This model of a full-service lottery vending machine would dispense Lotto and Powerball tickets, as well as instant tickets.
Tallahassee, Florida - Floridians will be able to buy Powerball or Lotto tickets from vending machines if the Florida Lottery gets its way.
The agency already operates 1,500 instant ticket vending machines. Now it's asking state lawmakers for enough cash to add 500 more machines around Florida.
The Lottery also wants 350 full-service machines, which sell both scratch-off tickets and Powerball or Lotto tickets. A few states around the country have full-service machines, but Florida does not.
Dennis Harmon of the Florida Lottery says the full-service machines would be able to reach customers who usually just play Powerball or Lotto.
"Florida is known as a Lotto state. We have one of the strongest, if not the strongest, lotto game in the nation at the state level and we're also by far the leading Powerball seller of any of the U.S. lotteries. So anytime we can extend our reach with those players it's to our benefit."
Harmon says Florida would lease the vending machines. Projections indicate they would net millions of dollars for education.
The vending machines are proving very popular with Floridians. Harmon says locations with the machines generate about eight percent more sales compared to Lottery outlets that don't have them.
Gov. Rick Scott's just-released budget proposal includes funding for the new Lottery vending machines.
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