US 5,949,042 AGranted

Instant, multiple play gaming ticket and validation system

OwnerMichael J. Dietz, II, Earl D. Morris +1inventors

InventorsMichael J. Dietz, II, Earl D. Morris, Rolen A. Miller

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A multiple play gaming ticket, such as a pull-tab ticket 10 or "instant winner" lottery ticket, and a coordinating validation system. In its preferred form, the pull-tab ticket has multiple groups or plays 26 of indicia 22 which each create an independent opportunity to win. To deter fraud, a validation code 24 is provided which uniquely identifies the pull-tab ticket 10 and is not merely a representation of the indicia 22. The pull-tab ticket 10 is validated by a combination of validator machine 30 and a host computer 100. The validator machine reads the validation code and relays it the host computer to check for legitimacy (i.e., proper form and availability) and to correlate it to a stored record of gaming indicia 22. If approved, the host computer sends its record of gaming indicia back to the validator machine for display on monitor 50 and pay-out, as appropriate.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of securely determining validity of a gaming ticket showing at least one game play consisting of a combination of multiple numbers and/or symbols and displayong correct game play information for said gaming ticket comprising the steps of:

printing a validation code on a gaming ticket showing at least one game play consisting of a combination of multiple numbers and/or symbols which validation code uniquely indentifies said gaming ticket;
inserting said gaming ticket into a first validitor which reads said validation code and communicates said validation code to a separate second validator;
comparing said validation code within said second validator to a list of legitimate and available gaming ticket validation codes stored in a memory of said second validator and thereby determining whether said gaming ticket is valid;
finding a record of game play in a memory of said second validator which corresponds to said gaming ticket's validation code and includes a correct combination of multiple numbers and/or symbols for said gaming ticket;
communicating said second validator's approval of gaming ticket validity and the record of game play that corresponds to said gaming ticket to said first validator;
and
displaying on a video monitor or stepper reel of said first validator the correct record of game play combination of multiple numbers and/or symbols obtained from said second validator's memory for said gaming ticket.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.