Rising Gas Prices Not Helping Lottery Ticket Sales

Comment #31

CASH Only — Fri, 26 May 2006 13:55:05 GMT

Gas prices in Mahopac NY 5/26:

Gulf $3.279 regular

Sunoco $3.279

Mobil $3.279

They've actually come down slightly.

Comment #30

ochoop17 — Wed, 10 May 2006 12:49:38 GMT

Why not have a lottery on gas

Comment #29

CASH Only — Mon, 08 May 2006 16:16:20 GMT

The two closest gas stations to my apartment are:

Gulf $3.199 regular

Sunoco $3.219

May 8, 2006

Comment #28

Kidzmom — Mon, 08 May 2006 03:56:47 GMT

I drive a minivan on the gas issue and it does cost me anywhere between 72.00 to 80.00 to fill up and that is just on the regular unleaded. What I do is I ride til it get half empty and then I fill it up again, that way I am spending the same but it does not kill my pocketbook in one lump. This way I can feel good about buying scratch off tickets which I don't do much now because they don't have a variety of them. I only live 25 minutes away from virginia and they have all that I want so o... [ More ]

Comment #27

Tenaj — Sat, 06 May 2006 22:33:35 GMT

I drive a Nissan Pathfinder and $20 goes past a quarter tank and half, however, I have a Honda Accord that I drive instead and that's why I don't fill it up. I have to drive it sometimes and not just let it sit there. I really need to crank it everyday. I miss my 1990 Toyota Corolla. I had it for 15 years.

I thought about selling the Pathfinder but I read in the paper today that car dealers are giving great deals on SUV's, like no payments and interest for six months, etc. and that if you... [ More ]

Comment #26

JAP69 — Sat, 06 May 2006 21:36:51 GMT

Gas prices do not cut in on my lottery purchases.

However I only work half day Fridays about 4 hours. Thinkin about cuttin back to a 4 day week. Pay 20.00 a day in gas and only work 4 hours. And then I work downtown area and the bozos give me a 25.00 parking ticket for parking over 2 hour limit. I am not carrying my tools 4 blocks to work.

So with 45.00 gone there and after taxes for 4 hours I might just as well stay home.

Comment #25

LOTTOMIKE — Sat, 06 May 2006 21:16:04 GMT

i can't imagine what some with an SUV is paying to fill the tank?

anyone here got a SUV? if so how much for a full tank?

80 or 100 bucks

Comment #24

spy153 — Sat, 06 May 2006 13:53:15 GMT

"Some believe it's high gas prices. Actually, these days it seems like you have to win the lottery just to be able to afford gas."

tell me about it.... I usually spend anywhere between 20 and 50 dollars per game per draw. and now not only have the gas prices gone up, but I'm spending more time on the road. so now all I can spend is about 5 dollars per draw.

Comment #23

Fourwayz — Sat, 06 May 2006 05:09:15 GMT

For the record, I live 65 miles from the SC border and it's ALL I-95. My highway car is a 1988 Honda CRX HF with 250,000+ miles on it. It AVERAGES 45 MPG. It takes 11 gallons to fill the tank to the neck when it's bone dry . So gas prices don't bother me too much to get a better chance at a win.

Comment #22

wreakshavok777 — Sat, 06 May 2006 00:47:35 GMT

I hear that !!!!!who really cares what the state or schools get out of the lottery sales. I think its that way with most people...I play to win then I have the Fun part.

Comment #21

LckyLary — Sat, 06 May 2006 00:13:26 GMT

The trick is to improve your algorithms so that you win just as often by playing less tickets. I don't give a rat's petoot what the state's Lottery sales are, I only care if I can WIN more than I spend.

Comment #20

justxploring — Fri, 05 May 2006 22:23:07 GMT

I can see why you chose the name Psykomo, but I don't always follow your posts too well. Of course, I'm not quite as strange as I used to be. (or the world has just gone mad and I've stayed the same?) Now maybe you meant poll and just made a typo or spelling error ------ or I could go outside and climb a few feet up the telephone pole and then vote. Just don't want to get too close to the wires.

I think removing my nails was a bad mistake, but I needed the extra money every month. I can't... [ More ]

Comment #19

psykomo — Fri, 05 May 2006 21:39:20 GMT

^^^^^^^^^^^^>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DID?????????????????????.......................WE forget to ask??????????

ANYONE.......to vote in a pole???????

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>LOLuckkkkkkkkkkkkkk$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

LOLPSYKOMO

Comment #18

psykomo — Fri, 05 May 2006 21:21:12 GMT

..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!why-----nottttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!!!!!!!!

I'mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm$$$$$$$$$$$$$$WALKINNNNNNN!!!!!!!

O yes oooooooooooReee$$

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$??????????JACKPOY???????????>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

..............................LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$$$$$$

PSYKOMO

Comment #17

Tenaj — Fri, 05 May 2006 18:42:01 GMT

Quote: Originally posted by NCPicks on May 5, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by Tenaj on May 4, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by LOTTOMIKE on May 4, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by CASH Only on May 4, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by Fourwayz on May 4, 2006 I have not bought tickets since the first couple of days due to lack or wins. Like the many thousands who are waiting for a REAL chance for riches I'll only play the powerball when it arrives. I can't see playing $20.00+ a week with no retu... [ More ]

Comment #16

Just6ntlc — Fri, 05 May 2006 18:16:52 GMT

If gas prices are continuing to increase, people won't be buying as much lottery games in NC and/or any state they wished to play. I think people need to cut down on transportation (cars) if they want to play any of the lottery games in any state.

Comment #15

NCPicks — Fri, 05 May 2006 13:27:10 GMT

I agree with one slight correction.It was the legislature that passed the law,not the commission.I think that's what you ment.The commission was formed only after the law was passed.

Yes,without the mandated 35% going to education that bill would have never made it thru.Now,NC at least has the choice to play.After 20+years we'll take that,for the time being.

Comment #14

RJOh — Fri, 05 May 2006 04:11:30 GMT

Mike,

I only made a trip when the PowerBall jackpot was $200 plus(2-3 times yearly) and the MegaMillions jackpot was low but lately the MM and PB cash values have been about the same so I haven't had a good reason to drive to Indiana for tickets. If my 2 winning tickets from February expire, I probably won't ever make a trip again because every month MM seem to have a $100M+ jackpot and someone in Ohio is winning them.

RJOh

Comment #13

emilyg — Fri, 05 May 2006 03:50:21 GMT

get a prius.

Comment #12

LOTTOMIKE — Fri, 05 May 2006 03:39:37 GMT

RJOH...you winning anything on all those long drives

Comment #11

RJOh — Fri, 05 May 2006 03:36:13 GMT

As I see it, $3/gal. gas makes a $1 lottery ticket look better. I use to feel bad about buying $10 worth of lottery tickets when $10 worth of gas would fill my tank half way. The last time I almost filled my pickup and stopped at $50 to have $10 left from three twenties for lottery tickets, I didn't feel as bad (about the lottery tickets).

Comment #10

Tenaj — Fri, 05 May 2006 03:10:44 GMT

The NC Lottery has admitted and directly that their scratch payout % is lower than the surrounding states. It was in the papers, the news and there's a news article right here on LP about it. It's due to the 35% going to education.

They wrote it into Lottery law when there was so much pressure from everybody and I think maybe it had to be in order to even get the commission members yes vote to pass the NC Lottery. I rather that scratch offs are lower than pick 3 and 4 and I rather have... [ More ]

Comment #9

dvdiva — Fri, 05 May 2006 02:55:48 GMT

If you feel you have to win the lottery to pay for gas than get a better car. Even older diesels can get close to 30.

Comment #8

inittowin — Fri, 05 May 2006 02:01:26 GMT

I agree LottoMike, when you get twice as many plays for your money, with a better payoff, it's a no-brainer! And you don't have to drive any where to get the tickets.

That saves gas! Great concept

Comment #7

LOTTOMIKE — Thu, 04 May 2006 19:45:16 GMT

why not play online?

the methods of playing are cheaper and payouts are greater........

Comment #6

LOTTOMIKE — Thu, 04 May 2006 19:44:16 GMT

its screwing the players is what it boils down to.......

Comment #5

justxploring — Thu, 04 May 2006 18:57:52 GMT

I can walk to 7-11 to buy tickets. However, I don't think they were saying people don't want to drive to a store to buy tickets. After all, everyone needs to stop at the market for food and a gas station for gas and most of those retailers have lottery terminals. I think the point was that, if someone has a tight budget and was spending $40 a week for gas at $2.19/gal and and now pays $55, that $15 has to come from somewhere, so people will normally give up things they don't consider necessitie... [ More ]

Comment #4

doubledee32 — Thu, 04 May 2006 18:57:31 GMT

I really don't think its the price of gas but the availabilty of games that has slowed the lottery in NC. I personally don't bother with instant tickets but I do play the powerball and Cash5 when I cross the border to get my gas in SC. Once NC gets both a powerball and cash 5 game I'm sure they'll see an increase in sales. I've noticed that when the jackpot is large there are still alot fo Nc license plates at the store where I buy my tickets.

Comment #3

bellyache — Thu, 04 May 2006 17:44:12 GMT

There is a store down a couple of blocks were I live. I can just walk there to get tickets.

Comment #2

CASH Only — Thu, 04 May 2006 17:12:28 GMT

The NC Lottery won't admit DIRECTLY that their scratch payout % is lower than the surrounding states.

Comment #1

Fourwayz — Thu, 04 May 2006 16:44:59 GMT

I have not bought tickets since the first couple of days due to lack or wins. Like the many thousands who are waiting for a REAL chance for riches I'll only play the powerball when it arrives. I can't see playing $20.00+ a week with no return at all. I'll take my chances in SC or VA until powerball come here.

Rising Gas Prices Not Helping Lottery Ticket Sales

Lottery Post — Thu, 04 May 2006 15:48:02 GMT

People have spent more than $100 million in the past month buying lottery tickets in North Carolina. The state is pleased with the results, but officials say the take could be even bigger.

So, what's holding things back?

Some believe it's high gas prices. Actually, these days it seems like you have to win the lottery just to be able to afford gas.

Reginald Williams drives all the time for his home improvement business. He's keeping expenses down by not buying non-necessities like lotter... [ More ]