Custom images in a bill acceptor?

[Abe Frohman]

Hi guys, been away for a while.  I just registered in what I think is the (comparatively) new site, good to be back!


I have a crazy question I couldn't find in search...  Can you put *custom* images in a bill acceptor eprom?  I just had the nutty thought of scanning some sort of voucher into the DBV and handing them out to party guests to credit-up the machines.  Is that too out-there?

[CVslots]

Not sure on adding the images to the BV's software, but something like that could be accomplished with a TITO system. It would require TITO devices on each machine though, to enable the machine to accept and register the credits from the ticket when inserted. You could add a neat message and have them ready before the party. Just a thought...

[Abe Frohman]

I've been reading about the TITO systems and it's something I wish I had the time to dive into...  I will one day, I'm sure.  But since I'll probably have to figure out how to update my own DBV's one of these days, I figured I could kill two birds and figure out how to "print my own money" for my own machines while I'm burning time on this task...


Gotta admit, it would be pretty cool to hand out "party cash" that actually works in the machines, and either coins or vouchers come back - eliminating the need/risk for actual paper money to be sitting in the stackers (people get ideas...)


I could go hopper-less and coinless and print vouchers, having a 100% cash-free system without having to screw with TITO solutions in all the machines.  I'd just have to figure out how to prevent counterfeiting of the initial vouchers.


Just exploring possibilities, I guess...

[rickhunter]

Isn't it easier to just install TITO on the machines and just use printed out ticket vouchers.  On the Home TITO machines, you can re-use the vouchers as many times as you want.  I just keep recycling several printed vouchers on my systems.


There is a lot of security involved in the software for validators.  You cannot just scan an image and insert the bitmap into a validator rom without bypassing all the security protocols and software hashes. 

[rokgpsman]

You can have metal gaming tokens custom made with your design, to setup your machine to accept the token is pretty easy. You can get tokens up to dollar size, maybe even larger. Gotta be careful about moving into the territory of appearing to be running a home casino - local authorities sometimes like to make headlines about taking action.

[Ron (r273)]

Another thought, you can do like Jay does. Buy a coin roller machine and roll your tokens up and give out
to your guests.

[Abe Frohman]

Coins are cumbersome to collect and cash out, TITO machines are (probably?) expensive and breaky, especially if you have 20 or 30 machines...

Plus, I'm a big baby and when I get an idea in my head I can't seem to shake it until I realize the goal.


But I'm sure in the end there will be hangups with custom images in a DBV anyway, like anti-counterfeiting and such.  A printed piece of paper won't have the same properties as a bill or something, so it probably can't be done *easily*


I've read a few threads about the trials and tribulations of getting the TITO to credit-up the machine, and I see I just missed a recent group-buy for TITO@Home.  Is there a "best link" someone can share about today's state and solution for this?  Thanks!

[rickhunter]

You can get Basic Bettor TITO units for $59 and just install them on your machines.  Each machine gets one.  Once installed, you can put a $100 bill. cash out, put the ticket back in, cash out.  Put the ticket on another machine with the TITO board, cash out.  Remove all the tickets form the cash cans and re-use them.  I have a stack of tickets handy with all kinds of amounts in them that I use to give to friends when they come over to use the machines.   You can also have an option where you push the service button and you get a certain amount of credits.  My Tito boards have been setup for 10,000 credits on penny accounting denominated machines machines ($100.00) every time I push the service button, so the machines are in essence  "free play."


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