Abstract: The dispenser dispenses tickets from a strip where tickets are delineated by perforation lines. The dispenser includes a separator to tear the tickets apart before issuing them from the machine. The separator preferably is rotary and has a dull helical blade to tear the tickets apart along the perforation line. Preferably, a bar code reader is provided for reading codes on tickets in order to initialize the dispenser control system, to account for ticket sales, and to verify the sale of winning tickets. A game is provided where a jackpot is built up using the detection of each ticket sold. The mechanism is simplified by using a separator member and transport drive structures that span a plurality of different channels or bins of a multi-channel dispenser. This provides a very compact, simple, secure and low-cost mechanism that is used both in stand-alone ticket vending machines, and in counter-top attended dispensers.

Abstract: An online game of chance that produces a multi-player extension to an individual, instant lottery-type game and a method of playing the game are disclosed. The game comprises a first, individual phase of play using a virtual game substrate and a second, group phase of play comprising a plurality of virtual game substrates from first phase of play that are arrayed in a matrix. The first, individual phase of play is based on in instant lottery version of the well-known game of tic-tac-toe; the object being to match a plurality of game pieces, e.g., three, in one of a contiguous row, column, and diagonal. The object of the second phase of play is to use the combination of virtual game substrates to produce a match with one or more predetermined winning array combinations. This provides each individual participant with a second chance of winning. With the second phase of play, the combination of virtual game substrates is also movable, which produces even more opportunities for participants to win a prize.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly is pivotally connected a terminal having a recess. The keyboard assembly has a slot and is shaped to lie within the recess. A glide assembly is shaped to fit within the slot and is slidable along the slot. The glide assembly pivotally connects the keyboard to the terminal within the recess. A glide surface, across which the keyboard pivots, is disposed within the recess. The glide surface provides a frictive force between the glide surface and the keyboard. The invention may be applied in general to a lottery terminal.

Abstract: A method of playing a game of chance, and the game of chance, include a plurality of playstations, one of which is chosen by a player for entering a quantity of player symbols, e.g., numbers. A unique game symbol is assigned to each playstation of the plurality of playstations, the game symbol being chosen from a set of game symbols, e.g., numbers. A quantity of winning symbols is randomly selected from the set of game symbols. The player wins the game if a predetermined number of the player symbols match the winning symbols or if the game symbol assigned to the player's playstation is related to one of the winning symbols in a predetermined manner, e.g., if the game number assigned to the player's playstation matches one of the winning numbers or is numerically adjacent to one of the winning numbers.

Abstract: A wagering system such as a lottery with a central computer communicating with agent terminals at which tickets are issued, for example in convenience stores and the like, has a player-operated win-checking system coupled to the communications network, preferably as a peripheral to the agent terminal but possibly as a separate network terminal. Player choices and game identifications are bar coded on the tickets. A player scans the ticket automatically to trigger comparison of the bar coded data with winning entry data kept in a past game memory, such that the system need not resort to stored data on individual wager transactions to check for wins. This reduces the burden on the agent and the network because most issued tickets need not be checked by attempting to validate them for a payout. A limited number of past games are stored, e.g., the most recent thirty Keno game cycles of a game run at five minute intervals.

Abstract: A controller for operating a stepping motor to a resolution defined by plural inter-pole motor positions includes a digital processor for communication with an external host system for controlling operation of the stepping motor, at least in a microstep mode. The processor selects Sine/Cosine driving current values for the motor windings from a table covering at least 90.degree., to define the inter-pole positions, stored in a RAMDAC or combination digital memory and digital to analog converter. The processor also controls scaling of the output of the digital to analog converter for different modes of operation, such as normal, hold and shutdown. The RAMDAC also can be loaded by the processor. Power stages are coupled to two analog outputs of the RAMDAC amplify the RAMDAC output signals, and provide a high power output to the windings using bridge drivers.

Abstract: A wagering system for random drawing lotteries has a central data processor managing acceptance of player entries and payout authorization. Remote agent terminals receive player entry data from players and process authorized payouts. Portable agent data modules having an on-board memory and security provisions are issued to the agents and carry data in both directions between the central data processor and the terminals. Preferably the agent modules are integrated circuit cards or "smartcards". Available player entries are downloaded from the central data processor to the agent data modules, stored on the agent data modules for transport to the agent data terminals, and uploaded under security protection to the agent data terminals when processing a wager. The agent data modules record assignment of the available player entries to players for reporting to the central processor and can obtain payout authorizations or credits.

Abstract: A form reader especially for lottery forms with handwritten marks or bar codes includes a drum transport engaging the form, and a stepping motor advances the form circularly along a path around the drum, passing through a linear reading station elongated perpendicularly to the path. A light source illuminates the form at the read station and reflected light is incident on an elongated array of charge coupled device (CCD) light sensors via a focusing lens arrangement. An analog comparator coupled to a serial output of the CCD sensors digitizes encode and encodes each pixel in the elongated array repetitively during transport, sampling the reflectance of the form and defining an X-Y array of pixels. A digital processor coupled to an image memory analyzes the data for predetermined patterns such as handwritten marks, printed reference marks and/or printed bar code or OCR characters on the form.

Abstract: A scratch-off coating composition and method for application of the coating to lottery forms and the like employs a water based dispersion of acrylic resin, at approximately equal proportions of resin and water, by weight. The dispersion is adjusted to a pH greater than 7.0, and preferably a surfactant is added as a wetting, defoaming and/or dispersing agent. A pigment of metallic particles such as aluminum paste is added, together with a powdered filler such as calcium carbonate, at about 5 to 25% by weight of the coating composition. The composition can be applied in successive layers, including outer layers of relatively higher proportions of resin for improving wet rub resistance. For the outer surface layers, a number of ink formulations are disclosed.

Abstract: A mark sense detector with a threshold detector having a weighted and variable threshold discriminates reflective variations on an illuminated surface such as a hand-marked lottery entry card having a plurality of tracks with potential reflective variations occurring at discrete positions thereon. The card is fed relative to an array of photodetectors for the tracks, each photodetector producing an input signal for a respective one of the tracks in response to reflections of the illuminated surface, the input signal varying with marks and with parameters of the illumination and feeding. The track input signals are applied to follower amplifiers for each of the tracks. An integrator for each of the tracks averages the output of the follower amplifier, the average being divided and applied as the threshold input to a comparator for each of the tracks.

Abstract: An on-line wagering system with programmable game entry cards including cards having on-card data storage for value tokens and data uniquely related to the player and including cards with on-card data storage for operator security data. The player cards are operable as payment means in which the tokens are spent and as play validation and play entry means in lieu of mark sense slips and printed validation receipts. Demographic player data uniquely related to the owner of the card is stored on the card and possibly in the central wagering system memory. This allows correlation of play entries with player demographics. The operator cards are operable to associate every transaction with an individual operator for the purpose of enhancing transaction security. A plurality of agent terminals in data communication with the central data processor interface between the central processor and the player cards.

Abstract: An on-line wagering system with programmable game entry cards including cards having on-card data storage for value tokens and data uniquely related to the player. The player cards are operable as payment means in which the tokens are spent and as play validation and play entry means in lieu of mark sense slips and printed validation receipts. Demographic player data uniquely related to the owner of the card is stored on the card and possibly in the central wagering system memory. This allows correlation of play entries with player demographics. A plurality of agent terminals in data communication with the central data processor interface between the central processor and the player cards. The agent terminals preferably also accept traditional mark sense entry slips and produce printed verification receipts, upon request.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus has a data reading head and an elastomer ring on a driven rotor within stationary arcuate outer guide means for driving a sheet along a path starting and ending at a common location and passing the reading head. The elastomer ring and the outer guide are shaped so that their cooperation biases sheets against and into edgewise alignment with side guide means along portions of the path approaching the reading head and departing from the reading head. The sheet feeding path is arched away from the elastomer ring in the region of the elastomer ring, and the guide means has a light-absorbing channel that is uninterrupted by the elastomer ring disposed opposite the data reading head. The entire apparatus is readily opened up for service virtually without resort to tools and restored to operative condition without need for adjustments.

Abstract: A reader for cards having handwritten marks positioned to encode data, is provided with an image recorder for capturing an instantaneous image of the possible mark-bearing area of the card, including the handwritten marks and identification marks printed on the card. A data processor digitizes the data to a matrix of pixels representing grey levels at spaced points in the image. Digital means are provided to locate the identifcation marks and define the expected mark areas of the image field while accounting for positioning error such as skew, and to map the image field into potential mark-bearing areas. A comparator then compares the grey levels at successive pixels or groups of pixels in the mark areas with immediate adjacent pixels or groups, thereby detecting marks by finding contrasting edges. The identification marks printed on the card can be variable in type or position to provide for separate game cards. The reader is adaptable to be reprogrammed for additional games and functions.

Abstract: The disclosed data reading apparatus carries an inserted sheet continuously inward and around a drum where data on the sheet is sensed optically and out of the apparatus reversely, close to the point of insertion. Sheets of different widths are aligned initially, and are held against the drum by tensioned belts. The drum "floats", being movable toward and away from the data reader to accommodate abnormal sheet thickness, wrinkling, etc. and to limit the sensing gap. Jamming of an inserted sheet is virtually eliminated by the floating drum and other special provisions. The entire apparatus is very compact, due in part to making the drum hollow and mounting the drive motor in the hollow.