ALBANY, N.Y. — Lotto is still losing its mojo.
New York's venerable twice-weekly Lotto drawing continues its long-term decline in an age of multi-state mega jackpots. Even as overall lottery revenues grew, receipts from Lotto dropped from $137.5 million in 2005 to a projected $44 million for the state fiscal year ending March 31, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's recent budget proposal.
Lotto is simply less alluring than the six-figure jackpots of Powerball and Mega Millions, which are sold around the nation.
"With Powerball, the amount is always so much more than Lotto," said Eric Gordon, a Powerball player checking out the $194 million jackpot sign on his way to work in Albany on Thursday, a day when Lotto's jackpot was $8.4 million. "Just a bigger pot and the feeling and the adrenaline that you get from thinking, 'Maybe I can win this!'"
Lotto was introduced as a pick-your-own numbers game in 1978, and an early jackpot was $250,000. A state lottery report from 1983 notes that Lotto's popularity was slow in coming, "but once it did the success was phenomenal." Long lines of Lotto players at delis and convenience stores became a common sight when jackpots swelled. The ubiquitous "Hey, You Never Know" ad campaign was launched in 1991 to spotlight high jackpots.
In 1995, it was New York's No. 1 game as measured by dollars brought in by ticket sales. But the game reached its peak a couple of years later.
Lotto now represents a small slice of the state's lottery revenue.
The estimated $44 million in Lotto receipts projected for this fiscal year compares to $166 million for Powerball in New York and $124 million for Mega Millions. New York also projects $632 million from instant games and $937 million from video lottery terminals at the state's nine so-called racinos.
Lotto's eclipse and the rise of video slots fits in with a larger trend of gamblers gravitating toward bigger jackpots and faster games, said John Warren Kindt, professor emeritus of business and legal policy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
"The marketing all shows that the smaller pots are less attractive and slower forms of gambling are less attractive," said Kindt, a lottery expert.
A spokesman for the lottery noted that revenue from Lotto began to decline long ago with the rise of multistate jackpots. Spokesman Lee Park declined to comment on the future of Lotto but said they continue to evaluate games and marketing to increase sales.
"The New York Lottery continues to be the most profitable in North America with record-strong sales and revenue for education," Park said.
NY Lotto: Horrible odds when compared to the many other games that NY and nearby states offers. When I happen to be in NYC I only ever spend $1 on this game. Even at $1 for 2 lines this game has terrible odds.
The only way to compare to other states is the $1 per play odds.
Compare those odds to the odds below for Sweet Million game that cost $1. Note that I am comparing the $1 odds.
The odds of winning the top prize of $1M on Sweet Million are comparable to the odds of winning the Lotto's second prize (On a $1 Play). The only problem is the Lotto's second prize never pays anywhere close to $1M
I DO NOT PLAY THE NEW YORK LOTTO.
I DID NOT PLAY THE NEW YORK LOTTO TODAY.
HOW TO WIN THE LOTTERY BY NOT PLAYING=SAVE YOUR MONEY TO PLAY THE LOTTERY SOMEDAY.
OUR REGULAR LOTTERY PROGRAMMING.
1) Playing the lottery more often for less tickets= Buying 1 lottery ticket.
2) Playing the lottery less often for more tickets= Buying multiple lottery tickets.
3) Playing the lottery less often for less tickets= Buying 1 lottery ticket monthly or yearly.
4) Playing the lottery more often for more tickets= Spending more money= Gambling addiction.
I SET A LOTTERY STOP LOSS LIMIT TO MINIMIZE MY LOSSES.
A lottery stop loss limit is very important to be a successful lottery player over the long term.
MESSAGE TO THE NEW YORK LOTTERY.
SELLING LOTTERY TICKETS THROUGH THE INTERNET IS A GREAT SOLUTION. Illinois lottery sells lottery tickets online to its residents. Illinois residents are also able to buy lottery tickets using a MOBILE APPLICATION.
The estimated $44 million in Lotto receipts projected for this fiscal year compares to $166 million for Powerball in New York and $124 million for Mega Millions. New York also projects $632 million from instant games and $937 million from video lottery terminals at the state's nine so-called racinos.
These guys are pulling in big bucks all over the place aren't they? Just shy of $2 Billion a year into the State's coffers eh!! Wow, these States really depend on lotto/gaming funds more than i thought.
Most people seem to want huge jackpots regardless of the odds.
Lotto's eclipse and the rise of video slots fits in with a larger trend of gamblers gravitating toward bigger jackpots and faster games, said John Warren Kindt, professor emeritus of business and legal policy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
What is the opinion of this expert on how the moral of the people were literally stepped on, and the consequence in decreased sales, when they increased the balls from 44 to 59?
I think the OP title, NY's Lotto no match for Powerball, Mega Millions, holds true for many states.
Illinlois Lotto starts at $2M and rolls over $250,000 when no one wins it.
The Missouri Lotto jackpot is usually in the $1M to $4M range.
They make it seem like the game is a failure, but when there's only 3 winners a year, it's really a financial winner for them. I play the CT games because the payouts for NY games are pathetic.
"...NY games are pathetic."
Maybe so but look at the bright side, their corned beef sandwiches are excellent!
Crazy odds.
Ny and NJ need to fix their current pick 6 lottery. Both have small jackpots that take forever to grow into anything worth playing for. Look at the California Super Lotto, it doesn't pay as much as Power Ball or Mega but it does have some decent size jackpots that are attractive when you see them.
The CB sandwiches are pretty good but they don't compare to Patels 40 day slow rolled hotdogs. Some of the top Chefs in the world can't mimic the flavor.
dallascowboyfan I know you've said you would want a local Lotto game in OK but if it offers such terrible odds then MM & PB are better for you.