SNAPNWIN CARDS A MUCH SAFER ALTERNATIVE TO PRINTED LOTTERY CARDS
SNAPNWIN LOTTO
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"It didn't need to happen," says Malcolm Stagg, commenting on the Ontario Lottery & Gaming (OLG) misprinted scratch and win cards that were recently distributed.
Stagg, an engineer whose earlier career included positions as head of research and development for a number of multi-nationals before founding his own company, Oakville-based Norprint Corp., in 1997, is the creator of SnapNwin, a Canadian invention launched last year.
A Fail-Safe System
"With SnapNwin, the option also exists to have a fail-safe electronic check system so someone can't be left with the impression they have won when they haven't," says Stagg. "With all the technology we have today, there is really no reason to rely on the accuracy of a printing press subject to human error."
Here's how it works. The prize message is securely hidden, can't be 'peeked at' by scratching with a needle and has none of the messy latex that you have to remove from under your fingernails. When the card is 'snapped', the removable piece is a collectible and practical magnet that can include any combination of photos or targeted promotional messages. However, the patent also allows the option to include a unique magnetic code similar to an ATM bank card.
"We see this working like a combination vending machine and ATM, where the card is dispensed without the possibility of a store employee tampering with it," says Stagg. "The machine verifies everything and then encodes and dispenses a 'cash' card which is redeemed at a bank or store, and the purchaser keeps the souvenir magnet. The souvenir could feature Canadian celebrity pictures, hockey stars, or an image of Ontario travel attractions - whatever people will want to collect," he adds.
Norprint is actively discussing the licensing of this patent with several potential manufacturers. It's time to take advantage of 21st-century technology with lotteries. If ATM's and Blackberrys work, then why do we leave lottery fans exposed?
Read and print the complete News Release HERE
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