HIGH SECURITY INSTANT LOTTERY USING BAR CODES

an improved instant lottery game is provided in which lottery numbers are represented on the respective lottery tickets in their corresponding UPC bar code form. A master program provides a list of randomly generated lottery numbers from which a list of winning numbers is randomly selected. The list of lottery numbers is divided into separate batches which are used by dispensing units to sequentially and instantaneously print out, on proper external stimulation, the random lottery numbers in their UPC bar code form on lottery labels at the site of the game. The lottery labels are adapted to be firmly positioned onto a designated space on pre-printed lottery ticket blanks, in order to constitute valid tickets. When a ticket is presented for appraisal at the reader end, a conventional bar code scanner transposes the bar code on the ticket to the corresponding lottery number, which is then automatically compared to the list of winning numbers to determine if it represents a winner and external indication of the winning or losing status of the presented lottery ticket is given. The improved system provides a flexible instant lottery which is easy to operate and provides reasonable control over game parameters like the odds of winning while maintaining a high level of security.