Apparatus and method for dispensing prizes

A system for awarding prizes, the system comprising the following:

• (A) at least one gaming device, the gaming device being adapted to allow a player to play a game and produce a predetermined prize qualifying event;
• (B) a plurality of prizes;
• and
• (C) at least one vault, the vault comprising:
• (a) a housing;
• (b) a plurality of compartments in the housing, each compartment being adapted to hold at least one of the plurality of prizes, the plurality of prizes being removeably positioned in the compartments;
• and
• (c) a lock, the lock being adapted to limit removal of the prize from at least one of the compartments;
• wherein the player may view the actual prize the player may receive when the prize qualifying event occurs.

A method of awarding a prize to a player, comprising:

• (A) providing a gaming device, the gaming device being adapted to allow the player to play a game and produce a predetermined prize qualifying event;
• (B) allowing the player to play the game;
• (C) producing the predetermined prize event;
• (D) providing a plurality of prizes;
• (E) providing a vault, the vault comprising:
• (a) a housing;
• (b) a plurality of compartments in the housing, the compartment being adapted to hold at least one of the plurality of prizes;
• and
• (a) a lock, the lock being adapted to limit removal of the prize from the compartment;
• (F) storing the prizes in the compartments;
• (G) allowing the player to view the prizes;
• (H) allowing the player to select a prize from among the plurality of prizes;
• and
• (I) awarding the selected prize to the player.

A system for monitoring inventory of prizes, the system comprising:

• (A) a plurality of prizes;
• (B) a plurality of inventory tags, each tag being attached to a prize;
• (C) at least one vault, the vault comprising:
• (a) a housing;
• (b) a plurality of compartments in the housing, each compartment being adapted to hold at least one of the plurality of prizes, the plurality of prizes being removeably positioned in the compartments;
• and
• (c) a lock, the lock being adapted to limit removal of the prize from at least one of the compartments;
• (d) at least one of inventory sensor, the inventory sensor being adapted to detect the presence or absence of at least one inventory tag.

A method of monitoring inventory or prizes in a gaming system, the method comprising:

• (A) providing a plurality of prizes;
• (B) providing a plurality of inventory tags, each tag having a unique identifier;
• (C) physically associating at least one inventory tag with each prize of the plurality of prizes;
• (D) recording information relating to at least one of the prizes, the information comprising the unique identifier associated with the prize.

A system for awarding prizes, the system comprising the following:

• (A) at least one gaming device, the gaming device being adapted to allow a player to play a game and produce a predetermined prize qualifying event;
• (B) a plurality of prizes;
• and
• (C) at least one vault, the vault comprising:
• (a) a housing;
• (b) at least one compartment in the housing, the compartment being adapted to hold the plurality of prizes, the plurality of prizes being removeably positioned in the compartment;
• and
• (c) a lock, the lock being adapted to limit removal of the prize from at least one of the compartments;
• (D) wherein the player may view the actual prize the player may receive, the player being awarded the prize when the prize qualifying event occurs.

A system for awarding prizes, the system comprising the following:

• (A) a first gaming device, the gaming device being adapted to allow a player to play a game and produce a predetermined prize qualifying event;
• (B) a second gaming device, the gaming device being adapted to play a game;
• (C) at least one prize;
• and
• (D) at least one vault attached to the second gaming device, the vault being adapted to store and display the prize and dispense the prize after the predetermined prize qualifying event occurs, the vault comprising:
• (a) a housing;
• (b) at least one compartment in the housing, the compartment being adapted to hold the prize, the prize being removeably positioned in the compartment;
• and
• (c) a lock, the lock being adapted to limit removal of the prize from the compartment;
• wherein the player may directly view the actual prize that may be awarded to the player when the prize qualifying event occurs.

A system for awarding prizes, the system comprising the following:

• (A) at least one gaming device, the gaming device being adapted to allow a player to play a game and produce a predetermined prize qualifying event;
• (B) at least one prize;
• and
• (C) at least one vault, the vault being adapted to store and display the prize and dispense the prize after the predetermined prize qualifying event occurs, the vault comprising:
• (a) a housing;
• (b) a compartment in the housing, the compartment being adapted to hold the prize, the prize being removeably positioned in the compartment;
• and
• (c) a lock, the lock being adapted to limit removal of the prize from the compartment;
• wherein the player may directly view the actual prize that may be awarded to the player, the player being awarded the prize when the prize qualifying event occurs.

A vault for awarding prizes in a system including at least one gaming device, the gaming device being adapted to allow a player to play a game and produce a predetermined prize qualifying event, said vault comprising:

• (A) at least one prize;
• (B) a housing;
• (C) at least one compartment in the housing, the compartment being adapted to hold said at least one prize, said at least one prize removeably positioned in the compartment;
• and
• (D) a lock, the lock being adapted to limit removal of the prize from the compartment;
• and
• wherein the player may view the actual prize the player may receive, the player being awarded the prize when the prize qualifying event occurs.