Ticket-In, Ticket-Out
Encyclopedia
Ticket-in, ticket-out is a technology used in more modern slot machine
s. Originally developed by International Game Technology (IGT)
and Casino Data Systems (CDS) under the name EZ Pay, a TITO slot machine prints out a barcode
d slip of paper, which can then either be redeemed for cash, or inserted for play into other TITO machines. The machines utilize a barcode scanner built into the bill acceptor, a thermal ticket printer
in place of a coin hopper (some rare machines are set up to pay with coins if the payout is less than the payout limit, and to print a ticket in situations where a handpay would normally be required) and a network interface to communicate with a central system that tracks tickets.
Slot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
s. Originally developed by International Game Technology (IGT)
International Game Technology
International Game Technology is a Nevada based company specializing in the design, development, manufacturing, sales and distribution of gaming machines and network system products internationally, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions for regulated markets. The company's main offices are...
and Casino Data Systems (CDS) under the name EZ Pay, a TITO slot machine prints out a barcode
Barcode
A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data, which shows data about the object to which it attaches. Originally barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines, and may be referred to as linear or 1 dimensional . Later they evolved into rectangles,...
d slip of paper, which can then either be redeemed for cash, or inserted for play into other TITO machines. The machines utilize a barcode scanner built into the bill acceptor, a thermal ticket printer
Thermal printer
A thermal printer produces a printed image by selectively heating coated thermochromic paper, or thermal paper as it is commonly known, when the paper passes over the thermal print head. The coating turns black in the areas where it is heated, producing an image...
in place of a coin hopper (some rare machines are set up to pay with coins if the payout is less than the payout limit, and to print a ticket in situations where a handpay would normally be required) and a network interface to communicate with a central system that tracks tickets.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any system, TITO has its share of advantages and disadvantages.Advantages
- Hopper fills for TITO machines are virtually eliminated.
- Casino patrons no longer have to wait for an attendant to perform a hand payHand payA hand pay is a condition where a slot machine cannot pay the patron in the typical manner, requiring the casino staff to pay the customer out manually A hand pay (or handpay) is a condition where a slot machine cannot pay the patron in the typical manner, requiring the casino staff (such as the...
for large payouts. - Makes multi-denomination gaming machines possible.
Disadvantages
- May cause some people to disassociate gambling using tickets from gambling using cash, in much the same way "credits" are indicated on some machines rather than a cash value.
- Tickets can be easier to misplace than a large bucket of coins.
- The lack of the sound of a big coin pay out is a turnoff for some players.