Massachusetts residents should not bet on the economy recovering from its current downturn, but an increase in state lotto sales suggests some are betting their chips in an attempt to improve their own economic standing, lottery and gambling experts said.
Despite the declining economy, lottery ticket sales are up 6 percent from last year, according to the Massachusetts State Lottery, revenue from which is distributed to the commonwealth’s cities and towns by the state legislature.
Ticket sales are down at gas stations, restaurants and bars, but the new online instant scratch ticket is making up for those drops in sales, said Lottery spokesman Dan Rosenfeld.
“Because of the strength of our instant ticket, however, our sales are up and that is why we’re having a good year despite the failing economy,” he said.
Rosenfeld said the instant ticket is player-friendly and has a high number of prizes and the highest percentage payout. In less than six months, the Lottery has made more than a half billion dollars from its sales, he said.
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Center for Policy Analysis Director Clyde Barrow said the aggressive marketing and strategy ploys of the state lottery have made the new instant ticket successful. He said the $20 scratch ticket is driving the lottery’s growth.
“Even though people will only win one or two or five dollars, they win more frequently and that increases their tendency to play,” he said.
Barrow said players do not realize that lottery tickets are actually becoming less affordable. People who once bought $10 tickets are now buying $20 expecting to win more prizes, what he calls “random but frequent reinforcement,” causing Massachusetts residents to shell out more cash while the lotto reaps the reward.
Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling spokeswoman Margot Calhoon said economically-disadvantaged people are among the council’s high-risk targeted groups for gambling problems. This is because they do not have the same economic or educational opportunities as wealthier residents, and often see a big win in the lottery as their only way to achieve wealth, she said.
“They may think of it as an investment or have superstition around it,” she said. “Some people may have given up hope of obtaining money through work and are looking for a lucky break.”
