A device, system, and method are provided for inspecting, activating or voiding scratch-off instant lottery tickets. A remote point-of-sale device has a detector system that detects tampering with the coating placed over concealed game play information on the tickets, and reads coded identification and authentication information on the tickets. The device automatically communicates the coded identification and tampering data to a central computer system of a lottery. The central computer system provides activation signals back to the point of sale on a ticket-by-ticket basis. The device, method and system provide automated generation and communication of ticket-by-ticket tampering, activation, and voiding data between the remote device and a central computer system of a lottery.