Self-Service Lotto Machines Debut

Self-service merchandising has come to the California State Lottery with the announcement that hundreds of new customer-operated Lotto terminals are being installed in the Los Angeles area.

Lottery officials said the idea is to make it more convenient for customers to play the game by bringing Lotto to supermarkets.

“This allows us to get into places we couldn’t get into before. It means you can buy your Lotto ticket and cookies and milk all in one stop,” said lottery spokeswoman Joanne McNabb.

Under the new system, customers can deposit up to $20 in $1, $5 or $10 bills in a computer terminal. They can then pick their six Lotto numbers by touching a computer screen that will offer a field of numbers ranging from one to 49.

In the first year, 275 terminals will be installed in Los Angeles County, 150 in Orange County, 225 in San Francisco and 100 in San Diego.