Lottery Sales Holding Steady

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Lottery Sales Holding Steady

Special Report - February 19, 2009
Lotteries continue to attract players despite a national recession, according to press reports and the lottery industry. According to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), an industry group representing 51 lottery organizations, lottery sales increased in most states, including North Carolina, between 2007 and 2008. In North Carolina, sales of lottery tickets increased from about $885 million in 2007 to just over one billion in sales in 2008. Nationally, according to the NASPL, lottery ticket sales increased from about $58 billion in 2007 to over $60 billion in 2008. The Associated Press reports that 25 of 42 states with government-run lotteries report higher sales of lottery tickets (scratch-off and daily games) since July 2008. While other forms of gambling—including casinos and race tracks—are reporting financial losses due to the ailing economy, lottery ticket sales in most states have remained steady.

“Lotteries are predatory in nature, preying on people’s fears about the economy and the financial uncertainty,” said John Rustin, director of government relations for the North Carolina Family Policy Council. “The fact that lottery sales remain strong despite the economic downturn shows not only how aggressively lotteries are being marketed in states across the nation, but also how people are being led to believe that the lottery is a legitimate way for them to benefit financially. Instead of encouraging our citizens to throw away their hard earned dollars, the state should be encouraging them to make wise investments and be responsible during this time of economic difficulty.”

Related article:
Lottery Revenues Up As Economy Slows - September 18, 2008