“If I had more money I would play more,” said Dell Green, of Hamilton, who broke even with his winnings scratching off $1 tickets Friday at Tom’s Cigar Store on Main Street. “I don’t want to lose too much money.”
Despite the recession, this is the 10th consecutive year lottery sales have increased, said Danielle Frizzi-Babb of the Ohio Lottery Commission.
Frizzi-Babb also attributes the booming increase to new games such as Keno and the addition of the multistate Powerball game in February of 2010.
“Participating in those multistate lotteries has definitely increased sales,” Frizzi-Babb said. The Ohio Lottery keeps a percentage of every $1 Powerball and Mega Millions ticket sold in Ohio.
Butler County lottery sales were up 8 percent, grossing more than $57 million from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011 — $4.2 million more than in fiscal year 2010. Warren County saw an increase in sales of $1.7 million.
Larry Bray of Middletown said he’s bought two lottery tickets a day for the past three years. He switches between scratch-off tickets, Pick 3, Pick 4 and Mega Millions.
“Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked,” Bray said. “Everybody’s broke and trying to get money.”
Bray’s largest winning of $1,500 came from a $10 scratch-off ticket. “You’ve got to keep playing until you win,” he said. “You’ll win sooner or later.”
Ohio Lottery proceeds go to K-12 education. The latest year-end transfer to the lottery’s schools fund totaled $738.8 million, the second highest in Ohio Lottery history.
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