Survey: Average S.C. lottery player is black female

Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2002 | 9:29 a.m.

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The average lottery player in South Carolina is a black woman between the ages of 25 and 54, according to an initial survey for the South Carolina Education Lottery.

State law requires the lottery commission to submit reports on the demographics of lottery players to the Education Lottery Oversight Committee. The report must include the income, age, gender, education and frequency of participation of players.

A telephone survey was conducted over 11 days by Franks and Associates Inc. A team of six people did 500 telephone interviews.

Among that group, 53 percent of the players are black, while about 40 percent are white, the draft report said.

The report found that 40 percent of those who play the state lottery are high school graduates. Those with a household income of $50,000 or more made up the greatest percentage of players at 27 percent. Those with a household income of $20,000 to $29,000 made up 22 percent of players.

People earning household incomes below $19,000 yearly accounted for just under 20 percent of the players.

The average player reports buying more than 10 tickets at one time and spending more than $10 for each purchase.

The final report is expected to be given to the oversight committee Dec. 2, lottery spokeswoman Tara Robertson said.