Oklahoma Lottery sales have been lower than expected this summer, but Powerball play remained strong, the executive director of the Oklahoma Lottery Commission said Tuesday.
James Scroggins said about 367 businesses abandoned lottery sales, but more businesses were added than dropped off, increasing the number of retailers to 2,222.
He said a slowdown in lottery sales in the summer is typical as people go on vacation and spend money on other recreational activities. He said other states are having similar experiences and he guesses high gasoline prices may be exacerbating the problem.
He presented unofficial figures showing the state will soon transfer to education an additional $454,825, bringing the total transferred to $65.7 million since lottery sales began in mid-October of 2005 at about 1,200 locations.
Preliminary figures show total sales at $204.9 million, with $109.5 million being paid out in prizes. Powerball sales topped $71 million and Oklahoma has outpaced other larger states in the network, Scroggins said.
"It could have been worse (without Powerball)," he told commission members. "It was bad enough as it was."
Scroggins said Oklahoma has an "ambitious" goal of raising $123 million in net profit for education for the fiscal year that began July 1 and he is not unduly concerned at this point about not reaching that goal.
If sales do not improve in September and the fall months, "then we may have an issue," he said after a meeting of the lottery panel.
He told the commission that an analysis would be done on recruiting businesses that have not yet participated in the lottery.
Someone suggested that bowling alleys might be a good prospect. Scroggins said it was his experience as director of the Missouri lottery that "pull tab" machines were a big draw at bowling alleys. Such machines are not allowed in Oklahoma.
Scroggins also presented commission members with a list of relatively minor proposed rule changes that included incorporating statutory language banning pawnshops and payday loan companies from selling lottery tickets. The commission had approved a similar rule.
Add $.50 plays to pick 3. Add a PICK 4 and a Pick 5 Game. Offer a $10 scratch off and up the prizes on your scratch offs. You do this and players will respond.
I'm guessing that Oklahoma will be the state that joins Hot Lotto in November. Neighboring Kansas joined in March, probably because of the new Oklahoma Lottery.
The new Cash-Five game begins on September 1, with the first drawing on September 5. Drawings will be held every Tuesday and Thursday. The top prize will be $25,000
Mr. Scroggins take notes....
Add $.50 plays to pick 3. Add a PICK 4 and a Pick 5 Game. Offer a $10 scratch off and up the prizes on your scratch offs. You do this and players will respond.
Adding a Pick 5 game would be a good idea. I wish Idaho would do that.
I know sales are lower than expected. I think Pick 3 should be $1 per game like in CA instead of 2 plays for a $1.
I'm guessing that Oklahoma will be the state that joins Hot Lotto in November. Neighboring Kansas joined in March, probably because of the new Oklahoma Lottery.
The new Cash-Five game begins on September 1, with the first drawing on September 5. Drawings will be held every Tuesday and Thursday. The top prize will be $25,000
where did you hear oklahoma is getting a pick 5 game?
they need a pick 4.....
i went to the website and you are right about pick 5.i bet oklahoma will be like texas and not offer pick 4.