7-11 Store Owners: Online Lottery Sales Could Mean Massive Layoffs

February 17, 2012 1:22 PM

Mega Millions Lottery Tickets (Credit: Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

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CHICAGO (CBS) — Owners of 7-Eleven stores are warning of massive layoffs to come, unless the Illinois Lottery protects them from competition from the online sales that are expected to start this year.

As WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports, the franchise owners say they online lottery sales could force them to lay off 7,000 employees statewide.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports

Joe Rossi, the head of the Chicago franchise owners’ association, estimates lottery sales bring in 30 percent of the business at 7-Elevens, because lottery buyers buy an average of $5 in goods on top of their tickets.

Rossi says he is not trying to block internet lottery sales, just suggesting the lottery find a way to protect 7-Eleven lottery business and jobs.

Rossi is recommending that the state Lottery require players to fill up a Lottery credit card at 7-Elevens – leaving the store owners with their present 5 percent cut of the business – rather than allowing players to gamble without limit on their credit cards on line at home.

The move to online Lottery play is set to begin in April. The U.S. Department of Justice in December issued a legal opinion on the matter that paved the way for online sales to begin.

Lottery officials estimate the state will take in $150 million more annually once sales go online, and will attract hundreds of thousands of new players.

Officials have promised that the site for online sales will be secure and limited to Illinois adults.

7 11 Store Owners: Online Lottery Sales Could Mean Massive Layoffs

NCW

Layoffs. That sounds more like a threat.

Every 7-11 I’ve been to has 1 person at the counter; the other person is doing something else. When the lines get really long with people buying coffee, newspapers, pop, cigarettes, etc., the other person opens the 2nd register.

Ok, so 2 employees. Layoff 1 employee and have a police car sit outside the stores.

xedge

i was thinking the same thing. There already running the stores with the minimum amount of workers. Its just some bs they dont want to lose the money
Scare Tactics

7-11′s are still going to sell Lottery tickets, right?

Denny

Rossi is recommending that the state Lottery require players to fill up a Lottery credit card at 7-Elevens – leaving the store owners with their present 5 percent cut of the business – rather than allowing players to gamble without limit on their credit cards on line at home.-Yeah, I’ll be sure not to but lottery tickets at 7-11
I Be A Dot Head Store Owner

Obvious answer, open a Dunkin Donuts.
I Be A Dot Head Store Owner 2

Sir, thats tree for a dollar. I can give you one napkin per customer.

Average Guy

@ I Be A Dot Head Store Owner and I Be A Dot Head Store Owner 2:

Typical responses from PEOPLE like you, just plain ole’ everyday small.

Drop Bear

Soooo…how’s it feel to be Outsourced?
JSC

7-11 needs to change their business model if they’re depending that much on lottery sales. Only gambling establishments should be pegging their staffing to gambling volume.
Jim

7-11 should not receive special treatment because the lottery can find a more efficeint way. I’m no longer buying at 711 either.
http://lessbull.com/?p=488 Business • 7-11 Store Owners: Online Lottery Sales Could Mean Massive « lessbull.com

[...] Officials have promised that the site for online sales will be secure and limited to Illinois adults.http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/02/17/ … e-layoffs/ [...]