People in front of you dictating lots of numbers to the clerk...

Reply #36

SirMetro — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 14:05:17 GMT

Unless I am playing pure quick-picks, I fill out a bet slip for both a single number or a bunch. This insures I get the exact number I want for how ever many times I want it. When I do end up behind someone who thinks it's ok to stand there and rattle out numbers, I intentionally and very loudly talk to the Clerk about how really easy the play slips are to fill out and how convinent and fast it makes life for everybody. Most of the time, they take the hint and step out of the way after the Clerk... [ More ]

Reply #35

Kidzmom — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:16:56 GMT

It happened to me but I realized the elderly gentleman didn't really know how to play and he was telling the clerk his numbers and getting confused. People in line behind me were making noises and getting upset that it was taking so long. I was next in line and had been there for about 5 min. The clerk actually told people in line to be a little more patient while he helped the man. The clerk was polite and very carefully explained things to him and my thoughts were, when I get this old...... [ More ]

Reply #34

BevsPicks2 — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 16:45:19 GMT

It really doesn't matter. Some folks just don't know how to fill out those slips. Everybody deserves help. If you're in a really big hurry then you should have planned your ticket purchase a little better. Simple.

Reply #33

jarasan — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 15:22:47 GMT

Holy Moly! $400.00 is a lot of coverage! With that much you can just about cover every combo. Does anybody have the breakdown for the quads, trips, doubles, singles? I think there are 10 quads, I think 240 triples, 960 double/doubles, and the rest 8790 singles. Is this close? jarasan

Reply #32

Litebets27 — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 15:02:36 GMT

I use the betslips for all games all of the time. I have learned that there are some people who are just intimidated by the pick 3/4 betslips and will not fill them out.

In the past, I have had too many clerks punch in the wrong numbers and I leave the store because I'm in a hurry and found out later that I lost because of their mistake. I learned to fill out the slips so that if there is a mistake, it was my own mistake.

I once stood in a line where a guy at the machine had a small book w... [ More ]

Reply #31

KyMystikal — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 14:19:25 GMT

I play numbers too without playslips when I play in KY. If I have a lot of numbers I will look back at the line and see if it is getting long and ask the clerk to help the other people so they don't have to wait so long. Some places have signs saying if you're playing more then 3 numbers to fill out a card but if there is no line they will let you call them out.

There's a place I play sometimes in TN has a sign saying all numbers have to be filled out on a playslip, including QP's. I don't p... [ More ]

Reply #30

mrmst — Thu, 17 May 2007 15:35:19 GMT

Some of the things mentioned in this thread bug the hell out of me. At the liquor store where I usually buy my Mega Millions tickets, there are lots of pick 3/4 players. I don't think I've ever seen anyone use a betship for that. If it is a few numbers that's ok. If they have a list prepared and give it to the clerk, that's ok too. But the ones that stand there and rattle off what they want are being very inconsiderate of others. I try to avoid buying my tickets near the cut off times for... [ More ]

Reply #29

pick3win — Thu, 17 May 2007 14:17:05 GMT

I've even seen this happen in stores where they have signs posted saying please fill out betslips for all numbers other than quick picks, no exceptions! , but it still doesn't always happen.

Reply #28

four4me — Thu, 17 May 2007 05:50:21 GMT

the places i go have no problem with putting in my numbers or anyone else's. It not like a gas station or some other place that has long lines i might be there only customer in the place at the time i am getting my picks. And i usually give whomever is doing the job a buck so they can either buy a pick or put it in their tip jar. A buck for 2 or 3 minutes of work is a good salary. as i stated i go out of my way to find place with low traffic so as not to tie up one's primary business.

You see... [ More ]

Reply #27

KY Floyd — Thu, 17 May 2007 04:04:43 GMT

But you've got no problem wasting the clerks time

Reply #26

jarasan — Wed, 16 May 2007 02:52:18 GMT

I think that may be one of the best ideas I've seen on here ever! You rock! I'm on that train. The only draw back is, not everybody is on-line. Sometimes I have to shut-up talking in line because I assume everybody is on-line and it just ain't so, and I get the deer in the headlight looks like: what in the cahootsa am I talking about! Lotterypost what is that? Oh yeah, I am getting internet soon. Or they got nimda'd out a couple years ago. Do you know where I can get a computer?

But at... [ More ]

Reply #25

hypersoniq — Wed, 16 May 2007 02:32:01 GMT

The only time that would bother me is right before the cutoff for a number, but I plan ahead so no worries.

What would be great is if you could fill out pix TENTATIVELY online the night before, go to the clerk, present your driver's licence or ID card, the PIN you were given online, then the order prints for you on the spot. Think of the advantages

A) No more bet slips

B) No more long lines

C) No more explaining complex multi-draw bets to a clerk with that deer in the headlights... [ More ]

Reply #24

LottoChica23 — Wed, 16 May 2007 01:19:25 GMT

What really freaks me out is when a person in front of me on line is reciting a loooong list of numbers and they eventually rest their elbows on the counter in the process to get more comfortable...

Then you know you are going to be there for a while.

Reply #23

pinkrose12121 — Tue, 15 May 2007 23:13:10 GMT

I only play two numbers at a time, and the Indian guys have never said anything but I'm usually in there when it's pretty slow so I'm just someone there to talk to and a regular (not to mention they love hitting on me). lol

If someone was standing there spouting of ten or twenty numbers when I was there taking my break I would be really annoyed as well but for one or two numbers even three to me filling out the piece of paper is nothing but a waste to our trees and money, so no to be honest b... [ More ]

Reply #22

tntea — Tue, 15 May 2007 22:56:26 GMT

I advise people to bring in those tickets and let the machine check them... I would hate to see someone look over a number...

Reply #21

tntea — Tue, 15 May 2007 22:54:05 GMT

filling out FL playslips was a nightmare.. Dealing with the clerks in FL was another nightmare.. I didn't find one that knew how to play or mark the front or back pairs..

Reply #20

TheGameGrl — Tue, 15 May 2007 21:45:07 GMT

Faithfully each Sunday at our local grocery store, 1 Little ole lady gets her tiny purse out and for the next HOUR proceeds to cash tickets, spew numbers and make the clerk re-do her tickets if the INK isnt to her liking. I foolishly once stood behind her thinking her feeble mind just made her slow to recognize the line, TIL one day she made a comment that made me NEVER show kindness to her.. Her arrogance alone took away any compassion a person might have. She plays for the ENTIRE week! Imagine... [ More ]

Reply #19

Stack47 — Tue, 15 May 2007 17:56:29 GMT

There are a couple of places where I can call out give me 700 straight for a dollar 4 times, boxed it for a dollar, 2485 straight 3 times, boxed twice, and 5 auto Rolling Cash 5s and be out of that store in less than a minute. Because so many stores are not lottery savvy and give me the huh look , I fill out bet slips but that sometimes creates more problems. Clerks will put in the second bet slip before the machine is done printing the first one and think it's filled out wrong or get confuse... [ More ]

Reply #18

dream200 — Tue, 15 May 2007 15:51:08 GMT

This happens often,I am used to it.Once I remember a man had cashed in some winning tickets before he bought his 3 and 4 digits for the day,anyhow he was in line forever.His lottery bill came up to over $500. I guess he was in line with a buddy next to him or something and his friend asked if he wanted to let others go ahead of him since he was taking so long,he turned around and looked at everyone in line and shouted f--- those people and continued to get his numbers.

Reply #17

felinelover — Tue, 15 May 2007 15:09:06 GMT

It annoys the flippin H out of me. I usually play on a work break and when I get behind some idiot that is too lazy to fill out a slip and just spouts out #s forever I could scream. Another one I don't get is people who hand tons of tickets to the clerk to check. Can't they check the paper or the web? Never have seen a clerk say, Yes, you won

Reply #16

pacattack05 — Tue, 15 May 2007 15:03:15 GMT

I think that happened to me just a couple of times, but not on a regular basis.

What happens a lot to me is the scratch-off people who stand to the side and scratch off their tix, and if they win, go right up to the front and ask for another ticket, or cash in one for another ticket. If they keep winning, they keep doing this over and over. Now people waiting in line have to wait for the person to take his or her time deciding which ticket they want.

I've already seen a few places with sig... [ More ]

Reply #15

angelm — Tue, 15 May 2007 14:58:20 GMT

Especially when its close to draw time and you miss out because someone was so rude not to take a few minutes to fill out a slip

Reply #14

star69 — Tue, 15 May 2007 14:06:22 GMT

the publix store has two signs spanish/english to fill out betslips..... they still get around the clerk when the line is long and the jackpot is a large amount. the winn-dixie store has one clerk for customer service , groceries and lotto especially when it is near the drawing. best place to play is at the dollar stores in south florida.

Reply #13

DoubleDown — Tue, 15 May 2007 13:45:53 GMT

with you, Mr. Harvick !

The store that I go to has 2 cash registers , so the guy with 25 or 30 playslips can be there for a while, but the other problem is there is only one green machine, so if someone in the other line needs a ticket, then everything at the store comes to a screeching halt.

Throw in the cash gas buyer that comes in and doesn't even get in line, but throws a $20 at the clerk and spouts off a pump number, then we have a recipe for confusion and increased stress .... [ More ]

Reply #12

jarasan — Tue, 15 May 2007 13:07:58 GMT

Play-slips all the way. You get good at filling them out. And the new machines scan extremely quickly yet print one number one ticket at a time, still saves a lot of time and you know exactly what it will cost. No chance for confusion if you have a lot a numbers, it drives me crazy when people then have to check their numbers before they walk away and start with oh yeah, gimme 120 box 50/50, 133 straight 1.00 and by the way 445 50/50, oops I forgot 3441 1.00 box, no no sorry make that 3442 5... [ More ]

Reply #11

KyMystikal — Tue, 15 May 2007 09:42:39 GMT

I hate when I go to a store to play one number like 999 straight and they ask me to fill out a card because they don't want to make a mistake playing it. I tell them the only thing you could do wrong is play it for the wrong draw or the wrong amount. How can you mess up a trip???? Most machines I've seen won't let you play it boxed or str/bx

Reply #10

JimmySand9 — Tue, 15 May 2007 06:55:34 GMT

Just imagine, in Connecticut there are no play slips for their Play 3/Play 4. That has got to be a pain for both the clerk and everyone behind in line.

Reply #9

MegaWinner — Tue, 15 May 2007 06:45:14 GMT

You see, thats not bad. You go out of your way not to hold people up. Thats actually nice of you because most people go and play where they please and spout off numbers to clerk holding up the line.

Me, whenever I play my system numbers, I fill out betslips at home. I always grab a few betslips from the agent on the way out. This way when I come back, all they have to do is put it in the machine.

Once in a while when I play numbers off the top of my head, I will get a betslip, go bac... [ More ]

Reply #8

four4me — Tue, 15 May 2007 06:06:07 GMT

i play a lot of numbers myself and i don't like standing in line any more than the rest of you do. however i go out of my way to find discreet places to place my bets, places with low traffic. i will not under any circumstances place any bets with tellers whom cant punch in my numbers. have no understanding of the machine or don't know what they are doing. I will use play slips for pic 5 and mega million games. but for pick 3 and 4 no way am i going to waist my time filling out slips.

Reply #7

justxploring — Tue, 15 May 2007 05:23:27 GMT

Sounds like a good idea. I also find it annoying, but I'm not sure it would do any good to complain since we have so many visitors.

There is a young lady (only in high school) at Albertson's who does a great job at the counter and checks out DVDs, sells cigarettes, cashes checks, etc., and when someone started to call out numbers and how he wanted to play them the other night, I thought it was unfair to her and the other customers who needed service.

Reply #6

RJOh — Tue, 15 May 2007 05:22:21 GMT

When I use to go Michigan for BigGame tickets, the store just north of the state line on US23 alway had a line of people waiting to buy lottery tickets and they had signs posted Fill Out Bet Slips or Quick Picks Only and they alway had a box of preprinted QPs for those players who didn't have any bet slips.

After MegaMillions came to Ohio, I never returned to that store so I don't know if it's still doing business the same way since it no longer get all those outer state players from south... [ More ]

Reply #5

alottoalex — Tue, 15 May 2007 05:22:18 GMT

here in michigan alot of times the bet slip you fill out want go throught or something else happens. i write my 3 and 4 digits down on paper..[small note book pad].... i guess if i had to fill a bet slip out every time i wouldnt play as much.. or not at all.. but some people do get in line without write down their numbers, and try and remeber what they want to play and they do hold the line up.. that is a pain in but... oh yea if i play the regular lottery or meg then i fill out the bet slips

Reply #4

emilyg — Tue, 15 May 2007 03:09:10 GMT

Store where i buy my tickets used to allow that - enough complaints from regular customers and they stopped allowing. Play-slips only - unless it's like 1-2 numbers.

Reply #3

Blackie — Tue, 15 May 2007 03:01:22 GMT

It has happened to me alot and I just seem to hear my voice say idiot without thinking. Even with a huge sign in front of the machine saying PLAYSLIPS ONLY, they seem to not be able to read either. Here we have someone who can't read or write trying to win a jacpot. Everyone deserves the chance so why not? Because the store policy says PLAYSLIPS ONLY. Now we have a store clerk not understanding the policy. I blame the store clerk for it. Just my thoughts on it.

Reply #2

MegaWinner — Tue, 15 May 2007 02:58:50 GMT

No, the other day this guy was in the store souting off numbers like there was no tomorrow. He kept saying stuff like 553 one and one, 4 numbers please, 1111 one and one. And he kept going back and forth like that for like 10 minutes. By the time he was done, there was a ecent sized line behind me of probably 10 people. That was annoying.

Reply #1

lottolaughs — Tue, 15 May 2007 02:50:06 GMT

Yes,I can see how it could be annoying if someone's standing there with a whole list of numbers rattling them off. Never seen anyone do that myself. If it's just one or two then that's okay. I've asked for a couple of numbers myself a few times but I always make sure there's no one standing behind me.

People in front of you dictating lots of numbers to the clerk...

MegaWinner — Tue, 15 May 2007 02:40:52 GMT

Your standing in line to play your numbers. Either you are going to get QP's, or you have already filled out your betslips. You have somewhere to be really soon and this is the last chance you can play your numbers before the drawing so you have to get it done now.

But one thing, Rebecca or Stanley who is standing in front of you has been dictating pick 3 and pick 4 numbers to the clerk for the last 10 minutes and doesn't seem quite done yet. At this point are you annoyed or are you not bo... [ More ]