System and method for performing lottery ticket transactions utilizing point-of-sale terminals
View Patent ↗A system and method for performing integrated lottery ticket and merchandise transactions using a point-of-sale terminal that generates a single sales receipt containing all pertinent lottery ticket and merchandise transaction information. The lottery tickets generated include fractional value and “quick-pick” lottery tickets. A group of point-of-sale terminals are connected to a POS controller which communicates with a lottery data processing system. An encrypted authentication code also printed on the sales receipt allows the lottery player to verify all lottery ticket transaction information, as needed.
1. A system comprising:
a lottery data processing system;
a controller including a storage device storing merchandise information, said controller adapted to transmit to the lottery data processing system a request for a fractional lottery ticket and to receive lottery information from said processing system;
at least one point-of-sale terminal connected to said controller, for performing merchandise transactions and lottery transactions in accordance with the received lottery information,
said lottery transactions comprising the providing of a fractional lottery ticket in exchange for an amount of change due a customer based on a merchandise transaction, the fractional lottery ticket having a fractional value based on the amount of change; and
said point-of-sale terminal including a recorder for recording on a recording medium the merchandise and lottery information.
2. The system of claim 1 , in which the controller and one of the at least one point-of-sale terminals are embodied in a stand-alone unit.
3. An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
determining a purchase price of a purchase;
determining an amount of change based on the purchase price;
establishing a fractional value for a fractional lottery ticket based on the amount of change; and
selling the fractional lottery ticket to a customer in exchange for the amount of change.
4. An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
receiving a request for a lottery ticket, the request including a change
amount that is based on a transaction;
transmitting lottery ticket information including an indication of a fractional value that is based on the change amount; and
storing the lottery ticket information including the indication of the fractional value.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , in which the lottery ticket information comprises at least one of: a price, the change amount, a code, and a plurality of lottery numbers.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to perform a step of:
creating an entry for a lottery ticket after receiving the request.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 , the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to perform a step of:
creating an entry for a lottery ticket based on the lottery ticket information.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 , in which the request further includes at least one of: a lottery game, a number of lottery tickets, and a plurality of lottery numbers.
9. The apparatus of claim 4 , the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to perform a step of:
generating a plurality of lottery numbers.
10. The apparatus of claim 4 , the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to perform a step of:
selling a lottery ticket to a customer in exchange for the change amount.