Dematerialized instant lottery ticket system and method

A lottery ticket system comprising:

• a virtual instant ticket factory system comprising a first processor and a first memory device that stores a first plurality of instructions that, when executed by the first processor, causes the first processor to create a digital object representing a virtual instant lottery ticket for an instant lottery game based on a set of inputs, the virtual instant ticket factory system controlled by a ticket provider, the digital object comprising data representing an identification of the virtual instant lottery ticket and an image of the virtual instant lottery ticket in a format suitable for physical printing, wherein the image comprises a ticket virtual printing integrity tag that cryptographically binds the image of the virtual instant lottery ticket to the identification;
• a virtual coating key factory system separate and independent from the virtual instant ticket factory system, the virtual coating key factory system controlled by a lottery authority that is separate from the ticket provider, the virtual coating key factory system comprising a second processor and a second memory device that stores a second plurality of instructions that, when executed by the second processor, causes the second processor to:
• (a) provide an encryption key that is employed to encrypt the digital object to apply a virtual scratch-off-coating to the virtual instant lottery ticket and conceal variable indica of the image of the virtual instant lottery ticket, and (b) responsive to an authorized request that comprises the encrypted digital object, decrypt the encrypted digital object to remove the virtual scratch-off-coating from the virtual instant lottery ticket, wherein the virtual coating key factory is operable to remove the virtual scratch-off-coating from the virtual instant lottery ticket only one time to duplicate an effect of a removal of a scratch-off-coating of a physical instant lottery ticket that enables a display device of a lottery player device to display the variable indica of the virtual instant lottery ticket;
• and
• a lottery owner system separate and independent from the virtual instant ticket factory system and the virtual coating key factory system, the lottery owner system controlled by a lottery administrator separate from the virtual instant ticket factory system and separate from the virtual coating key factory system, the lottery owner system comprising a third processor and a third memory device that stores a third plurality of instructions that, when executed by the third processor, causes the third processor to:
• (i) receive a purchase request from the lottery player device requesting to purchase the virtual instant lottery ticket, (ii) issue the virtual instant lottery ticket to the lottery player device, (iii) receive a scratch off request for the virtual instant lottery ticket from the lottery player device, (iv) responsive to such scratch off request, operate with the virtual coating key factory system to remove the virtual scratch-off-coating from the virtual instant lottery ticket by providing the encrypted digital object to the lottery player device for generation of the authorized request, and (v) facilitate redemption of the virtual instant lottery ticket for an award associated with the virtual instant lottery ticket,
• wherein the virtual instant ticket factory system and the virtual coating key factory system are in communication with each other, and the virtual instant ticket factory system and the lottery owner system are in communication with each other,
• wherein the lottery player device is remote from each of the virtual instant ticket factory system, the virtual coating key factory system, and the lottery owner system.

A lottery ticket system comprising:

• a virtual instant ticket factory system comprising a first processor and a first memory device that stores a first plurality of instructions that, when executed by the first processor, causes the first processor to create a digital object representing a virtual instant lottery ticket for an instant lottery game based on a set of inputs, the virtual instant ticket factory system controlled by a ticket provider, the digital object comprising data representing an identification of the virtual instant lottery ticket and an image of the virtual instant lottery ticket in a format suitable for physical printing, wherein the image comprises a ticket virtual printing integrity tag that cryptographically binds the image of the virtual instant lottery ticket to the identification;
• a virtual coating key factory system separate and independent from the virtual instant ticket factory system, the virtual coating key factory system controlled by a lottery authority that is separate from the ticket provider, the virtual coating key factory system comprising a second processor and a second memory device that stores a second plurality of instructions that, when executed by the second processor, causes the second processor to:
• (a) provide an encryption key that is employed to encrypt the digital object to apply a virtual scratch-off-coating to the virtual instant lottery ticket and conceal variable indica of the image of the virtual instant lottery ticket, (b) responsive to an authorized request that comprises the encrypted digital object, decrypt the encrypted digital object to remove the virtual scratch-off-coating from the virtual instant lottery ticket, and (c) remove the virtual scratch-off-coating from the virtual instant lottery ticket only one time to duplicate an effect of a removal of a scratch-off-coating of a physical instant lottery ticket that enables a display device of a lottery player device to display the variable indica of the virtual instant lottery ticket;
• and
• a lottery owner system separate and independent from the virtual instant ticket factory system and the virtual coating key factory system, the lottery owner system controlled by a lottery administrator separate from the virtual instant ticket factory system and separate from the virtual coating key factory system, and comprising a third processor and a third memory device that stores a third plurality of instructions that, when executed by the third processor, causes the third processor to:
• (a) receive a scratch off request for the encrypted digital object from the lottery player device, and (b) responsive to such scratch off request, operate with the virtual coating key factory system to remove the virtual scratch-off-coating from the virtual instant lottery ticket by providing the encrypted digital object to the lottery player device for generation of the authorized request,
• wherein the virtual instant ticket factory system and the virtual coating key factory system are in communication with each other, and the virtual instant ticket factory system and the lottery owner system are in communication with each other,
• wherein the lottery player device is remote from each of the virtual instant ticket factory system, the virtual coating key factory system, and the lottery owner system.