New Powerball Boosts AR Lottery Sales
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: March 19, 2012
The Arkansas Lottery Commission is celebrating February 2012 as the highest sales month on record for the lottery. Commissioners credit the new Powerball and a new $20 ticket for helping bring in millions more than this time last year and allowing them to put nearly $1.5 million more into the scholarship account.
"We had a record sales month last month. That tells you something. You could contribute that in part to the new Powerball and part to the new twenty dollar ticket," said new director Bishop Woosley.
The commission changed the new Powerball tickets in January and started charging players $2 instead of $1.
Commissioners say while people are drawn to bigger jackpots, retailers say the dollar makes a big difference and they're seeing fewer people buying Powerball tickets or the Power Play, opting instead for cheaper Mega Millions tickets and scratch-off games.
"I have smart players who will budget how much they spend, if it exceeds it, they won't play it, " said store owner Kim Tinner.
Woosley says it's too early to tell if this means they'll see a record year. Even with these higher numbers, right now, this year's earnings are about $2.4 million lower than the commission's goal. Last year, the lottery generated around $94 million for college scholarships.
"We seen an increase of 30 percent, we're cautiously optimistic. Two months doesn't make a game, it could go either way," said Woosley.
"We had a record sales month last month. That tells you something. You could contribute that in part to the new Powerball and part to the new twenty dollar ticket," said new director Bishop Woosley.
The commission changed the new Powerball tickets in January and started charging players $2 instead of $1.
Commissioners say while people are drawn to bigger jackpots, retailers say the dollar makes a big difference and they're seeing fewer people buying Powerball tickets or the Power Play, opting instead for cheaper Mega Millions tickets and scratch-off games.
"I have smart players who will budget how much they spend, if it exceeds it, they won't play it, " said store owner Kim Tinner.
Woosley says it's too early to tell if this means they'll see a record year. Even with these higher numbers, right now, this year's earnings are about $2.4 million lower than the commission's goal. Last year, the lottery generated around $94 million for college scholarships.
"We seen an increase of 30 percent, we're cautiously optimistic. Two months doesn't make a game, it could go either way," said Woosley.
