[TaxRelief]

Those who opposed the lottery in NC probably never considered pressuring convenience stores and gas stations into not selling the tickets. It is interesting to see that the convenience store owners are only getting a 7% return on sales.

[TaxRelief]

NC *Ping*

Please FRmail Constitution Day, Alia OR TaxRelief if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.

[Glenn]

I stood behind an elderly lady at my local grocery store customer service counter while she bought her weekly supply of lottery tickets. I don't play the lottery and had no conception of what all the terms meant. (Box this. Split that. 50/50 something else.) It took a full 10 minutes as she checked the couple of dozen tickets one at a time.

It was frustrating to many in line and I can't imagine it made all that much money for Giant Eagle since the face values of the tickets wound up being a mere $25.

But the state of Pennsylvania is happy.

[Gay State Conservative]

Very interesting.This is either a brave move motivated by principle,or a smart business decision...or both.

[B Knotts]

Couldn't one argue that convenience stores are themselves a "tax on the poor?"

[FReepaholic]

...Arey said he is morally opposed to the lottery...

Yet he sells cigarettes and beer. Both addictive substances.

[mtbopfuyn]

Lottery tickets and cigarette customers are the worst about holding up lines.

[AntiGuv]

I've only bought one lottery ticket a few years ago when I was in Atlanta. It was one of those scratch-off Blackjack tickets, and I won $50, which was nice beginner's luck. :)

I've never been much for gambling anyhow.

[ErnBatavia]

It is interesting to see that the convenience store owners are only getting a 7% return on sales.

I'm pretty sure that in California, it's 5%.

[NCSteve]

The Neighbors chain of convenience stores and gas stations in the Forsyth, Stokes, and Surry County area is not selling lottery tickets and they are proudly advertising themselves as "lottery free."

For the record, the "tax on the poor" argument is dumb.

[PeteB570]

Well, since the scratch off tickets started selling here in NC I think my family has spent about $10 on tickets. Won $0.

Had two tickets sitting in my visor overnight. The kids say they will scratch off the tickets for me as long as we split 50/50. They're waiting for "the big one".

[Poser]

Interesting story.

I'm sure we all hate waiting in line while some inconsiderate idiot stands at the counter and scratches tickets. All it takes is a little training of the store employees to solve the problem.

I suggest a "scratching table" with tethered plastic scratchers for those stores that sell lottery tickets. Other stores correctly create a separate line for lottery ticket sales. During particularly heavy periods, it's easy for the manager to jump in and help out with the sales without interrupting sales of non lottery items.

A 7% return with no risk is fantastic. This is a great deal for the convenience stores. They simply have to manage the logistics of customer flow and sales staff availability.

[HumbleButExceedinglyAccurate]

Lotteries are a tax on people who are really bad at math.

[kcar]

Heard my first (annoying) radio commercial for the NC lottery this past Friday. Apparaently the target market really is very stupid. The irony is that it's called an Education lottery. Would proceeds plummet if they actually teach math more effectively?

[redheadtoo]

Arey said he is morally opposed to the lottery, which he calls a "poor tax,"

All taxes are poor taxes, even taxes designed to "soak the rich" are actually taxes on the poor.