In 2003, the United States reported declining Lottery sales. This included nine states, the sharpest decline was reported in Delaware, with a 6.8% decline. However, four jurisdictions reported increases, including Florida, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia, which all had 27.5% or more growth in sales. These results are particularly encouraging because they indicate that Lottery sales may be headed in the right direction, and that more Americans will play for the chance to win.
Lottery players with incomes of less than $10,000 spend more on tickets than any other income group
The Massachusetts lottery recognizes the importance of frequent players, but the poor still spend more on tickets than other income groups. One study found that lottery players with incomes below $10,000 spent more than twice as much on tickets as those in the top 10% of the income distribution. In South Carolina, lottery players with incomes below $10,000 spent more than double as much on tickets as higher-income lottery players. The South Carolina lottery has a policy of letting lottery retailers keep 6% of their revenue.
According to a study published in the Journal of Gambling Studies, lottery players with incomes less than $10,000 spend more on tickets than any class of people. This is not surprising, given the regressive nature of the lottery. Low-income households spend more on lottery tickets than other income groups. This may be because they believe they are poor but have a low income.
African-Americans spend more per capita on tickets than any other group
A recent study indicates that African-Americans spend more per capita on lotto tickets than any other race. Lottery sales are higher among people who earn less than $10,000 a year and are living in poorer neighborhoods. The researchers found that lottery advertising is most aggressive in areas with higher poverty rates. The study also showed that people in the poorest counties purchased the most lottery tickets. Of the 18 counties with the highest poverty rate, 18 had lottery sales of more than $200 per adult.
The statistics are shocking. The average American spends more per capita on lottery tickets than any other race or ethnic group, and African-Americans are the most likely to be among these people. Historically, gambling in black neighborhoods was private and local, and the money stayed in the community. However, the lottery has changed the nature of gambling. Now, lottery money is redistributed throughout lower, middle, and upper-class neighborhoods. For example, Orangeburg County, SC, has the eleventh highest poverty rate in the state and spent more per capita on lottery tickets than any other race or ethnic group in the state since 2008.
Unclaimed Lottery winnings are allocated differently by each state
While the federal government has set guidelines for how unclaimed Lottery prizes should be allocated, states have different laws about how they allocate prizes. In Michigan, unclaimed prizes go to the state’s School Aid Fund, while in California, the unclaimed lottery prize amounts go back into the prize pool. According to the National Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, each state has specific guidelines on how to handle unclaimed lottery prizes. The amount of time that you have to claim a prize also varies by state. Some states give you as much as six months, while others allow up to a year. It is important to understand that the IRS will automatically withhold 24 percent of your winnings, while other states may require you to pay even more.