Section 4: Research on Gamblers and Gambling -- The Influence of Frequency and Other Factors on State Lottery Sales: The New York Experience (From Gambling in Canada: Golden Goose or Trojan Horse?, P 243-253, 1989, Colin S. Campbell and John Lowman, eds. -- See NCJ-126295)

• NCJ Number: 126308
• Author(s): A Ovedovitz
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: Simon Fraser University
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

This paper presents an econometric model to examine the factors that affected revenues in the New York State lottery between 1982 and 1984, with a particular focus on the influence of drawing frequency on revenues.

Abstract

Seven variables were studies sales of tickets per draw, jackpot size for each draw, number of first prize winners in previous draw, New York State unemployment rate, average weekly earnings in manufacturing, consumer price index for the region, and day of the draw. The influence of frequency and other factors were analyzed through multiple regression analysis. The findings indicate a close correlation between the size of the jackpot and sales volume and the greater the number of previous winners, the greater the sales. No relationship was found between the unemployment rate and volume of sales; however, indicators suggest that lottery sales do better during poor economic conditions. With regard to frequency of draws, it appears that sales declined per draw, making more frequent draws counterproductive in terms of increased revenue. 1 table, 4 figures, and 17 references