In a digital age, convenience is key
By Kate Northrop
The Washington Lottery is planning to rollout debit card payments for tickets at all its vending machines.
In an increasingly digital and cashless era, offering different modes of convenience is a necessity for businesses that aim to stand out and thrive. By accepting debit payments, the Washington Lottery hopes to make it easier for players who don't always have cash on-hand.
"We recognize the world is evolving into a cashless society," the Washington Lottery said on their website. "Many players carry little to no cash on a regular basis. Our goal is to make our players' lives more convenient by providing them the ability to purchase our products with debit cards at lottery vending machines."
Buying tickets with a debit card will be as easy as inserting a bill into a vending machine. After picking out the desired games and adding them to the virtual shopping cart at a vending machine, players can pick the Debit option at checkout, insert their card, punch in the zip code, and collect their tickets in the tray. A pin is not required to buy tickets.
The Shopping Cart feature was added to the vending machines to allow players who enjoy multiple types of games the ability to buy different tickets at once.
"Many players enjoy playing multiple lottery games, including Scratch and draw/jackpot games," the Lottery explained. "Using the Shopping Cart gives you the flexibility to add multiple tickets from different games, if you choose, before purchasing. Before you pay, you will also have the ability to edit your cart and delete or add additional products."
The debit card must either be swiped or have the chip inserted if applicable. Contactless payment, or tap to pay, is not currently an option, nor are credit card purchases.
Players will also not have to worry about transaction fees — the Lottery is covering the cost. There is also no minimum amount a player will have to spend to make a debit purchase. There is, however, a spending limit for lottery purchases at $700 over a seven-day period.
Those who do not prefer to pay with debit will still be able to pay with cash or reinvest winning tickets to buy lottery products, but all tickets must be bought either as an all-cash purchase or all-debit purchase — the payment method cannot be split in one transaction.
According to the Lottery, some pre-paid Visa/Mastercard cards may work at the vending machine, but it depends on the bank issuing the card.
"If the card does not work after being inserted, an error message will appear on the debit pen pad," the Lottery said of pre-paid card transactions. "What pre-paid cards are accepted is not a choice of the lottery or the retailer, but rather the bank issuing the card."
The Lottery is set to begin installing debit terminals at every one of their vending machines, so players should expect the service to gradually be available over time due to issues with supply chains that may cause a delay in the equipment arrival and installation process. Weekly updates on stores that have been updated with the debit reader will be available on the Lottery's official website.
Texas accepts debit cards, but not credit cards, which is probably very smart. If a person doesn't have $$$ in their bank account, they can't use the debit card. With a credit card, compulsive gamblers would be maxing out their cards and leaving card issuers holding the bag (along with trashing their credit).
and now there's a nice paper trail, no thanks, keep my gambling purchases private.
Only my cashier knows for sure.
Great point!
Oooopz..!! There goez the House & Car..Soundz like a Baaaad idea..
So the limit is $700 in a week. I would be willing to bet that anyone who is spending over $700 a week on lottery is probably not going to worry about any card limit, they will be spending most of their time at the nearest ATM.
Once my quarantine from Covid-19 is over with, will recheck our lotto machines in KY. They did take both Debit and credit card payments, however some stores accept neither and remember in Indiana only debit could be used @ the counter. Was thinking perhaps some dubious players would contest the credit card bill?
As with WA State and here only the zipcode is required...not very secure @ all and wonder why PIN is not used?
BTW am on Paxlovid for Covid for five days and go to my vaccine trial folks Monday.
Most of the stores with a lottery kiosk have an ATM too. So using a card at a kiosk cuts out the middle man. Using a card for lottery purchases at a store counter might be optional because some allow it.
Someone mentioned a paper trail and that's very possible and if that's a potential problem, use the ATM.
Aren't you so precious and such a good helper.
Washington now says, you don't have to stop at the atm, bank or grandma's house, just use you debit card and yes that will leave an electronic paper trail. derpa derpa derpa.
If you don't want the bank recording in the cloud your purchase, then go to the atm and do not use your debit card directly at the ticket counter. derpa derpa derpa.
That is very true. In fact, they are usually close to each other.
Not sure I'd want to use a debit card on a lottery machine so when I use one, I stick to cash.
People used cards on many vending machines for years now. Sort of doubt their banks or card companies use that info to track their snack buying habits. Heard where some gas pumps only take American Express Centurion credit cards. We've had the option to buy lottery tickets with cards for a couple years now but I'll to cash too. We have the option to buy tickets for drawn games Online too, but I'd rather have a paper ticket.
Like with any new option, some will use it and some won't
I've been tempted to use my debit card at the lotto machines, but I prefer using cash as well
Are the vending machines connected to the internet? If the vending machine co. wants to get paid they have to get it from your creditor. Any good wire fraud, bank fraud, mail fraud, IRS, person can tear your finances to teeny tiny little pieces and yes, using the GD debit card will leave an electronic trail with the purchase code and the payee who has to file taxes .
And you would be surprised and what companies track with your purchases, you should really do more research on this because when you come here with only a few facts you hurt the credibility of LP.