N.J. mom-and-pop lottery retailers worried about competition

Comment #17

murph1226 — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:04:13 GMT

What do you mean think Oklahoma? Retail commission is higher than Missouri's, do you mean because of sales

Comment #16

MeFirstYouLast — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:38:33 GMT

I tend to support the same. The problem, as some one mentioned in ,the state of Oklahoma, is that Mom Pop cannot support anything larger then $5 and $10 winnings. Then they immediately revert to checks; which can take a month, or more, to receive. YOU must pay cash, so they immediately have the money in the drawer, but YOU must also wait until their accountant gets around to writing the monthly checks. How more Government can you get? Going to Mom Pop, to buy a ticker, is convenient. Going to a

Comment #15

Todd — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:25:03 GMT

Very true.

That's why convenience store owners would give their left arm to have a big winner in their store. Players will flock there, and will do so loyally for years. And the more people who go there, the better the chance of a repeat win. All the while, the commissions add up to big numbers -- with NO OVERHEAD.

Comment #14

Stack47 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:55:39 GMT

The other day when I was buying lottery tickets, the guy in line behind me was holding money so I asked if he was buying gas and told him go in front of me. He handed the clerk $80 for a fill-up and didn't come back for change. The price of oil hit another record high today and if something doesn't happen, lots of businesses will be hurting.

Comment #13

Stack47 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:41:38 GMT

If Wal Mart put lottery terminals in most of the checkout lines with the usual jackpot and scratch-off ads, it would be hard for an occasional player to miss them. But part of their marketing is to put smaller products where people have access to them while they are waiting in line. We have some huge super markets with lots of traffic that only have one lottery terminal at the service desk. The Wal Marts near me cash paychecks where people return and exchange merchandise and that's where they wo... [ More ]

Comment #12

Captain Lotto — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:36:57 GMT

There are several places in the big cities that specialize in lottery products. It may not seem like much, but a 5% margin is pretty good, especially in the grocery business. They do much better on big ticket items like meat, but things like can goods have even smaller margins.

Consider this- the retailer earns a dollar for selling one $20 ticket. In a C-store, a lottery product might offer the best return on shelf space in the store.

Comment #11

Badger — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:09:55 GMT

Since Delprete's store sells groceries and deli food along with lottery tickets, any loss from ticket sales wouldn't hurt him as much as a retailer whose main products include lottery tickets. Still, he cites the location of his store as a prime factor.

I don't know any retailer here whose main products include lottery tickets. They'd go out of business in a hurry, since, last I heard, the retailers here only get 5 cents per ticket they sell.

THe whole idea here of being a lottery ticket o... [ More ]

Comment #10

ThatScaryChick — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:14:14 GMT

I disagree. I think if they are set up in stores like Walmart and they are convienently located, that they would sell a good amount of tickets to those regular players.

Comment #9

RJOh — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:03:58 GMT

In my state stores like Walmart, Target and Meijer have similar size stores and target the same markets, yet Meijer is the only one selling lottery tickets. Since these stores are often in the same shopping area, I assumed the ones nothing selling lottery tickets made a conscience decision not to do so.

In my home town after Walmart came to town a few mom and pa stores selling lottery tickets went under but it wasn't because Walmart took their lottery business.

Comment #8

JordanT1021 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:30:28 GMT

i don't see no worries. i have had more winners in mom and pop stores than food lion or lowes food, but that could just be my timing

Comment #7

TheGameGrl — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:32:31 GMT

I concur 110% with Rjoh's statement. Mom and Pop shops neednt fear, sharing is the goal.

I commend the state for seeing an opportunity to expand and reach more players. More players means more revenue. More revenue means possibly higher jackpots.

Comment #6

Stack47 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:56:52 GMT

In most mom and pops and convenient stores the lottery terminal is strategically placed near or between the cash registers. Grocery stores usually have the lottery terminal at the service desk and Wal Mart, Target, Best Buys, or Bed Bath and Beyond probably would too.

I think an occasional player is more likely to buy tickets after purchasing gas, smokes, beer, soda, bread or, milk at a convenient store than standing in a second line with a cart full of paid items to buy lottery tickets at a

Comment #5

dingo — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:20:14 GMT

It's not fun to buy tickets at Walmart, Target, or Home Depot. I bought Superlotto Plus at shopping mall and Sears before. Nothing is special.

There's is no bell ring sound when step into the store.

Comment #4

ThatScaryChick — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:08:22 GMT

I think it's a good idea. If these tickets were sold in places like Walmart, Target, etc. I think sales may go up a bit. People who otherwise would not buy tickets and who do their regular shopping at one of these places, might end up buying a few tickets after they're finished shopping.

Comment #3

JustFrozen — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:33:16 GMT

Business is business and my take is that this is more than fair. Plus it is better for the consumer, for he/she is able to get tickets wherever he/she may be.

Comment #2

RJOh — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:25:57 GMT

Mom and Pop stores lottery tickets sales are hurt more when they can't cash their customers' winning tickets because they don't carry enough money to cash the larger winners.

Comment #1

Captain Lotto — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:20:45 GMT

This is an interesting article. Usually retailers complain that they don't get a big enough cut (think Oklahoma) or that it costs more than they make. When threatened by a loss of business they might have a different take.

I'm not surprised to see Lotteries branch out. It makes sense to spread the selling base and get into stores that won't be affected by the increasing price and decreasing sales of gasoline. I'd expect this to become a trend in all states, as long as they can work out the d... [ More ]

N.J. mom-and-pop lottery retailers worried about competition

Lottery Post — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:48:00 GMT

Buying a lottery ticket when picking up a quart of milk might be par for the course. But if a state marketing plan is enacted, customers soon might buy tickets while purchasing furniture and home goods, too.

To raise more revenue, state Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, is proposing that the state encourage big stores to sell New Jersey Lottery tickets, including Target, Home Depot and Dunkin' Donuts. Normally the domain of smaller convenience stores and food markets, lottery sales... [ More ]