# US 2018/0025583 A1 · Method and system of delivering funds or entertainment to a gaming machine from an external source > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0025583 A1 - Document ID: US20180025583A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/655,436 - Filed: 2017-07-20 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20 - Inventors: David Haag - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180025583A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/3255: {Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements} - G07F 17/3211: {Display means} - G07F 17/3225: {Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users} - G07F 17/3246: {involving coins and/or banknotes} - G07F 17/3248: {involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value} - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A method and system is provided for funding a gaming machine from an external source. The gaming machine may include at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a first physical item associated with a monetary value to increase a credit balance at the gaming machine, and at least one promotion accepting device configured to receive a second physical item associated with promotional information. The method includes generating a gaming promotion associated with promotional information for direct redemption at the gaming machine where the promotional information comprising a promotional feature and tracking information. The method further includes receiving the second physical item that is associated with the gaming promotion via the at least one promotion accepting device, validating the gaming promotion at the gaming machine, activating the promotional feature via the processor, and reporting the tracking information associated with the gaming promotion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for funding a gaming machine from an external source, the gaming machine comprising a processor, at least one display, at least one input device, at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a first physical item associated with a monetary value to increase a credit balance at the gaming machine, and at least one promotion accepting device configured to receive a second physical item associated with promotional information, the method comprising: generating a gaming promotion associated with promotional information for direct redemption at the gaming machine, the promotional information comprising a promotional feature and tracking information; receiving the second physical item that is associated with the gaming promotion via the at least one promotion accepting device; validating the gaming promotion at the gaming machine; activating the promotional feature via the processor; and reporting the tracking information associated with the gaming promotion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second physical item is a printed coupon. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second physical item is a mobile device of a player, and the at least one promotion accepting device receives the gaming promotion from the mobile device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one promotion accepting device comprises at least one of a NFC transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, a Wi-Fi transceiver, and a bar code reader. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein a bar code on the gaming machine is scanned by the mobile device to initiate the receiving of the gaming promotion from the mobile device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional feature comprises promotional credits, and wherein the activating step comprises increasing the credit balance with the promotional credits. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the promotional credits are restricted credits. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional feature comprises one or more of a game theme, a special character, and a special symbol. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the tracking information comprises a serial number. ### Claim 10 A gaming machine comprising at least one display; at least one input device; at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a first physical item associated with a monetary value to increase a credit balance at the gaming machine; at least one promotion accepting device configured to receive a second physical item associated with promotional information; a processor; and a memory storing machine-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the gaming machine to: receive the second physical item that is associated with a gaming promotion via the at least one promotion accepting device, the gaming promotion being associated with promotional information for direct redemption at the gaming machine, the promotional information comprising a promotional feature and tracking information; validate the gaming promotion; activate the promotional feature via the processor; and report the tracking information associated with the gaming promotion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the second physical item is a printed coupon. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the second physical item is a mobile device of a player, and the at least one promotion accepting device receives the gaming promotion from the mobile device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one promotion accepting device comprises at least one of a NFC transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, a Wi-Fi transceiver, and a bar code reader. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein a bar code on the gaming machine is scanned by the mobile device to initiate the receiving of the gaming promotion from the mobile device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the promotional feature comprises promotional credits, and wherein the process activates the promotional feature by increasing the credit balance with the promotional credits. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the promotional credits are restricted credits. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the promotional feature comprises one or more of a game theme, a special character, and a special symbol. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the tracking information comprises a serial number.