Green Bay United States
Member #169,383
October 15, 2015
2,901 Posts
Offline
I have 3 favorite places where I buy my tickets. Two gas stations and a Piggly Wiggly grocery store. I buy them there because I like the people who own those establishments.
Northern IL United States
Member #171,100
December 31, 2015
147 Posts
Offline
I have two locations I purchase tickets from.
Small convenience store near my house
Jewel-Osco store near my house
Get my scratch off tickets out of vending machines (Jewel has bigger machine/more selection so I use that more often) and get my Illinois Lotto or PB/Mega tickets from clerk at store near my house
United States
Member #142,680
May 17, 2013
101 Posts
Offline
There's 4 places nearby that sell them. Depending on where I have errends to run that day that's where i go. The one place knows me pretty well since it's close to home. Mostly gas stations or the grocery store.
Florida United States
Member #61,433
May 22, 2008
1,243 Posts
Offline
My profession has me all over town and I usually by at Wawa's, 7-11 and Publix. So two convenience store chains and one Grocery Store for those of you that don't live in FL.
United States
Member #169,904
November 6, 2015
71 Posts
Offline
I like going to a vending machine at CVS because I don't like dealing with people when buying my tickets but I really like just going to random places such as 7-11, Grocery Store, Gas Station, etc. For scratchers, it may matter where you buy them because some stores have losing batches but you just don't know which so I like buying scratchers at random locations.
Jacksonville, Florida United States
Member #140,358
March 17, 2013
195 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by mikeintexas on Jan 20, 2016
I drive by a convenience store that sells lottery tickets and go a few blocks more to a locally owned liquor store to buy them, mainly because the store that sells the winning ticket gets a bonus and the convenience store is a corporation based in N. Mexico while the liquor store is locally owned. Sometimes I use the vending machine at the grocery store, but not often.
I buy my Powerball lottery pool tickets at Publix and I buy them for the month. I tried the convenience store one time but they screwed up my purchase so I got stuck with the power play instead of the needed amount for the month and when I get them validated I have no issue with getting the receipt.
Personal tickets I buy from the local convenience store. However, just last month the owners wife claimed a $250k fantasy ticket and I only found that out because I was looking at the list of winners and then looked on Facebook and realized it was the owners wife. Amazing what you can find on the internet.
South Carolina United States
Member #77,165
July 15, 2009
950 Posts
Offline
I usually have tickets before the night of the drawing. Whatever convenience store happens to be on my way when I'm running errands is fine. When I get tickets lately I'll get one or two quick picks for 2 draws for each of the games I play no matter what the jackpot is. That keeps me from having to go out the day of any drawing to get tickets for that night.
Good luck to us all.
Every champion was once a contender who refused to give up.-Rocky Balboa
“Don’t let someone who gave up on their dreams talk you out of going after yours.” – Zig Ziglar
Kentucky United States
Member #32,651
February 14, 2006
10,302 Posts
Offline
I play some Keno so I'm limited to just two stores, but both are Cashing Agents and cashing winning tickets is never a problem.
Depends on the volume, but it's more likely a Mom and Pop will sell more tickets per customer simply because the large chain stores don't sell lottery products at their check-outs.
Texas Panhandle United States
Member #136,837
December 20, 2012
1,660 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by schmuckatelly on Jan 30, 2016
I buy my Powerball lottery pool tickets at Publix and I buy them for the month. I tried the convenience store one time but they screwed up my purchase so I got stuck with the power play instead of the needed amount for the month and when I get them validated I have no issue with getting the receipt.
Personal tickets I buy from the local convenience store. However, just last month the owners wife claimed a $250k fantasy ticket and I only found that out because I was looking at the list of winners and then looked on Facebook and realized it was the owners wife. Amazing what you can find on the internet.
I used to buy my tickets at that convenience store (Allsups) and not but a couple of weeks after the Texas Lotto started, I hit on 4 of 6 for $79. I took the ticket back to the store to cash it in and the mgr. said I'd have to take my winnings in a money order. I didn't like that, but agreed. When I got the M.O., it was for $78.51 - they had taken out the cost of the M.O. !!! I protested but didn't get very far. "It's not that much money." the mgr. informed me. "If it's not that much money," I retorted, "then why don't YOU pay it?" A few weeks later I hit 4 of 6 again, but this time before claiming, I called the Texas Lottery commission in Austin and asked them if the charge on my winnings was legal. I was informed it wasn't. I went on up to the store and told them I wanted to be paid, but NOT with a M.O. and definitely not charged for one. "Take it or leave it." said the mgr. I went home and called the conv. store corporate office and they pretty much said the same thing. I called the lottery commission again and told them what was happening. "We'll sort it out." they assured me.
Long story short, I later got a call from Austin, telling me to cash in my ticket, that they had taken care of it. (the chain had been threatened with the loss of their lottery sales from all their stores in Texas.) I spent several times more than the .49 cents on phone calls but this was one of those times where the principal really WAS the thing and not the money.
Maryland United States
Member #162,427
January 2, 2015
3,207 Posts
Offline
I find the gas stations/other like stores which 'other' players use a lot are the best. That way I am around other players, and it feels comfortable playing. Often the stores have extra areas set up for lottery players. I don't mind lines at those places as often you can talk with other players about what's working or coming out.
Lucky for me I have a couple on the way to work.
Nothing worse than at a store which other customers give you a hard time about spending money on the lottery.