Lottery Game Gift Card System

Abstract

A method of creating a gift card device used to purchase lottery games from authorized Lottery retailers and then defer play to a later date. The play can be redeemed at any lottery retailers for instant/scratch tickets or terminal generated/numbers game tickets. Play can also be redeemed for digital scratch tickets or secure drawing/numbers game tickets (terminal generated games) via an Internet enabled device including PCs, cell phones, smart phones or PDAs.

1 ) A device (card/wand/FOB) to store unique user identification that can query a database that stores activity related to a lottery game purchase 
     
     
         2 ) The method by which  claim 1   a. Securely identifies the individual on the device   b. Allows the device to be recognized by a database in order for that database to accurately track the activity of the player and satisfy the requests of game play   
     
     
         3 ) The communications/scanning device used to activate the card device in  claim 1   
     
     
         4 ) The method by which  claim 3  uses the device to update player information; card value information; game purchase information; and game play information in the secure database 
     
     
         5 ) The method by which the device of  claim 3  connects to the remote server to append/delete the database records of  claim 7   
     
     
         6 ) The method by which an existing lottery equipment infrastructure could use the device of  claim 1  to communicate with the database without the use of the scanning device in  claim 3   
     
     
         7 ) The database used to store and track the device data for:
 a. Pre-purchased debit card amounts good for lottery game play   b. Date of purchase activity   c. Date of card Activation/Deactivation   d. Tickets purchase and account of winnings on those games   e. Individual player data associated with the card to add security   f. Cardholder security information to identify the rightful owner in event of lost or stolen device/card   
     
     
         8 ) The method by which the dollar amounts stored in the database record can be used to redeem game play over open network channels 
     
     
         9 ) The method by which  claim 7  is secured in transaction using PIN numbers associated with the device of  claim 1   
     
     
         10 ) The method by which the database of  claim 8  can relate to an existing lottery accounting database to reconcile activity of the player as they use the device of  claim 1   
     
     
         11 ) The data (paperless) lottery ticket game play that can be accessed via website or wireless communications device (smart phone/pda) 
     
     
         12 ) The method by which  claim 11  securely transacts a game initiated by a player using one of the pre-paid game devices of  claim 1   
     
     
         13 ) The method by which the games in  claim 11  are randomly generated to produce an unpredictable outcome of winning and non-winning events 
     
     
         14 ) The method by which the games in  claim 11  are inventoried and depleted like a paper lottery instant ticket game inventory to act exactly as such 
     
     
         15 ) The method by which a user of the device in  claim 1  can redeem terminal generated tickets for lottery drawing games via an open network device (Internet, Smart Phone, PDA).