the particular product or service purchased, the location where the purchase has taken place, the time of the purchase, the date of the purchase, or any of these transaction metrics combined with random chance.  
         [0027]     In another aspect of the invention, the calculation of the amount of credits for the free play voucher includes using the amount of sale, the type of sale, the location where the sale occurred, the time of the sale, the date of the sale, the amount of margin made on this type of sale, the house advantage percentage for machines on the gaming floor, the amounts of discounts or other promotions associated with the transaction, the house adjustment percentage, whether a predetermined level of spending at participating locations by a particular patron has occurred, and whether a patron has recently joined a frequent player club.  
         [0028]     In another aspect of the invention, the selection and weighting of the data used in the calculation of the amount of credits for the free play voucher can be set by an administrator.  
         [0029]     In another aspect of the invention, the free play credits are for a specified gaming machine.  
         [0030]     In another aspect of the invention, an alert is transmitted, to the location of the sales transaction, that creation of a free play voucher is being analyzed or processed.  
         [0031]     In another aspect of the invention, the RCS includes means for processing, recording, and sending statistics on various parameters of participating point of sale locations, including the identity of the merchant, the location of the merchant, and the quantity of free play vouchers that have issued.  
         [0032]     In another aspect of the invention, a notification of issuance of a free play voucher is appended to the patron&#39;s receipt.  
         [0033]     In another aspect of the invention, an authorization code is provided to the patron at the point of sale. The authorization code is required to be entered into the RCS to print the free play voucher.  
         [0034]     In another aspect of the invention, the calculation of the amount of free play credits further includes using player tracking data.  
         [0035]     In another aspect of the invention, the calculation of the amount of free play credits further includes using player lodging data.  
         [0036]     In another aspect of the invention, the calculation of the amount of free play credits further includes using patron shopping data. The patron shopping data is stored in a patron shopping account unique to each patron. The RCS receives identity information from a patron to create and modify the patron shopping account data.  
         [0037]     This summary has been provided so that the nature of the invention may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0038]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the components of the RCS and its interface ports in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0039]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating connection of the RCS to its voucher producing printer and the point-of-sale system within a gaming establishment in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of a gaming vouchering system illustrating a lodging check-in or check-out environment which utilizes the RCS, TITOMS, POS, PTS, and LMS in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the correlation between the RCS and an accounting system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a point-of-sale environment and authorization code issuance process which involves the RCS, TITOMS and POSS in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating the algorithm related to issuing vouchers based on purchases at a point-of-sale location.  
         [0044]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a patron check-in to the gaming establishment process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0045]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a patron check-out of the gaming establishment process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0046]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a process to provide an incentive for a patron to join the gaming establishment&#39;s frequent player club in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0047]      FIG. 10  is diagram of various issuance methods for free play vouchers and free play credits using an authorization code in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0048]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a point-of-sale environment providing an alert to the patron and/or cashier in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0049]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the components of the RCS in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , RCS 100 includes a processor  102 , application code  104 , memory  106 , and storage  108 . Storage  108  is a device for long term storage of data such as a disk drive or an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM). The RCS further includes ports for interfacing with external devices and systems. Interface ports include Ticket In Ticket Out Management System (TITOMS) port  110 , Lodging Management System (LMS) port  112 , Player Tracking System (PTS) port  114 , Point Of Sale System (POSS) port  116 , Accounting port  118 , Other port  120 , Printers port  122 , Keypads port  124 , Patron Alert Device port  126 , and Administrator Link port  128 .  
         [0050]     In operation, processor  102  of the RCS executes application code  104  stored in memory  106  to perform the functions of an RCS as described herein. TITOMS port  110  performs communication with a TITOMS for the purpose of creation of free play credits within the cashless gaming system of the gaming establishment and additionally receives a validation code from the TITOMS against which the credits are logged within the TITOMS. LMS port  112  performs communication with a LMS to monitor the activity of a patron and exchanges data so that the RCS can determine whether a free play voucher should be issued to the patron at check-in or check-out of lodging. PTS port  114  communicates with a PTS system and exchanges data so that the RCS can determine whether a free play voucher should be issued or enhanced as a result of the patron performing the transaction being a member of a frequent player or membership club of the gaming establishment.  
         [0051]     POSS port  116  communicates with a POSS and exchanges data so that the RCS can determine if a particular transaction meets the criteria necessary to qualify for the creation of a free play voucher, and further to determine the amount of free play credits to be issued on the voucher. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the POSS port additionally communicates with the POSS to request and receive an authorization code from the POSS which is provided to the patron at the time of a transaction.  
         [0052]     Accounting port  118  is used for communication with an accounting system of the gaming establishment and communicates data such as activity logs. Other port  120  is used for communication with other miscellaneous devices. Printer port  122  interfaces with printers in the RCS system for the purpose of creating a free play voucher at the location where a qualifying transaction has taken place. Keypad port  124  receives communications containing an authorization code from a keypad and provides the information to the RCS. Patron Alert Devices port  126  exchanges data so that the RCS may alert a patron that a free play voucher is being processed. Administrator link port  128  communicates with a system administrator to accept programming as to the data to be used by the RCS in the course of its point-of-sale transaction processing to determine whether a free play voucher should be created and the amount of the voucher.  
         [0053]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating connection of the RCS to its voucher producing printer and a point-of-sale system within a gaming establishment in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2 , RCS  100  is coupled to a POSS  200 . The POSS is coupled to one or more registers such as register  210 . The RCS is also coupled to TITOMS  202  and at least one RCS printer  208 . The RCS may additionally be coupled to a PTS  204 . A cashless enabled gaming machine  206  is coupled to the TITOMS and may additionally be coupled to the PTS. Free play voucher  212  is created by RCS printer  208  and is used in the cashless enabled gaming machine.  
         [0054]     A plurality of RCS printers may simultaneously be in operation and connected to the RCS or other components of the reward control system. The RCS printers may additionally be connected to each other via a network, or coupled together. Further, the RCS printers may be distributed in essentially any location. RCS printers may also be physically combined with other components in the reward control system. For example, in one embodiment, RCS printer  208  and POSS  200  are combined into a single terminal device.  
         [0055]     In operation, the POSS signals the RCS that a sales transaction has occurred at the register. The POSS also transmits data to the RCS such as the amount, location and makeup of the transaction. Using data from the POS, and analyzing the data according to its programming, the RCS determines the amount of free play credits for which a transaction is qualified. If credits are to be issued, the RCS requests the credits from the TITOMS. Upon receipt of the credits from the TITOMS, the RCS signals the RCS printer at the location where the transaction has taken place to issue a free play voucher for the amount of credits. Additionally, the RCS receives data from the PTS as to the player as a customer for the gaming establishment, which may be used as a metric within the calculation in the RCS to enhance the odds or quantity of free play credits to be issued. The free play vouchers printed by the RCS printer are inserted into the cashless enabled gaming machine, which in turn receives the free play credits from the TITOMS to which it has been coupled and which has logged the credits against the free play vouchers validation code.  
         [0056]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of a gaming vouchering system illustrating a lodging check-in or check-out environment which utilizes the RCS, TITOMS, POSS, PTS, TITOMS and LMS in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0057]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , RCS  100  is coupled to POSS  200 , TITOMS  202 , PTS  204  and RCS printer  208 . Additionally, the RCS is coupled to LMS  300 . A cashless enabled gaming machine  206  is coupled to the TITOMS and may additionally be coupled to the PTS. Free play voucher  212  is created by the RCS printer and is used in the cashless enabled gaming machine. Front desk  214  is coupled to the LMS.  
         [0058]     In operation, the RCS receives signaling from the LMS and PTS during the check-in or check-out of a patron for the gaming establishment&#39;s hotel. During a check-in event, the RCS utilizes data from the LMS and PTS to determine if a particular player&#39;s stature or purchasing activity merits issuance of free play credits. If so, the RCS signals the RCS printer installed at the check-in location (such as the front desk) to issue a free play voucher. During a check-out event, the RCS utilizes data from the LMS and PTS to determine if the level of purchasing activity during that patron&#39;s stay at the gaming establishment merits free play credits. If so, the RCS signals the RCS printer installed at the check-out location to issue a free play voucher.  
         [0059]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the correlation between the RCS and an accounting system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , RCS  100  is coupled to accounting system  400  which manages and monitors financial activity within a gaming establishment.  
         [0060]     In operation, free play parameters and data as described in Table 6 such as house advantage percentage and house adjustment percentage may be requested from the accounting system by the RCS. The RCS sends reports and logs regarding the amount of free play credits issued against transactions, so that the gaming establishment may perform accounting reconciliation of the RCS promotions within its financial system.  
         [0061]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a point-of-sale environment and authorization code issuance process which utilizes the RCS, TITOMS, and POSS in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0062]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , RCS  100  is coupled to POSS  200 , TITOMS  202 , RCS printer  208 , and keypad  500 . The TITOMS is coupled to cashless enabled gaming machine  206 . Register  210  is coupled to the POSS. Receipt  502  is created by the register. Free play voucher  212  is created by the RCS printer and is used in the cashless enabled gaming machine.  
         [0063]     In operation, the keypad is used to add a security feature to the system of  FIG. 2 . The purpose of the feature is to prevent unauthorized use or abuse of free play vouchers by either cashiers performing the transaction, or other parties which intend to steal the voucher when the patron is distracted or does not realize that a free play voucher has been issued to them. As a modification to the system activities described in  FIG. 2 , the RCS requests the POSS to append authorization code  510  to the transaction receipt given to the patron, rather than automatically printing a free play voucher. The patron is then required to enter the authorization code at the keypad (at that machine or another) in order to trigger printing of the free play voucher.  
         [0064]     As an added level of security, a patron registers as a participant at a suitable location for where they were issued a shopper&#39;s card. The patron enters a personal identification number (PIN) to create a rewards account. When making purchases, the patron swipes their shopper&#39;s card and enters their PIN in order for the authorization code to be issued to the POSS to be appended to their receipt. To redeem the free play voucher, the patron again swipes their shopper&#39;s card and enters their PIN and authorization number from the receipt to cause the RCS to create a free play voucher. Once an authorization code is used to create a free play voucher, the RCS marks the authorization code as no longer valid.  
         [0065]     Several combinations of the authorization code, shopper&#39;s card, and PIN are possible to ensure that the patron making the purchase at the POSS is actually the individual benefitting from the free play credits extended by the system.  
         [0066]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating the calculation related to issuing vouchers based on purchases at a point-of-sale location. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the process begins at step  600  with a purchase being made by way of accommodations  650 , restaurants/dining  652 , bars/nightclubs  654 , room service  656 , shows/entertainment  658 , merchandise  660 , or other POSS  662 . In step  602 , the RCS calculates the data from the purchase to determine if the purchase meets the requirements for issuance of free play credits.  
         [0067]     An example of a calculation to determine an amount of free play credits to issue is as follows:
 
$100 {transaction}−$10 {sale}−$50 {margin}=$40 {sub-total1}+$5 {sub-total2}−$2.25 {house}=$42.75 free play credits issued
 
 where: 
 
         [0068]     transaction=the amount of the transaction which has occurred sale=any promotional discounts applied to the sale, beyond the RCS system margin=margin for that particular product or service adj.=a positive or negative adjustment applied to a sub-total of the calculation which could be related to the particular product or service being purchased, or the location, date or time when the purchased happened. For example, during a particular month, purchase of women&#39;s clothes at a particular store could be cause 10% greater Free Play Credits to be extended.  
         [0069]     house=the gaming establishment&#39;s percentage advantage on slot machines applied to total free play credits calculated.  
         [0070]     If the purchase meets the requirement, then a free play voucher is issued in step  604 . The process then ends at step  606 . If the purchase does not meet the requirements, no free play voucher is issued and the process ends.  
         [0071]     The process may additionally contain steps  608  and  610 . In step  608 , the RCS first accesses the PTS to determine the identification of a patron and the stature of that patron within the PTS. The amount of free play credits may then be enhanced depending on the PTS information. If the patron is not identified in the PTS system, the patron is offered membership in the PTS in step  610 . The process then proceeds to step  602  as in the foregoing situation.  
         [0072]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a process of a patron check-in to the gaming establishment&#39;s lodging in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the process begins in Step  700  with the patron checking in to the gaming establishment lodging. The process proceeds to step  702 , wherein the RCS reviews the shopping history of the patron and determines, according to its programming, whether the shopping activity merits the issuance of free play credits. Additionally, the RCS may calculate in step  702  that a promotion is currently active and issue credits accordingly. If a free play voucher is to be issued, the RCS issues the free play voucher in step  704  and the process ends at step  706 . If the RCS determines that no free play voucher is to be issued, no free play voucher is issued and the process ends.  
         [0073]     The process may additionally contain steps  708  and  710 . In step  708 , the RCS first accesses the PTS to determine the identification of a patron and the stature of that patron within the PTS. The amount of free play credits may then be enhanced depending on the PTS information. If the patron is not identified in the PTS system, the patron is offered membership in the PTS in step  710 . The process then proceeds to step  702  as in the foregoing situation.  
         [0074]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a patron check-out of the gaming establishment&#39;s lodging in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the process begins in step  800  with the check-out of a patron from the gaming establishment&#39;s lodging. In step  802 , the RCS requests the patron&#39;s shopping activity from the server. In step  804 , the RCS reviews the shopping history of the patron and determines, according to its programming, whether the shopping activity merits the issuance of free play credits. Additionally, the RCS may calculate in step  804  that a promotion is currently active and issue credits accordingly. If a free play voucher is to be issued, the RCS issues the free play voucher in step  806  and the process ends at step  808 . If the RCS determines that no free play voucher is to be issued, no free play voucher is issued and the process ends.  
         [0075]     The process may additionally contain steps  810  and  812 . In step  810 , the RCS first accesses the PTS to determine the identification of a patron and the stature of that patron within the PTS. The amount of free play credits may then be enhanced depending on the PTS information. If the patron is not identified in the PTS system, the patron is offered membership in the PTS in step  812 . The process then proceeds to step  802  as in the foregoing situation.  
         [0076]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a process to provide an incentive for a patron to join the gaming establishment&#39;s frequent player club in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 9  appends a modification to the process described in  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 8 , in the case under  FIG. 6  that it was determined that the patron was not part of the frequent player&#39;s club maintained in the PTS.  
         [0077]     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the process begins in step  900  with the creation of a patron tracking incentive for the patron. For example, the patron could be offered an increased amount of free play credits to join the system. In step  902 , it is determined whether the patron has accepted the incentive and thus decided to join the frequent player club. If the patron does not accept the offer, the process ends at step  908 . If, however, the patron accepts the offer, the individual is registered in the PTS in step  904 , and the incentive is issued to the patron in step  906 . The process then ends at step  908 .  
         [0078]      FIG. 10  is a diagram of various issuance methods for free play vouchers and free play credits using an authorization code in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In addition to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 10  illustrates additional issuance methods for free play vouchers and free play credits using an authorization code recorded on a transaction receipt, TITOMS, a cashier cage and/or an automated redemption machine.  
         [0079]     As shown in  FIG. 10 , RCS  100  is coupled to TITOMS  202 , automated redemption machine  1104 , and cashier&#39;s cage  1106 . The TITOMS is coupled to cashless enabled gaming machine  206 . Receipt  1100  contains authorization code  510 . The automated redemption machine is coupled to a keypad  1106  and a RCS printer  1108 . The cashier&#39;s cage is coupled to keypad  1112  and RCS printer  1114 . Free play voucher  1116  is printed by RCS printer  1108  or RCS printer  1114 .  
         [0080]     In operation, the TITOMS requests from the RCS validation of the authorization code entered on a cashless enabled gaming machine. The RCS verifies the authorization code and issues a free play voucher as previously discussed. The voucher may then be directly inserted into the cashless enabled gaming machine for redemption.  
         [0081]     In another embodiment, the RCS is coupled to a cashier&#39;s cage or a plurality of such. A cashier uses a keypad to enter the authorization code appended to the patron&#39;s receipt. The RCS verifies the authorization code and issues a free play voucher through as previously discussed. The voucher may then be directly inserted into the cashless enabled gaming machine for redemption.  
         [0082]     In still another embodiment, the RCS is coupled to an automatic redemption machine or a plurality of such. A patron enters the authorization code from the receipt into the automated redemption machine. The automated redemption machine requests validation of the authorization code from the RCS. The RCS verifies the authorization code and notifies the automated redemption machine of such. The redemption machine then signals the RCS printer to issue a free play voucher.  
         [0083]     As indicated earlier under  FIG. 5 , any of redemption methods of  FIG. 10  may employ any combination of the security measures disclosed in the detailed description of  FIG. 5  above, including a separate shopper&#39;s card and PIN.  
         [0084]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a point-of-sale environment providing an alert to the patron and/or cashier in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system described in  FIG. 11  is intended to add on to any of the overall system operation described earlier in the detailed descriptions of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 10 . The purpose of the alert is to help ensure that the patron is aware that a free play voucher is pending or in the process of being created by the RCS printer, and thus the voucher is given to the patron, not discarded or taken by another party.  
         [0085]     As shown in  FIG. 11 , RCS  100  is coupled to POSS  200 , RCS printer  1202  and alert device  1204 . The POSS is coupled to a register  1200 . Additionally, the alert device may be coupled to the RCS printer. In operation, the alert device receives an alert signal from the RCS and alerts the patron or cashier of the pending issuance of a free play voucher. The alert device may be driven by either the RCS or the RCS printer itself.  
         [0086]     Tables 1 to 6 indicate partial listings of data elements and parameters for a gaming vouchering system in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0087]     Table 1 discloses possible types of free game plays that may be issued by the RCS.  
                         TABLE 1                       Free Play Game Types                                    Specific Slot Machine           Any Slot Machine           Plurality of Slot Machines           Specific Video Game           Any Video Game           Plurality of Video Games           Specific Gaming Table           Any Gaming Table           Plurality of Gaming Tables           Any Denomination           Specific Denomination           Multiple Denominations                      
 
         [0088]     Table 2 illustrates possible parameters of a POSS purchase which may be used by the RCS to calculate the amount of free play credits to be issued.  
                         TABLE 2                       POSS Purchase Parameters                                    Total Purchase Amount           Purchase Amount per POS           Type of Purchase           Margin For Type of Purchase           Purchase Date           Purchase Time           Discount Amount           Discount Percentage                      
 
         [0089]     Table 3 lists possible parameters of merchant information which may be used by the RCS in calculation of the amount of free play credits that should be issued.  
                         TABLE 3                       Merchant Information Parameters                                    Merchant Unique ID           Merchant Name           Merchant Account Number           Merchant Location                      
 
         [0090]     Table 4 lists possible parameters of gaming establishment information which may be used by the RCS in calculation of the amount of free play credits that should be issued.  
                         TABLE 4                       Gaming Establishment Parameters                                    Unique ID           Name           Account Number           Location                      
 
         [0091]     Table 5 lists patron tracking incentive parameters which may be used by the RCS in calculation of the amount of free play credits that should be issued.  
                         TABLE 5                       Patron Tracking Incentive Parameters                                    Number of Additional Free Plays           Food/Beverages           Merchandise           Tickets           Other                      
 
         [0092]     Table 6 lists parameters for a free play that may be used by the RCS in calculation of the amount of free play credits that should be issued.  
                         TABLE 6                       Free Play Parameters                                    Promotion Begin Date           Promotion End Date           Promotion Begin Time           Promotion End Time           Voucher Issued Date           Voucher Issued Time           Voucher Number           RCS Printer Number           Authorization Code           Validation Code           House Advantage Percentage           House Adjustment Percentage           Limit on Promotion Per Patron           Limit Per Location           Validity with Other Promotions           Number of Vouchers Issuance           Game Identification           Cash Value           Amount of Credits           Number of Free Plays           Patron Alert