Abstract: A multiple play gaming ticket, such as a pull-tab ticket 10 or “instant winner” lottery ticket, and a coordinating validation system. To deter fraud, a validation code 24 is provided which uniquely identifies the pull-tab ticket 10 and is not merely a representation of the indicia 22. The pull-tab ticket 10 is validated by a combination of validator machine 30 and a host computer 100. The validator machine reads the validation code and relays it the host computer to check for legitimacy (i.e., proper form and availability) and to correlate it to a stored record of gaming indicia 22. The gaming ticket of the present invention can be used in connection with fixed payouts, progressive jackpots or both. The progressive jackpot is increased by a predetermined amount each time a gaming ticket is inserted into a validation machine.

Abstract: A multiple play gaming ticket, such as a pull-tab ticket 10 or "instant winner" lottery ticket, and a coordinating validation system. In its preferred form, the pull-tab ticket has multiple groups or plays 26 of indicia 22 which each create an independent opportunity to win. To deter fraud, a validation code 24 is provided which uniquely identifies the pull-tab ticket 10 and is not merely a representation of the indicia 22. The pull-tab ticket 10 is validated by a combination of validator machine 30 and a host computer 100. The validator machine reads the validation code and relays it the host computer to check for legitimacy (i.e., proper form and availability) and to correlate it to a stored record of gaming indicia 22. If approved, the host computer sends its record of gaming indicia back to the validator machine for display on monitor 50 and pay-out, as appropriate.

Abstract: A gaming system is provided including a central game processor, a plurality of master processing units and a plurality of slave terminals operable by players to play the game. The central game processor communicates with the master processing units and supplies the various games available in the system. The master processing units store and administer the games as they are played on the slave terminals connected to each respective master processing unit. A preferred game includes a fixed pool of game plays and a predetermined number of winning plays within each pool. Each player, through his or her slave terminal, can purchase plays in each fixed pool stored in the master processing unit to which that terminal is coupled. When a particular pool is exhausted, for example, through the purchase of all plays, the central game processor provides another fixed pool of plays to that master processing unit to enable continuous play.