Do you think states should stop selling scratch tickets if all the top prizes have been claimed.

Reply #4

gatorsrok — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 03:58:59 GMT

They should certainly make sure their websites are updated and reflect when top prizes are claimed. You buy a ticket at your own peril if you do not check the state lottery website to ensure top prizes remain.

Reply #3

user34 — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 20:22:13 GMT

Unclaimed doesn't mean it hasn't been sold already or that it has even been distributed to a retail location. Someone could hold onto a top prize ticket until the last day to claim.

Some have theorized that states control the top prize tickets and may end the game before their distribution or place them in places that sell very few tickets to avoid them having to be paid out.

There was a case in Indiana where a store was going to lose their lottery license. The lottery knew it was upcoming... [ More ]

Reply #2

Stack47 — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 11:46:32 GMT

Logistically to immediately stop the sales might be next to impossible considering the thousands of retailers and vending machines. Getting the word out to all the retailers might take some time too, but notifying the retailers not to open any new rolls of tickets for that game would help.

Reply #1

BobP — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 04:16:04 GMT

As the lottery takes in two dollars on average for every dollar won, there is little benefit to their claiming the unawarded prizes.

While some states have been pushed into halting sales on games with no top prizes left, we could just as easily force them into putting one ticket of each higher prize in a lock box to be distributed to retailers during the final days of their respective games.

BobP

Do you think states should stop selling scratch tickets if all the top prizes have been claimed.

ckrakowski — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 21:16:42 GMT

As you may know some states stop selling scratch tickets as soon as the last top prize is claimed even though there are multiple smaller prizes still available.

I honestly believe they do this so the state can claim the unawarded prizes and the politicians can put it in their own pockets.

I am okay if a state still sells scratch tickets after the top prizes have been claimed as long as they have a sign saying: All top prizes have been claimed but there are still other prizes available... [ More ]