Lottery player says scanner not accurate

Sep 16, 2012, 3:04 pm (57 comments)

Florida Lottery

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. — One man's faith in the reliability of Florida's lottery system has been shaken after an odd incident.

It was around 8:30 p.m. the evening after a drawing. Robert Campisi, 48, a retired business owner and electrical contractor, was in the Exxon at 7624 Front Beach Road.

Campisi said he was engaged in an activity that is all too familiar to him. And like most of the time, as he scanned the "Powerball" and "Quick Pick" lottery tickets at the external scanner, an all too familiar message appeared on the LED screen in bright, aqua letters: "Not a Winner."

"I said, 'ah, you might want to double check them; why don't you scan 'em again,' just joking around," Campisi said. "So [the clerk] scanned the first one, the Powerball — 'Not a Winner.' Then he scanned the second one — 'Winner $6.' "

Campisi said his jaw dropped.

"No way," he said. "Bologna."

The numbers drawn the night before on Sept. 5 at 10:15 p.m. were 23-28-29-36-37-46. A few of those numbers — 23, 28 and 36 — matched up in the B row of Campisi's ticket he purchased Sept. 5 at 6:04 p.m. This made Campisi one of the 24,210 individuals who won $6 on the "3-of-6" prize level, the minimum amount of matching numbers to constitute a "win."

The money, Campisi said, was not the issue. For him, the reliability of the system he had paid into for years was now a concern.

"People spend ridiculous amounts of money on the lottery; I'm one of them," Campisi said. "I'm peeved, and I'm starting to wonder how many wins I have missed."

The clerk then handed Campisi his lottery ticket, with "Winning Ticket" now etched upon its face; a validation ticket, with a time and date stamp; and the $6.

Campisi said he reported the incident to the manager of the Exxon and then sent an email to the Florida Lottery Offices in Pensacola detailing his complaint.

The Florida Lottery investigated the incident through GTech, the vendor who produces the Express Point Plus ticket scanners (EEPs).

Connie Barnes, Florida Lottery communication director, said there have been no incidents of this sort reported during her employment with Florida Lottery.

According to Barnes, GTech's records indicated a similar scenario to what Campisi stated; however, "the Lotto ticket he presented at the counter was different than the Lotto ticket he presented to the self-scanner, and that was a $6 winning ticket," Barnes said.

Barnes said GTech's EEPs keep "very detailed records tracking all transactions."

The Florida Lottery would not produce the document detailing the cross-referenced times, serial numbers and locations, due to some of the contents being "proprietary information," according to Shelly Safford, senior public affairs specialist.

But, Campisi doesn't buy the explanation.

He said he has been playing the Florida Lotto actively once or twice a week for the past five or six years, and the Florida Lottery's claim could not be correct.

Campisi said his routine is to buy one Powerball ticket and one Lotto ticket at a time.

"Lottery is big money and a lot of people use those external scanners," Campisi said. "If it happened to me just one time, then it tells you the system doesn't work."

Management at the Exxon, and the clerk Campisi said was present during the time of the incident, declined to comment.

"You're talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars," Campisi said. "That sucker should be right on."

He added, "I won't trust it ever again."

News story photo(Click to display in gallery)

News story photo(Click to display in gallery)

Thanks to lottoballz for the tip.

News Herald

Comments

Ronnie316

It sounds to me like Robert "clumsy" make a mistake of some kind trying to check his own tickets at the "external scanner" and then the clerk got it right and gave him his cash.

I have made mistakes plenty of times checking my tickets, but never thought to blame "the scanner"

NightStalker's avatarNightStalker

I was kinda wondering the same thing.  I thought it was just possible that he might have made a mistake and not the scanner.

JezzVim

Without electronic training I know there is a way to get around the scanners......NOT telling

JAP69's avatarJAP69

If the scanner was correct there would be no need to cite internal document priority.

Just show the proof the scanner machine was correct.

Lucky Loser

Okay, the disclaimer to my following comment is this, "All products and services should, in fact, be checked via quality assurance/control to promote efficient operation at all times."

 

Now, I remember back in the day before all this additional scanner technology came about, there were (2) options to check tickets. One, go to any store and have the clerk run the ticket back through the lottery terminal. Two, simply go back to the store and pick up a printout of the current winning numbers and check yours against the printout. Sure, technology is good and to be expected this day and age but, it has made people somewhat lazy. Case in point, this guy and his ticket.

Yeah, I know that the scanners make it easier and are very convenient but, look at how many incidents are taking place...allegedly. Had he simply told the clerk to run the ticket, or, print him out a copy of the winning numbers he would've completely avoided this unfortunate mishap. I mean, think about it for just a second. Isn't a little extra effort on our part worth it to avoid all the headaches associated with depending on someone, or, something to make a possibly life-changing mistake with so much money at hand?

 For me it is. I check my own tickets against printouts...and for this matter, a person can go online and see for themselves whether they've won anything or not. But no, we want to blame other things and people for something we can excercise complete control over in terms of outcome. In all reality, he should've arrived at the store with his ticket(s) and telling the clerk that he'd like to cash in for his $6, more tickets, or merchandise. Easy fix.

 

L.L.

notawinneryet

I don't think he is "clumsy", the same thing has happened to me several times in GA.  However, I always check my tickets first before going in the store, then just to see I sometimes use the scanner.  I would not trust it.  I would have lost a few dollars myself.

mcginnin56

I believe this guy. The integrity of the Florida lottery is at stake here, and even if there was a slim chance the scanner was defective, there should

be some acknowledgement from the lottery. This is paramont to fraud and deception, let alone the hundreds of thousands their loyal players

could have lost in a very short period of time.

 

Shame of Florida Lottery for not doing responding with more concern and followup with this customer. In the eyes of the millions who play the

states games regularly, Robert Campisi is symbolically representing all these people. Perception is everything with the high stakes game of a

state lottery.

Piaceri

The scanners are problematic. This is not something we all here didn't know about. I'm guessing it happens quite often. The question then becomes whether this is some fault of the scanners or is this something to do with the printed tickets? I think it is the printed tickets simply because retailers use the same bar code scanning system with much more reliability. 

That being a known issue, I ALWAYS check my numbers myself, twice, before taking tickets to be cashed. I've been known to also scan them, even the ones I pegged as losers.

Littleoldlady's avatarLittleoldlady

The scanners here are the same way.  I think it has to do with the actual "speed" that the ticket is inserted under the scanner.  I have scanned my tickets myself and I always do it twice.  Sometimes, it takes the scanner a couple of seconds to clear the previous barcode out of it's memory.  Sometimes, I get a "can not read" error and when I get this, I stop and let the machine reset itself.

gra8*2win's avatargra8*2win

Quote: Originally posted by Littleoldlady on Sep 16, 2012

The scanners here are the same way.  I think it has to do with the actual "speed" that the ticket is inserted under the scanner.  I have scanned my tickets myself and I always do it twice.  Sometimes, it takes the scanner a couple of seconds to clear the previous barcode out of it's memory.  Sometimes, I get a "can not read" error and when I get this, I stop and let the machine reset itself.

i had never seen a scanner until i  visited florida last month.......i did play the florida pick 4  but only on 3 times....and i always went to the website,

i don't trust the darn scanners at my grocery store much less lottery equipment.  and i don't trust the newspapers in tennessee they have mis printed

several times......Type

Poncedeleon's avatarPoncedeleon

Mr.Robert Campisi should invested in a Computer, tablet, or a Smart phone and check it him himself.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Quote: Originally posted by Piaceri on Sep 16, 2012

The scanners are problematic. This is not something we all here didn't know about. I'm guessing it happens quite often. The question then becomes whether this is some fault of the scanners or is this something to do with the printed tickets? I think it is the printed tickets simply because retailers use the same bar code scanning system with much more reliability. 

That being a known issue, I ALWAYS check my numbers myself, twice, before taking tickets to be cashed. I've been known to also scan them, even the ones I pegged as losers.

I Agree!, Piaceri.  This 'customer scanner' problem exists in all states.  I expect that the lottery headquarters office in EACH state will continue to indicate that there are "NO PROBLEMS/GLITCHES."

Can be that ticket's ink is too light, ink faded, ticket put under scanner too quickly, scanner glitching and submitting the prior bar-code a second time, etc. [insert ideas].

BS

Ronnie316

Quote: Originally posted by mcginnin56 on Sep 16, 2012

I believe this guy. The integrity of the Florida lottery is at stake here, and even if there was a slim chance the scanner was defective, there should

be some acknowledgement from the lottery. This is paramont to fraud and deception, let alone the hundreds of thousands their loyal players

could have lost in a very short period of time.

 

Shame of Florida Lottery for not doing responding with more concern and followup with this customer. In the eyes of the millions who play the

states games regularly, Robert Campisi is symbolically representing all these people. Perception is everything with the high stakes game of a

state lottery.

You could be right  mcginnin56, except we are gamblers and the state is the "house". I dont think any eyebrows need to be raised over a $6. win THAT GOT PAID. No harm no foul, as they say.

giotonia's avatargiotonia

There has been times scanner didn't work correctly. It's possible.

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