Hurricane disrupts Florida Lotto sales

Sep 15, 2004, 7:27 am (2 comments)

Florida Lottery

Thanks to Frances and Charley, this week's jackpot is the smallest in 5 years

This week's $2 million Florida Lotto jackpot is the smallest since the state went to twice-a-week jackpots in 1999.  Bad weather is taking the blame.

Lottery revenues plummeted after mandatory evacuations were ordered during hurricanes Charley and Frances.

"When you have state-ordered evacuations in place, we aren't going to say, 'Stay put and sell lottery tickets,' " said lottery spokeswoman Leslie D. Steele. "Jackpots are based on ticket sales. Without the ability to sell tickets, it has had an impact on the lottery."

Statewide evacuations for Hurricane Frances closed down 3,000 of the state's 10,000 Lotto outlets. Ticket sales dropped $23 million from the same time period a year ago.

Last year, between Aug. 11 and Sept. 14, Floridians spent $78.1 million on lottery tickets. This year, between buying sheets of plywood, bags of ice and flashlight batteries, Floridians spent $55.1 million playing Lotto.

Half of the money collected in Lottery tickets goes toward lottery prizes, and about two-thirds of that is dedicated to the Lotto jackpot. When ticket sales shrink, so does the jackpot.

The drop in lottery tickets also affects the money that goes toward education. About 40 percent of ticket revenue is dedicated to education.

"Education is going to take a big hit as a result of the hurricanes," Steele said.

The small jackpot also is discouraging some people from playing.

"We won't play until it gets to $10 million," said Paul Brady, 46, of Orlando.

With Hurricane Ivan headed toward the Florida Panhandle, lottery officials expect sales to continue slumping. About 155 Lottery outlets remain closed as the result of Frances.

Officials at the Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee spent Tuesday going over evacuation plans for Ivan, while the district office in Pensacola was shut down in anticipation of the storm.

But it was back to business Tuesday for many lottery players, despite a jackpot that could barely buy a single mansion.

"After the two hurricanes, it's the last thing on people's minds. I didn't play. How can you play the lottery when you don't have a roof over your head," said Ed Froman, 55, of Orlando, who was buying a lottery ticket at the Thrifty Mart on Edgewater Drive for tonight's drawing.

Orlando Sentinel

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DoctorEw220's avatarDoctorEw220

this is a reason why all states need a set starting jackpot level for their games.

CASH Only

Jeb Bush or not, FL needs a multi-state game.

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