Abstract: An electronic slot machine (10) and method of use which allows a player to completely replace up to all of the initial symbols displayed after the first draw in order to create, improve or even lose a winning combination. In its preferred form, the electronic slot machine of the present invention features a video monitor (10) with a plurality of separate symbol display boxes (32) arrayed in rows and columns. When the machine is activated, one or more random numbers are generated in the slot machine's microprocessor (15) to determine which symbols are to be displayed in each of the symbol display boxes. If a suitable winning combination is not formed with the initial symbols, the player is given opportunities to select up to all of the symbol display boxes for replacement.

Abstract: A multiple play gaming ticket, such as a pull-tab ticket 10 or "instant winner" lottery ticket, and a coordinating validation system. In its preferred form, the pull-tab ticket has multiple groups or plays 26 of indicia 22 which each create an independent opportunity to win. To deter fraud, a validation code 24 is provided which uniquely identifies the pull-tab ticket 10 and is not merely a representation of the indicia 22. The pull-tab ticket 10 is validated by a combination of validator machine 30 and a host computer 100. The validator machine reads the validation code and relays it the host computer to check for legitimacy (i.e., proper form and availability) and to correlate it to a stored record of gaming indicia 22. If approved, the host computer sends its record of gaming indicia back to the validator machine for display on monitor 50 and pay-out, as appropriate.

Abstract: An electronic slot machine (10) which allows a player to completely respin one or more of the symbols displayed after the first spin in order to create, improve or even lose a winning combination. In its preferred form, the electronic slot machine of the present invention features a video monitor (30) with a plurality of symbol display boxes (32) arrayed in rows and columns. When the machine is activated through, for example, insertion of a valid coin and pressing of the "spin" button (22), one or more random numbers are generated in the slot machine's microprocessor (15) and compared to one or more reel strips encoded in computer memory (58) to determine which symbols are to be displayed in each of the symbol display boxes. If a suitable winning combination is not formed after this first spin, the player is given an opportunity to select one or more of the symbol display boxes for respin.