BENTON COUNTY — Multicolored, hologrammed and themed cards will join the take-a-pennycoin cup and pens for sale next to the cash register of local convenience stores when the state lottery kicks off Monday morning.
Starting at midnight, area stores that have been through the mandated training and certification will be able to sell scratch-off lottery cards.
"We are very excited. We went last Thursday (Sept. 17) for what is called Lottery 101, and on Friday, they (the Arkansas Lottery Commission) came and installed our equipment," said Tim Pennington, manager of the White Oak Station at 689 S.W. RegionalAirport Blvd. in Bentonville.
To get ready for the highly anticipated state lottery, Pennington and his staff have set up a lottery area for customers, complete with a machine that will allow them to check on whether they are winners, he said.
Pennington, who was involved with state lotteries in Missouri and Kansas before moving to Arkansas, is excited to see how his customerswill react to the popular game.
"I enjoy just being able to see the expressions on the customers' faces when they win," Pennington said.
Each time a customer plays the lottery, the suspense is contagious to store employees.
"You wonder if that big ticket is going to come from your store. Itis a lot of fun," Pennington said.
Rozina Smith, manager of the E-Z Mart at 715 S.W. A St. in Bentonville, is also excited to see the lottery finally arrive in stores. Smith's excitement is mixed with a little apprehension.
"(The lottery) will do some good, but it will also do some bad. It is gambling. Some people who do not have the money are going to be out trying to win big," Smith said.
For the past several months, Smith has listened to her customers wonder about the lottery and has seen the community's excitement grow, she said.
"I know (the lottery) is going to bring a lot of good business. Everybody is excited about it, and a lot of people are waiting on it to get to Arkansas," Smith said.
The tickets are Smith's favorite part of the game and, so far, her favorite depicts a diamond and promotes Arkansas as the Natural State, Smith said.
The first scratch tickets will go on sale at the stroke of midnight Sunday. Ticket prices range from $1 to $5. Powerball ticket sales will begin Oct. 31, and the state lottery will begin Dec. 14.
News, Pages 1, 10 on 09/27/2009