Gaming terminal

A gaming terminal for use with gaming coupons and receipts, comprising:

• means for analyzing information carriers, including
• a single information carrier analysis device, having
• means for analyzing signs written by players on the coupons and for reading bar codes representing validation numerals of the receipts, and
• means for processing the information resulting from the analysis of the information carriers, for converting the information into digital data and for transmitting the information to a remote processing system through a communication network;
• means for receiving validation data for the coupons and receipts from the remote processing system;
• nonvolatile storage means for storing terminal instruction data transmitted from the remote processing system, and for storing gaming data received by the terminal;
• data display means for displaying gaming information and instructions to the player and a retailer;
• integrated-circuit passkey means for controlling an on-off circuit of the terminal and for permitting and prohibiting access to the terminal, wherein said passkey means defensively disables the terminal in response to an attempted access with an improperly coded passkey, until the retailer with a properly coded passkey reactivates the terminal;
• and
• terminal processing means operably connected to a keyboard assembly, the means for analyzing information carriers, the means for receiving validation data, the nonvolatile storage means, the data display means, and the integrated-circuit passkey means for controlling the terminal.