Abstract: A game system having a dispenser unit to house a plurality of prizes or tokens and to dispense one or more of the prizes or tokens, a plurality of prizes or tokens disposed in the dispenser unit, an automated identification and data capture (AIDC) device associated with each prize or token and encoding information reflecting a type or value of the prize or token to which it is associated, an AIDC scanner to generate a digital signal corresponding to the information encoded on the AIDC device associated with the prize or token when the prize or token is in proximity to the AIDC scanner, and a computer processor connected to the dispenser unit and the AIDC scanner, wherein the computer processor directs the dispenser unit to dispense a prize or token in response to digital signals generated by the AIDC scanner and sent to the computer processor.