Abstract: A physical card may include a substantially planar body that may include a front surface, a back surface, and one or more side surfaces. The front surface may include a background formed primarily in a first color, and a plurality of embossed characters each having one or more front surfaces aligned substantially in parallel relative to the background. The plurality of embossed characters may include one or more side surfaces extending from the background at a lower edge to the front surface at an upper edge, wherein the one or more front surfaces of at least a first embossed character of the plurality of embossed characters are formed primarily in a second color different from the first color and the one or more side surfaces of at least the first embossed character are formed primarily in the first color to limit a viewing angle of the plurality of embossed characters.

Abstract: An admission ticket, having a main body and a stub, is formed of two superimposed sheets coupled to each other by at least two bands of adhesive arranged along lateral edges which are parallel to each other and also parallel to the separation line between the main body and the stub. A weakening, such as a punched perforation, forms the separation line in order to facilitate the detachment of the stub from the main body. At least one of the sheets carries control data on its inner side, referring to a contest, promotional operations, dynamic advertising, anti-counterfeiting or other information.

Abstract: Various aspects of the invention provide systems and methods for verifying the authenticity of a product. One aspect of the invention provides a method of verifying the authenticity of a product through a plurality of stages of a supply chain. The method includes: providing a product having a plurality of distinct hidden unique identifiers incorporated with the product; and at each of at least one of the plurality of stages of the supply chain, verifying the authenticity of a revealed unique identifier, thereby verifying the authenticity of the product. Another aspect of the invention provides a product including a plurality of distinct hidden unique identifiers. The plurality of distinct unique identifiers can be selectively revealed. Another aspect of the invention provides a tamper-evident package including a plurality of distinct hidden unique identifiers. The plurality of distinct unique identifiers can be selectively revealed.

Abstract: Gaming machines, gaming systems, and methods for awarding time-sensitive tickets in a gaming environment are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, a gaming machine includes a game display for presenting a game having one or more winning game outcomes. The gaming machine also includes one or more network interfaces that is in communication with a ticket database that provides time-sensitive tickets. The gaming machine also includes a game controller in communication with the game display and the network interfaces. The game controller awards one or more time-sensitive tickets in response to one or more triggering events.

Abstract: A system for managing the production of retail tickets in accordance with a ticket order includes a ticketing services bureau that receives the ticket order and a print center that prints tickets in accordance with the ticket order. The system additionally includes a client connected to the ticketing services bureau via the internet. As part of an interactive ticket proofing process prior to the execution of the ticket order, the client electronically retrieves an on-screen proof and, if necessary, dynamically modifies the on-screen proof in real time. As one feature of the invention, the ticketing services bureau converts size information in the ticket order into a corresponding color element in the on-screen proof. As another feature of the invention, the client can optionally receive a physical ticket sample prior to execution of the ticket order, the ticket sample being generated by a digital press using the tentatively approved on-screen proof.

Abstract: A method of issuing a ticket, paid for with illegal payment means during a transaction between a user and a ticket vending machine, where if the payment means are identified as being illegal, the printed ticket is marked in such a manner as to enable the marked ticket to be distinguished from a regular ticket during an inspection operation.

Abstract: A ticket stock and manufacturing process wherein a pulp is formulated from a blend of recycled printed papers, with added starch for enhancing sheet stiffness and reducing linting and dusting on cut edges of the stock. A preferred pulp comprises a blend of printed solid bleached sulfate plate stock, printed white groundwood-free paper, and printed groundwood paper such as printed newsprint or the like. In one embodiment, the blend comprises about 25-50 wt. % printed solid bleached sulfate plate stock, about 15-40 wt. % printed white groundwood-free paper, and about 15-40 wt. % printed groundwood paper. The printed papers are repulped with minimal mechanical refining, treated with steam injection for hydrating and softening the fibers and breaking up inks into fine particles, and formed into a web that is pressed, dried, and soft calendered. The caliper of the resulting stock is about 7 to 9 points.

Abstract: A book that is capable of displaying one or more coins related to its theme, including a front cover and a back cover. At least one book cover defines one or more apertures that are capable of receiving coins. The book theme is displayed on at least one of the book covers. The book may optionally include one or more caps that may be inserted into and removed from the coin-receivable apertures. These caps will preferably display images that are related to the theme of the book. The invention provides a coin specific display that stores and displays one or more coins in an appealing manner, and that also conveys or provides additional information about the theme displayed on the coin.

Abstract: Universally available preprinted forms are used in a general purpose printing device to allow for the subsequent verification of the authenticity of a printed document such as a ticket, stamp, check, or money order. In operation, the user accesses the seller of the goods/services and during an information exchange with the seller there is inputted at least a portion of the preprinted data from the form. The seller then uses this information to formulate a printable control indicia which is then printed on the form at the user's location. When the form is subsequently presented to the seller, for example when the user uses the form he/she printed, the preprinted portion of the form is used to obtain a decipher key which in turn is used to decipher the control indica. If desired, a special security marking may be associated with the form for additional security. Inability to decode the control indicia indicates that the printed material on the form may not be authentic.

Abstract: The authenticity attribute for an object to be protected is formed by an elongate profile which produces characteristic oscillations upon scanning with the edge or the tip of a scanning object.

Abstract: To improve the security in data carriers, such as papers of value, bank notes, ID cards, etc., a numbering apparatus is proposed for individualizing the data carrier whereby the characters are engraved in the engraved blocks present on the numbering apparatus such that the serial number extends along a line having a curvature.

Abstract: A value stamp promotion kit comprises a plurality of value stamps and at least one value book to which the stamps can be affixed. The value stamps are packaged in a break-open ticked having a tab removable by tearing it away from the ticket and having an adhesive thereon enabling it to be affixed to the value book.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the appeal of a sporting event at which wagering is allowed utilizes a dual-function ticket having two parts to produce a collectible souvenir having true rarity. A first ticket part records details of a placed bet, and is arranged to be cashed in to collect on a winning bet, while the second ticket part identifies the sports event and the participant on which the bet was placed, thereby serving as a souvenir having potential value as a collectible. Rarity of the souvenir ticket part is assured in that it can be obtained only through placing a bet, and the integrity of a collectibles aftermarket in the souvenir ticket parts is maintained by providing authentication means on the ticket to foil counterfeiting.

Abstract: Tickets for concerts, conventions, sports, and like events, have a security feature to assist in preventing counterfeiting. A stretchable security thread is disposed in a piece of paper stock extending so that it intersects, with portions lying on either side of, a line of separation in the piece of paper stock (and/or is parallel to the length of the ticket). The line of separation typically is a perforation. The security thread is a stretchable material, such as polyester, and may have microprinting. When the ticket is detached at the line of separation, the security thread does not initially separate but rather stretches to provide a visual (and tactile) indication between the separated portions of the paper stock before it breaks. Such tickets are produced from a web of material having the security threads, which web is printed, and then cut into sheets for delivery to a customer who then can apply variable printing.

Abstract: An admission ticket is designed to increase both the betting interest and attendance by the public at a parimutuel event such as a horse race. The ticket includes a pass stub used to gain entry to the parimutuel event and a wagering stub which may be exchanged for a bet at the parimutuel event. Preferably, the pass stub and wagering stub are printed on a single piece of paperboard material and are separated by a perforation line. The wagering stub includes a concealed wager and a concealed means for limiting the use of the wager by a patron at the parimutuel event. The method of the invention includes a step of printing an admission ticket to a parimutuel event with a wager being awarded to a patron and a means for limiting the use of the wager by the patron.

Abstract: In a ticket pack, a plurality of ATB tickets and a support panel assembled to each other with tabs on stub portions of the tickets being received by slots of the support panel. No staples are required. Main portions of selected tickets, if torn off, may be slipped into other slots of the support panel.

Abstract: This invention relates to documents, such as banknotes, which are produced and used in large numbers and which, for a given series, are identical one with another except for a unique multi-digit number upon each individual document, the number thus uniquely identifying that document within the series. According to the present invention, to render unauthorized reproduction of the document more difficult, on each document, at least two characters in the identifying number differ from each other (in addition to any differences in the letters or digits which they represent) in one or more visible characteristics. Thus the differing characters may have different heights or widths or be in different styles of type. Preferably, the identifying number appears twice on each document, in diagonally opposite corners, and preferably the variation of physical characteristics of the characters along the length of one of the numbers is reversed in direction in the other of the numbers.

Abstract: This invention relates to documents, such as banknotes, which are produced and used in large numbers and which, for a given series, are identical one with another except for a unique multi-digit number upon each individual document, the number thus uniquely identifying that document within the series. According to the present invention, to render unauthorized reproduction of the document more difficult, on each document, at least two characters in the identifying number differ from each other (in addition to any differences in the letters or digits which they represent) in one or more visible characteristics. Thus the differing characters may have different heights or widths or be in different styles of type. Preferably, the identifying number appears twice on each document; in diagonally opposite corners, and preferably the variation of physical characteristics of the characters along the length of one of the numbers is reversed in direction in the other of the numbers.