CA2172800C - Player operated win checker appended to lottery agent terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

A computerized wagering system especially for lottery systems comprising a central computer which communicates with agent terminals in convenience stores and the like. A win checking system is coupled to the communications network, preferably as a peripheral of an agent terminal, for handling win checking function by enabling comparison of player ticket data with the winning numbers and corresponding game identification for each of a series of wagering games. The win checking system can be arranged as a receive only terminal on the network, but preferably is coupled as a peripheral device to an agent terminal through which the winning choice and game identification data are passed. Winning data and game identifications are stored in a memory that holds data for a most recent set of wagering games, for example the last thirty games in a repetitive Keno game operating as often as every five minutes.

Description

1 WO 95/10098 PCT/US94/108'70 PLAYER OPERATED WIN CHECKER
APPENDED TO LOTTERY AGENT TERMINAL
Background of the invention 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to the field of computerized wagering games with point of sale terminals coupled to a central computer in a network for managing the sale and redemption of wagers. A peripheral device is appended to a lottery agent point of sale terminal, for players to determine the win/lose status of a previously issued lottery entry form without unnecessarily burdening the computing or communication capacity of the lottery network, and without drawing upon the time available for use of the agent terminal to process wager sales and payouts. The invention is particularly applicable to automated games such as Keno, in which players choose a group of numbers to be matched against winning numbers in a drawing, and in which there are various alternative ways in which the chosen numbers and the drawn numbers may match (or not match) to produce a win.

2. Prior Art Computerized wagering networks are used in connection with state-sponsored lotteries and with network-coupled terminals of gaming establishments such as casinos, race tracks and the like. Computerized networks are very effective for managing the sale of entries to players and the payout of winnings, while preventing fraud. One or more central computers is arranged for bidirectional data communications with each of a plurality of distributed terminals at which chances are sold to players by lottery agents. The agent terminals are typically placed in convenience stores, news stands, taverns and the like. The agent operating the terminal is often the same person who manages retail sales at the establishment, and the agent serves one customer at a time.
The agent terminal is a retail point of sale terminal with an on-board computer or processor that communicates with the central lottery computer, typically over a leased telephone line, dial-up modem or radio communication link. In addition to features of a point of sale terminal, such as an agent-interactive display, keyboard and typically a cash drawer, the agent terminal includes input/output devices particularly adapted for lottery ticket sales. An optical form reader coupled to the processor distinguishes the player's choices of numbers or the like on a hand-marked form. A printer reproduces the chosen numbers in one form or another on a ticket that is given to the player and later presented to the agent for redemption in the event _ w0 9SIit1098 ~'G"I'IUS941108'10 of a win. A bar code, OCR or other scanner may be included, for xeading cad;ed data automatically from the printed ticket in systems that are equipped to prim the day in that form.
It is also la~own to provide so~ied stand'alo~ ternunats that are much the same as agent terminals, but ~ obY ~ P~y~ wt~ mention of an agent. Although it is the player who feeds forms into a reader. money andlor operates the keys as such a terminal. the ions are the same as in an agent terminal operated by the clerk of a - convenience store or the like: The player's chosen ~ ~icaLed tv the via.
input devices, the processor in the terminal reports the Iron to the central computer. the gal computer acknowledge sale of a wager, usually sending back a serial member or similar code, and a ticket is primed and issued to the player with the choices and the serial number or code shown thereon. The player-opt °~ °at a time, in the same way that tlae agcru terminal serves o~ player at a time via operations cold by the agent.
For purposes of this disclosure, both player-operated is ~ ~~'°Pare ~ag~ gals," because they provide the same functions and oxupy the same position in the lotnery agent rework.
An i~orrant bcn~efu of the cotaputerlzed lottery network is the ability to protect against fraud due to alteration of the printed lottery tickrx after a drawing is held and the wirming am chosen. .This is accomplished by storing a of the player choices for each wager sold, at ah the agent tcrul#nals on the network. The data communications txynducted when a ticlaet is issued typicahy include a report of the player choices to the central eonr, where the choices arc stored for future referee, and assign~at of a serial cumber or other unique code to the wager. The stored Choices are indexed to the unique Lade.
If the ticket is later pto claim a win. the ticket must be validated by communications with the cenbcal ~mpmer. .According to the validation function of the agent , the ticket presented as a potential winning tic~t is ~ and the serial mtmtsrr or code and the player Choices shown on the ticket are compared with the data stored Ce~ally, to ~e~Y that the ticket is a winning The reporting of data and the validation of winning tickets require a series of data transmissions and acla~owledgem~s in both directions between the agent terminals and the Cen~l computer. Ticket validation operations occupy the agent terminal, the data communications system and the central computer. Although ticket validation is an important function, it detracts from the capacity of the network to manage the sale of wagers.
The agent terminal and the central computer may manage a variety of types of games concurrently, and the extent of such variations is limited only by the ingenuity of the system programmers. Variations may include different game types, different options regarding how many numbers (or other indicia) the player chooses to play a given game, how many chosen numbers must match the drawn numbers to win, how the numbers must match (e.g., in any order or in the same order), etc. The game can relate to a drawing to be conducted later, or in "instant" games the player entry is matched immediately against a random number generated by the agent terminal or by the central computer. These variations are also encoded in the data transmissions.
One variation that can be operated on a lottery agent terminal network is the traditional game of Keno. In this game, drawings are conducted repetitively on a periodic basis, and wagers applicable to the next drawing are collected from players during each period. As the game is operated in casinos, Keno runners collect the players' choices and money, enter the data at some central location, and return to the player a receipt or ticket showing the number entries.
Similarly, after the drawing the runners interact with the players to determine, validate and pay on wins. This may also require the runner to make trips back and forth between the player and the central location at which the game is managed. Such an operation is advantageously automated. An automated Keno game has been developed by GTECH Corporation of West Gtrxnwich, RI, for operation over a lottery agent terminal network, and is presently in use in a number of jurisdictions.
Devices for automating one or more aspects of a more traditional form of the Keno game also are disclosed, for example, in US Patents 4,033,588 - Watts and 4,254,404 - White.
Basically, such systems provide player operated terminals that communicate with a central computer, instead of having Keno runners travel back and forth between the players and the point of central management. Thus the automated Keno game is similar to player-operated agent terminals in a lottery system network.
Network coupled lottery terminal systems for various purposes are disclosed, for example, in the following US Patents:

3,Sp5.fi4.6 - Affel, 3r. et al.
4,108,351- lCrause 4,323,778 - Dieulot et al.
4,339,798 - Hedges ~ ~.
4,467,424 - Hedges et al.
4,494,197 - Troy et a1.
4,689,742 - Troy et al.
4,875,164 - Monfort .
4,996,705 - I:nben~a~ann et al.

5,Ob9,453 - KoZa et al.
In each case, the network coupled lottery systcms involve agent tesminats as discussed above. Self service playa-operated terminals functioning as agent terminals are disclosed, for example, in IrS Patents 4,322.512 - Lange; 4,$15,741- Small: and 4,833,307 -Go~alez 3ust~.
The disdosurcs of these patents, and the foregoing Keno and network lottery ~
patents, are hereby incorporated.
Lottery terminal networks with agent-operated terminals typically indude a ticket validation funaron whereby a previously issued ticket that is presemod to the lottery aged as a potential winning ticket is checked via data communications with t~ central computer to determine from the serial andlor player-chosen numbers whether the ticket is a winner.
The ticket validation fiuxtion is applicable to self-service agent tetmin~als;
however, in a typical system the holder of a vvizming ticket must visit a terminal manned by an agent in order to claim a money prize.
Automated ticket validation is especially useful in the game of Key. In this game, many cumbers are involved which must be compared to the ~ drawn. Typically the players each choose up to tea or more numbers from eighty possi'bIe numbers, to be matched against twenty numbers chosen from the eighty in a drawing, for example by randomly drawing zwmbeted balls from a dnzm, by a random number generator or by other means.
There are many ways in which a given ticket can win. Prizes are paid for matching xn improbably Large proportion of the drawn numbers (e.g., more than five of ten), as well as for matching an, improbably small proportion (e.g., nuns of ten). 1"he amount of the payout on the win is based on the odds of the occurrence of the number of matches. For trample. a larger number of matches (e.g., all teri) rarris a larger payoui than a smaller rntrnber (e.g., five). The problem of determining and Quantifying a win is comb by the fact that Keno games and the like may run very frequently (e.g., every five minutes). The ticket can apply only to a single cycle of the game, or to a plurality of games, for example in consecutive cycles.
A known Keno system for lottery agent terminal networks employs a display system wherein the agent terminal downloads to a video controller data on games that are in the process of being drawn. Players monitor the displays) driven from the video controller immediately after purchasing a ticket, to determine whether they have won: However, many players do not monitor the displays, and miss the corresponding game data. A player cannot determine from the display of current game data whether he or she won in a previous game. The player is likely to be a customer of a convenience store, news stand, liquor store, bar or the like where the agent terminal is located. The player normally has other business to which to attend at the establishment, such as making product purchases.
It is difficult or impossible for the agent to display the winning numbers drawn for very frequent games for a sufficient period of time to permit all the winners to discover that they have won and to come forth. If the numbers are displayed, e.g., via the video controller mentioned above, it is still difficult for the players to find the numbers that apply to the correct game, and to compare the chosen numbers to those drawn to identify winning tickets dependably. In order to display the current game and the last several games, the display must be changed frequently, and the process detracts from the excitement of the current game.
On the other hand, the agent terminal andlor the central processor, being computers, readily can compare chosen numbers with drawn winning numbers for game cycles, process all the possible win combinations, and determine the payout, if any. Therefore, this aspect of Keno, and other games with many numbers or many winning combinations, is also advantageously automated. The coded ticket is presented by the player to the agent and read by the agent terminal. The agent terminal communicates with the central computer to validate the data, and either or both of the agent terminal and the central computer determine whether there is a win and calculate the amount of the win.
Automated win checkers are disclosed, for example, in US Patents 4,101,129 -Cox;
4,892,313 - James et al.; and 4,772,025 - James et al., which relate to slot machine devices.
In each case the player's assigned combination is examined automatically as to whether any of several winning combinations is present. In slot machines, the winning combinations are wo ~i oo9s . - 217 2 ~ ~ 0 t'CTlUS941i0870 invariable (e.g., three or four of a kind iu Line, at four corners, ebc-).
With a Keno or similar agexu terminal network, the winning combinations vary with every periodic Keno cycle. Thus, routinely it is nxessary to use the agent terminal, or a player-operated stand alone termma~I that is fiu~onally equivalent to the agent terminal, to read or obtain information an the player's choices and an the numbers drawn in the corresponding cycle of tb~e game, vine communications with the aemral computer. Then the player's choices and the drawn numbers then can be prod for wi~ag combinations.
However, this solution has its own problems. Agent ~ctminals can become devoted to cher~ing for wins (a noo-revenue ge»ating fumxion), ~st~d of processing ticket sav3es. The agent, who typically is the proprietor of the convenience store or other establisbmcttt and has other duxies, sptnds a substantial proportion of his or her time attempting to validate tidceis as vvinnexs. so that players can determine whether they have won. Whe~tr accompiisbed on an agent tezminal operated by the agent or by the player. ion a of comm~mications over the lottery network with the ~aI processor, and a substantial portion of the communication capacity and. computing capacity of the network is eon.

_,_ Summary of the Invention It is an object of the invention to employ a computerized agent terminal lottery system network for checking wins, especially in games such as Keno that have numerous potential win combinations and/or very frequent game cycles, without burdening the communications and computing power of the system or detracting from the functions of processing wager sales and payouts.
It is also an object of the invention to enable lottery games to proceed on a very frequent cycle, while retaining the ability of players to conveniently and quickly determine whether they have won.
It is a further object of the invention to minimize the need to display the results of previous lottery games to enable players to check for wins.
It is yet another object of the invention to determine wins very accurately, such that winning combinations held by a player are not inadvertently overlooked.
These and other objects are accomplished by a computerized wagering system especially for lottery systems with a central computer communicating with agent terminals in convenience stores and the Like. A win-checking system is coupled to the communications network, preferably as a peripheral of an agent terminal, for handling win checking function by enabling comparison of player ticket data with the winning numbers and corresponding game identification for each of a series of wagering games. The win checking system can be arranged as a receive-only terminal on the network, but preferably is coupled as a peripheral device to an agent terminal through which the winning choice and game identification data are passed.
Winning data and game identifications are stored in a memory that holds data for a most recent set of wagering games, for example the last thirty games in a repetitive Keno game operating as often as every five minutes. The win checking system reads tickets presented by players, e.g., via a machine readable code on the tickets. The player choices are compared to the stored data representing the most recent games. As a result, it is not necessary to undertake full scale attempts to validate a ticket, in order to determine that the ticket is a winner. Communications and computing steps are substantially reduced, freeing the agent terminals for the processing of ticket sales and redemptions.

_ ~'~ 9~°°~ 217 2 8 0 0 p~~s~1~70 _g_ The win checking comparison can relate to the rntaaber of matching choices, an exact correspondence or the l~lce, and in Keno a ticket may even win because the player failed to match any number, which a able. The amount of a win catx be calculated, ox alternatively the existence of a winning combination can simply 1x determined and indicated.
The win checlang System does not require use of the terminal fins=dons, the attention of the agent or the use of the communications nerwork for win checking, because the ticket data is simply checked against the stored re~ win data, auiomarically and at the request of the player.
T~ PS~IY P~ ~ ton the read window of an automatic reader oa the win checker. A ticlou xdeotifi~ed as a winner (due to m~ing some criteria of cadence between choices and wind numbers) can be validated lacer at the agent terminal, e.g., to collect on a win following a pr~ary win indication by the win ~. Similarly, a ticket that is too old to remain in the ra~.ent game memory can be indicated to be too old for checking via the win checker, whera:pon the agent terminal must be used to attempt to validate the ticket as a winner and thereby determine why it is a winner. The win cbc~Cr is player~peratod, and the automatic reader can include a bar code or outer optical or elearomagnetic devicx for dis~ing the game identification and player choices on the ticket.
Pt~ably, the win checker inrdvdes a scanner operable to read a player ticket when simply placed against a scan window. The output of the win cbeckex can inchide an indicator or message device that is activated to show the ticket's winllose status or to report that the corresponduig game data is no longer in memory. The indicator or message device can be arranged to insrtt~ the holder of a wincing ticket, or the holder of a ticlaet that cannot be checked, to visit the agent.
The ion facilitates games such as Keno that have numerous potential win combinations and can be run very frequently- However, the win checlang fuaction caanot burden the communications and composing power of the system or detract fram the functions of processing wager sales and payouts. Players can conveniently and quickly determine whether they have won, and need not refer to, nor must the agent maintain, an extensive display of the results of pnwious games. Winning combinarions held by a player are found automatically and caano~t inatlvercentiy be overlooked, leading to additional player canfid~ence in the gauss.

Brief Description of the Drawings There are shown in the drawings certain exemplary embodiments of the invention as presently preferred. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed as examples, and is capable of variation within the scope of the appended claims. In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a block diagram showing a computerized wagering system according to the invention.
FIGURE 2 is a block diagram showing a win checking system according to the invention, coupled to one of the wager processing terminals or agent terminals.
FIGURE 3 is a flow chart showing the functions of the win checking system.
FIGURE 4 is a flow chart showing the functions of the wager processing terminal.
FIGURE 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the past game data memory is disposed in the agent terminal.
FIGURE 6 illustrates a further alternative in which the past game data is disposed in the central computer.
FIGURE 7 is a block diagram showing a win checker according to the invention coupled as a terminal on the lottery network.

wo 9snoo9s 217 2 8 0 0 p"'r°sg'~1°~0 Detailed Descri tion of the P erred E invents FIG'CfRE 1 shows a computerized wagering system according to the invention, wherein player choices arc matched with winning indicia in playing a wagtring game such as Keno. The system includes one or more central computers 32 that manage sucxessive wagering games by communicatio~as with a plurality of distributed wager pracessiag terminals 40 at which the wagers are sold to players aitd at which the players present winning tickets for validation.
~ processing t~nads or agent terminals 40 can be attended or uaat~ed (i.e., player-operated). The agent terminals 40 are in at least intamittent daxa communication with the oral computer 32 for accepting and paying on wagers in the wagering gamy. Such commuuicatio~ can be by telephone leased line, dial-up modem; radio communications, etc.
The cono~nunic~tions rewire t~ac the resp~ve wager Pi'o~g terminals 40 share the available commvmication capacity of the network, and share the g capacity of the gal computer 32.
~ agent terminals 40 tech have input means 4I and carpet means 42 for managing a player entry, and are operable intaactively with an agent or a player to accept wagering data.
from one ca~stot~er or player at a time. The wagering data defy choices of players of the wagering games managed by the central compumr 32, which choicxs are to be against winning choices t0 be drawn at the conclusion of the game. The game can be nay lottery or .
the like in which player choices are matched to randomly dttwa or otherwise dese:mined choices. however, the invention is particxtlarly useful in a lottery game such as Keno, which is operated repetitively, and in which them srne a variety of ways to win. 1u a Keno game cycle.
the players typically choose up to ten or more numbers from eighty poss~le numbers, and at the conclusion of the cycle, entries are closed and twemy numbers ate drawn- a payer wins is determined by ~e eacoent to which the player's choices match the rnm~bers drawn. For examgie, five or more matches may be needed to wiza. Additionally. the game may award a prize for an improbably low number of matches (e.g., zero) in view of the number of selecrions made. The system is also apglicable to other types of games, for example wherein a win may require an exact match of digits is order (~regular~). or may only require the appearance of the chosen digits in any order ("boxed"). According to the invention, the winning numbers for a plurality of past game cycles are stored in a memory and indexed to an idenbfteation of tl~

WO 95!10098 PC'T/US94/10870 corresponding game cycle. When player ticket data is scanned or otherwise read into the win checker, this past game data is accessed. The player choices are compared to the winning choices for the corresponding game, i.e., any of a number of past games that are stored.
Preferably, the ticket data is checked for a win according to all possible combinations. This function is accomplished apart from the normal functions of the agent terminal 40, and thus does not interfere with or burden the agent terminal operation. Moreover, the agent operating an attended terminal need only spend time on wager sales and validation of tickets already found to be winners by the win checker. The agent's time is therefore available for regular duties in the operation of the establishment.
The agent terminals 40 include interactive input and output means 41, 42 for presenting options to the operator and obtaining the operator's responses, in order to process each wager.
When the wager is sold to the player, the agent terminal 40 reports the applicable wagering data to the central computer 32 over the communications network 44, and receives an acknowledgment code from the central computer 32, referenced to the player entry, indicating that the wager has been accepted and the pertinent data has been stored and indexed to the acknowledgment code. The agent terminal 40 includes at least a display 46 and a keyboard 47 for interaction with the operator, and preferably also includes an optical reader 48 that can distinguish data marked on hand-marked forms by which the players indicate their choices, and/or data presented on issued tickets when returned for redemption.
When an entry is reported to the central computer 32 and the data is stored in the memory of the central computer, the acknowledgement or reference code assigned to the transaction and reported by the central computer 32 to the agent terminal 40, permits the specifics of the wager to be checked later, to verify that a ticket presented as a winning ticket is indeed a winner. The agent terminal 40 is operable to print a ticket bearing the player choices and the reference code for this purpose, and the ticket is issued to the player as evidence of the wager.
When the results of a given game are announced, the player can compare his or her choices with the winning numbers or other indicia resulting from the drawing or other event by which winners are chosen. A player holding a winning ticket presents it at the agent terminal 40 to claim a prize. To validate the winning entry, the printed ticket is read at the agent wo smoo9s 2 ~ 7 2 8 0 0 ~'~ts~nos~o -iZ-terminal 4o and the ticket data is checked against the previously stored data to verify that the ticket is a winner. The optical reader 4$ of the agent terminal 40 is used to read tlxe ticket, or a bar code scanner or similar mzder can be provided, assuming the data is prae~ in the required form. This funcrion of validating tickets uses the inputloatput devices 41, 42 of the agent terminal 40 as well as the communication and computing capacityr of the nttwork 44. and the central computer 32. These are needed to initiate the validation funcxion, to co~c~tte the data ceded to identify the specific wager, to checiC the stored data on that wager against the wining nttmbets for the corresponding game, and to report the results to the operator.
A~ording to the invention. g win-cog system 50 is coupled to the network, preferably via one or more of the wager processing terminals 40. and is arranged to facilitate ticket checking without accessing the data on the specific wager. e.g_, Off litre. The wi~ag selections for each su~ssive game and the identification of the respective game are stored in a memory, sad the selections on a ticket are chxked against the wind sele~oos for the cort~ponding game to determine the win status of the ticket. ~Vl~eas all the inputlotuput, computing and communications seeps nto w~iidate a wager are not , substantially less of a load is placed on the agent and on the tartarork.
For example, after each game Cycle, the winning self can be reported from the central compnrer 32 to the distributed terminals on the network agent term»140. The agem terminal 40 can store the wimting selections in memory or download the winning selecxion data for the game for storage in a memory of the win chec~ng system 50.
Alternatively, the past game data memory can be disposed in the agent terminal, or the data may even remain in the oeurral computer memory, for access according to the win cherkiag function.
Communications are minim;zed where the data is downloaded once to a memory in ttar win checker. However, regardless of whether the past game data is stored in the win cue, the agent terminal or the centzal computer, the load on the ne:work is rid by providsng the capability to check wins from a win checiting terminal apart from the agent terminal, thereby releasing the agent from this duty. only those tickets shown by the win checker so w be wipers need to be prated at the agent terminal 40 for validation. The ticks data stored by the central computer upon issue of a wagor aced not be scarchod o~ otherwise ac~sed to effect the wits ~
fore, WO 95!10098 PCT/US94110870 2 ~ ~2aoo and is searched only for validations or to handle tickets for games whose data is no longer stored in the past game memory.
An embodiment of the ticket checker 50 of the invention is shown in FIGURE 2.
The ticket checker includes a processor 52 with a data memory 53, coupled to the agent terminal 40 for receiving data from the terminal 40 (that in turn receives this data from the central computer 32). The winning data for a game cycle in this case can be broadcast one time over the network to be stored in the win checker and/or in the agent terminal in a manner available for checking against data on tickets presented to the win checker. Alternatively, the agent terminal 40 can be arranged to request a report of winning choices from the central computer for an identified game, or can transmit simply the player choice numbers and game identification reported by the win checker to the agent terminal, with a request for win checking short of validation. In any case, the agent is not called upon to manage a validation, and the central computer need not access data on a particular validated wager. The game identification and the player choices are all that is required, for checking against the stored winning selections in the past game data memory.
The game identification and winning choices for each successive game are stored for random access in the past game data memory, preferably a rotating FIFO memory having the capacity to store the results of a plurality of the successive games. To accommodate current customers, a storage capacity that exceeds the likely duration of a player's visit to the establishment is adequate. It is also possible to store an amount of data that corresponds to the likely frequency of player visits to the establishment. By storing a day of data, for example, players who return about the same time every day can check for wins in the previous day's wagers, etc.
The win checker 50 includes input means 54 coupled to its processor 52, for entering from the issued ticket the player choices and the identification thereon.
Preferably, the ticket is printed with an optical code such as a bar code, including a representation of the player's choices and the game identification. An OCR code, magnetic code or the like can also be used, or the data can be read from an integrated circuit card or similar memory device belonging to the player. For this purpose, the win checker 50 includes an appropriate reader 55 for discerning the data on the printed ticket. According to a preferred embodiment, the win checker wo ssnoo9s 2 ~ 72aoo includes a bar code scanner having a window against which the usex places a ticket on which the bar code data identifies both the game and the player's choices. 'The past game memory is atxxsstd, and the winniztg sdcctions are located with reference to the game identifications, and compared with the player choices.
An exemplary oprration of the win checker 50 is shown by the flow chart in FIGURE
3. The processor 52 of the win cher~er 5~ is operable too compare the identif ration and the player choices from the ticket with t~ winning indicia and the identifrcarions of the sircoessivc stomd in the past game memory. The actual comparison of embers, and potentially the coraputation of the amaunt of the win, can be a fua~aron of the processor 52 of the win rhOCloer, the pm~ssor of the agent terminal, or if tt~ past game memory is scared cetmally, the cennal pioc~or can make the acuial comparison. The processor egg the comparison poly .
is progxa»od to test for each possible winning combination, depending on the type of game.
The type of game can be discez~d from the game identification, or ode can be provided on the ticiuet (e.g., ticktts having predetermined dimensions, color or the lie can t~ sensed by the win checker input menus 54, to partly identify the game together with a code identifylt~g die game cycle). In the event that a ticket whose selections and gatae identification are dis~d in this manner contains a weaning cotnbiaation. the display or otlxx output means of the win checker is operated under control of the processor 52, or is triggered from an output of the agree mrmiaal processor or gal processor to so advise the player.
UnldCe the proo~u~s under~locn to validate a winning tic3oet, which requires accessing the memory of the dal computer 32 to refetr~e tare record on a parricula~r wager, the win checker of the invemion relies on the presenlce of the wring combinatxosi on the ticket, and the storage of tile winning combinations for a plurality of past games. It is not necessary to a data strored c~ahy at this stage of the proceedings. The past game memory is preferably disposed inn the win checber or agent terminal, in which case no network communications or it>putloutput are needed except for the origimal reception of wing number data to be stored. If the past game memory is Provided in tine win checker, the win checking »on ran also ptocxd whom ~~ between the win cl~icer and the agent terminal, e~ctxpt for tectption Of the witJning numbers by the wixx checker.
It is possrble to include the past game data metnorT in the memory of the central processor, and still to save '~v 2172800 processing time because the individual wager data need not be accessed.
Similarly, the processor in the agent terminal can be used to effect the comparison of numbers, etc., and normally such use of the agent terminal processor does not unduly slow its operation with respect to processing the sale of wagers. In any event, player tickets can be checked quickly and conveniently for winners and the results indicated to the players, without requiring the attention of the agent, without accessing the stored data on individual wagers, and preferably without communications for the ticket through or using the terminal 40 and the central computer 32. The win checker 50 relies on the report of winning numbers downloaded from the network 44 or otherwise entered into the past game data memory.
The win checker is provided on at least one agent terminal on the network, and the network can be operable where some agent terminals or agent terminal premises have win checkers while others do not. Preferably, any communications with the win checker (e.g., downloading of game data and identifications) occurs through the agent terminal 40, to which the win checker 50 is appended as a peripheral device. Alternatively, the win checker can operate as a terminal on the network, operable to receive data over the network directly from the central processor. By providing one or more win checkers coupled to the agent terminal as a peripheral, the win checker has the benefit of the modem or other communication means already provided in the agent terminal for network communications.
Assuming the win checker is coupled in data communications with the network through the agent terminal (i.e., as a peripheral device), the communications between the agent terminal and the win checker can be accomplished in various ways. Data can be passed between the agent terminal and one or more associated win checkers over a hard wired, multiplexed, optical (e.g., infrared or fiber optic), radio or other signalling channel.
While the win checker is operating, the agent is free to process validation of winning entries and to manage payouts. The agent terminal 40 is used as a point of sale terminal to sell wagers, and alternatively for data communications with the central computer 32 for win validations. Communications and operator attention needed for validation are substantially reduced, being limited to processing tickets which have already been determined to be winning tickets, by operation of the ticket checker 50, or tickets on game data that is too old to remain in the past game memory.

wo asnoa9s 217 2 8 0 0 p~T~°~~~1°f~a _ lb _ The past game memory comprises a first-in first-out data table storing the game identifications and corresponding winning numbers. Whereas the amount of memory is limiOed, it is possible for a player holding an old tichct to ataempt a win chick afoer the data for the con~ponding game has been deleted (e.g., overwritten). In a case where the game idtion is not found in the past game memory, the display means or other t device 56 of the win checbcr 50 is opcrattd to direcx the player to visit the agent tcrmmai, where the agent can aa~t to validate the ticb~ as a winning tidae:, in a oonvtntional manner.
The agent terminal 40 is operable in a conventional manner to choose between, and to effect, both the salt of wagers and. the validation of ticlaets prod as winners. The win checking f~tion does not require air attemiozt of the agent. The communineeded to su~ort the win chec3oer are minimal and within the capacity of a simple agent terminal processor without noticeable delay in other functions. Ope:atian of the agent terminal 40 is shown in FIGURE 4. Validation of winning ticket, a~ad win checking by attetupdng to validate a tirio~t, is a~pIista~d by firom the ticket the player choices and the identification thereon, on the agent terminal input mtans 41, after choosing the ticket validation option presCnted on the agent terminal display 46. The agent terminal 40 transmits at least o~ of the player choices and the identification, andlor a code referent to the player etltry by the acknowiedgmera mceived from the cxatral computer 32 wlarn the ticlaet was rcpor~d atxi issued.
At least one of the terminal 40 and the coal caber 32 are operable to compare tI~
id~ent'~xcatipn and the player choices from the tidcei with the winning indicia and the identifications of the successive games stored in the cetmal computer 32, and to distinguish a winning combination tl~rein. The memory of the ceanal computer 32 is Iarge enough to store more game data sand for a much longer period than the past game memory, at least ~ t the period of time during which the ticket can be cashed in, usually one year.
Moreover, the cxntral computer memory includes the much more extensive storage of data refs to individual wager transactions (at least including the serial number and the selections on each wager that may inter be preserned as a winning ticket)_ The output means of the agent terminal 40 is operated when attempting validation to lire wl~ther or not the ticket as issued held a winning combination. In this rnanna the screening of ticlaets can be accomplished via the win-checking system 50 a~ validation of winning tickets can be accomplished using the ~WO 95/10098 PCTIUS94/10870 s , terminal 40. However, because the win checker 50 is used for determining the win/lose status of most of the tickets, and the agent terminal 40 is not needed to service tickets other than winners or those presented long after the game is held, the system minimizes data communications and processing requirements of the agent terminals 40 and the central computer 32.
The input means coupled to the processor 52 of the win-checking system 50 preferably comprises an automatic ticket reader ' S5 for discerning the player choices and game identification. The ticket reader 55 can be of various types, complementing the ticket printer of the agent terminal 40. An appropriate automatic ticket reader may comprise one or more of an optical character reader for bar code, OCR characters or the like, a magnetic strip reader, a data communications receiver, etc. A bar code reader is preferred, and the reader can be associated with a window in the casing of the win checker 50, on which the player places the ticket for reading in a manner similar to a supermarket UPC code scanner. The bar code encodes the game identification and the player choices. For win checking via the win checking system 50, it is not necessary to read the serial number or similar authorization code. However, this number can be included in the code for use when validation is attempted via the agent terminal 40.
The computerized wagering system according to the invention is particularly useful where the successive wagering games involve matching a first number of player choices to a larger number of potential winning choices, a winning entry being determined by at least one of correspondence, and extent of the correspondence, between the player choices and winning choices that are chosen from the potential winning choices for each of the wagering games. The processor 52 of the win-checking system 50 includes means for determining whether the player choices from the ticket exceed a minimum correspondence meriting a payout. As used for Keno, the processor 52 of the win-checking system 50 preferably also includes means for determining that the player choices from the ticket fail to exceed a second, lower minimum correspondence meriting a payout. The wagering games are conducted periodically, many times per day, for example at five minute intervals, with wagers preferably being collected from numerous agent terminals distributed over a wide area. The memory 53 of the win checker processor 52 includes capacity to store at least a most recent hour of winning combinations and wo 9snoo9s °
2 ~ ~ 2 a o o ~~.,~S~,x~a - I$ -identifications, which is sufficient time for cuzrent customers of most types of establishment to visit the win checking device after a game is completed. Preferably, in a five minute cycle system, about thirty previous games art stored, which amounts to two and a half hours of games. of cotttse, the past game memory eau also encompass a longer time, e.g., days or wcel~, to accommodate customers who visit an establishment on a regular basis.
The win chdevice SQ is pt~eferably coupled - to the agem tesminat 40 as a heral. device. The aged terminal 40 thus receives tic winning number and game idtntificarion over the network 44 from the cell computer 32. This cammuniration can be a packet of data pby a header idemifying the following data as a report of winning and a gay identification. The win cprocessor 52 can be coupled to the agent terminal internal bus (not shoam), amt can be addressed far accepting data from the agent teal processor. The output of the win chxker 50 is preferably limited to a display to the customer, in which event the communicationx between the agent terminal 40 and, the win cl>ee~r 50 can be one-way, i.e., from the agent terminal 40 to the win c~cke~r 50.
Alternatively, such communications can be two way, for example with the win checker se~g the game identification and choice data w the agent terminal processor and the agent terminal processor aging the past game data (either locally or via a eommemication with tire cxmral cvmpater, Iimitod to the game idmtifcation and choices). The agent terminal in that case repOr~s to the win checker the outcome of the comparison. or activates an outptu means in the win checker by an appropriate signal.
Various ills attd whisdes may be triggered in the event a arit~g tit is fot>ml. It world also be possible for the win checker 50 to pass addidonaI data back to the agent terminal 40 regarding tickets that have been read, such as the serial number on the ticket, so as to avoid duplication of this function for validation.
In FIGURE 2, the past game data memory 53 is disposed in the win checker.
FIGURE
~ iIlusri~es an airernarive embodiment in which the past game data memory is disposed in the agent terminal. According to this arrangement, the win checker reports the player choices and game ideation to the processor of the agent tarmiztai, and tire processor of tl~ agent terminal determines whether the player choices and the past game data meet at least one wring criteria. An output fmm the ages terminal triggers the output means of the win checker. The particular location of the past game data memory can be varied, and need not be in the win checker as in FIGURE 2. Whereas checking the player choices against the winning choices is a quick and easy function (as compared to accessing the data originally stored centrally on the particular transaction), the past game memory can be kept in the agent terminal as in FIGURE
for access by the agent terminal processor, or centrally as in FIGURE 6 for access by the central computer. Either the winning choices and game identifications are downloaded to the agent terminal (FIGURE 5) and/or to the win checker (FIGURE 2), or the player choices scanned from the issued ticket are uploaded (FIGURE 6).
If the past game data is stored for access by a processor in the win checker, the hardware is somewhat more expensive, but data transmissions are limited to downloading of the winning choice and game identification data. According to this alternative, the win checker can be a separate terminal on the lottery network as in FIGURE 7. The win checker need only monitor the network for a report of game results, and store the results at the next position in the past game memory. If the past game data is stored in the agent terminal, communications between the agent terminal and the win checker are needed to report either the scanned data or the winning game data. However, the win checker need not include its own communication means for interfacing with the network.
Thus, the win checker 50 can be arranged as a terminal on the network 44 (i.e., in a position similar to that of the agent terminal) rather than a peripheral to the agent terminal. In that case, the win checker 50 can monitor communications on the network 44 for a code indicating that the following information represents the report of winning numbers for an identified game. The win checker 50 then downloads the information and increments its memory address registers to advance to the next memory location for storage of game data.
Alternatively, as discussed above, the win checker can communicate with the central computer and report the results of a comparison made by the central computer between the ticket data and the past game data stored centrally.
The win checking system according to the invention minimizes the burden on the communications and computing power of the lottery system as a whole, and substantially relieves the agent terminal operator of the duty to check for winning tickets by attempting win validations. Supporting one or more win checkers associated with an establishment requires as w0 95ItQ098 PCT1oS94/~li$~0 -ZO-little as a general bz~oadcast report of the results of games as they oar, for storage by the win checker or by the agcat terminal. This data requires only a brief transmission. Players can convemcmIy, quickly and aaurateiy deGerzaine whetber thcy have won. Players need not refer to, nor must the ageat maintain, an exrensivc display the results of previous games. dinning combinations held by a player cannot inadveruentiy be overlooked, leading to additional player come in the gauze. .
The iaveation having been disclosed in coanxtiop with the foregoing variations and additional variations will now be appartnt to persons skilled in the art. The iavmdon is not inaended to be limited to the variations specifically mentioned, and accordingly reference should be made to the appended claims rather than the fongoitig discussipn of pt~tferred examples, to assess the scope of the invention in which exclusive rights are claimed.

Claims (16)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A computerized wagering system wherein player choices are matched with winning indicia, comprising:
at least one central computer operable to manage successive wagering games;
a plurality of distributed wager processing terminals in at least intermittent data communication with the central computer, the wager processing terminals and the central computer accepting and paying on wagers in the wagering games, each said terminal having input means and output means for managing a player entry via interactive display and input between the terminal and one or both of an agent and a player operating said terminal, the terminal and the central computer accepting wagering data defining choices of players of the wagering games managed by the central computer, said wagering data being reported to the central computer, acknowledged to the terminal by the central computer as referenced to the player entry, and evidenced by a ticket for the player entry, the ticket bearing the player choices and an identification of the game, at least part of said wagering data being recorded for later reference, whereby the ticket can be verified to be a winning ticket when presented for redemption as a winning ticket;
a player operated win-checking system separate from the wager processing terminals, the win-checking system being coupled to the computerized wagering system, the win-checking system comprising input means for entry of player choices and a corresponding identification of the game from an issued ticket;
a past game memory coupled to at least one of the central computer, one of the wager processing terminals and the win-checking system, for receiving and storing said winning indicia after the winning indicia is determined for the successive wagering games, the winning indicia being indexed to the identification of the game, wherein at least one of the win-checking system, the central computer and said one of the wager processing terminals is operable responsive to the win-checking system to make a comparison of the player choices from the issued ticket of a particular player entry, with contents of the past game memory applicable to a corresponding game, and to distinguish a winning combination therein; and output means coupled to win-checking system for indicating whether or not the winning combination is found on the issued ticket, responsive to a result of said comparison, whereby the winning combination is found and indicated unofficially by the win-checking system, apart from said operation of the wager processing terminal for validating winning tickets, and without reference to the particular player entry in the wagering data as needed to validate the ticket as a winning ticket.

2. The computerized wagering system according to claim 1, wherein the wager processing terminal is also alternatively operable interactively for data communications with die central computer for entering from the ticket the player choices and the identification thereon and communicating at least one of the player choices and the identification, and a code referenced to the player entry by the acknowledgment, at least one of the wager processing terminal and the central computer being operable to compare the identification and the player choices from the ticket with the winning indicia and the identifications of the successive games stored in the central computer, and to distinguish a winning combination therein with reference to the particular player entry in the wagering data; and wherein the output means of the terminal is operable for indicating whether or not the winning combination was found on the ticket;
whereby screening of tickets is accomplished via the win-checking system and validation of winning tickets is accomplished using the terminal.

3. The computerized wagering system according to claim 2, wherein the past game memory is sufficient to store die winning indicia and identifications of a limited number of the wagering games conducted successively, such that newer wagering game data is available in the memory and older wagering game data is unavailable, for comparison with the player choices from die ticket, and wherein the win-checking system is operable via the output means to indicate when the player choices and the identification applicable to the particular player entry are unavailable, whereupon said ticket can be checked by communications between the terminal and the central computer.

4. The computerized wagering system according to claim 1, wherein the input means coupled to the processor of the win-checking system comprises an automatic ticket reader.

5. The computerized wagering system according to claim 4, wherein the automatic ticket reader comprises at least one of an optical character reader, a bar code scanner, a magnetic strip reader, and a data communications receiver.

6. The computerized wagering system according to claim 1, wherein the successive wagering games involve matching a first number of player choices to a larger number of potential winning choices, a winning entry being determined by at least one of correspondence, and extent of the correspondence, between the player choices and winning choices that are chosen from the potential winning choices for each of the wagering games, and wherein the processor of the win-checking system includes means for determining whether the player choices from the ticket exceed a minimum correspondence meriting a payout.

7. The computerized wagering system according to claim 6, wherein the wagering games include Keno and the processor of the win-checking system also includes means for determining that the player choices from the ticket fail to exceed a second, lower minimum correspondence meriting a payout.

8. The computerized wagering system according to claim 7, wherein the wagering games are conducted periodically a plurality of times per day, and wherein the memory of the processor includes capacity to store at least a most recent hour of winning combinations and identifications.

9. The computerized wagering system according to claim 8, wherein the wagering games are conducted at about five minute intervals and the memory of the processor includes capacity to store about thirty winning combinations and identifications.

10. The computerized wagering system according to claim 1, wherein the win-checking system is coupled to the computerized wagering system through the terminal, and wherein the winning indicia is transmitted from the central computer to the terminal, the past game memory being accessible to at least one of the terminal and the win-checking system.

11. A win checking system for a wagering system wherein player choices are matched with winning indicia, the wagering system having a central computer to manage successive wagering games, and wager processing terminals in data communication with the central computer, the terminals each having input means and output means and communicating interactively with one of an agent and a player to accept wagering data defining choices of players of the wagering games, to report the wagering data to the central computer, to receive an acknowledgment from the central computer referenced to the player entry, and to issue a ticket evidencing the player choices and an identification for at least one game to which the choices are applicable, and to store a record of player wagers for comparison with issued tickets for validating issued tickets later presented as winning tickets, the win-checking system comprising:
input means for entry of player choices and a corresponding game identification from an issued ticket;
a past game memory, coupled to at least one of the central computer, one of the wager processing terminals and a processor of said win-checking system, the past game memory receiving and storing data representing winning indicia and the corresponding game identification of a plurality of the successive games;
wherein at least one of the central computer, the wager processing terminals and the processor of the win-checking system is operable to make a comparison of the identification and the player choices from the issued ticket with the winning indicia and the identifications of the successive games stored in the past game memory, and to distinguish an unvalidated winning combination therein without reference to the record of player wagers; and output means triggerable as a function of said comparison for indicating whether or not the winning combination is found on the issued ticket, whereby the winning combination is found and indicated apart from said operation of the terminal.

12. The win-checking system according to claim 11, wherein the past game memory is sufficient to store the winning indicia and identifications of a limited number of the wagering games conducted successively, such that newer wagering game data is available in the past game memory and older wagering game data is unavailable, for comparison with the player choices from the ticket, and wherein the output means is arranged to indicate when the player choices and the identification applicable to a particular ticket are unavailable, whereupon said particular ticket can be checked by communications between the terminal and the central computer.

13. The win-checking system according to claim 11, wherein the input means coupled to the processor of the win-checking system comprises an automatic ticket reader with at least one of an optical character reader, a bar code scanner, a magnetic strip reader, and a data communications receiver.

14. The win-checking system according to claim 11, wherein the successive wagering games involve matching a first number of player choices to a larger number of potential winning choices, a winning entry being determined by at least one of correspondence, and extent of the correspondence, between the player choices and winning choices that are chosen from the potential winning choices for each of the wagering games, and wherein the comparison determines whether the player choices from the ticket exceed a minimum correspondence meriting a payout.

15. The win-checking system according to claim 14, wherein the wagering games include Keno and the comparison further determines that the player choices from the ticket fail to exceed a second, lower minimum correspondence meriting a payout.

16. The win-checking system according to claim 15, wherein the wagering games are conducted periodically a plurality of times per day, and wherein the memory of the past game memory includes capacity to store at least a most recent hour of winning combinations and identifications.