SEARCH NEWS:

 

Lotto fever not so hot anymore

"The chance to win a cool $250 million, though, didn't seem to draw the crazed stampede of wannabe Trumps that it has in the past. In 1984, a then-record $40 million jackpot in Illinois actually caused people to fly in from overseas to take a stab at it.

"Huge jackpots such as the one offered by the Mega Millions lottery in California and 11 other states last night are no longer seen as the rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities they once were.

"...People today also have more gambling options – such as the growth of Indian casinos in San Diego County – that hurt the lottery, others argue. Gamblers say the odds of winning in a casino are better than winning the lottery, and the experience is far more electric.

"...At one point, Mega Millions sales in California were expected to fall 37 percent below budget for the fiscal year that ended June 30. The final numbers aren't out, but the lottery got a boost when a Mega Millions jackpot reached a record $390 million in March. A lack of big jackpots was to blame for poor sales, lottery officials said.

"This week, California's Mega Millions sales more than doubled to $19 million. But the excitement level didn't match what it was in, say, 1988, when the California Lottery – with a $51 million prize at stake – had to create something called the Lottery Fever Management Team to deal with the demand on outlets.

"...Sales for California's homegrown big-money game, SuperLotto, were once projected to fall 12 percent below budget for fiscal 2006. The next drawing for SuperLotto Plus, at $87 million, is tonight.

"...The California Lottery doesn't consider casinos competition because the games and gambling experiences are different, said Cathy Johnston, a lottery spokeswoman.

"...Some gamblers interviewed at Harrah's Rincon Casino yesterday said they shy away from the lottery, regardless of the jackpot size..."

< Gaming News