Gaming monetary instrument tracking system

A gaming monetary instrument tracking system for securely tracking a plurality of gaming monetary instruments moving across one or more system nodes, the gaming monetary instrument tracking system comprising:

• a plurality of system nodes, wherein each of the plurality of system nodes is configured to generate data with respect to gaming monetary instruments associated with the gaming instrument tracking system each of the gaming monetary instruments having a monetary value associated therewith, and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of system nodes are configured to issue new gaming monetary instruments associated with the gaming instrument tracking system;
• and
• a system server coupled to the plurality of system nodes, having a processor and memory storing instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to:
• receive data based on a plurality of multiple different transactions recorded at the plurality of system nodes,
• create data structures linking a plurality of multiple gaming monetary instruments according to the plurality of multiple different transactions occurring at different times and across multiple different nodes, allowing the plurality of multiple gaming monetary instruments to be analyzed across any of the multiple different nodes for fraudulent activity,
• control a first system node to issue a first gaming monetary instrument associated with a first data structure linking one or more transactions performed at the first system node, and
• generate and store a first historical record for the first gaming monetary instrument, and wherein the first historical record includes a plurality of unique identifiers regarding cash value instruments used for the monetary value of the first gaming monetary instrument when the first system node has validated the first gaming monetary instrument with respect to the fraudulent activity.

A computer implemented method for securely tracking a monetary instrument in a casino gaming network having a plurality of electronic gaming devices coupled to a system server having at least one processor and memory storing instructions, at least some of the plurality of electronic gaming devices being configured to create a plurality of gaming monetary instruments, the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to track the plurality of gaming monetary instruments moving across the plurality of electronic gaming devices in the casino gaming network, the computer implemented method comprising:

• controlling a first electronic gaming device to issue a first gaming monetary instrument associated with a first data structure linked to the first electronic gaming device, the first gaming monetary instrument having a first monetary value;
• linking the first gaming monetary instrument to a first data structure associated with one or more transactions at one or both of the first electronic gaming device and another of the plurality of electronic gaming devices;
• generating a first historical record for the first gaming monetary instrument based on the first data structure, wherein the first historical record accounts for the first monetary value and includes the one or more transactions;
• analyzing the first gaming monetary instrument at a second electronic gaming device from the plurality of electronic gaming devices for fraudulent activity when the first gaming instrument is received at the second electronic gaming device;
• providing a monetary credit at the second electronic gaming device when the first gaming monetary instrument is validated at the second electronic gaming device, the monetary credit corresponding to the first monetary value;
• collecting additional activities at the second electronic gaming device while the monetary credit is provided at the second electronic gaming device;
• linking at least one of a validation of the first gaming monetary instrument, the monetary credit, and the additional activities collected at the second electronic gaming device to the first data structure resulting an updated first data structure;
• controlling the second electronic gaming device to issue a second gaming monetary instrument having a second monetary value;
• and
• generating a second historical record for the second gaming monetary instrument based on the updated first data structure including the second monetary value, the first historical record, at least one of the validation, the monetary credit, and the additional activities collected at the second electronic gaming device.