On-line wagering system with programmable game entry cards and operator security cards

An on-line wagering system, comprising:

• a plurality of agent terminals operable to accept data relating to play entries in a game, the agent terminals having keyboard input means for accepting the data and a printer operable to produce a printed receipt confirming initiation of a play in the game, at least some of the agent terminals further comprising means for receiving player cards;
• at least one central data processor in data communication with the agent terminals, the data processor receiving at least a part of the data relating to a given play entry from a given agent terminal and transmitting to said agent terminal a code indicating that the data relating to the play entry has been validated;
• and,
• said player cards being uniquely issued to players of the game, the player cards each having on-card data storage formed by one of:
• magnetic media;
• integrated circuit;
• and, laser optical memory, and, the on-card data storage containing data unique to an individual player stored upon issue of the card to the player, said data unique to the player being transmitted from the agent terminal to the data processor.

An on-line wagering system, comprising:

• a central data processor having central data memory;
• a plurality of agent terminals in data communication with the central data processor, the agent terminals being operable to receive player entry data from players and to transmit the player entry data to the central data processor, the central data processor being operable to validate play entries upon receipt of the player entry data and to transmit a validation code to the agent terminals, the player entry data relating to an entry of an individual player in at least one game, the agent terminals having inputs for receiving the player entry data and input/output means for transmitting to the central data processor at least a portion of the player entry data and for receiving the validation data therefrom;
• and,
• an operator card issued to a retail agent, the agent card being connectable in data communications with at least one of the agent terminals for the purpose of authorizing use of said at least one of the agent terminals, the operator card having an on-card memory formed by one of:
• magnetic media;
• integrated circuit;
• and, laser optical memory, and operable to store data unique to said individual operator.