Los Angeles, California United States
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January 5, 2011
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Does anyone know: What is the significance of the special 3-digit code on all Scratch ticket lottery numbers?
On CA lottery Scratchers, every ticket has a 3-digit number in random positions that are "boxed" on the 13-digit lottery number. I notice on some pictures of scratch tickets in other states that there is a line over 3-digits on some of those also, instead of being boxed.
I just know the first 3 digits of the lottery number is always the Game number. For each particular game there are many corresponding Book numbers printed and distributed, with varying numbers of Tickets in each book. The book+ticket number combo is unique, as well as each full lottery number is unique. But I don't know the relationship of the special moving 3-digit boxed numbers, and what relationship they have to the remaining numbers. Positions and numbers on the 3-digit boxes on Winners or Non-winners seems to be random, or I have not found the correlation yet.
North Dakota United States
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April 5, 2005
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This code is to validate your winning (or losing ticket). Basically, when the cashier scans your ticket... he or she must enter this code in order to process your prize.
Los Angeles, California United States
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Quote: Originally posted by Tnplayer805 on Mar 6, 2011
This code is to validate your winning (or losing ticket). Basically, when the cashier scans your ticket... he or she must enter this code in order to process your prize.
Yeah, I see the clerks type in what I assume is the game and 3-digit code, but wondering why they do that?
When you redeem the draw/jackpot lottery tickets, they just insert it into the machine to be scanned and the amount pops up. But for the scratch cards, why is it that they can't just scan with the revealed barcode, and also need to enter the 3-digit code portion manually?
Is it some kind of extra security or hash or verification of a valid prize? I don't get it.
I was logging down all the ticket numbers of scratchers I was playing, but wasn't keeping track of the sliding 3-digit code. Just curious if it has some other meaning.
The Ville, FL United States
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August 19, 2010
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Quote: Originally posted by Jon D on Mar 9, 2011
Yeah, I see the clerks type in what I assume is the game and 3-digit code, but wondering why they do that?
When you redeem the draw/jackpot lottery tickets, they just insert it into the machine to be scanned and the amount pops up. But for the scratch cards, why is it that they can't just scan with the revealed barcode, and also need to enter the 3-digit code portion manually?
Is it some kind of extra security or hash or verification of a valid prize? I don't get it.
I was logging down all the ticket numbers of scratchers I was playing, but wasn't keeping track of the sliding 3-digit code. Just curious if it has some other meaning.
Well, if retailers were able to just scan the barcode and see if its a winner or not, every retailer in the country would scan them to see if its a winner before selling it =)
The security code is a validation method, that when typed in, it coincides with the barcode on the back and equals a prize amount. The code underneath the latex coating is a specific algorithm that people are unable to figure out the significance. If people were able to "crack" the scratch off code before scratching it, there would be huge integrity issues.
The online games like lotto & powerball only need a single barcode since the drawing is in the future and sales stop before the drawing. Not really any way to "cheat" on those
Los Angeles, California United States
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Quote: Originally posted by B$Rizzle on Mar 11, 2011
Well, if retailers were able to just scan the barcode and see if its a winner or not, every retailer in the country would scan them to see if its a winner before selling it =)
The security code is a validation method, that when typed in, it coincides with the barcode on the back and equals a prize amount. The code underneath the latex coating is a specific algorithm that people are unable to figure out the significance. If people were able to "crack" the scratch off code before scratching it, there would be huge integrity issues.
The online games like lotto & powerball only need a single barcode since the drawing is in the future and sales stop before the drawing. Not really any way to "cheat" on those
Well, there's TWO barcodes on the Scratch ticket:
The one on the back I assume is just the Serial number, which is made up of the Game/Book/Ticket numbers. Of course you cannot scan the back barcode, that does not tell you anything more than the front, and would defeat the purpose of the scratch-off covering.
It's the hidden checkered barcode on the front that I was referring to. That revealed barcode can be scanned to tell if you won or not. I don't know what that barcode contains, but I assume it represents the Lottery number, which probably contains the game and result in some kind of encoding.
My theory is that the sliding 3-digit code may be an outcome/result type for the game? I have not verified it and could be wrong on that. It could just be some random additional security check that the clerk has to key in manually. But that seems kind of redundant if they already scan the Lottery number to type in an additional 3-digit number by hand?
California United States
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February 23, 2011
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Jon, the stores here in California scan the barcode on the back of the card then type in the numbers in the box! If you want to self check your card you may use the barcode that is on the front the one you scratch off. I hope this helps you out!
SC United States
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November 28, 2007
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The boxed 3-digit number under the latex is simply a back-up means to scan tickets. The 3-D barcode under the latex is the primary means to verify winning/losing tickets. If the primary barcode becomes corrupted/defaced then the clerk can scan the barcode on the back of the ticket and enter the 3-digit code to verify.
SC United States
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Quote: Originally posted by soothsayer on Mar 27, 2011
The boxed 3-digit number under the latex is simply a back-up means to scan tickets. The 3-D barcode under the latex is the primary means to verify winning/losing tickets. If the primary barcode becomes corrupted/defaced then the clerk can scan the barcode on the back of the ticket and enter the 3-digit code to verify.
Also the 3-D barcode contains all the other printed numbers on the ticket( i.e. Game #, Serial #, Package #, Ticket #, and the 13 digit algorithm with 3 boxed numbers).