Includes video report
HOULTON, Wis. — The cash register is humming at the gas station Mac Qasem manages in Houlton, Wisconsin, and he has squabbling Democrats and Republicans from Minnesota to thank for it.
"You know how much people, they just want to buy lottery," he smiles.
Since the Minnesota state shutdown began, lottery sales at Qasem's store are five times normal. "You just cross the bridge, couple of blocks and you're here," he points out. "The Minnesota state lottery is shut down, so they come here looking for luck."
Andrew Bohage, spokesperson for the Wisconsin Lottery, says Qasem's 400 percent sales hike does not appear to be uncommon. "We've been hearing some pretty eye popping statistics like that. And really we're hearing them all across the board."
Bohage says similar reports are coming in from Hudson, Prescott and Fountain City. The Wisconsin Lottery is currently surveying its retail outlets in border towns and hopes to have hard numbers on the sales increases within a couple of days.
Bohage says he's sorry it has to come at Minnesota's expense, but "we always welcome the chance to raise some more revenue for our lottery's mission which is to offset property taxes here in Wisconsin."
The situation is not so lucky at Lucky's gas station on the opposite side of the river in Stillwater.
"Can't cash 'em, can't sell 'em, can't sell scratch-offs — nothing," says Alan Cassady from behind the counter. An idle lottery machine sits nearby. "I can't even sign on," he says.
On the 11th day of the shutdown he say he still had to turn customers away who came into his store expecting to buy lottery tickets. "They say they need a Powerball so they're going over to Wisconsin.
Minnesotan Gary Wichelmann is among those now buying his lottery tickets at Qasem's store. "For the time being I'll just come across here so it's no problem for me," he said as picked up his tickets.
The store has also seen a big uptick in its sales of groceries thanks to Minnesotans who stop for lottery tickets and then pick up a few other items.
Minnesota's lottery is losing an average of $1.25 million each day the state remains shut down. Bad as that may be for the state's finances, Dale McDonnell, the lottery's assistant director, said his larger concern "is our 140 employees not receiving paychecks."
As I said before.....good for Wisconsin bad for Minnesota
Another example of dems being willing to make everybody suffer rather than give up their insane spending sprees.
They just don't understand what the word "unsustainable" means when it comes to spending.
I hope Minnesotans learn from this experience.
Well said Dallas.
One and a quarter million dollars each day leaving Minnesota and going to Wisconsin because the governor took his ball and went home because nobody will let him be a dictator and spend them into oblivion.
Maybe Wisconsin will loan him some of that money back at a discount rate to help pay the bills after this self-imposed fiasco.
Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face, whoa.
Ridge, you would think this article would light a fire under their butts in getting things resolved... Not only is the State loosing a lot of money but people are out of work.....
Yeah, but the governor is worried about two things above all else - himself and his ego.
He'll only show compassion for people hurting and going through hard times when he becomes one of them.
And he's a rich man.
He'll let the state go into default, bankruptcy and collapse before he'll admit he's wrong.
Then blame it on the Republicans.
Des Moines Register reporting similar increases along Iowa border. Millions are flowing out of the state.
do the dakotas have lotteries ? they could pickin up some action.
Good thing that Republicans run Wisconsin or maybe the Dems in Minnesota wouldn't have any place to send the money that they could be getting from the Minnesota Lottery .............. Ding Cuckoo, Ding Cuckoo ...............
Yep the Dakotas have lottery as well..
All the border states are pickin up the action.
The Star Tribune reported that The State of Minnesota loses $2.3 million in profits from weekly lottery sales.
So geez, $1.25 mill a day in overall sales leaving + once you add in incidental purchases/tax losses..
I can't even wrap my mind around it to be honest.
Our politicians met the other day & Gov Dayton said he would forgo his 'rich' tax increases if Repubs would agree to a $1-per-pack cigarette tax hike.
Repubs said no. (thankfully so, kuz we benefit immensely from outta staters buyin cheaper smokes here)
I think they need to try a little harder. The other day they met for 23 minutes. C'mon, really?
We look like fools.
thanks,but that brings up nother? if no one in gov't is working, who's putting the tax stamp on the cigs ?.
Believe me, there are people still working.
However, Minnesota's new fiscal year started on July 1 w/out an agreed upon budget in place...equalling a shutdown.
I do not know the specifics about the taxes and the like.
I do know that we can still buy cigs tho.
In the other thread about Minnesota and Iowa someone mentioned something about those who don't understand shutting down the state lottery needing to take a course in civics.
Seeing the amount of money lost by the Minnesota lottery, that is the money not taken in, compared to what they would have paid the lottery people is an excellent real world lesson in why school book solutions don't always apply to real life situa.
I nominate the governor of Minnesota for the Bonehead of the Year Award.
What state is Minnesota in?