Instant lottery games have quickly become one of the most popular forms of legal gambling in the US. They are equipped with multiple security measures designed to combat ticket fraud and ensure integrity of winnings; such as the game number that identifies winning tickets that is read or scanned to determine prize amounts before being submitted into a computer which decodes and verifies them before they are redeemed by their rightful holders. There are however various techniques used by criminals and others who seek to breach security for fraudulent purposes – or worse still for ticket scamming schemes!
Design elements vary significantly between instant lottery tickets. Games may feature themes related to popular interests like sports or television series; states sometimes hold contests inviting participants in designing processes; marketing factors can also impact game designs in order to entice potential purchasers.
When tickets are printed, coded serial numbers are added using a continuous printing process that employs sequencers to advance each ticket as it passes through the print press. Once converted into lottery numbers by an algorithmic converter, these serial numbers are printed along with other information on the ticket such as game name and play area details.
To enhance game security, additional converting operations may be performed on tickets to increase security of play. These may include slicing them into rolls or perforating them for easier dispensation, and then applying a protective coating with confusing patterns printed both front and back that obscure the image when light shines on them. In addition, dyes which respond to solvents cause this coating to bleed further obscuring lottery numbers.