Written by Grant C Sloan
As Arkansas lottery sales reach almost ten million dollars, many local gas stations are finding themselves overwhelmed from the increase in paper work and shift hours.
Since the beginning of the lottery on Sept. 28 ticket sales have not dropped under one million dollars a day across the state. What has became a new hobby for many Searcy residents, has added extra work for many gas station employees.
Fonda Sullens, the Assistant Manager at Conoco said, “Wow, our customer count inside sales have doubled …we used to be away with only having one cashier, now we constantly have two people behind the counter.”
Sullens went on to say that the gas station has had to lengthen shift hours due to the increase in sales.
Though the lottery has brought an increase in revenue to many stores, it has also brought with it many unforeseen problems. The Exxon gas station located on east Race has put up signs to keep customers from scratching their tickets while at the front counter.
Exxon employee Dennis Smith, said that people originally wanted to scratch their tickets while at the front of the line, so that they could be reimbursed immediately if they won. Exxon instated the rule so other customers could be waited on in a timely manner, and so crowding around the counters wouldn’t become an issue.
Since instating the new rule Exxon had no issues with people “scratching off” while still inside the store. However, one lucky winner did scratch off a ticket worth $20,000 while sitting in his truck outside the store this past Thursday.
Smith said, “Me and the other clerk has just finished buying five ticket when we finally gave up, then the very next ticket just so happened to be a winner.”
Like the Conoco station, Exxon has seen a steady increase in customer count since the beginning of the lottery. When asked about the increase in paper work that has followed the lottery, Smith said, “It really doesn’t bother me too much, we knew it was going to be like this. I think [the lottery] is a good thing, I believe it gives a lot of people in this town something to hope for.”
With the Power Ball beginning on Oct. 31 many gas stations are already “gearing up” for the expected increase in customers. Smith said that Exxon has even considered taking out an isle of produce to accommodate the Power Ball players with more tables.
