Mass. Lottery reports record profits of $1 billion

Aug 1, 2017, 8:09 am (3 comments)

Massachusetts Lottery

Although lottery sales in Massachusetts dipped 2.7 percent to $5.093 billion, the amount of money flowing to the state's cities and towns reached record heights, according to the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission.

Net profit, which is distributed to the state's cities and towns, was up 4.6 percent to $1.035 billion — the commission's first net profit over $1 billion in its 45-year history.

"This is a proud moment for the Lottery," said state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg. "During uncertain times, we were able to increase unrestricted local aid to the cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth."

The lottery also paid out $3.668 billion in prizes for the fiscal year ending June 30. Another $97.4 million went to Lottery operations overhead, and $291.9 million went to the retailers who sell tickets.

The total sales numbers amounted to about $935 per year for every adult resident of the state, though people from anywhere can buy tickets here.

Lottery revenues have been going up for years, and topped $5 billion for the first time in 2015. The decline in total sales was the first dip since 2010.

But Lottery Commission Executive Director Michael Sweeney said sales have been failing to keep up with inflation for years.

He said the Lottery's dependence on cash sales have hampered it at a time when sales could be happening online.

"We are absent from what I would argue is the most significant market change in commerce in recent years," he said. "In order to change our business model, we'd need approval from the Legislature, for example, to sell online."

Instant ticket lottery games, which last year accounted for nearly 70 percent of all lottery revenues, saw a 2.7 percent decrease in sales year over year for 2017. Powerball sales also decreased, following a record-setting year.

"The bulk of your revenue is in the hands of one product," Sweeney said. "We're looking for appropriate places to expand where we can."

All or Nothing, a new monitor game introduced last July, brought in an estimated $18.8 million in sales, more than eight times the sales of Jackpot Poker, the game it replaced.

The Commission also cut administrative costs in 2017, reworking sales routes for greater efficiency and funneling an additional $5 million into net profit, he said.

Boston Globe, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

lucky6025

so where does the 1,035,000,000.00 profit go funny how that was excluded from the article and even then state still complaining want more play from its players. Nothing like greed.

music*'s avatarmusic*

 I will take a guess at one reason that there are no online sales in Massachusetts and that is anyone could play. Children, gambling addicts, etc...

Patriot

Bleudog101

Thanks for posting this Todd.  Gotta love my home state lottery, but Kentucky isn't all that bad with their lottery either.  Letting my PB & MM Season Tickets lapse after 18 AUG 17; they haven't done a thing all year...but maybe not too late.  L4L has done OK and nothing on MegaBucks Doubler but renewed both anyway.

 

Any LP members notice something for the last three Megamillions jackpot amounts?  They were all palindromes!

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