Search

Skyrocketing scratch-off sales indicate lotto players are resilientNews Story
By Kate Northrop While ticket sales and jackpots are down for draw games like Powerball and Mega Millions, Americans have no problem finding entertainment in other lottery alternatives. Vendors have been selling tickets for multi-state games during stay-at-home orders, but customers are understandably reluctant to take the time to pick out numbers and hand cash to attendants while making essential shopping trips. Instead, quick buys like scratch-off tickets make great substitutions for the
May 14, 2020, 2:08 pm - Lottery News

Virginia Lottery March profits took a big hitNews Story
The Virginia Lottery is still running during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its March profits dropped 28 percent, according to a new agency report. The Lottery took in $48 million in profits for March, down more than a quarter compared to the same month last year. Though Gov. Ralph Northam has shut down virtually all types of indoor entertainment including the Rosie's gambling facilities operated by Colonial Downs he has not ordered the Lottery, a state agency, to stop selling tickets. Most Lo
Apr 22, 2020, 6:45 pm - Lottery News

U.S. gaming industry hanging hopes on stimulus packageNews Story
Hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, the American gaming industry, including the expanding legal sports betting market, is optimistic the federal relief bill signed into law Friday by President Donald Trump will help its recovery. The $2 trillion CARES Act provides emergency liquidity, tax relief and additional support for small businesses, among other measures that could benefit the gaming industry. The funds will be allocated to states then apportioned to individual industries based on eco
Mar 31, 2020, 8:47 am - Lottery News

Coronavirus has brought casino industry 'to a near standstill'News Story
The Covid-19 coronavirus has effectively quarantined the nation's gaming industry. More than three dozen states with commercial casinos or Indian gaming facilities have taken actions to suspend casino operations, enacted limitations that led to a shutdown, or have seen gaming companies and tribal leaders independently close their properties. By late Tuesday, MGM Resorts International one of the nation's leading gaming companies will no longer have a casino property in operation in the U.S.
Mar 21, 2020, 11:01 am - Lottery News

Missouri Lottery sales drop amid coronavirus responseNews Story
With Missouri already losing tax revenue from the shutdown of the state's casinos, sales of lottery tickets have taken a nosedive as people stay home amid a pandemic. According to a weekly sales update obtained by the Post-Dispatch, overall sales dropped by 11% this week compared to a similar period last week. Scratch off ticket sales have dropped 9% and lottery draw games are down 11%. For the lottery, that amounts to a total sales drop of more than $1.7 million. The decline in sales i
Mar 20, 2020, 7:25 am - Lottery News

Longtime Rhode Island Lottery chief Gerald Aubin retiringNews Story
The longtime head of the Rhode Island Lottery is stepping down. Gerald Aubin, who has served as director of the Lottery since 1996, announced Friday that he will retire in the spring after nearly a quarter-century in the job. He oversees both traditional games such as scratch tickets as well as the two state-owned casinos operated by Twin River. Officials said Aubin is the longest-serving head of any lottery in the nation. The gaming agency's revenue has jumped from $90 million to nearly $
Mar 12, 2020, 9:27 am - Lottery News

Lottery industry facing new threat in 'skill' gamesNews Story
State lotteries are grappling with the rapid spread of unregulated skill gaming machines, which are found in convenience stores, bars, restaurants and taverns across the country. While these machines have existed for some time, their manufacturers and operators have become increasingly aggressive in their roll out strategy, placing these machines in the front of stores and even replacing lottery self-service terminals with them. Individual lotteries predict these machines could reduce their r
Feb 19, 2020, 9:34 am - Lottery News

Lottery legislation: Inside Alabama's lottery debateNews Story
A drive across the Mississippi state line is becoming a common trip for Alabamians who want to play the state's new lottery. At least twice a week, Aretha told us as she bought a ticket. At least once a week, Joseph said from the convenient store right across the state line. I would rather spend it where we live so we can pay for everything over there, said Brenda Gerganus as she bought a handful of tickets . Gurganus said she'd rather her lottery money go to Alabama's schools.
Feb 3, 2020, 10:21 am - Lottery News

Despite predictions, state lottery ticket sales have not been hurt by casinosNews Story
For years, Rajesh Keshar heard the concerns of his fellow owners of corner stores in Everett, Massachusetts, about what the Encore Boston Harbor casino might do to their lottery sales. They worried that some customers would shift their spending from scratch tickets and numbers games to slot machines and gaming tables. Everybody was talking bad about it, said Keshar, who runs Elm Street Market, about 2.5 miles from the massive casino, which opened in June. I was thinking positive. Because I k
Feb 3, 2020, 9:37 am - Lottery News

Texas Lottery to expand ticket sales at checkout lanesNews Story
Charlie Thomas, a home health care provider who also scrubs floors in the evening, says he buys lottery tickets every time I get a paycheck. Thomas, 55, has been playing the Texas Lottery for two decades. His fortune hunting takes a $30 bite out of his weekly pay, but he's won about $1,000 over the years. His most recent good fortune was a $100 win on a bingo lottery ticket. He was less lucky one day last month: The $2 scratch-off he bought at an East Austin convenience store came up empt
Jan 21, 2020, 9:36 am - Lottery News