Wawas Across Pa. Get Self-Service Lottery Kiosks
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Gov. Ed Rendell has announced that Wawa convenience stores throughout Pennsylvania will feature self-service lottery kiosks.
Wawa approved the kiosks after a successful pilot program in 20 stores. All 210 Wawas in Pennsylvania will have the terminals by spring.
Rendell said the touch-screen machines could boost ticket sales by up to $37 million each year. He touted the terminals on Monday at the Wawa in the Chinatown section of Philadelphia.
Rendell said increasing the number of ticket sellers enabled the state prescription drug program for the elderly to almost double enrollment. He added that tacking on all Pennsylvania Wawa stores as points of sale will mean another $11 million for seniors programs which, he emphasised, is better than the alternative of raising revenue through an increase in taxes.
The state already has more than 1,000 lottery machines, which debuted in 2004. But lottery spokeswoman Elizabeth Brassell says Wawa's terminals were developed to meet the company's specific accounting needs.
Brassell says the lottery hopes to woo other large chains with similar tailoring.
Reported by: Pat Loeb, KYW Newsradio
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