California United States
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June 17, 2011
661 Posts
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When you win a free ticket from a scratch off, is it possible to get cash with the same value of the free ticket?
In my experience, the only way that you could do that if you redeem your ticket with a retailer that only sells scratch off with a lottery vending machine. They don't give you free ticket because it is just too much trouble for them to go over the machine and give you a free ticket. So, they just give you cash and hoping that you would spend it to buy a ticket there but you don't have to. Any other stores who sell scratch off behind the counter refuse to give me cash.
Fortunately, there are 3 retailers near where I live that only sell scratch off with the lottery vending machine.
Nashville, TN United States
Member #86,736
February 9, 2010
513 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by redhot7 on Aug 24, 2011
When you win a free ticket from a scratch off, is it possible to get cash with the same value of the free ticket?
In my experience, the only way that you could do that if you redeem your ticket with a retailer that only sells scratch off with a lottery vending machine. They don't give you free ticket because it is just too much trouble for them to go over the machine and give you a free ticket. So, they just give you cash and hoping that you would spend it to buy a ticket there but you don't have to. Any other stores who sell scratch off behind the counter refuse to give me cash.
Fortunately, there are 3 retailers near where I live that only sell scratch off with the lottery vending machine.
9 times out of 10, I usually get cash if I want to. I think it mostly depends on the mood and disposition of the clerk. Honestly, I am always buying Powerball, Mega Millions or Tennessee Cash tickets anyway so usually I will turn my 'TICKET' winners in for one or 2 of those. If it is a $5 scratch off, for example, and I take 2 Powerball tickets, I will request the rest in cash sometimes and I have never had a problem with that from a clerk. Honestly, what other choice do they have?If I turned in a ticket winner and was told I HAD to buy a ticket but I didnt want to, I would tell them to hand it back over and I will go to the next place that will give me cash or what I want.I really dont see the point of printing 'ticket' as a win option anyway...they should just make it a cash number and make everyone happy.
New Jersey United States
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October 18, 2010
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Quote: Originally posted by TheOtherOne on Aug 25, 2011
9 times out of 10, I usually get cash if I want to. I think it mostly depends on the mood and disposition of the clerk. Honestly, I am always buying Powerball, Mega Millions or Tennessee Cash tickets anyway so usually I will turn my 'TICKET' winners in for one or 2 of those. If it is a $5 scratch off, for example, and I take 2 Powerball tickets, I will request the rest in cash sometimes and I have never had a problem with that from a clerk. Honestly, what other choice do they have?If I turned in a ticket winner and was told I HAD to buy a ticket but I didnt want to, I would tell them to hand it back over and I will go to the next place that will give me cash or what I want.I really dont see the point of printing 'ticket' as a win option anyway...they should just make it a cash number and make everyone happy.
It's because the expected value of a ticket is .50-70 percent of the value you buy it for, so they end up making more money if they issue out free tickets.
If a scracth off's return rate is 65 percent, and it's 2 dollars, and you win a free ticket you really won $1.35, in the form of a 2 dollar scratch off.
Essentially, they'd rather have the money returned to them than in your pocket. I don't agree with such a policy, because people like me won't play if they know there's a chance of just winning a free ticket - so IMO they porbably lose more sales b/c of it.
SE PA United States
Member #93,578
July 3, 2010
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Some stores in PA have strict policies about only giving free tickets - most Giants, Wawa (unless they don't have the same ticket), and the beer store among them. Wegmans and others will give cash. The state prints out "free tickets" because odds are the free ticket will lose and they don't pay out as much.
mt zion illinois United States
Member #110,544
May 6, 2011
351 Posts
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Here in Illinois they have pretty much did away with freg ticket.... They did so they can say more Cash prizes! Very few tickets here in Illinois that give FREE TICKET. Which most are on the $1.00 tickets... Plus most places just have the vending machines so they will just give you the cash anyways.....
Idaho United States
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July 17, 2010
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"They don't give you free ticket because it is just too much trouble for them to go over the machine and give you a free ticket."
Couldn't they force you to redeem it at the vending machine? I know with draw games in my state, if you get a free ticket it doesn't give you any options at all. It just spits out the free ticket whether you use a vending machine, or whether the clerk scans it on their machine.
I don't play scratch offs much, but IIRC the one time I won a free ticket the cashier gave me my choice of which $1 scratcher I wanted, but didn't offer me cash.
California United States
Member #112,359
June 17, 2011
661 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by HoLeeKau on Aug 27, 2011
"They don't give you free ticket because it is just too much trouble for them to go over the machine and give you a free ticket."
Couldn't they force you to redeem it at the vending machine? I know with draw games in my state, if you get a free ticket it doesn't give you any options at all. It just spits out the free ticket whether you use a vending machine, or whether the clerk scans it on their machine.
I don't play scratch offs much, but IIRC the one time I won a free ticket the cashier gave me my choice of which $1 scratcher I wanted, but didn't offer me cash.
Couldn't they force you to redeem it at the vending machine?
It's not worth the hassle for them. I am a regular of a major grocery store and the location of the vending machine is at the other side of the store. Imagine if there are 8 people in line. I am the first one in the line. The cashier couldn't just leave her stand and escort me to the vending machine while there are 7 other people in the line already. And what would happen if all the five dollar tickets are sold out, what are they going to do then?
Besides, it is very tacky in my opinion and not a very good way to give a good impression.
They should just get rid of this free ticket business and give our money back instead.
laguna hills, ca United States
Member #116,004
September 2, 2011
48 Posts
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im in orange county, california and i always get cash instead of a ticket if i want to, no place that ive been to has ever refused to give me cash or force me to buy another ticket if i won a free ticket, ive turned them in at t stores that have a vending machine and stores that have them behind the counter