Patent ID: 9449473
Filing Date: 2016-09-20
CPC Classification: A63F,G07F

Claim Text:
1. A method of awarding a value of winning tickets dispensed by a vending machine to patrons who purchased the winning tickets, wherein the vending machine includes selection buttons that provide a first option to immediately redeem the value of a winning ticket at the vending machine, and a second option to defer immediate redemption of the value of a winning ticket, and wherein the tickets are preprinted with game content and are associated with a deal of tickets that includes at least some predetermined winning tickets, for each winning ticket the method comprising: (a) the vending machine receiving a request to purchase a preprinted ticket; (b) electronically comparing indicia on the purchased ticket with electronic records associated with the deal of tickets to determine if the purchased ticket is a winning ticket; (c) presenting to a patron the first option to redeem the value of the winning ticket at the vending machine immediately after purchasing the ticket if the ticket is a winning ticket and the second option to defer immediate redemption of the value of a winning ticket so as to allow the patron to select either the first option or the second option; (d) the vending machine receiving selections from the patron via the selection buttons on the vending machine to select either: (e) providing electronic records in a database for each winning ticket that include an indication of whether the winning ticket was redeemed; (f) recording in the electronic records in the database for each winning ticket an indication of whether the winning ticket was redeemed; and (g) dispensing by the vending machine the purchased winning ticket after selecting the first option or the second option.