Have self-serve lottery machines, but can't pay out any tickets? (Rite-Aid in Ohio)

Reply #23

PrisonerSix — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:05:46 GMT

My state(LA) doesn't have self service machines. However, when the lottery first started up here 20 years ago, there was a chain of convenience stores that wouldn't redeem winning tickets. They would only exchange winners for more tickets but not give cash. I should have filed a complaint on them, but did not do so. Instead, I just stopped buying tickets from any branch of that convenience store chain.

When it comes to redeeming tickets, and it's a larger amount, I will go to a larger plac... [ More ]

Reply #22

Stack47 — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:50:46 GMT

Or read the fine print because we have to buy a ticket to find out how to cash winners and then we have to find out which lottery retailers have enough money. If retailers have the option to only cash winners sold in their store than all stores should have the means to cash the winners they sold.

Ohio tried self-serve lottery terminals over 20 years ago and proved to be a bad idea so it looks like they recycled another bad idea.

Reply #21

nsv314 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:19:16 GMT

Not sure what part of the state you're in Marcie, but all of the Rite Aids the Toledo area have them.

The Kroger, Giant Eagle, and Meijer grocery stores around Toledo do as well.l. However, those stores also have terminals at their customer service desks.

Methinks that if I want to use a self-serve machine, I'll stick to one of those stores.

Thanks for all the input folks

Reply #20

nsv314 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:14:46 GMT

No, there are not instructions posted on the machine.

When you scan a winning ticket, a message pops up on the screen that says Congratulations! $X winner. To receive credit in this machine, scan ticket again. To receive cash, present ticket to clerk.

Reply #19

marcie — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:01:42 GMT

You can go to any Lottery Retailer and Cash your ticket up to 599 if they have the Funds. Some stores don't have all that money especially if they got a few winners already. I have took my winning tickets to several stores before anyone would cash my ticket it happens like that sometimes. They have a lot of those self-serve in many stores, I didn't know Rite-aid had them.

Reply #18

rdgrnr — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:41:52 GMT

I better stay away from those lottery machines if I ever see them.

I have no tolerance for anybody or anything not holding up their end of a bargain.

If I give a person or machine money in exchange for a product or a service, I expect to get it.

I'm sure the winning tickets bought from that machine tell you that you won MONEY - not CREDITS to buy more tickets.

I have sent a number of newspaper vending machines and payphones to meet their maker for ripping me off in the past.

I'd b... [ More ]

Reply #17

RJOh — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:33:40 GMT

Sounds like a case of buyers beware , I avoid buying tickets at any stores that don't carry enough cash to pay for the winners they sell.

Reply #16

Stack47 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:02:38 GMT

It's the same as any large chain selling lottery tickets; the parent company gets the commission. Having self-service scratch-off vending machines that sell online games too in stores without regular terminals is a bad idea for a number of reasons. The machines in KY scan the tickets and gives credits for the amount of the winnings so we'll probably see some players taking the scanmed tickets to other machines or to regular terminals and trying to cash them again. The waste baskets next to these... [ More ]

Reply #15

Coin Toss — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:52:52 GMT

nsv314,

Part of me is wondering if the clerk and manager on duty were just clueless too?

If there's no terminal, thus no provision - or reason - for paying lottery tickets and they paid them it would look like someone had their hand in the till when it's time to do the daily tally.

Reply #14

RJOh — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:45:35 GMT

I wonder who's getting the 5% commission for selling the tickets. It seems to me the retailers cashing those tickets should get something or they'll start putting up signs like ones I saw in some Kentucky stores - Only cash lottery tickets bought here .

Reply #13

Stack47 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:19:38 GMT

Part of me is wondering if the clerk and manager on duty were just clueless too?

It's no different than any store with vending machines that are not responsible for the machines. In this case the Ohio Lottery is the vendor and I'm betting there are instructions on the machine for cashing tickets.

BTW - there is a gas station across the street from the Rite Aid, so I just took it over there.

Problem solved

Reply #12

Stack47 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:10:07 GMT

It sounds like the Ohio Lottery is putting self-service vending machines in stores without regular lottery terminals. KY has similar vending machines and instructions on the machine are simple; the machines only give credits for purchases. The idea is obvious, it's for scratch-off players. The machines do have online games, but it's either buy QPs or use playslips.

If the machine only gives credits for future play, why would anyone go there to cash a $70 winner

Reply #11

nsv314 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:59:07 GMT

Thanks for all the input everyone.

It does sound like its just a weird Rite Aid machine quirk. Hmmn...I wonder if its all Rite Aids or just the one closest to my house? (I buy tickets there frequently, because I like using the self-serve machines for the most part.)

I wouldn't have necessarily expected them to have a lot of cash on hand to pay out winners, but from what the clerk told me he wouldn't even be able to pay out a $2 winner. Seemed odd to me.

My winning ticket was only $70, s... [ More ]

Reply #10

Coin Toss — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:20:49 GMT

Is it just Rite-Aid's fault?

Isn't the lottey aware of any outlet selling tickets that has a dispensing machine and not a terminal

Reply #9

RJOh — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:06:47 GMT

These are the rules for cashing in your tickets posted on the Ohio Lottery website:

If you win up to $599, proceed to any retailer location for immediate payment of your prize.

If you win between $600 and $5,000, take your winning ticket to a retailer location, where you will receive a Pay to Bearer ticket. At this point, you have two options: Obtain a claim form from the agent retailer, or download one. Follow the instructions carefully. Your retailer will have a list of bank-cashing loca... [ More ]

Reply #8

Coin Toss — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:30:06 GMT

It's no mystery that the lotteries are very well aware that most lower prizes go right back into buying more tickets but this is kind of forcing that to be the case.

The best that could come out of this though is that such machines will have to have signs posted about only being able to pay out prizes or give credit under a certain amount.

Once again, these stores are groceries, drug stores, convenience marts, liquor stores, gas stations, etc...

They are not in the lottery business, the... [ More ]

Reply #7

rdgrnr — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:52:08 GMT

Contact the Ohio Lottery. Complain and ask how they will remedy the problem.

Tell Rite-Aid you are taking your business elsewhere.

Let us know what happens.

Reply #6

Raven62 — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:33:33 GMT

The Ohio Lottery Commissioner the Ohio Governor may not read Lottery Post: Contacting the Ohio Lottery Commission directly is the only way to get action on your concern

Reply #5

Stack47 — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:41:52 GMT

We have similar vending machines in KY, but I've only seen them in stores that also have the regular lottery terminals. If your Rite-Aid store doesn't have a terminal too, they can't cash your ticket.

I had a problem with the playslip reader in one of those machines and had to buy scratch-offs because the store couldn't refund the money I put in the machine. Those machines are fine if you're buying scratch-offs, but I won't be putting $10 in one of them to buy any online game tickets.... [ More ]

Reply #4

BaristaExpress — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:08:44 GMT

I would report them as fast as possible! If they sell lottery tickets they have to cash them since they are winning tickets! I'd report them and then take my business some where else for good measure

Reply #3

sully16 — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:53:17 GMT

I would give someone else my business, thats just wrong.

Reply #2

Littleoldlady — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:14:15 GMT

You should send this email of yours to your lottery as a complaint or send it to your governor.

Reply #1

joshuacloak — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:56:21 GMT

its up to ever state on who a lottery seller. and what rules they have for their sellers

a email to your state asking wtf going on with that stuff do, is your best option.

sounds like your rite aid is jsut stupid thro

in tn, the rules is if they agree to be a lottery retailer, They must if requested, pay out all amounts below whatever that 500ish mark before you have to go to a Lottery Office to claim it. even via money order , check etc.

i look at rules of being a lotter s... [ More ]

Have self-serve lottery machines, but can't pay out any tickets? (Rite-Aid in Ohio)

nsv314 — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:42:29 GMT

All of the Rite-Aids in my area have the self-service lottery machines for both online games and scratch-offs.

For those of you not familiar with Ohio's machines, you can also check your ticket. If you have a winner, you can take credit in the machine, or else you can turn in the ticket for cash with a clerk.

Normally if its just a few dollars, I take credit in the machine and use it to buy my tickets for the next drawing.

Recently I won $70 in the Classic Lotto drawing. The machine won... [ More ]