Proper configuration of lottery settings ensures accurate tracking, simplified daily readings, and smoother integration with vending machines or manual systems
Accessing Lottery Settings
Log in to your PDI C-Store Essentials account
Access your C-store essentials account
On the left side of the screen, click on Lottery/Lotto
Next click on Settings
Basic Settings
These settings control how new packs are handled and how readings are entered.
Automatically Confirm New Packs
If set to Yes, new packs are automatically confirmed when activated
Best for stores that do not track individual ticket inventory and only care about day-end readings
Automatically Activate New Packs
If set to Yes, C-Store Essentials will automatically activate new packs during daily readings
You must either confirm new packs manually or enable Auto Confirm New Packs
Automatically Settle New Packs
If enabled, each newly activated game will be settled the same day
Stores that prefer to settle at activation (to simplify operations) should enable this
Stores that prefer to settle later (to manage cash flow) should keep this disabled
Use Vending Machine
If you have a lottery vending machine, set this to Yes
When activating a game, you will be prompted to choose between vending machine or counter slots
Disable Manual Entry
If set to Yes, employees will not be allowed to enter ticket readings manually
Daily readings must be entered via a USB barcode scanner or the mobile app
Lock Scratch-Off Sales Field in Store Daily Reports
Prevents employees from editing scratch-off sales readings in the day report
Useful for maintaining data integrity
Number of Lottery Slots
Set the total number of physical slots for scratch-off tickets
Helps determine how many slots are empty after each day’s readings
Advanced Settings
These settings allow you to reset or recover from missed readings.
Reset Lottery
Clears all current lottery data and lets you start fresh
Useful if your store stopped taking readings and wants to restart tracking from scratch
Carry Forward Lottery Daily Reading
Carries forward missed readings over a few days
Helpful when readings were skipped for a short period
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between confirming and activating a pack?
What’s the difference between confirming and activating a pack?
Confirming marks a new pack as ready to sell
Activating starts tracking ticket sales for that pack
Should I disable manual entry?
Should I disable manual entry?
Only if your store exclusively uses a scanner or mobile app for readings. Otherwise, keep it enabled for flexibility.
Can I use both vending and counter slots?
Can I use both vending and counter slots?
Yes. When enabling Use Vending Machine, the system will ask you to choose where each game is being activated.
Is it safe to reset the lottery?
Is it safe to reset the lottery?
Only reset if you're starting over. It removes all previous scratch-off readings.
What happens if I miss a few days of readings?
What happens if I miss a few days of readings?
Use the Carry Forward option to pick up from where you left off without needing to reset.