Lottery spending up 16 percent

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2002 | 11:30 a.m.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New Yorkers have spent $2.03 billion so far this fiscal year on state lottery games, with the lion's share -- $127 million -- going to the multistate Mega Millions, according to the state Lottery Division.

That's up 16 percent from the $1.75 billion spent on the games over the same period last year.

"I think we're just doing a really good job telling people what lottery games are out there," lottery spokeswoman Carolyn Hapeman told the New York Post.

The introduction of Mega Millions on May 17 along with the booming sales of instant-game tickets are the reasons for the spike in lottery spending, state officials said.

From April 1 to Aug. 12, the state's share of lottery revenue also rose by 11 percent to $574 million, officials said.

While the Mega Millions game enjoyed success, another once popular game has taken a hit. Sales for Lotto have dropped 30 percent this year despite the average jackpot increasing from $11.5 million last year to $12 million, officials said.

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