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maringoman

Massachusetts
United States
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April 14, 2006
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Nov 1, 2014, 2:38 pm

http://www.necn.com/news/business/Massachusetts-Lottery-Audit-Finds-Problem-Areas-280961412.html

The odds of winning are already terrible and with this "peeking" practice on, I don't think players have any shot at winning at all.

That money's gone fo ever
LottoMetro

Happyland
United States
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September 1, 2013
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Nov 1, 2014, 3:23 pm

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Nov 1, 2014
http://www.necn.com/news/business/Massachusetts-Lottery-Audit-Finds-Problem-Areas-280961412.html

The odds of winning are already terrible and with this "peeking" practice on, I don't think players have any shot at winning at all.

Strange that 'peeking' is even possible especially in a lottery like Massachusetts. In most states you cannot simply scan the ticket to determine its status of a winner...you have to physically scratch off at least some portion of the ticket. I was under the impression this was universal nowadays.

Edit:

From the audit report, "Currently, the barcode used to cash MSLC instant tickets is located on the back of each ticket."

Are you kidding me? Wow, can imagine the temptation for a retailer. Scan all the tickets when nobody is looking, pick out all the winners, then sell the rest. Pocket your usual commission plus the winnings.

If the chances of winning the jackpot are so slim, why play when the jackpot is so small? Your chances never change, but the potential payoff does.
If a crystal ball showed you the future of the rest of your life, and in that future you will never win a jackpot, would you still play?

P&L % = Total Win($)/Total Wager($) - 1
Spincognito

Mass
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Nov 1, 2014, 5:24 pm

Clerks cannot scan more than one losing ticket or the system will not allow them to scan another ticket without scratching the complete void code. There is no way for them to scan a whole book of tickets to determine winners and losers. That being said, the state's lottery system software is indeed outdated and is to be updated in the near future.
maringoman

Massachusetts
United States
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Nov 1, 2014, 5:28 pm

The strange thing is that in MA, players don't have the option of scratching a specific area and scanning to see if the card is a winner or loser without playing it like they do in other states. Only retail clerks have that option and I think even for them, they have to scratch off that VOID area, reveal a code that they enter into the computer for the computer to give a message of "winning ticket" so I don't know how they can know the code without scratching it. Unless there are goggles that can see through that coating.

That money's gone fo ever
maringoman

Massachusetts
United States
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April 14, 2006
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Nov 1, 2014, 5:34 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Spincognito on Nov 1, 2014
Clerks cannot scan more than one losing ticket or the system will not allow them to scan another ticket without scratching the complete void code. There is no way for them to scan a whole book of tickets to determine winners and losers. That being said, the state's lottery system software is indeed outdated and is to be updated in the near future.

Can they scan them without scratching off the VOID IF REMOVED area?

**This ticket is not mine. I just found it on the net and need it to use it for this reply

That money's gone fo ever
LottoMetro

Happyland
United States
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Nov 1, 2014, 5:43 pm

Spincognito:

So Massachusetts doesn't have any self-ticket checkers (i.e. player scans to see if winner)? I'm not thoroughly familiar with their lottery.

You also say, "Clerks cannot scan more than one losing ticket or the system will not allow them to scan another ticket without scratching the complete void code. There is no way for them to scan a whole book of tickets to determine winners and losers."

If I'm understanding correctly, all they would have to do is scan one ticket, if loser then wait for customer to bring in ticket, scratch/enter that void code etc, then when they leave move on to next ticket in pack. It would take time but they would be able to get through all the tickets.

I glanced through the report and it seems like the issue stems around tickets with winnings less than $20. The terminals have an auto-cash function that allows retailers to cash tickets by simply scanning the barcode, as long as the winnings are less than $20.

Easiest way to avoid all this would be to implement GTECH's Secure Shield technology, which is basically a barcode that you have to scratch off to scan and requires no other input on the part of the retailer (i.e. scan and cash). Wouldn't need new hardware, just new programming (as far as I know).

If the chances of winning the jackpot are so slim, why play when the jackpot is so small? Your chances never change, but the potential payoff does.
If a crystal ball showed you the future of the rest of your life, and in that future you will never win a jackpot, would you still play?

P&L % = Total Win($)/Total Wager($) - 1
maringoman

Massachusetts
United States
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April 14, 2006
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Nov 1, 2014, 5:45 pm

Quote: Originally posted by LottoMetro on Nov 1, 2014
Spincognito:

So Massachusetts doesn't have any self-ticket checkers (i.e. player scans to see if winner)? I'm not thoroughly familiar with their lottery.

You also say, "Clerks cannot scan more than one losing ticket or the system will not allow them to scan another ticket without scratching the complete void code. There is no way for them to scan a whole book of tickets to determine winners and losers."

If I'm understanding correctly, all they would have to do is scan one ticket, if loser then wait for customer to bring in ticket, scratch/enter that void code etc, then when they leave move on to next ticket in pack. It would take time but they would be able to get through all the tickets.

I glanced through the report and it seems like the issue stems around tickets with winnings less than $20. The terminals have an auto-cash function that allows retailers to cash tickets by simply scanning the barcode, as long as the winnings are less than $20.

Easiest way to avoid all this would be to implement GTECH's Secure Shield technology, which is basically a barcode that you have to scratch off to scan and requires no other input on the part of the retailer (i.e. scan and cash). Wouldn't need new hardware, just new programming (as far as I know).

Players in MA have to play the game. No self check.

That money's gone fo ever
Spincognito

Mass
United States
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December 12, 2008
221 Posts
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Nov 1, 2014, 6:47 pm

Quote: Originally posted by LottoMetro on Nov 1, 2014
Spincognito:

So Massachusetts doesn't have any self-ticket checkers (i.e. player scans to see if winner)? I'm not thoroughly familiar with their lottery.

You also say, "Clerks cannot scan more than one losing ticket or the system will not allow them to scan another ticket without scratching the complete void code. There is no way for them to scan a whole book of tickets to determine winners and losers."

If I'm understanding correctly, all they would have to do is scan one ticket, if loser then wait for customer to bring in ticket, scratch/enter that void code etc, then when they leave move on to next ticket in pack. It would take time but they would be able to get through all the tickets.

I glanced through the report and it seems like the issue stems around tickets with winnings less than $20. The terminals have an auto-cash function that allows retailers to cash tickets by simply scanning the barcode, as long as the winnings are less than $20.

Easiest way to avoid all this would be to implement GTECH's Secure Shield technology, which is basically a barcode that you have to scratch off to scan and requires no other input on the part of the retailer (i.e. scan and cash). Wouldn't need new hardware, just new programming (as far as I know).

Clerks on any individual lottery terminal cannot scan more than one non winning ticket in any 24 hour period or the machine will go into a protective mode requiring them to scratch off the void covering to cash any ticket. Prizes over $15 already require the clerk to scratch off the void and enter a code to cash.

I agree that Mass should adopt the GTECH technology and as i stated, the lottery is indeed looking to upgrade but I am not sure of when it will happen. Mass still has the highest % of payback to players and is looked at as a leader in the industry.
duckman

Jacksonville Florida
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October 6, 2005
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Nov 2, 2014, 11:17 am

The barcodes on the back are not validation barcodes. They are simply a digital representation of the ticket number (usually a long number showing the game number, group number, ticket in the book number, etc), and/or a UPC product code that retailers can scan just like any other product they sell at the register to bring up the price.

The validation bar code is usually underneath a scratch area on the front. I don't think we have the whole story in that news article...

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