Abstract: A system for verifying instant bingo game winners includes a plurality of printed cards, each carrying machine readable coding indicia and printed payoff information. A verifying apparatus receives the cards and contains reading and sensing apparatus which can verify the genuineness of the card, determine whether it is a winning card and, in some instances, determine the winning category. The results of the reading and sensing by the verifying apparatus are visually displayed in a format corresponding to that of the cards and the verifying apparatus also has the capability of voiding or cancelling the cards to prevent reuse and embossing the cards with the relevant information as dictated by the coded indicia.