Patent Publication Number: US-2003236749-A1

Title: Automated lottery system and method using ATM network

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0001] Numerous processes and devices exist for facilitating electronic payments. Today, virtually all domestic banking institutions offer customers the ability to conduct a limited number of electronic transactions either from an automated teller machine (ATM) located on-site at the institution, or from a remote ATM serving the institution. The remote services are made possible in part through the development of communications systems that provide for the interconnection of many clearinghouse or regional, national, or international electronic funds transfer (EFT) networks. These networks are specialized digital packet networks that communicate with various ATM transaction processors and service providers using standard message protocols. A more-or-less standard, generic ATM interface has developed in the banking industry, making it relatively easy for a consumer to use any ATM on any ATM network once he has learned how to interact with this more-or-less standard interface. Of course, ATMs produced by different manufacturers may differ in key placement, number of keys, key legends, screen size, etc. However, there has been a trend toward standardization of these features so as to minimize user discomfort with using a “foreign bank” ATM.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for automated lottery ticket purchases through the use of ACH debiting and crediting of various payor and payee accounts.  
       [0003] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for automated lottery ticket purchases wherein individual consumers can, if desired, purchase lottery tickets at an ATM.  
       [0004] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for automated lottery ticket purchases that uses an established ATM network to receive information from a consumer sufficient to validate the consumer payment data and lottery ticket purchase data.  
       [0005] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for automated lottery ticket purchase that interfaces between existing ATM networks and lottery game servicer systems to facilitate the purchase of lottery tickets by a consumer through the use of the ATM network.  
       [0006] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for automated lottery ticket purchases that operates to convert transaction information between formats used by various lottery game servicers and a format used by an ATM network.  
       [0007] It is also an object of the present invention to reduce payment processing costs for lottery game servicers through the use of ACH debiting and crediting of various payee and payor accounts involved.  
       [0008] Yet a further object of the present invention is to make the lottery ticket purchase process easier and more efficient for the consumer to purchase lottery tickets directly from lottery ticket vendors.  
       [0009] Another object of the invention is to eliminate costs for the servicer related to the maintenance and servicing of lottery ticket vending machines (i.e., paper and ink for printing lottery tickets,).  
       [0010] A further object of the invention is to facilitate any reconciling and reporting that the lottery game servicer must perform by reducing human intervention in lottery ticket vending processes and therefore reducing human error.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011]FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a conventional ATM system illustrating the transactions that occur during a typical ATM transaction.  
     [0012]FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the present invention illustrating the transactions that occur during the purchase of a lottery ticket in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the process of a lottery ticket purchase using a system of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2.  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process used by a 3 rd  party lottery ticket purchase facilitator to retrieve and process information for forwarding to a lottery game servicer.  
     [0015]FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process used by a 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator to extract and process lottery ticket purchase data from one or more lottery game servicers in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process used by a third party lottery ticket purchase facilitator to receive and process transaction information from an ATM transactions processor in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0017]FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process used by a lottery game servicer to receive and process transaction data from a 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator.  
    
    
     ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE  
     [0018] An electronic transfer methodology for providing access to online lottery games through established ATMs (automated teller machines) and ATM networks, thereby creating a purchase and ticketing system designed to allow a consumer to purchase a lottery ticket and receive a printed ticket. Automated purchase and ticket printing through use of an ATM and ATM network is facilitated by a processor and associated software, which are employed to combine specific consumer payment data with specific lottery ticket purchase data through an electronic ATM and ATM network for the purpose of affecting a more efficient lottery ticket purchasing process. Information relevant to the lottery ticket purchase is electronically communicated from the ATM through software designed to communicate this information to a third party central computer. The third party central computer reformats the data as necessary, aggregates the relevant consumer payment data associated with the specific lottery ticket purchase data, and transmits the aggregate information to one or more ATM transaction processors and one or more lottery game servicers.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OVERVIEW  
     [0019] The present invention provides an automated lottery ticket purchase system and method for providing access to online lottery games through established ATMs (automated teller machines) and ATM networks, thereby creating a purchase and ticketing system designed to allow a consumer to purchase a lottery ticket and receive a printed ticket. Automated purchase and ticket printing through use of an ATM and ATM network is facilitated by a processor and associated software, which are employed to combine specific consumer payment data with specific lottery ticket purchase data through an electronic ATM and ATM network for the purpose of affecting a more efficient lottery ticket purchasing process. Information relevant to the lottery ticket purchase is electronically communicated from the ATM through software designed to communicate this information to a third party central computer. The third party central computer reformats the data as necessary, aggregates the relevant consumer payment data associated with the specific lottery ticket purchase data, and transmits the aggregated information to one or more ATM transaction processors and one or more lottery game servicers.  
     [0020] All lottery game servicer data will be subject to standardization, since data received from lottery game servicers by the 3rd party central computer will consist of multiple file and field layouts and descriptions. Once all data has been received from contracting lottery game servicers, the central computer will translate each lottery game servicer&#39;s data into a common, standard format that are have been adopted by the ATM transactions processing industries. Once converted, standardized records files will be appended. Standardized records will be available to ATM transaction processors either in batch transmittal or on-line mode during consumer ATM transactions. Batch transmittal will require the processor to temporarily store (i.e., update daily) lottery game servicer records internally in database format either as a part of or separate from other consumer depository account records. Processors not wishing to store lottery game servicer records on-site will be able to access the central computer via standard communications paths, such as a dial-up modem connection, lease line, or TCP (Transmission Communication Protocol)/IP (Internet Protocol), during any on-line consumer ATM transaction. Either access method will provide the ATM transaction processor access to the consumer&#39;s lottery game or debt payment obligations during any consumer-initiated ATM transaction, thereby allowing the processor to facilitate the consumer&#39;s payment request or to prompt the consumer to make a debt payment based upon dictated transaction precedence logic.  
     [0021] In accordance with the present invention, an ATM banking institution modifies existing ATM screens to allow for lottery ticket purchases, but is otherwise not involved in the process of allowing the consumer to access the lottery ticket purchase process nor in restricting the institutions whose obligations would be paid through the ATM network. In addition, the present invention fully incorporates electronic funds transfers through EFT and ACH networks, thus offering lottery game servicers and payment processors opportunities for significant improvements in processing efficiency.  
     [0022] Most ATMs do not currently permit customers to pay bills, make debt payments or conduct other complex financial transactions, but instead typically limit the user to withdrawals, account inquiries, account transfers, and, if the ATM the user accesses is that of his own bank, deposits. There are some circumstances where ATMs have been used to conduct transactions, such as bill and loan payment transactions. These are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,860.  
     PRIOR ART  
     [0023]FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an existing prior art system used to process a typical ATM transaction, such as a cash withdrawal or balance inquiry, shown generally at  8 . As seen in FIG. 1, the ATM transaction system includes an ATM transaction processor  14 , an ATM network access device (such as an ATM terminal)  15 , an ATM banking institution  16 , a consumer banking institution  18  (where the ATM banking institution  16  and the consumer banking institution  18  can be one and the same), and an automated clearing house (ACH) network  20 . ATM network access device  15  is connected to ATM banking institution  16  through a suitable communications path  17 . ATM transaction processor  14  is connected with a host computer at ATM banking institution  16  through communications path  19 , with a host computer at consumer banking institution  18  through communications path  21 , and with ACH network  20  through communications path  23 . As is known to those of skill in the art, appropriate information is exchanged between ATM transaction processor  14 , ATM banking institution  16 , consumer banking institution  18 , and ACH network  20  to effect an ATM transaction.  
     [0024] ATM network access device  15  may be physically co-located with the ATM banking institution  16 , or may be remotely located with respect thereto. In operation, ATM network access device  15  serves as an interface between a user and the ATM network to receive input from the user and to provide necessary output (and funds, when necessary) to the user. ATM network access device  15  retrieves user information from an ATM card inserted by a user to initiate an ATM transaction, and receives appropriate associated PIN information and transaction information from the user. This information is passed through communication path  17  to the ATM banking institution  16 . As necessary, information is then transferred through communications path  19  to ATM transaction processor  14 . ATM transaction processor  14  identifies the consumer banking institution  18  from the information retrieved from the user&#39;s ATM card, and passes the necessary transaction information entered by the user to the appropriate consumer banking institution  18  through communications path  21 .  
     [0025] Consumer banking institution  18  verifies the user&#39;s account data and verifies that the user has sufficient funds available for the requested transaction. Consumer banking institution  18  then forwards an authorization message (either a deny transaction request message or a proceed with transaction message, for example) to the ATM transaction processor  14  through communications path  21 . ATM transaction processor  14  then forwards the authorization message back to the ATM banking institution  16  through communications path  19 . These messages serve to confirm that the transaction is to proceed or be prohibited. Upon receipt of the authorization message, the ATM banking institution  16  forwards the authorization to the ATM network access device  15  using communications path  17 . Based on the authorization received, the ATM network access device  15  provides suitable information and funds, if requested, to the user. The user then has the option of terminating the session, or initiating another transaction, which would proceed in a similar fashion.  
     [0026] Once the consumer has terminated the ATM banking session, the ATM transaction processor  14  forwards a confirmation record of the completed transaction to the ATM banking institution  16  using communications path  19 , and forwards an identical confirmation record to the consumer&#39;s banking institution  18  using communications path  21 . ATM transaction processor  14  also forwards a record of the transaction and information to facilitate the appropriate debiting and crediting of the necessary accounts to a designated ACH network  20  through communications path  23 . ACH network  20  then operates to debit (where the user has requested a withdrawal of funds, for example) the user&#39;s account at the consumer banking institution  18  using communications path  25 , and to issue a credit to the ATM banking institution  16  using communications path  27 . Finally, ATM transaction processor  14  creates a record of the transaction and writes that record to a back-up data and transactions log  13  for any future reference, if necessary.  
     [0027] Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram illustrating the overall organizational structure of a system for automated lottery ticket purchases in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at  10 . As seen in FIG. 2, the lottery ticket purchase system of the present invention includes ATM network  8  shown in more detail in FIG. 1, together with a lottery game servicer&#39;s bank  22 , a lottery game servicer  24 , and a 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26 . As described above in connection with FIG. 1, ATM network  8  includes an ATM transaction processor  14 , an ATM banking institution  16 , a consumer banking institution  18 , and an ACH network  20 .  
     [0028] In order to clarify the operation of the present invention, ATM network access device  15 , communications path  17 , back-up data and transactions log  13 , and communications path  27  are omitted from ATM network  8  as shown in FIG. 2, but these components would typically remain present to handle typical known ATM transactions as described in connection with FIG. 1 above.  
     [0029] 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  is connected with ATM transaction processor  14  of the ATM network  8  through communications path  31 . Furthermore, the lottery game servicer&#39;s bank may be connected with ATM transaction processor  14  of the ATM network  8  through communications path  32 . While this connection is not required, it can be used to provide communication of transaction information and confirmation records between transaction processor  14  and the lottery game servicer&#39;s bank  22 .  
     [0030] The lottery game servicer&#39;s bank  22  is connected with ACH network  20  through communications means  33  and is connected to the lottery game servicer  24  through a suitable communications medium  35 , which be any of an electronic, telephonic, or postal interconnection. 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  and lottery game servicer  24  are also connected with each other through communications path  37 .  
     [0031] In accordance with the present invention, 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  and the lottery game servicer  24  cooperate with each other and with the ATM network  8  to allow a consumer to purchase a lottery ticket using the ATM network  8 . 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  makes lottery ticket purchase data available to the ATM network  8  through communications path  31 . This information may be uploaded to transaction processor  14  in a bulk transfer on a periodic basis, such as once a day, or may be supplied to transaction processor  14  on a transaction-by-transaction basis. In a case where a bulk transfer is used, communications path  31  may be an intermittent link, such as a dial-up modem connection, that is periodically established when it is necessary to transfer data to transaction processor  14 . Conversely, when a transaction-by-transaction transfer is used, communications path  31  must be substantially permanent since transaction processor  14  will request such information any time a consumer initiates an ATM transaction.  
     [0032] Communications path  31  is also used to transfer information from transaction processor  14  to 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26 . For example, 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  will receive information from transaction processor  14  indicating that a user has completed a purchase of a lottery ticket. In this manner, the records maintained by the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator can be updated, if desired, to reflect that such purchase has been made. As described in more detail below, this information is also communicated to lottery game servicer  24  to assist, among other things, with updating lottery records and with the settlement verification process occurring between lottery game servicer  24  and the lottery game servicer&#39;s bank  22 .  
     [0033] 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  and lottery game servicer  24  are connected and communicate through a communications path  37 , which may be any suitable data communications path, such as a dial-up modem connection, leased line, or TCP/IP connection. 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  receives lottery game information from lottery game servicer  24 . While a single communications path  37  and a single lottery game servicer  24  are shown in FIG. 2 for clarity, in practice the present invention will likely include any number of lottery game servicers and associated communications paths  37  connected therewith. In such case, 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  will collect lottery game information from each of the plurality of lottery game servicers  24  through the communications paths  37  and will process this information as discussed in detail below to generate suitable transaction information for transfer to transaction processor  14  through communications path  31 .  
     [0034] As mentioned above, lottery game servicer  24  also receives purchase transaction records from the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  through communications path  37 . In this manner, lottery game servicer  24  is notified that a purchase has been made and that it can expect to receive a verification of such purchase from the lottery game servicer&#39;s bank  22  in due course.  
     [0035] In a manner similar to the ATM banking institution shown in FIG. 1, the lottery game servicer&#39;s bank  22  is connected with the ACH network  20  of the ATM network  8  and receives electronic purchase credits from the ACH network  20  through communications means  33 .  
     [0036] The process followed by a consumer to purchase a lottery ticket will now be described in more detail in connection with FIG. 3. The lottery ticket purchase process shown in FIG. 3 illustrates the transactions performed by the ATM network  8  (FIGS. 1 and 2) in response to a user request that a lottery ticket be purchased, and funds transferred from the consumer&#39;s banking institution  18  to a lottery game servicer&#39;s bank  22 . FIG. 3 does not illustrate the process by which information about a consumer&#39;s lottery ticket purchase is retrieved from the lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  and made available to the ATM network  8  to facilitate the purchase and the printing of the lottery ticket. These features of the present invention are discussed in more detail below in connection with FIGS.  4 - 7 .  
     [0037] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the process starts in block  300 . In block  302  a user initiates an ATM session by inserting his ATM card and entering an appropriate PIN into an ATM network access device, such as an ATM terminal. Once the user has successfully logged into the ATM network, the user may elect to make a lottery ticket purchase in block  304 . The user will be prompted to identify the lottery game for which he wishes to purchase a ticket, and enter the require lottery ticket purchase information. It should be noted that the user is not obligated to provide detailed information to identify the lotter game and other specific lottery ticket purchase information (e.g. lottery numbers to be played), but rather the user is provided with a series of display prompts that the user can select to make a lottery ticket purchase.  
     [0038] Once the user has indicated the lottery game and other lottery ticket purchase information (e.g. lottery numbers to be played) in block  304 , the appropriate transaction information is sent from the ATM banking institution  16  to a suitable transaction processor  14  in block  306 . In block  308 , the transaction processor receives this information, identifies the appropriate consumer banking institution  18  associated with the user, and forwards appropriate transaction information to the consumer&#39;s banking institution  18 .  
     [0039] The consumer&#39;s banking institution  18  uses this information to verify that sufficient funds are available in the user&#39;s account to satisfy the requested transaction in block  310 . The consumer&#39;s banking institution  18  then generates an appropriate authorization message and returns it to transaction processor  14 . In the event that sufficient funds are present for the transaction, the authorization message will indicate that the transaction should proceed. In the event that insufficient funds are present for the transaction, the authorization message will so indicate and the transaction will be halted with an appropriate message being displayed to the user at the ATM banking institution  16 . In either event, transaction processor  14  forwards the authorization message back to the ATM banking institution  16  as shown in block  312 .  
     [0040] In block  314 , assuming that sufficient funds exist for the transaction to proceed, transaction processor  14  generates appropriate debit and credit instructions and forwards these instructions to the ACH network  20  in order to initiate the actual transfer of funds between the consumer&#39;s banking institution  18  and the lottery game servicer&#39;s bank  22 . Specifically, the transaction processor  14  will request the ACH network to debit the consumer&#39;s account at the consumer&#39;s banking institution  18  by an amount equal to the purchase amount indicated by the consumer, and will request that a credit be made to the appropriate lottery game servicer&#39;s account at the lottery game servicer&#39;s bank  22 . In block  316 , the ACH network will receive these fund transfer requests from the transaction processor and will generate and forward suitable debit and credit transaction requests to the appropriate banking institutions.  
     [0041] In block  318 , the transaction processor  14  will generate suitable confirmations that the transaction has been completed and will forward confirmation records of such completion to the consumer&#39;s banking institution  18 , to the ATM banking institution  16 , and to the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26 . Transaction processor  14  can also forward a confirmation record of such completion to the lottery game servicer&#39;s bank  22  using optional communications path  32  as desired. With confirmation that the transaction has been successfully completed and a notice to that effect is displayed to the consumer.  
     [0042] In block  320 , the ATM network access device prints a written lottery ticket, and the process ends in block  322 . The above lottery ticket purchase transaction process described in connection with FIG. 3 assumes that lottery ticket purchase information is available to the ATM network  8  for use in processing a consumer&#39;s request for a lottery ticket purchase transaction. However, the currently known ATM system does not include such information and it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for making this information available to the ATM network  8  to facilitate the purchase of lottery tickets in the manner described above in connection with FIG. 3.  
     [0043] In accordance with the present invention, means are provided with both the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  and the lottery game servicer  24  to obtain the necessary information for use by the ATM network  8  in processing a consumer&#39;s lottery ticket purchase request. In the most preferred embodiment, these means include software operating on a suitable computing device at both the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator&#39;s  26  location and at the lottery game servicer&#39;s  24  location. This software operates to provide communication between the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  and the lottery game servicer  24 , as well as appropriate communication with ATM network  8  using communications paths  31  and  37  shown in FIG. 2.  
     [0044] The software residing at the lottery game servicer&#39;s  24  location interfaces with communication path  37  to transfer information between lottery game servicer  24  and 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26 . During installation of this software, various information is input by the lottery game servicer  24  to facilitate this communication, including identification of the lottery game servicer&#39;s  24  type of modem and dial-in number for modem communications, operating environment, database design, systems platform, and contact information at the lottery game servicer&#39;s  24  place of business, etc.  
     [0045] As illustrated in FIG. 4 in block  400 , the software scans the database of the 3 rd  party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  and in block  402  identifies customers who have purchased a lottery ticket using the services of 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26 . When a customer is located, the software extracts the necessary data elements from the record and preferably stores this information in a temporary file in block  404 . The scanning process then continues in this manner until it has completed scanning the entire database of the 3 rd  party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26 . In accordance with the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the extracting software is executed at least once each day between 4 and 6 pm U.S. Eastern Standard Time. The software should automatically initiate and complete the database scanning process based on time parameters provided by lottery game servicer  24 . Where automatic execution is not possible, the software prompts a user as a reminder that the database scan needs to be executed and informs the user as to how long it has been since the last update was processed.  
     [0046] Once the appropriate data elements are extracted from lottery ticket purchase facilitator&#39;s  26  database, the software establishes in block  406  a communications link between the lottery game servicer  24  and the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  and transmits this data to the lottery game servicer  24  in block  408 . While in this embodiment communications are initiated by the 3 d party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26 , it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that it is possible, and in fact may be preferable, for lottery ticket servicer  24  to initiate data communications with the 3 rd  party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26 . Any suitable communications path can be used, including a dial-up modem connection, leased line, TCP/IP or world wide computer network interconnection. In block  410 , the software verifies that the data has been accurately transmitted and retries the transmission if a failure occurs. Upon successful transmission, the process ends in block  412 .  
     [0047] As noted above, the system and method of the present invention will likely interact with any number of lottery game servicers, or with geographically dispersed operations centers of large lottery game servicers. Therefore, the above data extraction process is performed for any and all lottery game servicers or operations centers having information that must be communicated to the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26 .  
     [0048] The data from each of the lottery game servicers  24  is received by 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  using appropriate communications and processing software, which is illustrated in flow chart form in FIG. 5. This software is capable of receiving data from a plurality of lottery game servicers or operations centers. A log of records received from each lottery game servicer is also generated and stored with the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26 . As seen in FIG. 5, the process begins with the initiation of a daily download in block  500 . The software retrieves from the lottery game servicer  24  the required data elements extracted from the lottery game servicer&#39;s records (FIG. 4, block  404 ) in block  502 . If the transmission fails in block  504 , control returns to block  500  and the download session is repeated. Upon a successful transmission, the extracted data is saved in block  506  and converted to an appropriate format in block  508  for storage in a database at the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator&#39;s  26  location. The data may also be saved to a back-up log for subsequent recovery or verification purposes. The data formatting used by each of the lottery game servicers  24  may or may not correspond to each other and to the format used by 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26 . Therefore, when an incompatible data format is used, the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  first converts the information into a format compatible with the 3 rd  party lottery ticket purchase facilitator&#39;s  26  database system.  
     [0049] Once the software receives, converts and stores data from all lottery game servicers  24  or from all operations centers of geographically dispersed lottery game servicers, the data is converted and aggregated into a suitable format for communication to ATM network  8  (FIG. 2) as shown in block  510 . While the above process is the preferred method in accordance with the present invention of receiving and processing the debt related information, it is to be understood by those of skill in the art that the data retrieval, formatting, and storage can be modified as desired. The primary objective achieved by the present invention is the retrieval of information of one or more lottery game servicers and the conversion of this information into a form that can be readily processed by an ATM transaction network to permit a user of the ATM network to view this data or to initiate a transaction in response to this data.  
     [0050] This data is then communicated in block  512  to ATM network  8  through a communication path  31 , for example. In accordance with the present invention, the totality of this data can be downloaded to transaction processor  14  so that it is readily available when a consumer initiates a lottery ticket purchase transaction using ATM network  8 , or it may be stored in a database at the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator&#39;s  26  location and single data records can be transferred to the ATM network  8  as required in response to a request from the transaction processor  14 . This data is then used by the transaction processor  14  in the fashion described above in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3 to process lottery ticket purchase requests initiated by a consumer. If the data is found to be successfully transmitted to the transaction processor  14  in block  514 , the process terminates in block  516 . If a transmission error is determined in block  514 , then the process returns to block  512  and the data is retransmitted to the ATM processors until a successful transmission is achieved.  
     [0051] The 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  software further operates to receive a record of each lottery ticket purchase transaction processed by the transaction processor  14 , either on a transaction-by-transaction basis or in bulk form at the end of each business day. A flowchart of this portion of the software is shown in FIG. 6. The process begins in block  600  with the initiation of a download process. The software receives information for all successfully completed transactions in block  602 .  
     [0052] If the transmission fails in block  604 , the process returns to block  600 , where the download procedure is retried. Upon successful transmission of the data, the process proceeds to block  606 , where the downloaded data is saved. In block  608 , the transaction records are disaggregated by lottery game servicer. From this information, detailed records of the amount of funds transferred for each ticket purchased are received and this information can be compared with the records received from the lottery game servicer  24  and appropriate entries made to indicate that certain lottery tickets have been purchased.  
     [0053] Next, in block  610 , the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator  26  software formats this information into a suitable form and forwards, in block  612 , suitable information to the lottery game servicers  24  sufficient to identify the transactions completed for the given reporting period. In the event that no transactions have been processed for a particular lottery game servicer  24 , this information is also forwarded to the lottery game servicer  24  to confirm that no transactions in fact occurred. If the transmission is found to be successful in block  614 , then the process ends in block  616 . Otherwise, control returns to block  612 , where the transmission to the lottery game servicers  24  is retried.  
     [0054] Referring to FIG. 7, upon receipt of this information in block  700 , lottery game servicer  24  will save the information in block  702  and update its records in block  704  to reflect the purchases processed by the ATM network  8 , and will further use this information to aid in the settlement verification process and reconciliation of its bank accounts with lottery game servicer&#39;s bank  22 . Furthermore, with this timely data, the lottery game servicers  24  can generate any necessary reports of transactions for forwarding to investors or secondary market agencies as required. Lottery game servicer  24  will then prepare the data for download the following day to the 3rd party lottery ticket purchase facilitator in block  706 .  
     [0055] In accordance with the present invention, appropriate modifications are made to the ATM network  8 , and specifically to the ATM network access device, or ATM terminal,  15  shown in FIG. 1. A consumer electing to make a lottery ticket purchase through an ATM selects an appropriate option from the ATM functional menu, after first having passed through the standard access requirements (i.e., inserting a magnetic-stripe ATM/debit card and entering an associated PIN). Once access has been gained, the consumer selects a lottery ticket purchase option from the ATM functional menu, and completes the transaction by responding to a series of prompts displayed on the ATM screens. If adequate funds are available in the consumer&#39;s transaction account to cover the amount of the purchase, the consumer is given a receipt evidencing the transaction provided to the consumer in the form of a written lottery ticket printed by the ATM network access device, and is returned to the ATM&#39;s main display screen for additional transactions. If sufficient funds are not available for the purchase, the consumer is advised of the condition, the payment transaction is terminated, and the consumer is returned to the ATM&#39;s main display screen for additional transactions.  
     [0056] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications of the disclosed embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art on reference to the detailed description of the invention contained herein. Accordingly, the claims of the present application should not be limited to the specific preferred embodiments described