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Gambling Beats Gas Profits

"Gasoline and video lottery can't be mixed under the limited video lottery law, so Park Systems quit selling gasoline at Park-Mart Sunoco, covered its gas pumps and put in the maximum five machines that retailers are allowed.

"When they quit selling gasoline in mid January, Howee Young, who is in the business with his dad, Danny Young, said they were buying gasoline for resale at a penny more a gallon than Kroger's was selling it at the grocery store's pumps in Kanawha City.

"…They had a convenience store and the gasoline brought customers to the store that also had some of the old gray video machines.

"…For the week ending April 20, the video lottery income wasn't bad. Based on information from the Lottery Commission, the total net profit after prizes was $23,898 from the five terminals. The Youngs' 70 percent share was $16,728.

"`Not a bad profit margin,' said Libby White, deputy lottery director for marketing. She said Young's profit was a `lot more than he would have made selling gasoline.'

"…There are times when players are at all five machines and someone is sitting in a booth waiting to play, [Howee Young] said.

"`I wish I could sell gasoline,' he said. `I really didn't have any choice.'

"Young said he isn't going to take the gas pumps out, because he is hoping that the Legislature will change the law and allow gasoline to be sold where video lottery machines are located. He said the Legislature was trying to keep the machines out of convenience stores…"

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