Group warns stores of backlash from lottery machines
This article was published September 2, 2010 at 1:23 p.m.
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A group that has fought against the lottery in Arkansas is sending letters out to stores in the state warning owners that they will lose business if they have the lottery ticket machines, saying they are "that unpopular."
Family Council Action Committee President Jerry Cox mailed around 420 letters to Dollar General, Family Dollar, Fred’s Discount, and Walgreens stores in the state, listing his group's concerns about the machines, including underage gambling.
“All we want to do is make sure that store owners get the whole story on these vending machines," Cox said in a news release. "The machines are very controversial, and Arkansas’ store owners need to know that.”
Cox and members of his group were at the forefront of the push to keep the lottery out of the state. They mounted an offense to the vending machines, weighing in during the recent public comment period, but the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery commission moved forward with plans last month to place the ticket machines in several businesses across the state.
In his letter, he raises concerns about "undesirable and illegal behavior."
"The most obvious concerns are underage gambling," the letter reads. "Any teenager with a stolen or borrowed ID could illegally purchase lottery tickets from these machines in your store. Additionally, if other states are any indicator, you may very well find people loitering around the vending machines for extended periods of time, buying lottery ticket after lottery ticket instead of store merchandise."
The lottery has raised about $91 million for college scholarships during its first 10 months of operation, he said.
Comments on: Group warns stores of backlash from lottery machines
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Corvette says... September 2, 2010 at 2:47 p.m.
My guess is the lottery vending machines will bring in customers to those stores that get the machines just like it does in the other stores that sell lottery tickets now. I know of some stores that didn't start out selling lottery and they were losing all their business to the stores that did. Then they decided they would sell. Bring on the machines and shut up Jerry Cox!
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studentoflife says... September 2, 2010 at 2:47 p.m.
Freaks!
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Arkscott03200956 says... September 2, 2010 at 3:32 p.m.
You lost! Get over it we now have the lottery in Arkansas.
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BigBadDaddy says... September 2, 2010 at 3:52 p.m.
You know let's forget about the Lottery and go to the Horse Track and gamble, eat, drink and bet on the horse's. Or let's to the dog track eat, gamble and bet on the horses????? Hello, wake up and small the roses!!
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Winfield says... September 2, 2010 at 4:42 p.m.
LoL. The stores will probably see an increase in customers and profits because of the lottery vending machines.
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Murphy01 says... September 2, 2010 at 4:45 p.m.
Good, then I'll just go to Walgreens twice a week instead on the one time a week I go now. Mr. Cox YOU made me vote FOR the lottery by trying to tell me what was good for myself. Now YOU will help Walgreens make MORE money if you boycott them because I'll spend more in their stores just to spite YOU.
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Aimee says... September 2, 2010 at 8:43 p.m.
I wish these people would keep their concerns to themselves... If they think it is immoral, then THEY should not buy a ticket...
As for underage, if they spend a dollar on a lotter ticket that is one less Coke they will buy to rot their teeth out... Plus, they will be contributing to their and their friends educational opportunities...
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wolfman says... September 2, 2010 at 8:48 p.m.
I really don't see the machines popping up in these dollar stores. I wonder why WALMART isn't on their list? Or if WALMART wanted to sell tickets it would be okay for them and there would be NO boycott?..interesting.
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