Lottery Frustration

Ask any convenience store, and they'll tell you the lottery is a lotta work.<br/><br/>Mike Thornbrugh: "We didn't think there would be that big of a feeding frenzy the first few days, and it did."<br/><br/>Mike

Thursday, October 20th 2005, 7:36 pm

By: News On 6

Ask any convenience store, and they'll tell you the lottery is a lotta work.

Mike Thornbrugh: "We didn't think there would be that big of a feeding frenzy the first few days, and it did."

Mike Thornbrugh is with Quik Trip and obviously the Quik in Quik Trip is a big part of their

Mike Thornbrugh: "We're not to where we want to be, but as time goes on and the feeding frenzy dies down, we'll get back to that kind of speed."

Mike Batman at Batman's convenience store reports a similar lottery logjam.

Mike Batman: "First we didn't know how much help we need... so we had hire extra help... but really, you don't know how much extra help you need."

Batman says not only has he needed more help, he think the Lottery Commission might need some more help too, because he says he's had a tough time getting them on the phone.

Mike Batman: "For two days I was on the phone. I called about a hundred times and nobody answered the phone."

Batman had run out of tickets, as have other stores.

Mike Thornbrugh: "We did have one store that was out for 3 or 4 days but I mean with a new program that's going to happen, quite frankly we're at the mercy of the Lottery Commission."

State Rep Randy Terrill has suggested fining the ticket makers for mistakes.

Randy Terrill: "It's about performance and accountability... It's about making sure the lottery stream that we've been promised actually materializes... and if it doesn't, holding those people responsible for that failure accountable

Overall though, Quik Trip and Batman's both say the system is getting smoother every day. But Powerball rolls in soon.

Mike Batman: "Yeah, I think that's going to add a little more headache and more work."

Steve Berg, the News on 6.