WO2007044861A2

WO2007044861A2 - Method and apparatus for a responsible gaming system

Info

Publication number: WO2007044861A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/039964
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony Dimarco
Original assignee: Futurelogic, Inc.
Priority date: 2005-10-11
Filing date: 2006-10-11
Publication date: 2007-04-19
Also published as: AU2006302032B2; CA2625179A1; MX2008004855A; WO2007044861A3; AU2006302032A1

Abstract

Method and apparatus for a responsible gaming system that employs cashless enabled games having media printers that issue media and/or generate cool down period information in human-readable and/or machine-readable form, media readers that verify and validate the cool down period and redeem media, a timing mechanism which creates, identifies, verifies, and validates a cool down period, and a scanning device that verifies and validates the cool down period. The responsible gaming system promotes responsible player gaming by providing cool down period information. The cool down period information prevents excessive gambling by establishing a cool down period where a player cannot play using amounts on media until the cool down period has passed.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A RESPONSIBLE GAMING SYSTEM

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit U. S . Provisional Application No.

60/725,961, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if stated in full herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a responsible gaming system which uses cashless enabled games having printers issuing and printing cool down period indicia, and recording and reading cool down period data, a timing mechanism which creates, identifies, verifies, and validates a cool down period, media readers which verify and validate the cool down period and redeem the media, and/or a scanning device which may verify and validate a cool down period.

Background

[0003] The gaming machine manufacturing industry provides a variety of gaming machines for the amusement of gaming machine players. An exemplary gaming machine is a slot machine. A slot machine is an electro-mechanical game wherein chance or the skill of a player determines the outcome of the game. Slot machines are usually found in casinos or other more informal gaming establishments.

[0004] Gaming machine manufacturers have introduced cashless enabled games to the market and these have found a wide acceptance to date. Cashless enabled games are so named due to the fact that they can conduct their financial exchange with a player with a mixture of traditional currency and media. Typically, a cashless enabled game may have a media printer to issue and print the media and a media reader to read the media. To coordinate the activities of multiple cashless enabled games, one or more cashless enabled games may be electronically coupled to a cashless enabled gaming system that controls the cashless operations of a cashless enabled game.

[0005] In a cashless enabled gaming system, when a player cashes out, the system is signaled and depending on the size of the pay out, the system can either present coins in the traditional method, or it can cause the media printers which are installed in such machines to produce media containing the value of the pay out. The media may then either be redeemed for cash, or it may be inserted into a media reader which is installed in the same or another cashless enabled game at the same or a participating gaming establishment, at which point the system will recognize the media, redeem it, and place the appropriate amount of playing credits on the cashless enabled game.

[0006] Cashless enabled games have found an increasing acceptance and use in the gaming industry with both the players, who enjoy the speed of play and ease of transporting their winnings around a gaming establishment, and the gaming establishments who have realized significant labor savings in the form of reduced coin hopper reloads in the games, and an increase in revenue due to speed of play.

[0007] Currently, there are few mechanisms or methods in place that can aid players who experience gambling problems to cut back on their gambling. Of the few existing mechanisms or methods, most place the responsibility on a player and do not otherwise prevent players from excessively gambling or reduce or monitor a player's gambling activities. [0008] Therefore, a need exists for a solution to excessive gambling. Such a solution should promote responsible gaming and target those players who may be excessively gambling. This invention provides the capability for such a solution.

DEFINITIONS

[0009] For the purposes of this document the following definitions apply:

[0010] "RGS" - acronym for Responsible Gaming System.

[0011] "Gaming Establishment" - a gaming entity such as a casino, which may include one or a plurality of locations.

[0012] "Media" - a voucher, rewritable card, or other media such as paper, containing information to identify at a minimum, a cashout value, validation information, and gaming establishment location.

[0013] "Media Printer" - a voucher printer, rewritable card printer, or other printer used in conjunction with cashless enabled games which generate media.

[0014] "Media Reader" - a bill acceptor/voucher validator, rewritable card reader, or other apparatus that reads data from media.

[0015] "Cool Down Period" - the amount of allotted time from the cashout of a game by a player to the redemption of cashout media.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] hi one aspect of the present invention, a Responsible Gaming System (herein referred to as "RGS") includes a processor, memory, a storage device, a media printer controller, a media printer, media reader, timing mechanism, procedures, media, a network controller, and a network device, or a plurality of any or all.

[0017] In another aspect of the present invention, the RGS includes a processor, memory, a storage device, a media printer controller, a media printer, media reader, timing mechanism, procedures, media, scanning device, network controller, and a network device, or a plurality of any or all. [0018] In another aspect of the present invention, the RGS, includes a processor and memory, coupled to a plurality of media printers and media readers installed within cashless enabled games, gaming tables, or within cashier cages or redemption kiosks, the RGS, in response to the player requesting cash-out on a particular game, signaling the media printer installed in said game with a sequence identifier and amount of a cash-out media, the media printer creating the cash-out media in response to the signaling, the RGS logging the sequence identifier of the media in a database along with a time and date stamp, the media inserted in a media reader installed in a cashless enabled game, gaming table, cashier's cage, or redemption kiosk also coupled to the master controller, the RGS retrieving the time and date stamp from its database, and the RGS according to a procedure determining if a sufficient amount of time has elapsed since the time of the media's creation ("cool down period") in order to redeem the media for game credits or cash.

[0019] In another aspect of the present invention, a scanning device is located in a cashless enabled game, at a gaming table, within a cashier's cage or redemption kiosk, or on the gaming floor.

[0020] In another aspect of the present invention, a scanning device may be coupled to a timing mechanism.

[0021] In another aspect of the present invention, the scanning device is a portable handheld device.

[0022] In another aspect of the present invention, the media includes cool down period data that may be read by a media printer.

[0023] In another aspect of the present invention, the media includes cool down period data that may be read by a media reader.

[0024] In another aspect of the present invention, the media includes cool down period data that may be read by a scanning device.

[0025] In another aspect of the present invention, the media includes cool down period indicia in machine-readable form such as a barcode.

[0026] In another aspect of the present invention, the media includes cool down period indicia in human-readable form such as a date and time. [0027] In another aspect of the present invention, the RGS includes the capability to create a cool down period.

[0028] In another aspect of the present invention, the RGS includes the capability to verify and validate cool down period information. If the cool down period has passed or is no longer valid, the RGS signals a media reader, scanning device, timing mechanism, or media printer to accept the media for redemption. If the cool down period has not passed or is still valid, the RGS signals a media reader, scanning device, timing mechanism, or media printer to reject the media.

[0029] In another aspect of the present invention, a media printer includes the capability to create and print cool down period indicia on media.

[0030] In another aspect of the present invention, a media printer includes the capability to create, record, and read cool down period data on media.

[0031] In another aspect of the present invention, a media printer includes the capability to verify and validate cool down period information.

[0032] In another aspect of the present invention, a media printer includes the capability to erase cool down period indicia, cool down period data, or a plurality of such from media.

[0033] In another aspect of the present invention, the cool down period indicia is the sequence identifier logged in the RGS with a time and date stamp.

[0034] In another aspect of the present invention, the cool down period may be a time stamp, date stamp, or a combination thereof.

[0035] In another aspect of the present invention, the cool down period indicia includes the means by which a visual scan may be conducted to verify and validate the cool down period before the media can be redeemed.

[0036] In another aspect of the present invention, a media reader includes the capability to read the media for cool down period indicia, cool down period data, or a plurality of such to verify and validate the cool down period before the media can be redeemed. If the cool down period has passed or is no longer valid, the media reader after receiving signaling from the RGS accepts the media for redemption. If the cool down period has not passed or is still valid, the media reader after receiving signaling from the RGS rejects the media. [0037] In another aspect of the present invention, a scanning device includes the capability to read the cool down period indicia, cool down period data, or a plurality of such to verify and validate the cool down period before the media can be redeemed. If the cool down period has passed or is no longer valid, the scanning device after receiving signaling from the RGS signals the media reader in the cashless enabled game, a gaming table, a cashier's cage or redemption kiosk to accept the media for redemption. If the cool down period has not passed or is still valid, the scanning device after receiving signaling from the RGS signals the media reader in a cashless enabled game, a gaming table, a cashier's cage or redemption kiosk to reject the media.

[0038] In another aspect of the invention, a timing mechanism includes the capability to create a cool down period.

[0039] In another aspect of the invention, a timing mechanism includes the capability to read the cool down period indicia, cool down period data, or a plurality of such to verify and validate the cool down period before the media can be redeemed.

[0040] In another aspect of the invention, a timing mechanism includes the capability to verify and validate the cool down period before the media can be redeemed.

[0041] In another aspect of the present invention, the RGS using procedures includes the capability to create, read, verify, and validate cool down period information.

[0042] In another aspect of the present invention, the RGS using procedures includes the capability to erase cool down period information.

[0043] In another aspect of the present invention, the cool down period prevents redemption of the media for game credits in a cashless enabled game or gaming table.

[0044] In another aspect of the present invention, the cool down period prevents redemption of the media for cash at a cashier's cage or redemption kiosk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings where: [0046] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an RGS and components thereof in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an RGS in a gaming establishment in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an RGS using a scanning device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the potential parameters that may be used with procedures in an RGS in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a process diagram of the cool down period information issuance process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] FIG. 6 is a process diagram of the validate cool down period information process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary voucher media currently used in gaming in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 8 is an illustration of an exemplary voucher media with cool down period indicia in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 9 is an illustration of an exemplary rewritable card media with magnetic stripe in according with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] FIG. 10 is an illustration of an exemplary rewritable card media with cool down period indicia in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an RGS and components thereof in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A component or plurality of components shown in FIG. 1 are optional.

[0057] An RGS 100 includes a processor 102, operatively coupled via a system bus 104 to memory 106. The processor is further operatively coupled via the system bus to a storage device 108. Program instructions 110 implementing the procedures as later described in FIGS. 4 and 5 are stored in the storage device until the processor retrieves the program instructions and stores them in the memory. The processor then executes the program instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the features of the RGS as described herein.

[0058] The processor is further coupled via the system bus to a media reader 112 or plurality of such. The media reader may be used to read media for cool down period indicia, cool down period data, or a plurality of such to verify and validate the cool down period before the media can be redeemed.

[0059] The processor is further coupled via the system bus to a scanning device 114 or plurality of such. A scanning device also may be coupled via the system bus to a media printer 116 and/or the media reader. A scanning device may be used to read the cool down period indicia, cool down period data, or a plurality of such to verify and validate the cool down period before the media can be redeemed.

[0060] The processor is further coupled via the system bus to a network controller 118 that is coupled to a network device 120 or plurality of such. The media printer controller uses the network device to transmit and receive control signals from a gaming system, such as cash-out.

[0061] The processor is further coupled via the system bus to a media printer controller 122 that is coupled to the media printer. The media printer controller uses the media printer to generate the media as described in FIGS. 2 through 6. The media printer may be used to create and print cool down period indicia on media or create, record, and read cool down period data on media. The media printer also may be used to verify and validate cool down period information. The media printer also may be used to erase cool down period indicia, cool down period data, or a plurality of such from media.

[0062] Also shown in FIG. 1 are timing mechanisms 124a, 124b and 124c that may be coupled to a media printer, media reader, or scanning device. A timing mechanism may be used to create a cool down period. A timing mechanism also may be used to read cool down period indicia, cool down period data, or a plurality of such to verify and validate the cool down period before media can be redeemed. [0063] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an RGS in a gaming establishment in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A component or plurality of components shown in FIG. 2 may be optional.

[0064] An RGS includes components which may be located in one or a plurality of cashless enabled games, such as games 200a and 200b, one or more gaming tables 202, one or more cashier's cages or redemption kiosks 204, or on a gaming floor 206.

[0065] A cashless enabled game, such as game 200a, is coupled to a media reader 208a and a media printer 210a. After receiving a cashout signal, the cashless enabled game activates the media printer to issue media 212. The media printer may generate the media using procedures and cool down period information from a timing mechanism 214a. The media that provides the transport of monies includes cash-out and cool down period information. Redemption of the media at a gaming table, a cashier's cage or redemption kiosk, another cashless enabled game, or on the gaming floor may be accepted after the media passes validation of the cool down period using one of the media readers 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d or 208e at a gaming table, a cashier's cage or redemption kiosk, another cashless enabled game, or on the gaming floor. Each media reader may be coupled to a timing mechanism, such as timing mechanisms 214b, 214c, 214d, 214e and 214f and use procedures to validate the cool down period. If the cool down period has passed and is no longer valid, the media reader may signal that the media is available for redemption. If the cool down period has not passed or is still valid, the media reader may signal that the media is not available for redemption and reject the media.

[0066] The redemption of the media at a gaming table, a cashier's cage or redemption kiosk, or another cashless enabled game, also may be accepted after the media passes validation of the cool down period using one of the media printers 210b, 210c and 21Od at a gaming table, a cashier's cage or redemption kiosk, or another cashless enabled game. Each media printer may be coupled to a timing mechanism, such as timing mechanisms 214g, 214h and 214i and use procedures to validate the cool down period. If the cool down period has passed and is no longer valid, the media printer may signal that the media is available for redemption. If the cool down period has not passed or is still valid, the media printer may signal that the media is not available for redemption and reject the media. [0067] As the cool down period indicia may also be human discernable or readable, a visual scan may be performed at a gaming table, a cashier's cage, redemption kiosk, or on the gaming floor.

[0068] hi another embodiment of the present invention, the RGS, includes a processor and memory, coupled to a plurality of media printers and media readers installed within cashless enabled games, gaming tables, or within cashier cages or redemption kiosks. The RGS, in response to the player requesting cash-out on a particular game, signals the media printer installed in a game with a sequence identifier and amount of a cash-out media. The media printer creates the cash-out media in response to the signaling with the RGS logging the sequence identifier of the media in a database along with a time and date stamp. The media is inserted in a media reader installed in a cashless enabled game, gaming table, cashier's cage, or redemption kiosk also coupled to the master controller. The RGS then retrieves the time and date stamp from its database, and the RGS according to a procedure determines if a sufficient amount of time has elapsed since the time of the media's creation in order to redeem the media for game credits or cash.

[0069] hi another embodiment of the present invention, the media reader is a portable handheld device.

[0070] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an RGS using a scanning device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A component or plurality of components shown in FIG. 3 may be optional.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 3 an RGS includes components which may be located in one or a plurality of cashless enabled games, gaming tables, cashier's cage or redemption kiosk, or on a gaming floor.

[0072] A cashless enabled game, such as games 300a and 300b, may be coupled to a scanning device 302a, a media reader 302b, and a media printer 304b. The scanning device also may be coupled to the media reader and/or a media printer. After receiving a cashout signal, the cashless enabled game activates the media printer to issue media 308. The media printer may generate the media using procedures and cool down period information from a timing mechanism 310a. The media that provides the transport of monies includes cash-out and cool down period information. [0073] Redemption of the media at a gaming table 316, a cashier' s cage or redemption kiosk 312, another cashless enabled game 300b, or on the gaming floor 314 may be accepted after the media passes validation of the cool down period using one of the scanning devices 302b, 302c, 302d and 302e at the gaming table, the cashier's cage or redemption kiosk, another cashless enabled game, or on the gaming floor. Each scanning device may be coupled a timing mechanism, such as timing mechanisms 310b, 310c, 31Od or 31Oe, and use procedures to validate the cool down period. If the cool down period has passed or is no longer valid, the scanning device may signal the media reader or media printer to accept the media for redemption. If the cool down period has not passed or is still valid, the scanning device may signal the media reader or media printer to reject the media.

[0074] As the cool down period indicia may also be human discernable or readable, a visual scan, such as visual scans 320a, 320b and 320c, may be performed at a gaming table, cashier's cage, redemption kiosk, or on the gaming floor.

[0075] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the potential parameters that may be used with procedures in an RGS in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0076] As shown, the potential parameters 400 may include among others CD_Period 401, CD_Date_Begin 402, CD_Date_End 404, CD_Time_Begin 406, and CD_Time_End 408.

[0077] CD_Period may be used to formulate the overall cool down period based on the other parameters.

[0078] CD_Date_Begin may be used to identify the cashout date. The format may include any currently existing date format such as mm/dd/yyyy or yyyy/dd/mm.

[0079] CD_Date_End may be used to identify the end date of a cool down period. The format may include any currently existing date format such as mm/dd/yyyy or yyyy/dd/mm.

[0080] CD_Time_Begin may be used to identify the cashout time. The format may include any currently existing time format such as hh/mm/ss.

[0081] CD_Time_End may be used to identify the end time of a cool down period. The format may include any currently existing time format such as hh/mm/ss. [0082] FIG. 5 is a process diagram of the cool down period information issuance process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] As shown, the process 500 begins (502) with the receipt (504) of a cash-out signal, which prompts the process of issuing (506) of cool down period data using procedures, after which a media printer issues (508) the media with cool down period data and ends (510).

[0084] An example procedure for generating cool down period data is:

CD_Period = (CD_Date_Begin = 09/27/2005) + (CD_Time_Begin = 10:30:00) + (CD_Time_End = 4) where:

CD_Date_Begin equals the date of the cashout; in this example, 09/27/05 CD_Time_Begin equals the time of the cashout; in this example, 10:30 a.m.

CD_Time_End equals the time allotted for the cool down period; in this example, four hours.

[0085] FIG. 6 is a process diagram of the validate cool down period information process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0086] As shown, the process 600 begins (602) with the receipt (604) of a cash-in signal, which prompts the process of validating (606) cool down period data using procedures. If the cool down period has passed or is no longer valid (608), a signal is sent from the RGS and the media is accepted (610) for redemption. If the cool down period has not passed or is still valid, a signal is sent from the RGS and the media is rejected (612). The process then ends (614)

[0087] An example procedure for the validation of a cool down period is: CD_Period = (CD_Date_End = CD_Date_Begin) + (CD_Time_End > CD JTimeJBegin) ClJValidation = (CashJh_Date = CurrentJDate) + (Cash_In_Time = Current_Time) CI_Validation > CD_Period - where:

CD_Period validates that the end date of the cool down period is equal to the begin date, and the end time is greater than the begin time of the cool down period. ClJValidation identifies the current date and time of a cash-in signal.

CI_Validation > CD_Period validates the current date and time of a cash-in signal against the cool down period validation, whereby the contents of ClJValidation must be greater than the CD_Period.

[0088] FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary voucher media 700 currently used in gaming in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, a voucher media is produced from commands issued by the cashless enabled game in response to a player's request to cashout. The voucher media includes features such as a validation number, printed in both human-readable form such as time and date, and in a machine-ieadable form such as a bar code, cash out amount, gaming establishment location information, cashless enabled game ID, a unique ticket number, and an expiration time frame. The information on the voucher media is sufficient to verify that a valid cash-out request was generated at some time, but may not ensure that the voucher media presented for redemption contains cool down period information.

[0089] FIG. 8 is an illustration of an exemplary voucher media 800 with cool down period indicia 802 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the voucher media contains the information included in the voucher media of FIG. 7. However, the voucher media of FIG. 8 also includes cool down period indicia in both human-readable form 804 such as time and date, and machine-readable form 806 such as a bar code. The use of procedures and a timing mechanism takes information provided by a cashless enabled game to create cool down period indicia with a media printer. Verification of the cool down period may be accomplished by a media printer, a media printer coupled to a timing mechanism, a media reader, a media reader coupled to a timing mechanism, a scanning device, a scanning device coupled to a timing mechanism, or a visual scan.

[0090] FIG. 9 is an illustration of an exemplary rewritable card media 900 with magnetic stripe 902 in according with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the rewritable card media includes a magnetic stripe. The use of procedures and a timing mechanism takes information provided by a cashless enabled game to create and record cool down period information on the magnetic stripe with a media printer. Verification of the cool down period may be accomplished using a media printer, a media printer coupled to a timing mechanism, a media reader, a media reader coupled to a timing mechanism, a scanning device, or a scanning device coupled to a timing mechanism.

[0091] FIG. 10 is an illustration of an exemplary rewritable card media with cool down period indicia in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, the rewritable card media may include a gaming establishment name 1002 and logo. The rewritable card media may include cool down period indicia in both human- readable form 1004 such as a date and time and machine-readable form such as a bar code 1006. The use of procedures and a timing mechanism takes information provided by a cashless enabled game to create cool down period indicia with a media printer. Verification of the cool down period may be accomplished using a media printer, a media printer coupled to a timing mechanism, a media reader, a media reader coupled to a timing mechanism, a scanning device, a scanning device coupled to a timing mechanism, or a visual scan. In addition, as the media is rewritable, a media printer may erase the cool down period indicia, cool down period data, or a plurality of such from the media.

[0092] Although the present invention has been described in certain specific embodiments, many additional modifications and variations would be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Thus, the present embodiments of the invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention to be determined by any claims supportable by this application and the claims' equivalents rather than the foregoing description.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for a responsible gaming system, comprising: receiving a cashout request; determining a cool down period in response to the cashout request; and generating a voucher using the cool down period.

2. The method of Claim 1 wherein the cashout request is received from a gaming machine.

3. The method of Claim 1 wherein the cool down period is determined from a timing mechanism.

4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the cool down period is indicated in human-readable indica on the voucher.

5. The method of Claim 1 wherein the cool down period is indicated in machine- readable data on the voucher.

6. The method of Claim 1 wherein the voucher indicates an expiration time frame.

7. The method of Claim 5 wherein the expiration time frame is calculated by adding the cool down period to a cashout time.

8. The method of Claim 5 wherein the expiration time frame of the cool down period is determined based on a time allotted for the cool down period and is added to the cashout time.

9. The method of Claim 8 wherein the cool down period is validated based on a cashin time being greater than the expiration time frame.

10. The method of Claim 1 where the voucher is generated by a media printer.

11. A method for a responsible gaming system, comprising: receiving a cashin request; validating a voucher cool down period in response to the cashin request; and generating a media redemption authorization on the basis of the cool down period validation.

12. The method of Claim 11 wherein the cashin request is received from a gaming machine.

13. The method of Claim 11 wherein the cashin request is received from a cashier' s cage

14. The method of Claim 11 wherein the cashin request is received from a redemption kiosk.

15. The method of Claim 11 wherein the cashin request is received from a gaming table.

16. The method of Claim 11 wherein the voucher cool down period is read by a media reader.

17. The method of Claim 11 wherein the voucher cool down period is read by a scanning device.

18. The method of Claim 11 wherein the voucher is validated by a visual scan.

19. The method of Claim 11 wherein the cool down period is validated based on a cashin time being greater than the expiration time frame.

20. The method of Claim 11 wherein the cool-down period is validated by a timing mechanism.

21. A responsible gaming system, comprising: means for receiving a cashout request; means for determining a cool down period in response to the cashout request; and means for generating a voucher using the cool down period.

22. The responsible gaming system of Claim 21 wherein the cashout request is received from a gaming machine.

23. The responsible gaming system of Claim 21 wherein the cool down period is determined from a timing mechanism.

24. The responsible gaming system of Claim 21 wherein the cool down period is indicated in human-readable indica on the voucher.

25. The responsible gaming system of Claim 21 wherein the cool down period is indicated in machine-readable data on the voucher.

26. The responsible gaming system of Claim 25 wherein the expiration time frame is calculated by adding the cool down period to a cashout time.

27. The responsible gaming system of Claim 25 wherein the expiration time frame of the cool down period is determined based on a time allotted for the cool down period and is added to the cashout time.

28. The responsible gaming system of Claim 27 wherein the cool down period is validated based on a cashin time being greater than the expiration time frame.

29. The responsible gaming system of Claim 21 where the voucher is generated by a media printer.

30. The responsible gaming system of Claim 21 wherein the voucher indicates an expiration time frame.

31. A responsible gaming system, comprising: means for receiving a cashin request; means for validating a voucher cool down period in response to the cashin request; and means for generating a media redemption authorization on the basis of the cool down period validation.

32. The responsible gaming system of Claim 31 wherein the cashin request is received from a gaming machine.

33. The responsible gaming system of Claim 31 wherein the cashin request is received from a cashier's cage

34. The responsible gaming system of Claim 31 wherein the cashin request is received from a redemption kiosk.

35. The responsible gaming system of Claim 31 wherein the cashin request is received from a gaming table.

36. The responsible gaming system of Claim 31 wherein the voucher cool down period is read by a media reader.

37. The responsible gaming system of Claim 31 wherein the voucher cool down period is read by a scanning device.

38. The responsible gaming system of Claim 31 wherein the voucher is validated by a visual scan.

39. The responsible gaming system of Claim 31 wherein the cool down period is validated based on a cashin time being greater than the expiration time frame.

40. The responsible gaming system of Claim 31 wherein the cool-down period is validated by a timing mechanism.