Lottery

20% of players contribute 82% of lottery revenue in the USA — disproportionately are low-income, minority men who have less than a college education. That has fueled a vociferous anti-lottery movement. “It really is government undercutting what government’s role should be,” which is encouraging people in financial straits to be responsible with their money, says Tom Grey of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling.

About one-half of American adults spend $45 billion annually on some 35,000 lottery games in 40 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The audit of the Kentucky Lottery showed that the lottery brought in $778.2 million — up about 4.6 percent from the previous year — but its profits were down about 2.7 percent.

As times get tough financially for states, New Hampshire is looking to Wal-Mart as a possible way to help boost its lottery revenue.

The Arizona Lottery Wednesday reported a strong surge in October ticket sales compared to last year — a strong sense that the organization’s core consumers are maintaining their purchase behavior despite an economic slowdown impacting most Americans.

South Carolina lottery officials say sales since July are up $6 million from the same period last year.