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CHICAGO (AP) — The Il linois Chamber of Commerce says the instant lottery is clut tering up its members’ stores and causing some consumers to waste money they need for oth er things. “People are literally blowing their whole paychecks. It is al most a sickness, like slot ma chines,’ says Robert Fisher, the chamber’s executive vice president. “It’s disruptive to business and encourages reck less spending by consumers to the extent that other products in the store are not being sold. We've heard of people spending as much as $80 at one time A business is in business to sell its products, not the state’s products.” The chamber, which opposed the state lottery in the first place, says it’s received dozens of calls from merchants who contend people are buying tick ets instead of their products. “‘We’ve heard of housewives spending food money on instant lottery tickets. And there have been reports of wives com plaining to their husband’s em ployer that paychecks are go ing for the tickets instead of being brought home,” says Paul Neal, head of the state chamber’s legislative depart ment. “We are taking no position on it because we have no official complaints to file through com mittee,’’ Neal added. Hugh Muncy, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Asso ciation, said ‘“‘some very spotty feedback has been discussed ..A few retailers object be cause it disrupts traffic in their stores. They say persons will buy one ticket, then another and another. Some stores are posting signs that instant lot tery tickets are not for sale.”’ Jewel Food Co., a major gro cery chain, has no complaints. A spokesman said instant ticket sales are brisk, and food sales are up over a year ago. The tickets sell for $1. A buy er can scratch away a covered area and determine on the spot if he is a winner. The cash pay offs are $5, $100, $1,000 and $10,000. The strongest complaint comes from the Aurora Cham ber of Commerce which has started a campaign to have the instant lottery outlawed. The instant lottery started last month, geared to last until 80 million tickets are sold. State Lottery Supt. Ralph F. Batch said Tuesday that the Aurora group’s action was ‘“‘a very strange reaction...It’s only the rare businessman who doesn’t want business in his store. Most ticket agents are extremely happy with it.” Batch said sales have been so good that the 10 million tickets may be sold in 10 weeks instead of the originally expected 14. Friends, neighbors and relatives from a 15-mile radius converged on the John Sullivan farm, Amboy, Tuesday. They came to help the Sullivans, who had lost their son, John ny III, in a tragic auto accident last week. During the day more than 43 units of farm equipment plowed 800 acres of land farmed by the Sullivans. The operation was organ ized by Gene Bothe, Art Barnhart and Marvin Sullivan. Those who came to help includ ed: Gary Morris, Ray Harrison, Cecil Harrison, Ron Pratt, Mike Gall, Larry Clayton, Roy Hubbell, Ted Metzen, Bill Metzen, Leonard Debotal, Dean Nusbaum, Rick Haef ner, Don Book, Jim Book, Jerry Brechon, Bob McBride, Dave Coers, Al Beardin, Ev. Beardin, Carl Grossman, Don Payne, Roy White, Gary Kessel, Steve Stehl, Russ Jahn ke, Lavern Hicks, Fred Schmidt, Howard Bothe, Henry John, Gerald Spires, Lawrence Pratt, Roy Vivian, Doug McLaughlin, Clarence Kessel, Oscar Kerchner, Walter Gerdt, Dick Humphrey, Dean Robbins, Ronnie Weidman, Jim Leffelman, Don Dimmig, Roy Foreman, John Mason, Glenn Schoenholz, Ray Dallam, Lenard Carlson. Gas and die sel fuel were brought to the farm by Lee FS Inc. and the Van Orin Coop. While the men were busy plowing, many women turned out to prepare food. (Telegraph Photo)
Newspaper Details
Dixon Evening Telegraph
Dixon, Illinois, US
Wed, Nov 19, 1975
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Doug P.
USA 23 Jun 2026
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