State looks at expanding lottery

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(Host) Managers of the multi-state lottery games Powerball and Mega Millions are asking states to participate in both games, rather than just one.

The change would mean the games could sell more tickets to a wider audience.

As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, the Vermont Lottery Commission will take up the question next week.

(Computer voice)  "Congratulations, you’re a winner."

(Sneyd) At the Champlain Farms Fast Stop in Winooski, customer George Lavallee just won three dollars.

Lavallee’s a regular at the Fast Stop and had just bought the instant tickets earlier in the morning.

(Lavallee) "If you don’t play, you ain’t gonna win. … I think you gotta be wise. I’ve seen people spend a lot of money. A lot of money. And I probably spend more than I should. But it’s not where I’m not paying my bills."

(Sneyd) Lavallee figures he spends about $50 a week, mostly on scratch-off tickets, but he also puts a couple of bucks a week into games like Powerball and Hot Lotto.

If he had a chance at a big Mega-Millions jackpot, he says he’d probably go for it.

(Lavallee) "I might split it up with the Megabucks, Powerball. And if one is higher, I might just play that one particular game."

(Sneyd) That’s the theory behind the proposal by the operators of the two big multi-state games.

Powerball is sold in Vermont, 30 other states, Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands. Mega-Millions is sold in 12 states.

Officials say people who live in adjacent states selling the different games switch their habits when jackpots build up. Someone living in a Powerball state will travel to a Mega-Millions state for the chance at a bigger win.

So an agreement has been reached that would permit both games to be sold in any state that wanted to participate.

Lottery Commission Executive Director Alan Yandow says it’s hard to say how sales would change if Mega-Millions were available in Vermont.

(Yandow) "If you have two large jackpot games, you’re probably going to get one higher than the other during the course of the year. And those players that play only at a higher threshold, will likely see more opportunities to play because of that."

(Sneyd) National estimates are that states would see a minimum sales increase of 5 to 10 percent a year.

(CashRegister sound)

 Burbo: "This going to be it today?"

Customer: "Pack of Parliament Lights, please."

Burbo: "Pack of Parliament Lights."

(Sneyd) Back at the Fast Stop in Winooski, manager Jim Burbo says most customers don’t play the lottery. But it’s still an important part of his business. And he wouldn’t mind having another game to sell.

(Burbo) "It definitely would help us out, as well as help Vermont out. So I think that would be a big plus for the lottery system."

(Sneyd) The decision ultimately will be up to the Lottery Commission. And it’s likely to confer with the administration and legislators before it decides.

For VPR News, I’m Ross Sneyd.

(Host Outro)   The Lottery Commission’s next meeting is next Wednesday. The issue will be on the agenda, but a decision isn’t expected until a later meeting.

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