Abstract: A method and system encourage continued play of scratch-off lottery tickets remaining in a game after award of the seeded top prizes in the game. A total set of scratch-off lottery tickets for the game are subject to a single multi-tier prize structure that includes a top tier prize and a plurality of lower tier prize levels. Subsets of the total set of tickets each have a predetermined winning outcome at one of the lower tier prize levels. A first one of the subsets is divided into qualifying tickets and non-qualifying tickets, the qualifying tickets eligible for play in an additional game having a game prize at least equal to the top tier prize. The qualifying and/or non-qualifying tickets are provided with a printed mark that distinguishes the qualifying tickets from the non-qualifying tickets within the first subset. At redemption, the qualifying tickets are identified and entered into the additional game.

Abstract: A method and system encourage continued play of scratch-off lottery tickets remaining in a game after award of the seeded top prizes in the game. A total set of scratch-off lottery tickets for the game are subject to a single multi-tier prize structure that includes a top tier prize and a plurality of lower tier prize levels. Subsets of the total set of tickets each have a predetermined winning outcome at one of the lower tier prize levels. A first one of the subsets is divided into qualifying tickets and non-qualifying tickets, the qualifying tickets eligible for play in an additional game having a game prize at least equal to the top tier prize. The qualifying and/or non-qualifying tickets are provided with a printed mark that distinguishes the qualifying tickets from the non-qualifying tickets within the first subset. At redemption, the qualifying tickets are identified and entered into the additional game.

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 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 system and associated method are provided for dispensing lottery tickets at retail establishments, the lottery tickets authorized for sale in a given jurisdiction by a lottery authority. The lottery tickets are formatted for sale at the retail establishment with a ticket purchase code and a separate ticket data code. For each ticket sale, the ticket purchase code is input into a point-of-sale (POS) system of the retail establishment such that purchase of the lottery ticket mimics purchase of a non-lottery product in the POS system. For each ticket sold, a ticket data packet is transmitted from the retail establishment to a host lottery system, the data packet identifying the particular lottery ticket sold from the ticket data code and the particular retail establishment at which the lottery ticket was sold.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing a lottery game includes providing players with a unique validation code for each desired play of a lottery game. A first encryption code is generated for each validation code and stored so that the first encryption code and algorithm are present only as electronic data in the computer system and are not provided to the players. Players submit their respective unique validation code for registration in the lottery game and the computer system applies the algorithm to each code submitted by a player to create a second encryption code for each unique validation code. The computer system compares the second encryption code with a record of the first encryption codes to determine whether a match exists between the second encryption code and one of the first encryption codes.

Abstract: A system and associated method are provided for dispensing lottery tickets at retail establishments, the lottery tickets authorized for sale in a given jurisdiction by a lottery authority. The lottery tickets are formatted for sale at the retail establishment with a ticket purchase code and a separate ticket data code. For each ticket sale, the ticket purchase code is input into a point-of-sale (POS) system of the retail establishment such that purchase of the lottery ticket mimics purchase of a non-lottery product in the POS system. For each ticket sold, a ticket data packet is transmitted from the retail establishment to a host lottery system, the data packet identifying the particular lottery ticket sold from the ticket data code and the particular retail establishment at which the lottery ticket was sold.

Abstract: Methods and systems for securely generating lottery games are presented. A final game generation seed number is formed from multiple seed numbers from multiple and differing parties such that no one party has the ability to create the final seed number without the other parties' consent or knowledge. Since the final seed number is required by the software that governs the distribution of prizes within a game and is therefore required to produce valid game data, no one entity would have enough information to determine the location of a winning prize. This creates an environment of transparency such that all parties must agree on the terms that result in the formation of the final seed number from the individual seed number fragments in order to produce a game.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing a lottery game includes providing players with a unique validation code for each desired play of a lottery game. A first encryption code is generated for each validation code and stored so that the first encryption code and algorithm are present only as electronic data in the computer system and are not provided to the players. Players submit their respective unique validation code for registration in the lottery game and the computer system applies the algorithm to each code submitted by a player to create a second encryption code for each unique validation code. The computer system compares the second encryption code with a record of the first encryption codes to determine whether a match exists between the second encryption code and one of the first encryption codes.

Abstract: A first server system stores a validation file having validation records for lottery tickets provided to players and is accessible by authorized lottery personnel for verifying the status of a lottery ticket. A second server system stores a verification file having verification records for the lottery tickets provided to the players and is made accessible to players prior to redemption of the lottery ticket, wherein a player enters a code provided on the lottery ticket that is linked to the specific verification record for the lottery ticket and is provided with the winning or losing status of the lottery ticket.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an additional or end-of-game drawing to players of a lottery game is provided. In one embodiment, unique validation codes provided on lottery tickets can be encrypted using an algorithm and used to create a record of such encrypted codes. A player then participates in the lottery and subsequently submits the validation code from the ticket to a lottery provider. The lottery provider applies the algorithm to the submitted validation code to create another encryption code for comparison with the record of encrypted codes. In the event a match is found, the player is entered into a second-chance or end of game drawing. Upon entry, the player is no longer required to maintain possession of the ticket for subsequent validation.

Abstract: A lottery game system and methodology involves, for each play of the game, a player choosing a number of player indicia from a field of the indicia. A subset of the indicia is randomly generated, and the player's indicia is compared to the subset to determine a winning game play. The number of indicia in the subsets is varied between different game plays such that a blend of the winning probabilities for each subset for all of the game plays produces a desired overall winning probability.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an additional or end-of-game drawing to players of a lottery game is provided. In one embodiment, unique validation codes provided on lottery tickets can be encrypted using an algorithm and used to create a record of such encrypted codes. A player then participates in the lottery and subsequently submits the validation code from the ticket to a lottery provider. The lottery provider applies the algorithm to the submitted validation code to create another encryption code for comparison with the record of encrypted codes. In the event a match is found, the player is entered into a second-chance or end of game drawing. Upon entry, the player is no longer required to maintain possession of the ticket for subsequent validation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for achieving a desired payout over a totality of individual game plays of a lottery game with a computer system involves establishing a deck of payout records, with each of the records in the deck having a payout value assigned thereto. The number of records in the deck is determined as a function of a total number of winning game plays in the totality of the individual game plays of the lottery game. The payout values are assigned to the payout records such that a total sum of the payout values corresponds to a defined payout for the lottery game. The payout records are applied to the respective winning game plays in the lottery game to achieve the overall desired payout over the totality of individual game plays.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an additional or end-of-game drawing to players of a lottery game is provided. In one embodiment, unique validation codes provided on lottery tickets can be encrypted using an algorithm and used to create a record of such encrypted codes. A player then participates in the lottery and subsequently submits the validation code from the ticket to a lottery provider. The lottery provider applies the algorithm to the submitted validation code to create another encryption code for comparison with the record of encrypted codes. In the event a match is found, the player is entered into a second-chance or end of game drawing. Upon entry, the player is no longer required to maintain possession of the ticket for subsequent validation.

Abstract: A lottery game system and methodology involves, for each play of the game, a player choosing a number of player indicia from a field of the indicia. A subset of the indicia is randomly generated, and the player's indicia is compared to the subset to determine a winning game play. The number of indicia in the subsets is varied between different game plays such that a blend of the winning probabilities for each subset for all of the game plays produces a desired overall winning probability.

Abstract: An online lottery game system and methodology involves, for each play of the game, a player choosing a number of player indicia from a field of the indicia. A subset of the indicia is randomly generated, and the player's indicia is compared to the subset to determine a winning game play. The number of indicia in the subsets is varied between different game plays such that a blend of the winning probabilities for each subset for all of the game plays produces a desired overall winning probability.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing instant lottery tickets where book numbers and ticket numbers are printed on the tickets utilizing a dual security process such that the book numbers are shuffled in each pool before the tickets are printed to break the link between the book numbers the ticket numbers or validation numbers, a reversing process can be used under certain predefined conditions to relate the original book numbers to the ticket numbers or validation numbers. In one example, where a shuffling algorithm utilizing seeds is used to shuffle the book numbers, the seeds used in the algorithm are maintained in an encrypted file. A decryption key for the encrypted seed file can be used by a lottery administration or trusted third party to reconstruct game play indicia for game adjustment purposes and manufacturing adjustments.

Abstract: In an instant lottery ticket system having a lottery administration host computer that includes a ticket validation file, security of the validation file is provided by an audit system that allows periodic audits of the validation file. Audit data, based on ticket data that is used to print the instant lottery tickets, can be compared to the information in the validation file to confirm the integrity of the validation file. The audit data can include all or a portion of the records that should be in the validation file or selected portions of data in the records such as ticket redemption values. Alternatively, the audit data can be computed from the ticket data into a data string for comparison with a data string computed from the validation file. Security can be further enhanced by incorporating time or other variable data in the data strings. The audit data can be transmitted to the host computer or placed on a read only memory for use by the host computer in the audit process.

Abstract: An online lottery game system and methodology involves, for each play of the game, a player choosing a number of player indicia from a field of the indicia. A subset of the indicia is randomly generated, and the player's indicia is compared to the subset to determine a winning game play. The number of indicia in the subsets is varied between different game plays such that a blend of the winning probabilities for each subset for all of the game plays produces a desired overall winning probability.