A computer device and method for encoding a message corresponding to an
outcome of a computer game, and a computer device and method for decoding
the message to detect a fraudulent outcome. The computer device used to
generate the encoded message includes (1) a memory device containing
encoding control code and (2) a processor configured to process the
encoding control code in conjunction with a computer game outcome to
generate an encoded message containing the computer game outcome and to
transmit the encoded message to a human-readable output device, such as a
display device. The computer device includes various tamper resistant or
tamper evidence features. A secure module containing the processor and
memory is used to plug into an existing personal computer or dedicated
game device. The device also includes a system for metering use of a
computer game. The method for encoding the message includes the steps of
executing a computer game program to generate a computer game outcome,
encoding the computer game outcome to generate an encoded message, and
providing the encoded message to a user, who may then transmit the encoded
message to a device configured for decoding the encoded message to reveal
the computer game outcome. A second central or host computer device is
used to decode the encoded message. The second computer device has (a) a
memory device containing decoding control code and an encoded message
corresponding to a computer game outcome and (b) a processor configured to
process the code to decode the encoded message to reveal the computer game
outcome.