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Michigan lottery officials crack down on vendors

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DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Lottery is working to catch retailers who break the rules.

Records show that almost 270 of the state’s nearly 11,000 lottery retailers have had their licenses suspended or revoked since 2016.

The Detroit Free Press reports that most of the suspensions are the result of retailers getting behind on ticket sales payments to the Michigan Lottery.

Officials say one major concern is a practice known as “discounting” — where retailers purchase winning tickets at a cheaper price from people who want to prevent the state from seizing the prize money in order to pay off debts.

A lottery spokesman says few suspensions are the result of cheating. Retailers receive a 6 percent commission on ticket sales, which is a strong incentive to keep licenses in good standing.