A method for implementing an Internet-based lottery game, comprising:
- establishing a finite set of game result files, via a lottery provider, with each game result file having a unique identifier and a predetermined game outcome;
- distributing the finite set of game result files, via the lottery provider, to a gaming authority computer system and separately to an Internet server system, wherein the gaming authority computer system and the Internet server system both individually maintain their respective finite set of game result files, wherein the gaming authority computer system and the Internet server system are independent systems that operate without communicating with each other;
- providing lottery tickets to players, via the gaming authority computer system, wherein each of the lottery tickets includes a code that allows the player to access an Internet game site maintained by the Internet server system via an Internet-enabled device for play of at least one lottery game on the Internet-enabled device;
- assigning to the player one of the game result files, by the Internet server system, from the set of finite game result files maintained by the Internet server system;
- eliminating, by the Internet server system, the assigned game result file from the finite set of game result files maintained by the Internet server system, wherein the Internet server system eliminates the assigned game result file without communicating with the gaming authority host computer system;
- displaying the predetermined outcome of the game play to the player via the Internet server system, and, in the event of a winning game play, transmitting the unique identifier of the respective game result file to the player, by the Internet server system for use in redeeming the winning game play;
- providing, by the player, the unique identifier transmitted by the Internet server system to the gaming authority host computer system independent from the Internet server system;
- using the unique identifier presented by the player to retrieve the corresponding game result file, by the gaming authority host computer, from the set of game result files maintained by the gaming authority host computer system to verify the player's redemption claim, wherein the gaming authority host computer system verifies the player's redemption claim without communicating with the Internet server system;
- and
- eliminating, by the gaming authority host computer, the retrieved game result file from the finite set of game result files maintained by the gaming authority host computer, wherein the gaming authority host computer system eliminates the retrieved game result file without communicating with the Internet server system.