Scheme for validating instant gaming tickets

摘要

An apparatus and method for validating an instant ticket for playing a game is disclosed. The ticket has printed thereon validation data and game indicia, the game indicia being covered by an opaque, removable coating and a portion of the game indicia being uncovered in accordance with a game rule to play the game. The instant ticket is read to determine the validation data and the relative positions of the uncovered game indicia on the instant ticket. Game data relating to the instant ticket is obtained from a location other than the instant ticket. A virtual ticket corresponding to the instant ticket is created based on the validation data and the game data. The virtual ticket is compared to the instant ticket to determine whether a winning combination of game indicia is uncovered on the instant ticket in accordance with the game rule. An apparatus and method for producing such an instant ticket is also disclosed.