Patent ID: 7758420

Claim:
A gaming apparatus, comprising: a display unit for displaying a game; a ticket reader operable to at least read a first validation number and a first number of promotional gaming credits from a first promotional ticket; a ticket printer operable to at least print a second validation number and a second number of promotional gaming credits on a second promotional ticket; a controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said ticket reader and said ticket printer, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said controller operable a) to check validity of said first promotional ticket by transmitting at least the first validation number to a central computer, b) when information is received from the central computer indicating the first promotional ticket is valid, to store in the memory the first number of promotional gaming credits; c) to receive a wager on an outcome of the game using one or more of the first number of promotional gaming credits, d) to determine a payout based on the wager and on the game outcome; e) to calculate the second number of promotional gaming credits according to at least the first number of promotional credits and the payout; f) to generate the second validation number for the second number of promotional gaming credits; g) to encrypt the second validation number; h) to transmit the second validation number to the central computer; and i) to cause the ticket printer to print the second validation number and the second number of promotional gaming credits on the second promotional ticket.