Will gamble on lottery revenue pay off for N.C.?

Comment #10

CASH Only — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 19:51:59 GMT

todd:If only unclaimed MM or PB jackpots went back into the jackpot pool. But MM/PB players seem more serious about holding on to their tickets.

Comment #9

Todd — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 15:11:34 GMT

Not yet. NJ players get up to one year to claim their prize, so I guess we'll talk about the disposition of funds sometime next year if no one claims it, but I'm sure someone will. Too early to be thinking about a lost ticket or something.

Comment #8

shalini — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 15:08:28 GMT

any news of the winner?????????? what happens if no one comes forward to claim the MM jackpot

Comment #7

wizeguy — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 12:05:49 GMT

I'm hoping they join MegaMillions

Comment #6

dvdiva — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 06:38:28 GMT

I don't see why people buy scratch tickets period considering that scandals regarding them keep happening and the payout is always low. I'm wondering when NC is going to join Powerball.

Comment #5

BobP — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 06:09:26 GMT

Not sure about the payout percentages when many of the prizes are a free ticket that does not cost the state a dollar to give as a prize.I find it troubling when a state works against it's citizens. A properly run lottery should be a way to redistribute wealth, raise up people who have no other way of improving their lot in life and keep the lid on the garbage can by keeping hope alive.A couple of lottery tickets can help people get through a bad week with the hope the lottery will solve all th... [ More ]

Comment #4

JimmySand9 — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 21:43:00 GMT

I think so. So I think I'd avoid those NC Scratchers. The lowest I've ever seen was in NJ with a 55% payout, and the odds there were about 1 in 6. So a 1 in 7 scratch in NC would'nt be out of the question. If I was living in NC, I'd still be driving to SC or VA for scratch-offs.

Comment #3

CASH Only — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 21:29:36 GMT

jimmy:Would that mean scratches too? Even NY scratch tickets pay 65%.

Comment #2

JimmySand9 — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 21:28:27 GMT

Don't worry, it can't happen. The Lottery act says that all games must pay 50% (although I seriously doubt any games with a payout over 50%).

Comment #1

CASH Only — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 18:29:22 GMT

I hope that NC would not be offering games with less than a 50% prize return, such as through an in-state lotto instead of Lotto South. As everyone on LP knows, NY Lotto pays back only 38%-40%.

Will gamble on lottery revenue pay off for N.C.?

Lottery Post — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 16:27:00 GMT

Research shows more money goes to schools, but ad blitz may have unintended costs The states now offering lotteries do not simply make a product available in order to accommodate the widespread taste for buying a low-priced chance at a big prize. They seek to foster that taste. ...The state lottery agencies have in fact evolved into a new breed of government agency created in the mold of the modern corporation with its eyes firmly fixed on the bottom line. So wrote Charles Clotfelter and Philip