A lottery ticket dispensing unit includes at least one ticket compartment and a separation module that has a drive roller and an opposed idler roller. A motor is geared to the drive roller and is switchable between a convey mode wherein the drive roller engages and conveys a leading ticket to a separation position and a brake mode wherein the motor provides a reverse retarding force to the drive roller to brake the drive roller against an attempted reeling of the lottery tickets. from the dispensing unit. A controller switches the motor between the convey and brakes modes such that in the brake mode, power to the motor is interrupted and windings in the motor are short-circuited.