You last visited January 8, 2009, 7:06 am
|
N.C. lottery tickets sold in vending machines
N.C. lottery tickets sold in vending machinesPosted: 4/10/2007 11:13:59 AM  Like chips and soda, now you can buy North Carolina scratch-off lottery tickets from vending machines.
The lottery began installing 500 machines statewide last week. The vending machines sell 24 games costing $1 to $10 each.
Many will go into supermarkets including Food Lion and Lowes Foods, said Alice Garland, lottery deputy executive director. Some will land in convenience stores with high ticket sales to free up clerks.
Vending machines are not new to state lotteries. Maryland has used them since 1998, while Virginia first installed machines in 1990. S.C. law bans lottery vending machines.
States try to prevent players under 18 from using the anonymity of the machines to illegally buy tickets.
N.C. machines will have a remote power switch so clerks can shut them down if underage players try to play, Garland said.
The state also "strongly recommends" that store owners place machines within sight of clerks, she said. Some states, including Maryland and Virginia, said they require stores to place the machines where workers can watch them.
North Carolina periodically tests stores in undercover operations to see if they sell tickets to underage players, Garland said. Inspectors found 202 violations for underage selling in 847 inspections since the lottery debuted a year ago, she said.
The vending machines do not sell tickets for other N.C. Education Lottery games, Pick 3, Carolina Cash 5, and Powerball. Source: Charlotte Observer
|
United States
Member #16902
June 2, 2005
3493 Posts
Offline
|
| Posted: April 10, 2007, 11:43 am - IP Logged |
|
I like how NC is starting the vending machines on Lottery tickets. I experienced this way in California too.
|
|
|
Nashville, Tn United States Member #39102 May 3, 2006 267 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 10, 2007, 11:51 am - IP Logged |
|
wow they are really catching up....i like the vending machines. Texas has them and it makes it much easier to purchase scratch offs. Its a lil irritating when you are feeling lucky and wanna buy 10 tickets and the clerk is trying to give you advice on what to spend your money on. With the machines you can just walk up, put your money in, get your tickets and leave. Its great.  waiting patiently for my jackpot
|
|
|
Coastal Georgia United States Member #2703 October 30, 2003 1868 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 10, 2007, 1:38 pm - IP Logged |
|
You can dress a pig up and put lipstick on it, but it is still a pig. Unless NC raises the payout percentages on instant games to be competitive with neighboring states, then it's all window dressing...
|
|
|
Clarksville,Tennessee United States Member #8823 November 13, 2004 1815 Posts Online |
| Posted: April 10, 2007, 1:59 pm - IP Logged |
|
You can dress a pig up and put lipstick on it, but it is still a pig. Unless NC raises the payout percentages on instant games to be competitive with neighboring states, then it's all window dressing... lmaooooo KY has these machines too but I never play them. I think I've seen them in Illinois and Iowa too. I love doubles and remember, it's just a game!!!!!!
|
|
|
North Carolina (West of Charlotte) United States Member #1462 April 28, 2003 355 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 10, 2007, 2:21 pm - IP Logged |
|
We have one of them at my local Food Lion store, I thought it was a video rental machine at first glance...lol. I like the idea that you dont have to wait on the less than caring if they sell any lottery tickets store attendants that are around here even though i dont play many scratchoffs. Most of the stores i've frequented around here, you have to wait till the other 10 or 12 people in line get done with their transactions before they even worry about a lottery sale.
|
|
|
Gurnee, Illinois United States Member #50189 February 12, 2007 260 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 10, 2007, 2:58 pm - IP Logged |
|
There are times that I like to buy my online lottery tickets at a specific hour and minute, and it bugs me to no end to have someone in front of me trying to decide which scratch-if they want to buy. Don't they know that at a precise moment in time, that lottery terminal machine is apt to spit out the winning combination for the Mega Millions, Powerball, or state lotto and they would be responsible for me missing that moment. JUST KIDDING! 
Forget the formulas...you only win when you're lucky!
|
|
|
The Mathematical Alpha Geek Minnesota United States Member #21 December 7, 2001 1681 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 10, 2007, 4:54 pm - IP Logged |
|
This is a Cigarette Machine, same thing, different addiction. I can remember as a kid going into bars or other places and buying some smokes. I do think owners/clerks will become sedentary and lazy and not even check to see if someone is of age at some point after install. My Self Picks are optimized to produce
the most number of wins with
the least amount of effort.
Order is a subset of Chaos.
Thank You,
Doug
|
|
|
Chief Bottle Washer New Jersey United States Member #1 May 31, 2000 15552 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 10, 2007, 6:40 pm - IP Logged |
|
I personally look at the scratch-off vending machines as a very good thing, because there is less of a chance that some less-than-scrupulous employee has gone through the rolls trying to "micro-scratch" the codes to pull out winners.
|
|
|
Charlotte North Carolina United States Member #466 July 9, 2002 8238 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 10, 2007, 6:56 pm - IP Logged |
|
I personally look at the scratch-off vending machines as a very good thing, because there is less of a chance that some less-than-scrupulous employee has gone through the rolls trying to "micro-scratch" the codes to pull out winners. Good point Todd, I have supected several stores in SC of pulling out the winners. Of course I could not prove it.
|
|
|
|
