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Vending Machine FAQs

The following are frequently asked questions regarding LottoShield's handling of vending machines and available services:

 

How are vending machine sales different from my counter lottery sales through my POS system?

Tracking vending machine sales can be complex. Unlike a POS system, LottoShield does not receive a live feed of vending machine sales as they occur. In addition, state lottery reporting does not always separate sales from countertop terminals and vending machines, often combining them into a single category.

With a counter display case, LottoShield can track ticket movement and sales at the ticket level because draw and instant tickets are sold directly through the POS system which records each transaction at the time of sale, providing immediate and itemized sales data.

Vending machines operate differently. Sales data must be reconciled after the fact using Shift Reports and vending machine audits, rather than through real-time transaction feeds. As a result, LottoShield relies on documented shift-based reporting instead of live sales data to track vending machine activity. This fundamental difference is why vending machine tracking is performed on a shift-by-shift basis and requires additional reporting compared to display case and POS tracking.

 

How does LottoShield track vending machine sales?

LottoShield Basic Service does not track vending machine ticket movement or sales, nor does it provide automated sales reconciliation. Instead, it tracks the location of ticket packs to prevent missing-pack alerts when packs are placed into a vending machine. This approach may be sufficient for stores that tightly limit access to the vending machine and do not require detailed ticket-level tracking. However, when access is shared among multiple employees, this method can leave vulnerabilities to ticket theft. In these cases, ticket-level tracking remains the responsibility of the store.

LottoShield Managed Service (available as an add-on) tracks vending machine sales on a shift-by-shift basis using uploaded Shift Reports and vending machine audits. This enables ticket-level tracking and automated sales reconciliation, providing greater visibility and control over vending machine activity. It is the vending machine equivalent of LottoShield’s Display Case tracking system, although operational differences exist.

 

What is a shift for a vending machine?

A shift for a vending machine is the period of time between cash collections. When a shift is closed, cash is removed from the machine and the machine resets its sales totals to zero, beginning a new shift. This allows retailers to match the transactions recorded on the Shift Report with the cash collected in the cash box.

 

What is a Shift Report?

The Shift Report details sales activity for each shift and is used to balance the money in the cash box. It shows total sales amounts by Instants, Online, and a combined TOTAL, and also lists sales on a game by game basis.

Cash Collected is the total amount of money inserted into the bill acceptor. Total Cash Collected represents the calculated cash balance for that sales period.

 

Where do I find my Shift Report?

Vending machines vary by brand and, in some cases, by state. Some machines automatically print the Shift Report when a shift is closed, while others require the Shift Report to be printed before closing the shift. Please refer to your machine’s documentation or contact your lottery representative for detailed instructions specific to your vending machine model.

 

Why does LottoShield need the Shift Report?

Unlike your POS system, LottoShield cannot capture sales data directly from your vending machine. Instead, LottoShield uses a photographed image of the Shift Report to reconcile sales against the vending machine audit. In some cases, LottoShield may also require a daily countertop terminal report to separate draw game sales between the countertop terminal and the vending machine. This is necessary because some state lottery reports do not distinguish between the two sources.