On February 16th, 2009, unlike the dropping gaming revenue at racing tracks and casino facilities, a lot of state lotteries are enjoying good sales despite the US economic recession. In the state of Ohio, lottery officials stated that a brand new game and partnerships with gas stations are helping to improve sales. Lottery tickets are considered to be miscellaneous buys and motorists are likely to spend a few dollars as gasoline costs remain stable.
The executive director of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, David Gale said that gasoline prices affects the products that a station sells-snack, drinks and lottery games. He added that although he is sure that it has an effect on the lottery, he does not know to what extent. The average cost of unleaded regular in Ohio was $1.88, according to the AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. The price of oil was twice that amount in September 2008 and the price surged to $4 in July.
For most part, state lotteries are not affected by the economic crisis compared with other examples of gaming. According to Equibase Company, which keeps an eye on the horse racing industry, betting at horse racing tracks all over the country was down by 1.6% in January after dropping 7.2% in 2008, mostly in the 2nd part of the year as the economic crisis worsened. The Indiana Gaming Commission said that earnings at three Indiana riverboat casinos in Cincinnati were down by fifteen percent in December from a year ago as gaming spending rapidly decreased.
Lottery sales all over the country were generally good, although the industry's result for the fiscal 2008 does not include the second part of the year, when the economy slide down rapidly. Pennsylvania Lottery Director Ed Trees stated that so far, sales for this year are about one percent ahead of the results for 2008. Trees said that they would have expected a four to five percent improvement, but the condition of the economy is affecting their business.
Ohio Lottery spokesperson Jeannie Roberts said that Ohio's lottery sales improved slightly in 2008, helped by the addition of the keno game, which contributed about $13 million in profits in its first 6 months. Roberts said that because of the game of keno, they are able to endure the effects of the economy. Roberts said that it helps that they have a core of keno enthusiasts who play in a daily basis.
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John M. Thorpe
