A state lawmaker is concerned over a new program that allows people to purchase lottery tickets at gasoline pumps in New Mexico.
The new program started a couple weeks ago despite a state statute requiring all lottery tickets be purchased only with cash or check and not with credit cards.
"It prints it out right there — nice. I guess it'll save me a lot of time," a lottery player said Tuesday.
Another Las Cruces resident is concerned: "They need to have some sort of legislation to stop people from getting into financial problems. This is a form of gambling."
The gas pump requires players to verify their year of birth — and pump gas — before receiving their tickets.
"If someone takes their parent's debit card and goes and purchases gas, can they buy lottery tickets?" State Rep. Bill McCamley, (D) District 16, said. "We think the answer to that is — yes."
A letter signed by 13 legislators states the New Mexico Lottery proceeded with the project without legislative approval. There is nothing state legislators can do about the program until the next legislative session.
New Mexicans will keep on playing while lawmakers sort it out. "I think that's pretty simple, pretty easy," a lottery player said.
The New Mexico Lottery Commission has not responded to questions regarding the use of debit cards to buy lottery tickets at gas pumps.
A spokesman, however, told KRQE in Albuquerque "using a debit card is simply an electronic check and retailers have used debit cards in the past, according to our sales director."
THE LOTTERY TAKES MONEY FROM THE ECONOMY. THE LOTTERY IS URGING PEOPLE TO SPEND LESS MONEY ON GAS, SO THEY CAN BUY LOTTERY TICKETS?
Terrible idea no matter what state it's in.
How lazy are people now days anyway? Just walk into the <snip> gas station and buy a ticket.
.
Mr. Thrifty,
It may sound retarded, but it somewhat makes sense.
It may "re-steer" the thinking of businesses in the country, to align better with peoples' priorities,
and re-price ALL items, including gas, food, etc., accordingly.
A motorcycle I'd been considering lately would cost me $9500. This is after the one salesman offered to drop the price a few hundred bucks. After having spoken briefly with the other salesman, he told me what's probably a common story:
"It's been a slow week..."
Instead of signing a loan contract, all I've been doing is thinking about it, thinking, and even more thinking about it.
That doesn't do anything for the economy, either.
Groppo
Is the gas station machines going to check ID too? So what happens when a 16 year old stops for gas and buys lotto tickets at the gas pump? He/She can't claim it...too young. So now what? STUPID
.
Mr. LiveInGreenBay,
That's what I do, every single time. And, I never use check/credit card.
Plus, by going in to the store, it gives me a chance to look around, and get some candy.
See, I'm a sugar-holic. OK, so I get my tickets, give them $40 for gas and say "it likely won't take all of it",
go out, fill up, and go back in for my change. And fortunately, there's a Dairy Queen attached right
next to the gas-station, where I get my banana split, or Oreo "blizzard", at times.
Groppo
About motorcycles, I hope you buy enough insurance to cover the medical costs when you are involved in an accident.
More and more cars are being purchased while the supply of roads is not increasing.
Thank You Groppo for your posts.
If you can pay at the pump n general why not get it all done quicker? Especially at night, gas stations are robbed often.
The real advantage here, to me anyway, is at those times where the jackpot is at record high and the lines are looooong.
Other states have this too I understand. What I find crap is that you have to pay a fee, I think 1$?
It maybe a good idea. Saves waiting in line with managers chasing the beer runners and long lines.
Making it more convenient to Buy Lottery Tickets: May boost Lottery Sales!
Very dangerous as thieves us skimmers at the card readers on the pumps
Don,t Worry:
.
Mr. Music*,
It's OK, I'm not a SQUID. LMAO.
It cracks me up, because even though I've heard of the term "Squid" for years, only just last night, and I do mean 8/3/2016, did I bother to find out that "Squid" means a rider that wears no protective gear. I take that to mean:
no helmet, leathers or gloves. Though with over 50K bike miles under my belt, I have YET to go down on a bike as a result of traffic or not, I wear all that gear when I have motorcycle under me.
But, I don't even have a bike at this time.
Insurance isn't really going to save any part of me, if the unthinkable happens.
It's just there IF I get up from such an accident and wish to claim whatever is due to me.
Of course, Phoenix, AZ has this nut-burger running around, picking off people at random, so
there's that too, but I'm way East of that situation at this time. But, I-10 is the route I choose.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL,
THE REST OF THIS WEEK'S LOTTO DRAWS!
Groppo
Wear this when you ride:
North Carolina already has this.
http://www.nc-educationlottery.org/promo_play-at-the-pump.aspx
Play at the Pump is a new convenient and fast way to play the Carolina Cash 5, Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot games. And it’s simple! Just swipe your debit card at the pump and drive away with your numbers for the next jackpot drawing.
OK, I'll never do this. Prefer to go to the store once in a blue moon, but play on-line here.
My main concern is: What happens if the printer malfunctions? What do you do then? Countless times I want a gas receipt, it doesn't work and says to go inside for it. Will it be the same for lottery tickets?
There is a full explanation and FAQ about it on the NM lottery website.
Good luck to the players buying lottery tickets while pumping gas in New Mexico.
Sounds like you wanna see him dead huh?