LOTTERY SYSTEM TERMINAL

Abstract

 The invention relates to games for mass consumption, in particular prize drawing with the aid of lottery terminals, and can be used for carrying out lotteries, totalizators and other games.
The simplification of the design and the extension of its functional possibilities prove to be a technical result of the invention which is a subject of the application.
The technical result is achieved if the lottery system terminal comprises a housing, a system block which is arranged inside the housing and is able to carry out two-way communication with a processing centre of the lottery system, devices for accepting means of payment and having the function of verifying the authenticity of the means of payment, devices for delivering means of payment, a receipt printer, a lottery ticket printer with the function of issuing lottery tickets, and means for inputting/outputting information, the means for inputting/outputting information including a sensor screen and a device for accepting and verifying the authenticity of coupons and lottery tickets and having the function of identifying the coupons and lottery tickets.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to games for mass consumption, in particular prize drawing with the aid of lottery terminals, and can be used for carrying out lotteries, totalizators and other games.

[0002] Terminals for the sale of lottery tickets with the possibility of paying out the winnings (Magic Bingo lottery machine, model MB-01 Cash Line) are known.

[0003] Limited functional possibilities prove to be a deficiency of this design. The lottery ticket acquired by a participant in the prize draw already contains a certain game combination. This means that, in the case of the given design, there are no technical possibilities which permit the player to choose his game combination independently, which considerably reduces the interest in the lottery.

[0004] Lottery terminals which comprise a device for accepting means of payment and issuing lottery tickets, a means for identifying the lottery ticket and a device for paying out the winnings are also known (Utility Model RF 69288, 2007).

[0005] A deficiency of similar known designs proves to be their autonomy, i.e. the lack of a link to other analogous terminals which are connected to a standard processing centre, and the lack of the function of reading of coupons.

[0006] An apparatus for carrying out a lottery which includes terminals for redemption of lottery tickets is known (Utility Model RF 61912, 2006).

[0007] The complicated nature of the design of an individual terminal proves to be a deficiency of the known technical solution.

[0008] The simplification of the design and the extension of the functional possibilities prove to be a technical result of the invention which is a subject of the application.

[0009] This technical result is achieved if the terminal of the lottery system comprises a housing, a system block which is arranged inside the housing and is able to carry out two-way communication with the processing centre of the lottery system, a device for accepting means of payment and having a function for verifying the authenticity of the means of payment, a device for delivering means of payment, a receipt printer, a lottery ticket printer with the function of issuing lottery tickets and a means for inputting/outputting information, the means for inputting/outputting information comprising a sensor screen and a device for accepting and verifying the authenticity of coupons and lottery tickets and having the function of identifying the coupons and lottery tickets.

[0010] The proposed terminal is distinguished by the simplicity of its design since it is intended only for collecting and passing on information to the lottery processing centre. However, in spite of the simplicity of its design, its functional possibilities are more extensive than in the case of other known designs.

[0011] An advantage of the design which is a subject of the application consists in the possibility of inputting information both with the aid of a sensor screen and with the aid of an apparatus which reads information from paper carriers (coupons, lottery tickets).

[0012] The terminal which is a subject of the application is a self-service apparatus which does not require the presence of an operator.

Fig. 1 shows, as a general view, a schematic representation of the interior of an apparatus of a self-service lottery terminal;

Fig. 2 shows the lottery terminal (as an exterior view).

[0013] The lottery terminal is in the form of a housing 1 having a system block 2 which is arranged inside the housing and is able to carry out two-way communication with a central server (not shown in the drawing) of the lottery system. The housing is equipped with a sensor screen 3. In the preferred embodiment, the terminal may additionally be equipped with a monitor which serves for reproducing information and advertising materials. The design is provided with an apparatus 4 for accepting means of payment in the form of bank notes (note acceptor) and an apparatus 5 for accepting means of payment in the form of coins (coin acceptor). In addition, it is possible to equip the apparatus for accepting other means of payment, such as, for example, bank magnetic stripe cards and/or chip cards and the like. The apparatuses for accepting means of payment are equipped with devices for verifying the authenticity of the means of payment. The terminal is equipped with an apparatus 6 which serves for accepting coupons and lottery tickets and is equipped with a device for verifying the authenticity thereof. Furthermore, an output compartment 7 for issuing lottery tickets is present in the housing 1. The lottery tickets are printed with the aid of a printer 8. In addition, the printer for printing receipts is present. The terminal is provided with devices 10, 11 for delivering means of payment through the output compartment 12. These devices serve both for delivering change and for paying out winnings.

[0014] The lottery system terminal operates as follows.

[0015] The lottery terminal is part of a lottery system and is connected to a central server (the lottery processing centre) via means of communication.

[0016] The coupons are distributed free of charge. The participant in the lottery completes his coupon in accordance with his prediction and inserts the completed coupon into the device 6 of the lottery terminal at points for acceptance of payments and issuing of lottery tickets. The completed coupon, which passes through the device 6, is scanned. The data are transmitted for processing to the system block 2, by means of which they are then sent in electronic form to the lottery processing centre for further processing. The information on the coupon is displayed via the terminal screen. The predictions on the terminal screen should correspond to the predictions which are entered on the coupon. The rules for completing the game field of the coupon are printed on the back of the coupon. Since the terminal is equipped with a sensor screen which enables it to input information, the lottery participant has the possibility of inputting his prediction directly on the screen. After the information which relates to the prediction has been input, the amount to be paid for the lottery ticket appears on the screen and is dependent on the nominal amount for the combinations on all selected game fields of the coupon. Thereafter, the insertion of means of payment is requested via the screen. Cash payments are inserted into the apparatuses for paying them in, i.e. the bank note acceptor 4 or the coin acceptor 5. Variants of the design comprising apparatuses for introducing magnetic stripe payment cards or other means of payment are possible. The information regarding the lottery ticket is then sent to the lottery processing centre, where a number is assigned to the lottery ticket as well as a bar code for subsequent identification. The printer 8 prints the lottery ticket on special paper, stating the prediction, its amount and other necessary information. If the sum of the cash fed in exceeds the amount on the lottery ticket, the lottery participant receives the change as cash through the output compartment 12 with the aid of the devices 10, 12 for delivering means of payment (bank notes or coins). The return of the lottery ticket to the lottery participant confirms the sale of the lottery ticket. In order to obtain winnings, it is necessary to insert the lottery ticket which is participating in the prize draw into the apparatus 6 of the terminal.

[0017] The apparatus 6 has a function for verifying the authenticity of the lottery ticket and furthermore reads the identification features present thereon and sends these to the system block for subsequent transmission to the lottery processing centre for processing. If the ticket does not prove to be a winning ticket, the apparatus 6 returns the ticket to the lottery participant for disposal at his discretion, whereas, in the case of a win, the total winnings appear on the screen and, if this total does not exceed a specified level, a dialogue window opens on the monitor screen and poses the question: "Do you wish to receive the winnings immediately?". If the answer is "Yes", the terminal scanner draws in the winning lottery ticket and/or provides it with a payout identification, and the apparatus 10, 11 for the payment of any cash to be paid out issues, via the output compartment 12, that cash total which corresponds to the level of the winnings, and the receipt printer 9 prints a receipt which confirms the fact of payment of the winnings on the lottery ticket.

[0018] After the receipt has been printed and the cash delivered by the apparatuses for delivering cash to a total which corresponds to the level of the winnings, the process of issuing of winnings is complete.

[0019] An advantage of the terminal which is a subject of the application compared with known designs is that not only does it permit the sale of lottery tickets and have a function for issuing change and winnings but that it is also equipped for increasing the attractiveness of the lottery, in particular owing to additional functions - i.e. the acceptance and verification of coupons with predictions regarding the outcome of the lottery draws. This means that the lottery participant not only acquires a lottery ticket with a certain game combination but himself has the possibility of specifying this combination, which considerably increases interest in the lottery and which consequently leads to an increase in the number of lottery participants. The design of the terminal is simplified in comparison with designs of known terminals since the majority of the functions of the lottery system with which every terminal is associated are performed by the processing centre. The linking of the terminal to a central server (the processing centre) ensures the proper processing of the information, in particular information which relates to the preceding, ongoing and subsequent draws, the provision of information of about results of draws, and the verification of the authenticity and the identification of coupons and lottery tickets.

[0020] In accordance with the explanations, the invention can be effectively used in the lottery business.

Claims

1. Lottery system terminal which comprises a housing, a system block which is arranged inside the housing and is able to carry out two-way communication with a processing centre of the lottery system, devices for accepting means of payment and having the function of verifying the authenticity of the means of payment, devices for delivering means of payment, a receipt printer, a lottery ticket printer with the function of issuing lottery tickets, and means for inputting/outputting information, the means for inputting/outputting information including a sensor screen and a device for accepting and verifying the authenticity of coupons and lottery tickets and having the function of identifying the coupons and lottery tickets.

Drawing