US Patent 6997807 Cashless gaming system: apparatus and method

An apparatus and method for cashless gaming wherein a player can access credits via a pin activated keypad located on the gaming machine. Real-time accounting allows the player to redeem credits and secure perquisites as a function of patronage. A player account is created which has two account balances, one balance based on cash value and the other balance based on promotional value. Credits on the credit meter related to the promotional value cannot be cashed out. In addition, credits on the credit meter may be accounted as to type of credit, and one type of credit may be removed from the credit meter before another type of credit.