JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missourians might have another choice at the gas pump someday: regular, premium, or Powerball.
The state lottery is going to launch a pilot project at fifteen stations, or so, that will let gas-buyers get lottery tickets at the pump or at ATMs inside the convenience store. Spokesman Gary Gonder says 70 percent of lottery players pay for their gas at the pump.
The system would let buyers use their debit cards just as they do now. But they'd be offered a chance to buy lottery tickets at the same time they buy gas.
Prizes of $600 or less would be directly deposited into the cardholder's bank account. Bigger prizes would have to be claimed at a lottery office.
Gonder says the pilot project will continue for six months to a year before a decision is made about taking the system statewide.
Minnesota is the only state that has this option now.
Awesome idea...bring this to Florida ASAP!
Capital idea!
Let's get the clerks totally out of the process!
I thought they won't let you buy a lottery ticket with a card (debit or credit) since there is a fee associated with the card that the lottery doesn't want to pay.
No thanks, the winnings get deposited directly into your bank account??? I don't want the lottery having my personal information unless I'm claiming a top prize.
Worse than that, you don't want your financial institution to know that you are gambling on a regular basis.
Amounts up to $600.00 deposited to your debit card, so say you hit $500.00 ten times and won $5,000.00, under the old system you get the cash and there is no trace for taxes. Under the "Pay at the Pump" the State Lottery will have your winnings on record and will expect you to pay tax on $5,000.00 of gambling winnings.
I agree, they should'nt be in my business unless it's a big prize amount.
No thanks, I like the smaller prizes deposited right into my hand lol.
Not a good idea. I wouldn't go for it, it will leave a trace on smaller prizes and I would end up owing the I.R.S. , plus the thought of it malfunctioning or me pressing the wrong numbers and end up spitting up $1000 worth tickets and over drafting my account is not appealing, especially when lotto tickets are non-refundable.
I rarely ever buy my tickets from the machines, I prefer to get my tickets from the clerks hand. I wouldn't mind buying online though, that would be a nice option to have.
Lottery tickets at the pump? The lottery having your financial info to deposit into your accounts? The bank knowing your gambling habits.... Big brother wants to be everywhere he can.
If you ever do use a machine for lottery purchases you will quickly learn its quirks. It may cost you a few bucks in the process but in the end may be worth it. In the case of the machine having your debt card it could cost you a lot of bucks.
It's aways fun when I forget to shut off the pump and it goes all the way to $100.
Obamacare will be making direct withdrawals from your bank accounts next year anyway.
And the IRS is in charge of the whole shootin' match so Conservatives will pay extra.
So it really don't make no nevermind what you do to protect your info now.
The IRS and Obamacare are comin'.
And Hell's comin' with 'em.
They will first need a major crisis in order to do away with term limits.
No problem, that's something they're good at.
From the OP:
"Spokesman Gary Gonder says 70 percent of lottery players pay for their gas at the pump."
The 70% that pay at the pump are obviously walking in to play the tickets, it it's running don't fix it.
regular, premium, or Powerball
where I live in NC, there are stores that will let you use a debt card to purchase scratchers or draw tickets. just as long it's a debt card.
Anything that draws people inside is a money maker for the store.
I agree - stay OFF the grid. I bet the link to your bank account is an attempt to prevent underaged teens from playing. That kid that is just old enough to drive, or any passenger that might be underaged and their pal is letting them pay. Without the electronic tie in, it would be like the cigarete machines where we used to step inside the door of an establishment, buy a pack real quick and dash. Do you have to also buy gas to play?
I thinks its just pay and play. It would be the same as adding card readers to existing vending machines.
i be happy if the Lottery could keep the ticket checking scanners working
My store has a free standing scanner and the vending machine scans, so I have 2 options.
MAYBE I COME SEE YOUR STORE
We replaced Bank Tellers with ATM's and adapted to it.
And Bank Tellers were considerably more intelligent than Convenient Store Clerks and much less likely to try and rip people off.
So why couldn't we replace Lottery Clerks with ALM's (Automatic Lottery Machines)?
We don't need no stinking clerks.
Come on over, we got some real high tech gas station round here.
This is another step for lottery. It's good because it is accessible to consumers, in addition it will definitely boost their sales. I hope other states will consider this option too.