On April 14th, 2009, while the state of Michigan leads the way in unemployment rate and usually tops the list regarding the bad effects of the financial crisis, it deviates from the trend in overall lottery sales. While some states in the United States are seeing a drastic drop in revenues, total lottery games sales in Michigan have remained solid and are predicted to increase for the rest of the year.
That is no big surprise to Adriano Moscatelli, who believes that lottery gaming offerings are recession-proof. Moscatelli, who is the manager of Florentine Pizzeria Ristorante and Sports Lounge located at 4261 Kalamazoo Avenue, SE in Grand Rapid said that gaming and alcohol sales as well gaming sales never goes down no matter what is the condition of the economy . Moscatelli's business sold more than $1 million in club games, keno and Mega Millions in 2008. The trend is happening all over the state with lottery officials reporting total sales about the same as last year.
Michigan Lottery spokesperson Andi Bracato said that games like the multistate Mega Millions have seen a substantial boost from large jackpots. Officials from the North American Association of State and Provincial lottery said that numerous states like California, Florida, Indiana, Iowa and Kansas, have seen their overall sales slide down because the condition of the economy is affecting player spending. Profits from the $60 billion spent by players provided $18 billion for education, transportation system and other vital services.
Andi Bracato said that the state of Michigan is doing well because of the variety of games that it offers. Players can spend as little as one dollar. Tommy Brann, the owner of Tommy Brann's Steakhouse and Grille said that most players play in order to unwind from work. Brann has had two $20,000 Club Keno winners at his establishment in the past 8 weeks and sold more than $1 million in keno tickets last year.
Heather Chahorski, the manager of the Wesco station at 14.W. Lakewood Blvd. in Holland Township said that such large payout help gaming sales. Chahorski said that the sales of their instant lottery tickets grow last week when twenty-four year-old Damian Flournoy won a total of $1 million in the Michigan lottery's Dollar Mega Play on a gaming ticket he acquired at Wesco. Chahorski added that she expects their sales to continue to grow for the rest of the year.
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John M. Thorpe
