In the first month since North Dakota joined the Powerball lottery, more than $2 million worth of Powerball tickets have been sold at the state's 400-plus participating retailers, the state lottery director says.
The total is nearly one-fifth of the $11 million that organizers had projected North Dakota would sell in the game's first 15 months.
Director Chuck Keller said sales broke the $2 million mark on Monday, thanks in part to strong weekend sales. An expected $103 million prize may have helped, he said.
"It's jackpot driven to some extent," Keller said.
North Dakota joined the Powerball lottery March 25. Powerball is played in 26 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Keller's office had forecast that state lottery sales would reach $11 million by June 30, 2005.
Let's hope the novelty doesn't wear off before Hot Lotto comes to ND.