This man invented the first instant scratch off game
/Fifty years ago, John Reed Koza, a computer scientist and entrepreneur, started the scratch-off game movement.
He transformed the lottery industry in 1974 with his invention of the instant lottery scratch-off ticket.
Koza, along with retail promotions specialist Daniel Bower, developed this new form of lottery in the early 1970s.
Their idea was to create a game that offered immediate results, unlike traditional lotteries that required players to wait for a draw.
This led to the development of a scratch-off coating that could be applied to tickets, hiding the game's outcome until scratched off by the player.
The first scratch-off game, called "The Instant Game," was launched by the Massachusetts Lottery in May of 1974.
The $1 game was an immediate success, leading to rapid adoption of the concept by other state lotteries across the United States.
Koza's invention not only introduced a new form of entertainment but also significantly boosted state lottery revenues.
His innovative approach to lottery gaming revolutionized the industry, making him a key figure in the history of lottery games.
ABOUT
John R. Koza is an American computer scientist and former adjunct professor at Stanford University.
He is well-known for being a leader in genetic programming and his impact on the lottery industry.
He co-founded Scientific Games Corporation, a company that started selling games to operating state lotteries in the United States.
Koza's most notable achievement is his creation of the scratch card, developed alongside retail promotions specialist Daniel Bower.
This innovation revolutionized the lottery world by introducing instant win games, which have since become a staple in the industry.
Koza has had a varied career, which also involved advocating for changes in the U.S. Electoral College system through his organization, National Popular Vote Inc.
