Patent ID: 8016666

Claim:
A method of providing cashless gaming in a gaming machine that includes a game processor, a cash acceptor, and a cash dispenser, and a linking component, the method comprising: receiving, in the linking component, a wager-selection communication from a peripheral device of the gaming machine indicating a selected wager amount; sending, by the linking component, a deposit communication to the game processor indicating that a deposit has been made to the gaming machine, the deposit communication using a cash acceptor communication protocol used for communication between the cash acceptor and the game processor; intercepting, by the linking component, a payout instruction from the game processor to the cash dispenser to dispense cash; and sending, by the linking component, a payout communication to the game processor indicating that a payout of cash has been made in an amount corresponding to the payout instruction, the payout communication using a cash dispenser communication protocol used for communication between the cash dispenser and the game processor.