Not only did Jr.'s Wholesale on McBride Avenue in Paterson, New Jersey, sell two winning lottery tickets totaling $3.25 million last month, but the family that owns the convenience store includes the winners, New Jersey Lottery officials confirmed Monday.
The DeLillos, of Garfield, took home the Pick 6 Lotto top prize for the July 14 drawing.
Their numbers - 13, 15, 21, 28, 38 and 39 -represent various birthdays and years, said Bob DeLillo Sr., who started Jr.'s Wholesale 21 years ago.
"Yeah, it was a total shock to [my children]," DeLillo said. "They play every week, religiously."
DeLillo said his children, Bob Jr., 43, who now runs the store, and Jennifer Ann Tempio, 40, who helps out part time, are splitting the money.
After taking the cash option, the prizes total just shy of $2 million, he said. DeLillo said his children plan to invest the money for their children's education.
He said the reason for the two winning tickets was that he played the numbers for his son, but Bob Jr. forgot that he had asked his father to play the numbers, and played them again.
State lottery spokeswoman Mary Ann Rivell said it is rare for a retailer to win. The store also gets $2,000 for each winning ticket sold.
todd:
Pick-6 Lotto is a MUCH BETTER game than NY Lotto. You should know that.
And did you know that all the days of the week end with a "y"?
$2000 for store that sells a jackpot winner, its unbelievable how tight some of these states are.
$2000 for store that sells a jackpot winner, its unbelievable how tight some of these states are.
Well, if you think of the lottery as just another business to be run, then it makes sense for them to adjust the retailer bonus to the least possible amount before it starts affecting whether a retailer wants to sell tickets or not.
So, from the lottery's perspective, why should they pay $10,000 to a store for selling a winning ticket if the store will sign up anyway for a $2,000 bonus?
The lottery exists to make as much money for the state budget as possible, so giving away excess money to a retailer is taking that money away from things like educational programs.
I hate to play devil's advocate, but as long as they're not taking money away from the players, then I don't see anything wrong with it.
Besides, the retailers already make money in the form of commissions for every ticket sold, so anything they get for a bonus is just icing on the cake.
Plus, lottery retailers that sell jackpot-winning tickets will already make lots of extra money from players who specifically go to that store because it is thought of as "lucky". I know this for a fact from speaking with several lottery retailers directly.
Yes but the marginal utility of such tightness I believe leads to less money taken in. If the lottery offered a more robust product in payouts and was more retailer friendly , maybe more people would play and more retailers would aggressively market the lottery. I just think lotteries have no regard for the players or the retailers and are running a business that just wants to bleed you ten ways to Sunday. But the irony I belive is more people would spend money on lotteries if they felt as if they werent being bled and that would in return lead to more money brought in, more taxes etc. Seriously dont you think if the lottery say in NY was more payout friendly and more fan friendly they would have more than 3 million rolls when its up in the 40-50 range. The way it stands now people would rather go to the casino or horsetrack. It is so embarrasing I think to have a something like Hot Lotto in numerous states and have 200k rolls. Lottery in the US needs a MAJOR OVERHAUL.
Well, I think NY's sales could be helped, but not necessarily by increasing the retailer bonuses.
I think they need to increase the percentage of revenue that goes into the prize pool, which would result in much bigger rolls. There is a direct correlation there. It is now at about 40%. If it were increased to 50%-60%, there would be an enormous difference.
But saying that an increase in the bonus for retailers is very subjective, and much harder to prove.
I suppose I sympathize with retailers who don't get a big bonus, but strictly from a business perspective, I can't really fault the lottery.
Of course, this is one issue where there will be a variety of opinions.
Todd:
You contradict your saying NY Lotto needs better lower-tier prizes, with your signature.
todd:
Pick-6 Lotto is a MUCH BETTER game than NY Lotto. You should know that.
I like Match-6 from PA - little expensive ($2.00 a ticket). Having said that, NY lotto manages to grow at a reasonable rate each week. For all the players in NJ, their totals hardly move each week. Something strange there. Is there any truth that NJ is changing its logo from the Garen State to the Corruption State?
BTW - NY lotto has a promotion during August. Big bonuses for winning with the bonus number. Last week I have four number plus bonus; won $24.,00 During August the same combination would get me $524.00!