Abstract: The present invention is a free-standing vending machine that accepts currency and dispenses cards at certain values. The cards may be product coupons or trading cards. The machine may have multiple columns of cards, each column having cards with different values and offering different promotions. The cards are promoted by a sweepstakes game. A control board in the vending machine contains the rules of the sweepstakes game and determines whether a card is a winner or loser as each card is drawn from its respective column. A printer prints the winner/loser information and any prize amount on the cards as each card is drawn from its column. The latest card drawn from each column is displayed such that a customer can see whether the card is a sweepstakes winner or loser before purchasing the card.

Abstract: A security device is used to protect the number or numbers disposed on a raffle or pool ticket. The security device prevents the numbers from being viewed until the owner of the ticket or the operator of the game need to reveal the number. In one embodiment, a lottery ticket has first and second portions with related numbers printed on the portions. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for operating a raffle using raffle tickets having security devices wherein the winning raffle tickets are drawn before the tickets are sold. Another embodiment of the invention provides a pool ticket having at least one number covered by a security device that prevents the number from being viewed until the security device is removed.