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Powerball Takes Money From Other Games, Boosts Overall Sales

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By WHITNEY RAY

Capitol News Service

Published: February 25, 2009

The state's new Powerball game is cannibalizing other lottery games but boosting overall sales, funneling an additional $31.5 million to schools in just two months.

"I dropped the amount I played on lottery to play more of the Powerball; the money is bigger," said Don Heath, who has been playing the Florida Lottery since its inception in 1988. When the state began selling Powerball, the allure of a bigger jackpot changed his spending habits.

Sales for the first Powerball drawing in Florida totaled more than $7.5 million. That translates into one of every four dollars that went to traditional lottery games now going to Powerball.

"We expected some cannibalization of games, and the amount of decrease has been slight compared to what we expected," said Florida Lottery Spokeswoman Jackie Barrieros.

Cash 3, Play 4 and Fantasy 5 have seen slight decreases but remain the Lottery's strongest games, Barrieros said.

Lotto sales are down 8 percent, but scratch-off sales are up 10 percent. Still, the draw of a big Powerball jackpot drives players' fantasies about hitting it big.

"I would take care of my grandma, my aunts; really, just take care of the family," said Powerball ticket buyer Shalinus Pye.

"I have a couple of charities I would give to, and I would make sure for my family," Heath said.

So far no Florida players have hit the Powerball jackpot.

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