Abstract: An instant lottery game in which remote vending machines are centrally controlled by a central computer is disclosed. Each vending machine generates a pre-selected indicia which may be player-controlled. Upon the receipt of a wager of a proper amount, the central computer generates a random indicia. The number of matches between the random and pre-selected indicia are determined and the prize amount based upon the number of matches and the wager amount is computed. The vending machine immediately pays out the prize amount if it is less than a pre-determined value and issues a validation ticket if the prize amount is more than said pre-determined value.