Efficient distributed network imaging of instant lottery tickets

An instant ticket networked production method for just in time production of instant tickets for games defined by a plurality of tickets with variable indicia imaging data hidden by a Scratch-Off Coating (SOC) using a networked production system, the networked production method comprising:

• (a) shuffling or assigning prizes to individual tickets conducted by a networked game server within a secure facility;
• (b) generating the imaging data from the shuffled instant tickets and converting the imaging data into ciphertext;
• (c) remotely transmitting the programming and game generation ciphertext imaging data to the game server;
• (d) providing external audit access to the game server, such that portions of the imaging data may be reviewed by a third party in cleartext;
• (e) providing secure interfaces to at least one super-mini digital press, such that the imaging data can be downloaded on demand;
• (f) remotely downloading the imaging data ciphertext from the game server;
• (g) decrypting the downloaded programming and game generation ciphertext local to the at least one super-mini digital press, thereby converting the ciphertext imaging data from the game server to cleartext suitable for printing;
• (h) transferring production data from the at least one super-mini digital press to the game server in the secure facility for generation of ship and validation files;
• and
• (i) performing data or file segmentation, thereby partitioning the imaging data into discrete pools or packets enabling downloading of individual pools or packets to different printing facilities on demand,
• wherein printing economies for the instant tickets are realized via just in time instant ticket production.