Having a lottery machine: Now that's the ticket

Comment #41

Iesha Kelly — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 02:52:27 GMT

don't get mad. report em. that's when you contact your official at your friendly neighborhood Lottery Headquarters. i don't know how they could sell a ticket that was already cashed in.but if it happened, you don't tear it up if there was a prize attached. you report it.also regarding single tickets on rolls... i've never seen that in new mexico, but then i only go to one mom and pop store (delicious baklava). i've seen the clerks have a hard time tearing off along the perforation. i've nev... [ More ]

Comment #40

mula — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 23:21:28 GMT

I have bought scratch tickets in Massachusetts, after scratching the tickets I returned to another store to cash them only to find out from the clerk that the money had already been claimed. I ripped the ticket furious, I could not believe that a ticket could be sold already scanned and cashed.

Comment #39

DoubleDown — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:50:34 GMT

And don't forget the no speakie de englis

Comment #38

Chewie — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:25:32 GMT

it puts me, personally, in a mind to wonder what other purchases they're inputting wrong. i would never shop at a store that had something like that going on. looks like gotta look into no mom and pop convenience stores and gas stations for me.There is a Deli in Sparta that had to put up a sign, no verbal numbers, only tickets or Quick Picks. People would mumble numbers then not take the ticket because the clerk typed what they thought they heard. They ate so many tickets, they stopped doi... [ More ]

Comment #37

Iesha Kelly — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 16:34:38 GMT

Pramod Patel, who owns two convenience stores in Morristown and was 10th on the list of winners, said he often buys more than $50 of tickets a day just from mistakes tickets his customers reject because store clerks type in the wrong numbers. they expect people to buy that? how bad are your store clerks where they are inputting at least $50.00 worth of mistakes a day? every day?seriously. are there no play slips that automatically do the inputting? it's one thing if someone decides no... [ More ]

Comment #36

truecritic — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 17:37:26 GMT

Yes, that is true.... there could be thousands of unsold tix left ....I should have stated 15 top prize tickets remain. And knowing there is $500,000 on one of them, seems like they would scan like crazy (if they could).

Comment #35

DoubleDown — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 17:07:52 GMT

Intersting website- I like the way that they do this .I thought there would be a major scramble for the tix until I realized that yes, there are only 15 winners left and one is worth $500,000, but then realized there could be thousands of unsold tix left.....

Comment #34

tntea — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 16:59:32 GMT

Believe me.. lottery clerks have no clue to whether a ticket is a winner or not... I have sold $1,000 winners... I can predict which roll is about to hit when I have worked a full shift and stayed with the tickets...

Comment #33

tntea — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 16:57:26 GMT

I have worked selling scratch-offs in TN since day one...The back of the ticket is scanned to read the roll from which the ticket came..the validation code has to be scratched from the front to punch in after the back is scanned for the computer to tell if it is a winner.. **************************If you visit our store and find tickets laying on counter, it is because someone refused the ticket after asking for it.. (Scratch -offs and Online GAmes)We can cancel pick 3 and pick 4 games within 1... [ More ]

Comment #32

truecritic — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 21:20:13 GMT

RJ,Wait until the original customer leaves the store and then give it the acid test! LOLI am in complete agreement with you that the lottery store personnel have no business being able to tell ahead of time if the ticket is a winner. If that goes on anywhere, it should be stopped immediately.I don't know about Ohio but Michigan posts how many Instants are still left scattered throughout the State. And some of those tickets are big. Look at Merri Millions at the link below. Only 15 tickets a... [ More ]

Comment #31

RJOh — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 18:55:40 GMT

truectitic,I'm going to check and see if that's true in Ohio too. If it is then the next time I see a customer buy $20 worth of scratch-offs and have the clerk scan them without scratching them and is told he has no winners, I will offer to buy all those losers for a dollar rather than allowing the clerk to discard them. Since the terminal doesn't make any noise to alert the customer that something is not right, he's taking the clerk's word for the results of the scan. I just hope if I buy a b... [ More ]

Comment #30

truecritic — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 18:38:53 GMT

Since this article, today was the first chance I had. So, I bought an instant ticket and asked the guy to scan it for me. He looked surprised. Like maybe I should scratch it first - then he could scan it.I told him about this article and he said they need the 5 digit number under the part you scratch. And that in MI you can't scan before hand to see if it is a winner.Anyone find anything out to the contrary (in MI

Comment #29

justxploring — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 09:47:26 GMT

I agree it is very important to learn the rules to protect your winnings. However your statement about not playing if you don't know the rules would probably eliminate 75% of the players. Then most jackpots would be much smaller. From what I can tell, most people haven't a clue when they buy a ticket at the local store. I hear people all the time ask What's the jackpot this week? or How much does it cost? The whole idea of a State Lottery is that anyone can buy a ticket for any game as long... [ More ]

Comment #28

sirbrad — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 05:54:56 GMT

Another reason why I don't play scratchers. Plus I do not like all the dust left afterwards.

Comment #27

TheGameGrl — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 01:08:16 GMT

Good advice to check tickets prior to leaving the machine play area. I adored the know the rules of the game or don't play. When did the lotteries create that rule

Comment #26

mylollipop — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 00:06:53 GMT

Yep! That is why it pays to check your ticket yourself!!! If you do not know the rules of the game; don't play.

Comment #25

qutgnt — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 16:54:08 GMT

These clerks would gladly pay 3000 for a 5000 ticket. Figure in taxes you get back 3500 or so, but they have so many losing tickets probably dumped in their trash cans they can just collect those and write those off against the winners, therefore getting the full amount back at end of year most likely.

Comment #24

justxploring — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 02:33:34 GMT

Good advice RJOh. As I wrote, I rarely buy them and mainly purchase Lotto and MegaMoney tickets. I've had a hard time this year with jobs, but I used to play more games. I'm still amazed that instant tickets can be scanned without being scratched! I chuckled when you wrote that the clerk in Ohio acted as if the free tickets belonged to her. In my situation, I think it was an innocent mistake but I'll never know. In any case, I wondered what action could have been taken if the ticket wasn't fo... [ More ]

Comment #23

fast eddie — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 00:50:22 GMT

Patel reported 80 jackpots, mostly Pick-4, between 2000 and 2004, good for $138,786.That's a nice pick four record. what ya think, lots of straights or is it multiple box wins

Comment #22

DoubleDown — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 00:47:52 GMT

for some of the clerks it's harder to pull off the roll so we just tear them off in advance uh-huh, it's REAL hard to tear that perforated ticket , isn't it. Gamegirl: don't walk.... RUN !! from that particular store.

Comment #21

RJOh — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 00:03:15 GMT

justxploring,Ohio had a promotional thing last year that issued a free QP when $5-$10 worth of tickets were brought together. I bought two $5 bunch and when the 2 free QPs pop out, the clerk tried to act like she didn't know who the QPs belonged to. Apparently she thought it was a promotion to give the clerks a chance to play for free and since some of her customers didn't know about the promotion she had been keeping the extra tickets for herself. I didn't turn her in to the owner, but she w... [ More ]

Comment #20

Rip Snorter — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 23:44:52 GMT

I've never played scratchers much, but this thread is enough to quell any urges I might have had in that direction in the future.Jack

Comment #19

justxploring — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 23:34:15 GMT

I don't think anyone would be stupid enough to purchase tickets if they weren't on the original roll of tickets. I have a relatively high IQ and do dumb things all the time! Yet I'm the first to think boy that person is dumb when I read about a scam. My friends say wait until it happens to you, Nancy, since I'm so critical when people mail money or are victims of schemes. However, I see the same people all the time at the stores I shop in and probably would buy a lone ticket if the cashier s... [ More ]

Comment #18

Chewie — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 23:33:56 GMT

Critics raise questions as retailers play by the rules and win scores of jackpotsShocking headlines. Some one critisizing some one elses actions. Who would have thought it possible! Some one being on the wrong end of the stick, and for what reason? Emotions, assumptions and personal predudice. Hang 'em high! For what? Doesn't matter, we don't agree with their actions, therefore they're bad people! When in doubt, take someting small, amplify it, then everyone gang up on them. The mob is alway... [ More ]

Comment #17

TheGameGrl — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 23:28:02 GMT

Yes its actually a practice I've been witness to here in PA- (re: scanning tickets prior to purchase). Recently asked a clerk why in a group of the ten tickets I bought most of them were very out of numeric order and just laying in the counter bin. Her response- well for some of the clerks its harder to pull off the roll so we just tear them off in advance . Mind you on average I hit at least one winner in a series of ten- This time I bought ten, and they were each losers. Later on that night I... [ More ]

Comment #16

Drivedabizness — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 21:40:01 GMT

Some states have scanners that can check both onlilne and instant tickets (WI has GTECH - their latest models can check both)and there are layers of security to check for retailers who go fishing for winning tickets. Don't you WANT retailers buying tickets? It's one of the ways players know the games are legit.

Comment #15

Bradly_60 — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 21:27:40 GMT

I was in WI back in Sept and the store that I was at had their own scanner for customers to scan their own tickets to check to see if they were winners. I doubt those machines work for instant tickets though. Otherwise that would be a huge security issue. I also have never seen tickets not connected to a roll unless the cashier accidently pulled to many off. Michigan has self scanners for club keno but that its. They should have it for other games also.About the articile I don't find anythi... [ More ]

Comment #14

fxsterling — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 20:04:27 GMT

il has a self scan i wish ga would get them

Comment #13

RJOh — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 19:37:16 GMT

truecritic, I used to drive up to Michigan to get BigGame tickets before MegaMillions came to Ohio and I still will drive to Indiana to get PB tickets when its jackpot is over $200M and I never noticed scratch-off tickets hanging around like that. I seldom buy scratch-off tickets but I certainly would not buy any if they weren't peeled off a new/tight roll.Having seen some players buying tickets and having the clerk check them for winners without scratching them and then discarding them, I woul... [ More ]

Comment #12

DoubleDown — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 19:22:06 GMT

They come in rolls here in GA, but the rolls can be re-rolled if necessary....Yes, it would leave gaps in the roll, but most people will never know unless they ask for a certain amount of the same game and notice that the serial numbers on the bottom of the ticket are out ouf order.

Comment #11

truecritic — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 19:04:18 GMT

RJ >I don't think anyone would be stupid enough to purchase tickets if they weren't on the original roll of tickets. There are plenty of stores in MI that sell individual instant tickets all the time, because they keep them in their register drawer.Also, we have plenty of party stores that hang strips - in fact I would say it is unusual to be buying from a roll. Can't remember the last time I saw a roll.The article said $4,000 - figured that was a $5,000 full face value?Oops, read it wrong - gu... [ More ]

Comment #10

RJOh — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 18:16:54 GMT

I don't think anyone would be stupid enough to purchase tickets if they weren't on the original roll of tickets. Even if a retailer knew there was a winner on the roll, he would have to undo the roll to scan it and tear out the winning tickets and that would be obvious to any player.A retailer wouldn't make much if he cashed in tickets for a 20% discount since he would probably be in that tax bracket unless it was a way to laundry dirty money. I would think he would only offer 50% of its valu... [ More ]

Comment #9

truecritic — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 17:05:54 GMT

If they can scan a bunch of tickets before they are scratched, they why would they sell them? Just pull out the winners and claim them all and sell all the losers. (Or save a few small winners for friends, maybe).Doesn't make sense if that is true.As to proxy tickets... Is that the going rate for selling a winning ticket? 20% discount

Comment #8

four4me — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 16:37:59 GMT

Rip I don't think so the numeric code they enter to see if it's a winner or what amount to pay out is under the latex at least that's the way the tickets in Maryland are. There is also a bar code they scan it's on the back of the scratch off. When they scan any scratch off ticket that information is sent directly to a central PC at lottery HQ. I think they would get suspicious if a retailer continuously scanned tickets from a pack of tickets. Then again I could be wrong a retailer might be scann... [ More ]

Comment #7

DoubleDown — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 16:07:22 GMT

That's what I'm talking about.Because of this practice I am very careful where I purchase scratch offs.If they scan too many without punching in the 3 digit code, they can get in trouble, but they can always claim computer error ....

Comment #6

DoubleDown — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 16:02:48 GMT

Jack--I know that scanning the bar code on the back tells the tale, and they still need to have the three digit code from the front, but the key words are if they can get away with it .DD

Comment #5

RJOh — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 16:00:39 GMT

I've seen people buy a bunch of scratch-off tickets and ask the clerk to scan them for winners without ever scratching them. I never knew if the clerks were being honest when they scan/scam them and said you didn't have any winners , but it was faster than scratching and checking them visually.

Comment #4

Rip Snorter — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 15:49:22 GMT

Can they actually do that? Scan an unscratched ticket and know it's a winner?J

Comment #3

DoubleDown — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 15:31:39 GMT

Patel, however, said he knows the rules and would never cash a customer's ticket under his name. I don't do that, he said. No, but they will scan scratch off tickets to see if they are winners prior to selling them if they can get away with it.

Comment #2

Jake649 — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 15:30:22 GMT

There is another possible reason for retailer wins that was not mentioned in the story. Retailers who steal tickets from customers. A customer redeems a ticket and the retailer either claims the ticket did not win anything or won only a small prize. The retailer then keeps the ticket to claim as their own.There have been court cases in Ontario where this practice has been proven to have happened.

Comment #1

wizeguy — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 14:36:32 GMT

WTG Todd, another plug for Lottery Post

Having a lottery machine: Now that's the ticket

Lottery Post — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 11:49:44 GMT

Critics raise questions as retailers play by the rules and win scores of jackpotsNew Jersey's 10 most frequent winners of lottery jackpots have one thing in common: Luck.But five of those top 10 winners have something else going for them: A store that sells lottery tickets. We play, we win, explained Mahendra Vora, standing behind the counter of Everything Nice, a stationery store on Bergenline Avenue in West New York that he owns with his wife, Sudha.Together, the lucky couple has claimed 175... [ More ]