EP2550072B1

EP2550072B1 - Method for preventing and detecting tampering of scratch-off coatings on substrates, and associated substrates

Info

Publication number: EP2550072B1
Application number: EP10801275.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jr. Kenneth Earl Irwin; Gary Streeter
Original assignee: Scientific Games Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Scientific Games Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2010-03-23
Filing date: 2010-11-30
Publication date: 2015-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2030-11-30
Also published as: CA2793804A1; EP2550071B1; CA2793804C; EP2550072A1; EP2550073A1; WO2011117689A1; EP2550071A1; WO2011117688A1; CA2793802C; CA2793803A1; CA2793803C; CA2793802A1; WO2011117687A1; ES2555392T3; ES2551385T3

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/340,806, filed March 23, 2010 .

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates in general to methodologies for securing scratch-off lottery tickets and commercial tickets/coupons against assisted and unassisted mechanical lifts and reapplication, as well as a method for protecting against the fraud of recycling losing tickets by the reprinting of a Scratch-Off-Coating (SOC). The proposed methodologies allow for enhanced security without any increase in cost as well as no significant impact on the consumer's play experience.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lottery scratch-off or instant games have become a time-honored method of raising revenue for state and federal governments the world over. Indeed, the concept of hiding indicia information under a Scratch-Off-Coating (SOC) has also been applied to numerous other products such as commercial contests, telephone card account numbers, etc. Literally, billions of scratch-off products are printed every year where the integrity of their Scratch-Off-Coatings (SOCs) is used to ensure that the product has not been previously used, played, or modified. Thus, the integrity of the SOC is paramount to ensure that a game or product is secure.
Unfortunately, there are known techniques that can mechanically "lift" the SOC and thereby compromise the integrity of scratch-off products. The term 'mechanical lift' refers to a process that uses a flat blade (e.g., X-Acto chisel blade #17) or other device to peel back a portion of a Scratch-Off-Coating (SOC) to reveal previously hidden indicia. The SOC is then glued back into place such that it is not obvious that the integrity of the coating has been breached. The industry has developed countermeasures to the previously described mechanical lift technique which involve changing the formulation of the SOC so that it is more difficult to remove and/or it flakes off or crumbles rather than peeling off in one piece, thereby making "unassisted" SOC lifts more difficult. However, these techniques have done little to alleviate the vexing problem of "assisted" SOC lifts. Assisted lifts differ from unassisted lifts in that another medium or material is applied to the SOC (e.g., Krylon acrylic clear spray) to strengthen it, thereby "assisting" anyone who is attempting a mechanical lift.
Another form of fraud involves completely removing the SOC, viewing the indicia, and then reprinting a new SOC on the non-winning products (via silk screen or other printing methodology) that is similar in appearance to the original SOC such that an unsuspecting customer would purchase the modified product assuming it is pristine.
WO 00/09344 A1 discloses a ticket with a substrate, on optional primer overlying the substrate, a release layer overlying the substrate or the primer, and a scratch-off coating overlying the release layer. A laser is used to create voids in the release layer, e.g., the letters "W", "I", "N". Scratch-off material in said voids permanently adheres to the substrate or the primer and is not removed when a coin is scratched over the ticket. Thus, in this example, the scratch-off coating material in these voids forms the word "WIN".
CA 2 537 196 A1 discloses a foil layer, which is placed on a basic cardstock. The foil layer has an embossed area that provides a pattern having a visual attractiveness. Foil layers applied to lottery ticket substrates are well known in the art for providing a visually distinct appearance. An integrity layer is applied over the foil layer, and game data is printed on top of the integrity layer. A seal coat is applied over the game data, and a scratch-off layer is applied over the seal coat.
Thus, it is highly desirably to develop improved methodologies for ensuring the integrity of a SOC against lifts and reapplication, as well as enhancing the product's resistance to complete SOC removal and reprinting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
Described area number of methodologies that provide practical embodiments for reliably protecting the integrity of the SOC from mechanical lifts, SOC reapplication, and SOC reprinting.
In a particular embodiment, a method is provided for deterring and detecting fraudulent removal of a scratch-off coating (SOC) from a substrate having at least one scratch-off area. A release layer is applied over the scratch-off area, and a scratch-off coating is applied over the release layer. The release layer is modified to have non-uniform release properties over the scratch-off area such that the scratch-off coating cannot be lifted or removed as a single continuous layer, but underlying indicia or images in the scratch-off area are still visually discernable upon removal of the scratch-off coating in a normal intended removal process, for example by scraping the SOC with a coin, fingernail, and so forth. In this manner, attempts at assisted lifting or removal and reapplication of the scratch-off coating results in visually apparent evidence of such attempts.
In a unique embodiment, the release layer is applied as a discontinuous layer over the scratch-off area, resulting in the scratch-off coating being removed from the substrate in areas where the release layer is present but remaining on the substrate in areas where the release layer is absent. For example, the release layer may be applied with a pattern of holes.
In another embodiment, the surface of the release layer is modified to be irregular or non-smooth, wherein the scratch-off coating flows into the irregular surface features upon application thereof and prevents removal of the scratch-off coating as a single continuous layer. For example, the thickness of the release layer may be varied such that raised and lowered thickness areas are defined in the release layer. Alternatively, the release layer is formed in multiple levels creating a series of raised planes to which the scratch-off coating is applied.
In still another embodiment, the surface of the release layer is formed or modified to be rough or irregular such that cavities are created into which the scratch-off coating flows and cures.
The present invention also encompasses any manner of substrate that incorporates aspects of the methods described herein. In a particular embodiment, a substrate is provided with a scratch-off area, a release layer over the scratch-off area, and a scratch-off coating applied over the release layer. The release layer has a modified non-smooth surface creating non-uniform release properties such that the scratch-off coating cannot be lifted or removed from the release layer as a single continuous layer, while underlying indicia or images in the scratch-off area remain visually discernable upon removal of the scratch-off coating in a normal intended removal process. In this manner, attempts at assisted lifting or removal and reapplication of the scratch-off coating results in visually apparent evidence of such attempts.
The release layer may be formed with the properties from any of the methods discussed above.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a first representative example of a lottery-type instant ticket where a mechanical lift has been attempted and the SOC was not reapplied in register;
FIG. 2 is a front plan view of a first representative example of a lottery-type instant ticket where a Benday-type pattern overprint greatly increases the difficulty of lifting and reapplying or reprinting the SOC;
FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the first representative example of FIG.2 where a lift/reapplication has been attempted but the miss-registered Benday pattern makes the attempt clearly visible;
FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the first representative example of FIG.2 where a complete SOC replacement (or reprint) has been attempted but the mis-registered Benday pattern makes the attempt clearly visible;
FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the first representative example of a non-continuous release coating film application in a typical scratch-off ticket ink film layer;
FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the second representative example of a release coating film with an irregular surface application in a scratch-off ticket ink film layer;
FIG. 7 is a cross section view of the third representative example of a release coating film with an irregular surface application in a scratch-off ticket ink film layer; and
FIG. 8 is a front plan view of the first representative example of a scratch-off ticket with a special coating to chemically detect assist agents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. FIG. 2 to 4 illustrate embodiments which are not subject of the claimed invention. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Whether attempting a mechanical lift/reapplication or reprinting a new SOC coating, the perpetrator's principal challenge is the reapplication of the lifted SOC, or reprinting of a new SOC material, such that the SOC remains in registration with the graphics on the rest of the ticket. If registration is not maintained between the lifted/new SOC and the rest of the ticket, the product would appear modified or defective. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a lottery ticket 100 where the scratch-off area 101 SOC has been mechanically lifted in six places 102, but not reapplied into proper registration with the other graphics on the ticket.
Regrettably, after some practice, a skilled technician can perform SOC lifts and replacements with little impact in registration on most tickets such that the ticket would pass as pristine under normal inspection. However, the ability for the skilled technician to perform these SOC lifts and replacements without detection varies with ticket design, with more complex graphics in the scratch-off area(s) greatly increasing the difficulty. For example, a photographic reproduction of people or familiar objects in the scratch-off area(s) of a ticket makes it practically impossible to perform a mechanical lift/reapplication without leaving a telltale mark. The problem with this approach is that it is difficult to maintain an environment conducive to low cost photographic reproduction. Additionally, if the photographic image is confined to only the scratch-off area of the ticket with a clear delineation between the scratch-off area and the rest of the ticket (for example, provided by a border as is typical in scratch-off ticket graphic design), completely reprinting the removed SOC remains viable, because the graphic scratch-off border helps mask any out-of-register condition.
If the photographic image is extended beyond the scratch-off area, with the delineating scratch-off graphic border reduced in intensity (e.g., screened half tone or dashed line), reprinting a removed SOC via lithographic methods becomes un-viable since registration with the ticket substrate image would be exceedingly difficult. This same concept, of bridging the graphics over the scratch-off area and surrounding ticket substrate, can be expanded to simpler designs (e.g., Benday patterns) that accomplish the same registration challenges for the lift/replacement attack without the added costs of printing photographic images over the scratch-off area(s) of a ticket. Thus, in this embodiment not subject of the present invention,
low cost production and miss-registration detection methods are both incorporated into the same product.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of this embodiment not subject of the claimed invention. In FIG. 2, the six scratch-off areas 101 of the ticket 100 all include Benday overprints 111 that cover both the scratch-off areas 101 as well as a portion of the background ticket substrate 103. By covering both the scratch-off areas as well as the ticket substrate, the fine lines of the Benday patterns make registration exceedingly difficult to effectively hide both the SOC lift/reapplication and the reprinting of SOC.
FIG. 3 provides an illustration of how the Benday patterns 111 provide a ready visual indication 115 that a mechanical lift/reapplication has been attempted in the six scratch-off areas, even to someone that is not necessarily aware of the technique. FIG. 4 illustrates how the same Benday patterns 111 would also protect against reprinting of the entire SOC in the six scratch-off areas, by readily showing a registration failure 260 between the replacement SOC and the ticket substrate 103 that is not apparent in non-tampered tickets.
Of course there are numerous other variations of this preferred embodiment (e.g., photographic pictures, fingerprint patterns, water flow patterns, etc.) that are obvious to anyone skilled in the art and may under some circumstances be more desirable than the previously disclosed embodiment.
In alternative embodiments, illustrative of the claimed invention, protection of the integrity of the SOC is provided by alterations to the release material associated with the SOC rather than by an elaborate overprint. Scratch-off tickets typically employ a release coating layer beneath the SOC opaque and decorative layers. The release layer, as its name implies, causes any coatings placed over it to easily scratch-off. The physical nature of the scratch-off coating varies from manufacturer to manufacturer (e.g., wax base, UV coating, etc.) and has been documented in numerous other patents as well as many public domain documents and is not essential to the present description. In known applications, however, the release layer is specified as a continuous film providing a foundation from which all subsequent layers of ink film will scratch-off, allowing for the one-time reveal that is typical of scratch-off tickets. The problem with this homogeneous continuous release film, however, is that it provides an excellent base for SOC mechanical lifts and/or replacement of the SOC by devious means.
Thus, a release film with partial coverage causes the SOC to release easily from some areas and not at all from others, thereby making it difficult if not impossible to lift or reprint the SOC even with mechanical assists. In one possible embodiment, the release film 200 is applied as illustrated in FIG. 5 with a pattern of dots (holes) 201 in which no release film is present. In this embodiment, if the dots 201 are small enough they will not hinder the normal scratching process or obscure the imaged indicia. However, the presence of a non-continuous release film with holes large enough to prohibit lifting of the SOC will greatly hinder or render impossible mechanical lifting of the SOC due to the dotted areas with no release that would effectively block a sharp X-Acto or razor blade from raising a smooth film. Additionally, the pattern of dots (holes) 201 would also make it extremely difficult to reapply a new SOC to the scratched off area(s) due to registration problems with the SOC overprint and the multiplicity of dots. Of course there are many possible patterns obvious to anyone skilled in the art that might perform better than the previously described dots and in some instances may be more desirable, but for the sake of brevity, only the dot pattern is described in for this particular embodiment.
In yet another embodiment, rather than a pattern of holes or lines with no release present in the film, the same effect of making the film resistant to mechanical lifts and/or replacement of SOC can be accomplished with an irregular or rough release film surface. FIG. 6 illustrates an irregular or rough SOC film 202, printed on a ticket substrate 103, above the win or lose indicia 252, with opaque and decorative overprints 253 printed on top of the irregular release film 202. In this embodiment, the irregular release film surface 202 when initially applied and not completely cured allows for subsequent SOC ink film layers to flow into the irregular surfaces forming a homogeneous and opaque covering 253. The irregularities in the release film may be generated by planned deformities in the Flexographic printing plate (or other type of printing) that applies the release film to the ticket substrate 103. In this embodiment, the rough/irregular surface of the release film 202 is not so irregular that it significantly impacts removal of the SOC by normal consumer scratching with a relatively blunt coin or other object. However, when a perpetrator attempts to lift the SOC via assisted or unassisted means, the rough/irregular surface of the release film 202 functions as a series of 'speed bumps' that repeatedly catch the sharp edge of the X-Acto or razor blade typically used in mechanical lifts causing the blades to jerk and not lift a continuous patch. Additionally, while the irregular release film surface 202 does allow removal of the majority of the SOC 253 with blunt coins and other objects (e.g., fingernail), it does allow for microscopic parts of the SOC 253 to remain. While these microscopic SOC remnants are not sufficient to significantly impact viewing of the revealed play indicia 252, the remnants do intermingle with any fresh SOC ink coating(s) reapplied to a played ticket, such that the resulting ink films appear tampered with and would be unlikely to be accepted by a consumer as pristine.
In still another embodiment, the release film coating thickness can be varied, producing a series of plateaus, which halt or disrupt any mechanical lifting attempts. In this embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, the release film 203 is applied in multiple levels, resulting in a series of planes to which the SOC ink film(s) 253 are applied. The multiple levels of release coating could be achieved by altering the line screen on a single Flexographic printing plate or by the application of multiple printing plates.
In the special case of preventing assisted mechanical lifts, the chemical nature of the spray-on assist material can be used to trigger a reaction on the ticket's scratch-off surface. For example, Krylon clear spray contains keytones, petroleum distillates, toluene, naphthalene, acetone, and ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate. Dyes exist that responds to one of these ingredients. These dyes could be applied as an overcoat to the ticket's scratch area and serve as an obvious indication of attempted "assisted lift" tampering. FIG. 8 provides an exemplary illustration of this embodiment. In FIG. 8, the lottery ticket 100 has special dyes 255 that are sensitive to one of the key ingredients in the assisted lift medium (e.g., Krylon). As shown, when the ingredients from the assisted lift medium contact the dyes in the scratch-off area 101 overprint, a chemical reaction occurs causing the dyes to become visible, with the word 'VOID' 255 appearing in this example. Of course the chemical reaction, could cause the ticket's ink to dissolve, bleed, run, thin, or otherwise dramatically alter in appearance to indicate tampering.
While the aforementioned chemical reaction methodology is only affective against assisted mechanical lifts, it can be used in addition to some of the other techniques described in this application to provide a more robust defense against ticket fraud.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the present invention include such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A method for deterring and detecting fraudulent removal of a scratch-off coating (SOC) from a substrate (103), comprising:
forming a substrate (103) comprising at least one scratch-off area (101);

providing indicia or images (252) in the scratch-off area (101);

applying a release layer (200; 202; 203) over the scratch-off area (101) and the indicia or images (252), said release layer (200; 202; 203) comprising a formed or modified non-smooth surface above the scratch-off area (101) including the area where the indicia or images (252) are provided;

applying a scratch-off coating (253) over the release layer (200; 202; 203), the indicia or images (252) underlying the scratch-off coating (253);

said release layer (200; 202; 203) being formed or modified to have non-uniform release properties over the scratch-off area (101) including the area where the indicia or images (252) are provided such that parts of the scratch-off coating (253) remain and the indicia or images (252) in the scratch-off area (101) underlying the scratch-off coating (253) with said non-uniform release properties are visually discernable upon removal of the scratch-off coating (253) in a normal intended removal process, but the scratch-off coating (253) cannot be lifted or removed as a single continuous layer and not reapplied without resulting in visually apparent evidence of such attempts.
The method of claim 1, wherein the release layer (200; 202; 203) is applied as a discontinuous layer over the scratch-off area (101), resulting in the scratch-off coating (253) being removed from the substrate in areas where the release layer (200; 202; 203) is present but remaining on the substrate (103) in areas where the release layer (200; 202; 203) is absent.
The method of claim 1, wherein the release layer (200) is applied with a pattern of holes (201).
The method of claim 1, wherein the surface of the release layer (202; 203) is modified to be irregular or non-smooth, wherein the scratch-off coating (253) flows into the irregular surface features upon application thereof and prevents removal of the scratch-off coating (253) as a single continuous layer.
The method of claim 4, wherein the thickness of the release layer (202; 203) is varied such that raised and lowered thickness areas are defined in the release layer (202; 203).
The method of claim 4, wherein the release layer (203) is formed in multiple levels creating a series of raised planes to which the scratchoff coating (253) is applied.
The method of claim 4, where the surface of the release layer (202) is irregular and creates cavities into which the scratch-off coating (253) flows and cures.
A substrate, comprising:
a scratch-off area (101);

indicia or images (252) in the scratch-off area (101);

a release layer (200; 202; 203) over the scratch-off area (101) and the indicia or images (252);

the release layer (200; 202; 203) comprising a formed or modified non-smooth surface above the scratch-off area (101) including the area where the indicia or images (252) are provided,

a scratch-off coating (253) applied over the release layer, the indicia or images (252) underlying the scratch-off coating (253);

said release layer (200; 202; 203) creating release properties such that parts of the scratch-off coating (253) remain and the indicia or images (252) in the scratch-off area (101) underlying said non-smooth surface of said release layer (200, 202, 203) are visually discernable upon removal of the scratch-off coating (253) in a normal intended removal process, but the scratch-off coating (253) cannot be lifted or removed from the release layer (200; 202; 203) as a single continuous layer and not reapplied without resulting in visually apparent evidence of such attempts.
The substrate of claim 8, wherein the release layer (200; 202; 203) is a discontinuous layer over the scratch-off area (101), resulting in the scratch-off coating (253) being removed from the substrate (103) in areas where the release layer (200; 202; 203) is present but remaining on the substrate (103) in areas where the release layer (200; 202; 203) is absent.
The substrate of claim 9, wherein the release layer (200) comprises a pattern of holes (201).
The substrate of claim 8, wherein the release layer (202; 203) comprises an irregular or non-smooth surface, wherein the scratch-off coating (253) flows into the irregular surface features upon application thereof and prevents removal of the scratch-off coating (253) as a single continuous layer.
The substrate of claim 11, wherein the release layer (202; 203) comprises a non-uniform thickness with raised and lowered thickness areas.
The substrate of claim 11, wherein the release layer (203) comprises multiple levels creating a series of raised planes to which the scratch-off coating (253) is applied.
The substrate of claim 11, where the release layer (202) comprises a rough an irregular surface with cavities into which the scratch-off coating (253) flows and cures.