You can buy a lottery ticket for $1, and you may be surprised to know that lottery commissions can run into the multi-million dollar range. The lottery is a multi-national business, with sales in European countries accounting for 40-45% of global sales. But did you know that the lottery industry has been corrupted? There are many reasons why Lottery advertising is so skewed, including the fact that it targets primarily minors and does not disclose its sources.
Lottery commissions are a multimillion-dollar business
In the United States, lottery commissions employ a few thousand people to monitor and set up the games in their state. The vast majority of ticket sales occur at retail outlets contracted with the state lottery commission. In exchange for selling lottery tickets, these retailers earn commissions, cash bonuses and prizes for selling winning tickets. The lottery commissions benefit from the increased traffic and increased profits that are brought to these retail locations.
Lotto tickets sell for $1
While most Lotto tickets sell for $1, some states are experimenting with more expensive versions of the lottery. In Connecticut, for example, a new game was recently introduced with a prize worth $30 million. While traditional scratch tickets sell for $1, high-profit-point games can cost $20 or more, with larger jackpots and themed promotions. These newer, more expensive versions of the lottery are intended to attract higher-income players.
European lotteries account for 40-45% of world sales
The global lottery market is split into several segments, with sales in individual countries accounting for 40-45% of the total. Global lotteries are sold in national and local retail outlets and promoted through regular television advertising. Sales of lottery tickets are still small compared to other industries, but European lotteries account for the majority of all sales. Some countries, like France, Italy and Spain, have more lotteries than others, with over 100 million players each.
Regressivity of lottery participation among lower-income people
There is an increasing body of research examining the regressivity of lottery participation among lower-income groups. Previous studies have found that lottery play is associated with lower income and disadvantaged demographic groups. For instance, African-Americans, Native Americans, and males are more likely to be involved in lottery gambling than non-African-Americans. But there are also interesting patterns among people who fall within these groups.