Ian Coss

This is Planet Money from NPR. Joe's Market in Quincy is one of the biggest lottery retailers in Massachusetts. It's got all your convenience store staples, but the area behind the counter is dominated by scratch tickets. At least 50 different clear plastic boxes, all numbered and all dangling these colorful tickets. Could I ask you a few questions for the podcast?

This is Planet Money from NPR. Joe's Market in Quincy is one of the biggest lottery retailers in Massachusetts. It's got all your convenience store staples, but the area behind the counter is dominated by scratch tickets. At least 50 different clear plastic boxes, all numbered and all dangling these colorful tickets. Could I ask you a few questions for the podcast?

This is Planet Money from NPR. Joe's Market in Quincy is one of the biggest lottery retailers in Massachusetts. It's got all your convenience store staples, but the area behind the counter is dominated by scratch tickets. At least 50 different clear plastic boxes, all numbered and all dangling these colorful tickets. Could I ask you a few questions for the podcast?

This is ticket number seven for today. The other six are in the trash bucket already. Six $50 tickets.

This is ticket number seven for today. The other six are in the trash bucket already. Six $50 tickets.

This is ticket number seven for today. The other six are in the trash bucket already. Six $50 tickets.

We know that he lives nearby, that he works as a mechanic, which fits with the dark blue work pants and black t-shirt. He comes here on his lunch break, part of his daily routine.

We know that he lives nearby, that he works as a mechanic, which fits with the dark blue work pants and black t-shirt. He comes here on his lunch break, part of his daily routine.

We know that he lives nearby, that he works as a mechanic, which fits with the dark blue work pants and black t-shirt. He comes here on his lunch break, part of his daily routine.

Then there are a lot of states in the middle, California, Texas, Illinois, all in about the $300 range. Towards the top, you've got New York, Michigan, Georgia. They're all around $500 or $600 per adult per year.

Then there are a lot of states in the middle, California, Texas, Illinois, all in about the $300 range. Towards the top, you've got New York, Michigan, Georgia. They're all around $500 or $600 per adult per year.

Then there are a lot of states in the middle, California, Texas, Illinois, all in about the $300 range. Towards the top, you've got New York, Michigan, Georgia. They're all around $500 or $600 per adult per year.

On his next $50 ticket, number eight for the day, our anonymous mechanic catches a break. He wins 100 bucks. So what are you going to do with that $100?

On his next $50 ticket, number eight for the day, our anonymous mechanic catches a break. He wins 100 bucks. So what are you going to do with that $100?

On his next $50 ticket, number eight for the day, our anonymous mechanic catches a break. He wins 100 bucks. So what are you going to do with that $100?

Hello and welcome to Planet Money. I'm Kenny Malone. And I'm Ian Koss. And Ian, you are here today as the host of a special series from NPR member station GBH in Boston. That series is called Scratch and Win. It chronicles the history of lotteries in America. And Ian, you have brought us part of that series today, yes.

Hello and welcome to Planet Money. I'm Kenny Malone. And I'm Ian Koss. And Ian, you are here today as the host of a special series from NPR member station GBH in Boston. That series is called Scratch and Win. It chronicles the history of lotteries in America. And Ian, you have brought us part of that series today, yes.

Hello and welcome to Planet Money. I'm Kenny Malone. And I'm Ian Koss. And Ian, you are here today as the host of a special series from NPR member station GBH in Boston. That series is called Scratch and Win. It chronicles the history of lotteries in America. And Ian, you have brought us part of that series today, yes.

Today on the show, the unlikely story of how Massachusetts became the lottery capital of America. It's a tale of high-level mathematics, organized crime, and perhaps the single most important use of a can of Fresca in American history. The story of scratch-off lottery tickets begins with an apparently not very good board game.

Today on the show, the unlikely story of how Massachusetts became the lottery capital of America. It's a tale of high-level mathematics, organized crime, and perhaps the single most important use of a can of Fresca in American history. The story of scratch-off lottery tickets begins with an apparently not very good board game.