Systems and methods for providing ultraviolet sterilization, disinfection and decontamination of gaming machines and associated equipment

An automatic gaming chip handling device comprising:

• a housing;
• a gaming chip input section and a gaming chip output section;
• a chip sorting and counting section contained within said housing, said chip sorting and counting section including one or more mechanisms for sorting, storing or counting said gaming chips;
• and
• a source of ultraviolet light positioned proximate to said chip sorting and counting section, said source of ultraviolet light configured to transmit ultraviolet light onto at least a portion of the front and back surfaces of said gaming chips as said gaming chips received, counted, sorted, stored or distributed, said source of ultraviolet light capable of, and configured, via time and/or intensity, to at least partially sterilize, disinfect and/or decontaminate at least a portion of said front and back surfaces of said gaming chips.

An automatic gaming chip handling device comprising:

• a housing;
• one or more mechanisms contained within said housing, said one or more mechanisms configured to perform at least one of:
• count gaming chips input into said housing, sort said gaming chips input into said housing, store said gaming chips into said housing and distribute gaming chips input into said housing;
• and
• a UV light positioned and configured, via time and/or intensity, to at least partially sterilize, disinfect and/or decontaminate at least a portion of said gaming chips while said one or more mechanisms perform at least one of:
• count gaming chips input into said housing, sort said gaming chips input into said housing, storing said gaming chips input into said housing and distribute gaming chips input said housing.

A method of at least partially sterilizing, disinfecting and/or decontaminating front and back surfaces of gaming chips using an automatic gaming chip handling device comprising:

• (i) configuring said automatic gaming chip handling to receive, at a gaming chip input section, a plurality of gaming chips;
• (ii) configuring said automatic gaming chip handling device to count, sort, store and/or distribute said gaming chips using one or more mechanisms;
• and
• (iii) configuring a source of ultraviolet light to transmit ultraviolet light onto gaming chips input into, stored in or distributed by said automatic gaming chip handling device, said ultraviolet light capable of, and configured, via time and/or intensity, to at least partially sterilize, disinfect and/or decontaminate at least a portion of said gaming chips.