Tribal Lottery System FAQ

How do they work?

The quick answer is that they are linked lottery terminals where a central computer delivers a virtual "scratch ticket" to a player terminal, upon the request of a casino guest.

Am I playing by myself against the player terminal?

No. The virtual scratch tickets are dispensed from a finite "game set" that delivers tickets randomly to two or more terminals. The most common scenario is that players on the same bank (group) of machines are playing from the same game set.

How do the bonus rounds work?

Generally, the bonus rounds are for entertainment purposes only, and your interaction with the machine in these rounds has no impact on the outcome of the ticket that had already been delivered to your player terminal. Certain newer games (such as Monopoly) allow you to play more than one scratch ticket at the same time, or give you as a prize the opportunity to play from a different game set.

What is the minimum payout for the machines?

Seventy-five percent of the wagers received must be paid back to customers for every game set put into play. Most casinos set the payouts much higher than this.

Who regulates the machines?

The primary regulators at the casino are the tribal gaming agencies (TGAs) of each tribe. Each casino is required to have at least one TGA agent on duty during gaming hours. TGAs must get involved in machine disputes if casino employees cannot resolve the issue. The Gambling Commission's Tribal Gaming Unit (TGU) agents conduct regular on-site visits that involve testing of the machines for compliance.

How are the machines tested?

Samples of each component in play are approved by an independent testing lab as well as the Gambling Commission's Electronic Gambling Lab. The machines in the tribal casinos must match those tested exactly. TGA's and state agents test the machines to ensure they are identical to approved prototypes.