Electronic gaming machine and method

Claim 2

A gaming machine, comprising: a payment acceptance device, for accepting payment from a player wishing to use the gaming machine; a supply of tickets installed inside the gaming machine; a ticket dispenser for dispensing one ticket at a time from the supply of tickets, wherein each ticket includes indicia imprinted thereon but not readable without removal of an indicia cover, and each ticket further includes a machine-readable ticket identifier uniquely identifying said each ticket; a memory module in which are electronically stored ticket records corresponding to the tickets in the ticket supply, each ticket record including codes corresponding to the ticket identifier and the indicia imprinted on the ticket; a ticket reader, for reading the ticket identifier on each ticket before it is dispensed; and a game controller, responsive to acceptance of payment, for reading a next sequential ticket record from the memory module, comparing the code corresponding to the ticket identifier of the next sequential ticket record with the ticket identifier read by the ticket reader and, if there is a match, actuating the game ticket dispenser to dispense the ticket; wherein the indicia imprinted on each ticket are not identified from examination of the ticket without removing the indicia cover.

Claim 3

The gaming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein: the game controller further includes means for determining whether the ticket being dispensed contains a winning combination of indicia; and the machine further comprises a winner light actuated by the game controller if a ticket containing a winning combination of indicia is dispensed.

Claim 4

The gaming machine as defined in claim 1, and further comprising: a display device, for displaying the indicia imprinted on a dispensed ticket; wherein the game controller obtains indicia data from the electronic memory module and outputs the same indicia data to the display device.

Claim 5

The gaming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein: the ticket supply is a continuous roll of tickets; and the game ticket dispenser includes a ticket cutter.

Claim 6

The gaming machine as defined in claim 4, wherein: the machine-readable ticket identifiers are imprinted on the tickets in the form of bar codes; and the ticket reader includes a bar-code scanner.

Claim 7

The gaming machine as defined in claim 5, wherein: the machine-readable ticket identifiers are encrypted for further security.

Claim 8

A gaming machine, comprising: a payment acceptance device, for accepting payment from a player wishing to use the gaming machine; a roll of tickets installed inside the gaming machine; a ticket dispenser for dispensing one ticket at a time from the roll of tickets, wherein each ticket includes indicia imprinted thereon but not readable without removal of an indicia cover, and each ticket further includes a machine-readable ticket identifier uniquely identifying said each ticket; a memory module in which are electronically stored ticket records corresponding to the tickets in the ticket roll, each ticket record including codes corresponding to the ticket identifier and the indicia imprinted on the ticket; an optical scanner, for reading the ticket identifier on each ticket before it is dispensed; a video display device for displaying the indicia of a ticket when it is dispensed; and a game controller, responsive to acceptance of payment, for reading a next sequential ticket record from the memory module, comparing the code corresponding to the ticket identifier of the next sequential ticket record with the ticket identifier read by the ticket reader and, if there is a match, actuating the game ticket dispenser to dispense the ticket, erasing the ticket record of the dispensed ticket, displaying the indicia as read from the memory module, and actuating a winner light if the indicia include a winning combination; wherein the indicia imprinted on each ticket are not identified from examination or scanning of the ticket without removing the indicia cover.

Claim 9

A gaming machine, comprising: a payment acceptance device, for accepting payment from a player wishing to use the gaming machine; a roll of tickets installed inside the gaming machine; a ticket dispenser for dispensing one ticket at a time from the roll of tickets, wherein each ticket includes indicia imprinted thereon but not readable without removal of an indicia cover, and each ticket further includes a machine-readable ticket identifier uniquely identifying said each ticket; a memory module in which are electronically stored ticket records corresponding to the tickets in the ticket roll, each ticket record including codes corresponding to the ticket identifier and the indicia imprinted on the ticket; an optical scanner, for reading the ticket identifier on each ticket before it is dispensed; a video display device for displaying the indicia of a ticket when it is dispensed; and a game controller, responsive to acceptance of payment, for reading a next sequential ticket record from the memory module, comparing the code corresponding to the ticket identifier of the next sequential ticket record with the ticket identifier read by the ticket reader and, if there is a match, actuating the game ticket dispenser to dispense the ticket, erasing the ticket record of the dispensed ticket, displaying the indicia as read from the memory module, and actuating a winner light if the indicia include a winning combination; wherein the indicia imprinted on each ticket are not identified from examination or scanning of the ticket without removing the indicia cover.

Claim 10

The gaming machine as defined in claim 7, wherein: each ticket identifier includes a ticket number, a roll number and a deal number, wherein a deal includes one or more rolls of tickets.

Claim 13

A method as defined in claim 9, and further comprising the step of: after the step of comparing the next ticket, displaying on a screen the indicia obtained from the ticket record read from the electronic memory module.

Claim 14

A method as defined in claim 9, and further comprising the steps of: after the step of comparing the next ticket, determining whether the indicia obtained from the ticket record read from the electronic memory module include a winning combination; and actuating a winner indicator on the machine if a winning combination of indicia is detected.

Claim 15

A method as defined in claim 9, and further comprising the steps of: after the step of comparing the next ticket, erasing the corresponding ticket record in the electronic memory module.