Abstract: A method for providing scratch-off lottery tickets for sale remote from a POS location in a retail establishment includes configuring the tickets with a game play area having play characters covered by a scratch-off coating. A print characteristic is provided in the game play area that is optically scannable but not reproducible when photocopying the game play area. In a database, identification of the printed characteristic is linked to a computer file associated with the lottery ticket at a central lottery computer. An optically scannable random identifier is also provided in the game play area and is linked to the computer file. Upon presentation of the lottery ticket for purchase, the ticket or a scanned image of the ticket is analyzed to verify that the print characteristic is present in the game play area. The scanned image of the ticket is analyzed to verify that the random identifier assigned to the lottery ticket is present in the game play area of the scanned image.

Abstract: A system and associated method are provided for activating and dispensing lottery tickets at a retail establishment. For each pack of lottery tickets delivered to the retail establishment, a pack code unique to the pack is scanned and transmitted to a central lottery server. At the central lottery server, the lottery tickets within the ticket packs associated with the pack codes are electronically activated to a ready for sale status in a database. At the retail establishment, a unique ticket code provided on each lottery ticket is scanned at a time of sale of the individual lottery ticket and transmitted to the central lottery server wherein it is confirmed that the ticket code is associated with a lottery ticket previously flagged as ready for sale and, if so, the individual ticket is flagged as sold in the same or a different database.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispenser array includes a plurality of interconnected bins, wherein the bins include a housing having a bottom and an open top. A drawer is slidable into and out of the housing and includes an open top and a ticket compartment configured for receipt of a stack of the interconnected lottery tickets in a laid-down orientation. A component section adjacent in the drawer is configured to automatically dispense the lottery tickets through a dispense slot upon receipt of a dispense command. A ramp is disposed within the ticket compartment and is angled upwards from a floor of the ticket compartment towards the component section. The ramp includes a plurality of raised ridges extending across the ramp and spaced longitudinally apart along the ramp, wherein each ridge defines a retaining edge for progressively longer stacks of interconnected lottery tickets placed within the ticket compartment in the laid-down orientation.

Abstract: A scratch-off lottery ticket game system and method include lottery tickets contain a first set of play characters and instructions for receiving a second set of predetermined play characters assigned to the lottery ticket via a mobile smart device. At time of purchase of the lottery ticket, the system activates the ticket in a computer file at a central server. Upon receiving a request from the player that identifies the lottery ticket, the server verifies the activated status of the lottery ticket and downloads the second set of predetermined play characters to the mobile smart device. The player removes the scratch-off coating from the first set of play characters on the lottery ticket and compares them second set of play characters to reveal a predetermined outcome of the lottery ticket.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispenser array includes a plurality of interconnected bins, wherein the bins include a housing having a bottom and an open top. A drawer is slidable into and out of the housing and includes an open top and a ticket compartment configured for receipt of a stack of the interconnected lottery tickets. A component section adjacent in the drawer is configured to automatically dispense the lottery tickets through a dispense slot upon receipt of a dispense command. Spaced-apart ticket guides are configured on an outer side of the bin bottom so as to extend through the open top and into the ticket compartment of the adjacent lower bin in the array. The ticket guides are configured to engage along at least side edges of the interconnected lottery tickets as they are dispensed or retracted relative to the ticket compartment.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispenser array includes a frame and a plurality of separate bins contained within the frame. Each bin includes a housing having a front side that faces a purchaser in operational use of the dispenser array, an opposite back side, and an internal space for receipt of a supply of interconnected lottery tickets, wherein each lottery tickets contains a code printed thereon. Each bin has an electronic drive mechanism that dispenses the lottery tickets therefrom. The bins are separately removable and insertable into the array. A printer module is provided in the array and has a size and configuration so as to be insertable into the array in place of at least one of the bins.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispensing system includes an array having bins that dispense a pack of scratch-off lottery tickets, wherein each ticket includes game play characters covered by a scratch-off coating. A pack code for each ticket pack is associated with a computer database file maintained by a central server that includes identification of some of the game play characters for each of the tickets in the pack and location of the pack. A display is in communication with the central server and, based on ticket location information from the central server, is configured to reveal to players the game play characters of at least certain ones of the scratch-off lottery tickets remaining in the array.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispenser array includes a frame and a plurality of separate bins contained within the frame. Each bin includes a housing having a front side that faces a purchaser in operational use of the dispenser array, an opposite back side, and an internal space for receipt of a supply of interconnected lottery tickets, wherein each lottery tickets contains a code printed thereon. Each bin has an electronic drive mechanism that dispenses the lottery tickets therefrom. A controller is in communication with each of the drive mechanisms to initiate a dispense sequence upon receipt of a ticket dispense command from the controller. The controller is configured on the frame and is variably positional relative to the frame between different operational positions.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispenser array includes a plurality of separate bins, each bin having a housing with a back side. A circuit board fixed to the back side of the housing to supply power and control functions to the bin. The circuit boards of adjacent bins are rigidly interconnected via complimentary electronic connectors. At each bin, the circuit board is mounted to the back side of the housing with a defined relative degree of movement between the circuit board and the housing in at least a first direction. The rigidly interconnected circuit boards define a rigid structure and one or more of the bins are movable relative to the rigid structure such that the array absorbs misalignment, movement, and size variations between the bins without disconnection of the electronic connectors between the bins.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispenser system includes a physical dispenser array having a plurality of separate bins for receipt of a supply of interconnected lottery tickets. A control system is in communication with a drive mechanism in each bin to initiate a dispense sequence upon receipt of a ticket dispense command. A central lottery server is in communication with the control system. An electronic display device is in communication with the central lottery server and is configured to present a virtual dispenser array with bin positions that mimics the physical dispenser array. The central lottery server transmits lottery ticket images to the electronic display device that correspond to the lottery tickets in the physical dispenser array and bin position assignments for the lottery ticket images in the virtual dispenser array.

Abstract: A card-based game system, and associated method of play, includes a package, and a first set of cards and a second set of cards contained in the package. The first set of cards are prize cards having prize indicia indicating a prize award assigned to the prize card, the prize indicia covered by a removable covering. The second set of cards are command cards, each command card having instructions to players to perform an act that results in a gain or loss of a prize card. A sufficient number of the prize cards and command cards are provided for play of a game wherein a plurality of the prize cards are distributed to each player and a plurality of the prize cards remain as common cards. Upon completion of the game, each player removes the covering on their prize cards to reveal the prize award assigned to the prize card.

Abstract: A multi-game ticket assembly and associated method of making include a substrate having a front surface and a back surface. A first game play area is provided on the front surface and includes a plurality of game symbols for play of a first game. A second game play area is provided on the back surface and includes one or more windows defined therein for play of a second game partially embodied on the back surface. A fold line indication on the front surface and divides the substrate into a first portion and a second portion. The second portion is foldable onto the first portion in a folded state of the substrate such that the front surface of the second portion is against the front surface of the first portion and the one or more windows align with the first game play area. The game symbols in the first game play area that are visible to a player through the one or more windows in the folded state of the substrate determine an outcome of the second game.

Abstract: An instant lottery ticket game system and method wherein a set of master instant lottery tickets includes instruction indicia printed in a master language and a ticket-specific code. For each of the master tickets, corresponding digital lottery tickets are saved in a file and include the instruction indicia in a foreign language, wherein the ticket-specific code on each master ticket links to the file associated with the master ticket. A game server is in communication with the files and is configured for communication with a player's smart device via an application downloaded to the smart device. Via the application, the player enters the ticket-specific code from the master ticket and is presented with an option to receive one or more of the foreign language digital lottery tickets transmitted to their smart device.

Abstract: An instant lottery ticket game system and method wherein a master instant lottery tickets for a common game a game play area with variable game play indicia, and static game instruction indicia in a master language. Each master ticket includes a code thereon that links the master ticket to the common game. For the common game, one or more corresponding digital templates are provided that contain the static game instruction indicia in a different foreign language. A central server stores the digital templates and downloads the templates to a player's smart device. Via an application on their smart device, the player enters the code from the master instant lottery ticket and selects one of the digital templates to view the game instruction indicia in the foreign language of the digital template.

Abstract: A system and associated method are provided for dispensing lottery tickets at retail establishments. A lottery ticket terminal is in communication with a retail POS register and accepts a request for purchase of a particular lottery ticket selected from a plurality of different lottery tickets. A dispenser array is in communication with the terminal and includes a plurality of separate bins having a different respective lottery tickets stored. The lottery tickets have a machine readable code printed thereon and each bin includes a scanner disposed to read the code as the tickets are dispensed from the bin by an electronic drive mechanism. The lottery ticket terminal transmits a purchase signal for dispensing a particular lottery ticket that is routed to the respective bin containing the particular lottery ticket. The bin transmits a signal that is routed to a central lottery server for each lottery ticket dispensed from the bin, the signal identifying the lottery ticket from the scanned code.

Abstract: An instant lottery ticket game structure and method includes a set of instant lottery tickets, wherein a plurality of these tickets are winning tickets having a predetermined first prize value, as well as a predetermined enhanced second prize value. A validation file stored in a central host computer includes an individual base record for the winning tickets containing ticket identification data and the first prize value. A prize enhancement code on the winning ticket provides an option for the player to opt for the enhanced second prize value at a risk of reducing the first prize value. A sub-record in the validation file is maintained separate from the base record and includes the prize enhancement code and the value of the enhanced second, which may be less than the first prize value. A logic gate in the base record links the sub-record with the base record upon entry of the prize enhancement code by or for the player.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispenser bin is configured for dispensing interconnected sealed ticket packs, and includes a housing having a front panel with a dispensing slot defined therein and a back panel. The housing has a bottom contour that includes a middle section on which the stack of ticket packs rest in an upright orientation, and a front wall that extends upwards towards the dispensing slot. A hump defines a transition surface between the middle section and the front wall, and an initial contact surface that retains a trailing ticket pack in the middle section as a leading ticket pack is pulled through the dispensing slot. The front wall defines a second contact surface against which the trailing ticket pack is pulled and bent as the leading ticket pack is pulled from the dispensing slot. An insert that defines the bottom contour is also provided for insertion into a ticket bin.

Abstract: A method and associated system are provided for producing a perforation line between adjacent lottery tickets in an automated production line wherein a substrate having lottery tickets printed thereon is conveyed through a perforation station in the production line. A perforation machine in the line is controlled to define a perforation line between the adjacent lottery tickets. The controlling process includes inputting control variables into a controller associated with the perforation machine, the control variables relating to conditions that determine a desired perforation profile of the perforation line. The controller programs the perforation machine with a specific perforation profile for the perforation line that is generated based on the entered control variables, and changes the perforation profile upon inputting of different values for the control variables.