Method and apparatus for automated system for validating a set of collectible lottery tickets

A system for validating a set of collectible lottery tickets comprising:

• at least two lottery tickets each including a collectable part having associated verification indicia;
• a retailer computer terminal located at a retailer location, wherein the retailer computer terminal is operable to at least temporarily store the verification indicia from the collectible parts;
• a computerized central validation system located remotely from the retailer location the computerized central validation system including a database containing validation data;
• wherein the retailer computer terminal is operable to communicate the verification indicia from the retailer computer terminal to the central validation system, and the central validation system is operable to perform validation of the at least two collectible parts to determine whether the at least two collectible parts are a winning collectable set based on the verification indicia and the validation data thereby generating validation results, and wherein the central validation system is operable to communicate the validation results to the retailer computer terminal.

A system for validating a set of collectible lottery tickets comprising:

• at least two lottery tickets each including a collectable part having associated verification indicia;
• a retailer computer terminal means located at a retailer location, wherein the retailer computer terminal is operable to at least temporarily store the verification indicia from the collectible parts;
• a computerized central validation means located remote from the retailer location the computerized central validation means including a database containing validation data;
• wherein the retailer computer terminal means is operable to communicate the verification indicia from the retailer computer terminal means to the central validation means, and the central validation means is operable to perform validation of the at least two collectible parts to determine whether the at least two collectible parts are a winning collectable set based on the verification indicia and the validation data thereby generating validation results, and wherein the central validation means is operable to communicate the validation results to the retailer computer terminal means.

A method for validating a set of collectible lottery tickets from either a single game or different games that are interrelated for purposes of providing a winning combination, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a retailer with a computer terminal including scanning means for scanning coded information on individual lottery tickets;
• establishing a computerized central validation system remote from the retailer, said system including a database containing a coded listing of winning lottery tickets and/or a collection of lottery tickets the combination of which if valid a represent a winning combination;
• establishing a communication link between said retailer and said central validation system, for permitting said retailer to transmit scanned ticket data thereto for validation;
• programming said validation system to compare scanned ticket data with the winners list in its database, and transmit the results back to said retailer.