There's really no reason

There's really no reason state lottery scratch off games, couldn't be converted to (by option of the player) online virtual slot machine play.

So, instead of 50 $1 scratch tickets to scratch, the player could opt to play 50 spins on a virtual game online for the same set of prizes that would go to the state lottery.

Of course, already successful games in casinos could even be worked into the equation, perhaps low bidded by the game makers to the state to work with the odds game the state offers. Or sometimes business can work with a state, but are picked year to year on a rotation basis so as not to favor one or the other business.


Caveat -- of course I said that there is no problem. Most states would consider an uptick in gambling addiction to be too much of a risk. Are there others?

And it would save the trees.

The whole set-up is already unfair and the lottery wants to keep it that way. The amounts of unclaimed winnings are huge enough to rival Powerball fever, can't see how the winnings could go unclaimed if they were online. Then the cutting out of the retailers, the people who run these antiquated ways of doing things, etc. Plus, from the lottery's perspective, if they push their addicts customers online to gamble, they're going to find better sites and skip the lotteries. Even Nathan could be winning a lot more money back by making her picks online with foreign set-ups.

So there are reasons.

Bottom line is you you eliminated lottery ticket sales, you'd end up with an awful lot of empty storefronts. Way too many businesses have come to rely on lotto sales to survive.

Online, untelevised lottery drawings would be a great way to eliminate addictions... but who wants to eliminate the most desperate customers?

Quote: rxwine

There's really no reason state lottery scratch off games, couldn't be converted to (by option of the player) online virtual slot machine play.

So, instead of 50 $1 scratch tickets to scratch, the player could opt to play 50 spins on a virtual game online for the same set of prizes that would go to the state lottery.

Of course, already successful games in casinos could even be worked into the equation, perhaps low bidded by the game makers to the state to work with the odds game the state offers. Or sometimes business can work with a state, but are picked year to year on a rotation basis so as not to favor one or the other business.


Caveat -- of course I said that there is no problem. Most states would consider an uptick in gambling addiction to be too much of a risk. Are there others?

It would irritate the hell out of the many physical vendors who make a percentage of all sales and all wins. The lottery would be undercutting all of them.

I could see the point-of-sale places losing a large percentage of their customers, and getting out of the business, since they give up a lot of prime display space to have the scratchers at the counter.

In Ohio in just one year, 270 million dollars went unclaimed. That is such a sick amount of money. I'm sure very similar in each state. If there were 50,000 students at Ohio State, tuition could be cut $5400 a student. So much money, I don't know how lotteries are helping anyone.

Quote: beachbumbabs

It would irritate the hell out of the many physical vendors who make a percentage of all sales and all wins. The lottery would be undercutting all of them.

I could see the point-of-sale places losing a large percentage of their customers, and getting out of the business, since they give up a lot of prime display space to have the scratchers at the counter.

Yes.

Whether it's good to mention that these places did without the lottery at one time is another argument. I imagine it is a small percentage who only leave home for a lottery pick, but that's still a gasoline usage that might otherwise be avoided.

They basically already do this in PA

Considering the payout% of most scratch-offs are about the same as lotto-based games, its a wonder any of them exist. Only thing worse is the 3 & 4 digit dailies that are usually 50% at best. Almost all other offerings are 60-65%, and sometimes Keno is 70%.

Unclaimed winners really hurt the Customer, making the game really pay poorly. Connecticut has a 180-day rule, and the scratch-offs end when the last top prize is sold. That really lowers the pay% upon what appears to be a 65% game.

Regards
98

Quote: rxwine

There's really no reason state lottery scratch off games, couldn't be converted to (by option of the player) online virtual slot machine play.

So, instead of 50 $1 scratch tickets to scratch, the player could opt to play 50 spins on a virtual game online for the same set of prizes that would go to the state lottery.

Of course, already successful games in casinos could even be worked into the equation, perhaps low bidded by the game makers to the state to work with the odds game the state offers. Or sometimes business can work with a state, but are picked year to year on a rotation basis so as not to favor one or the other business.


Caveat -- of course I said that there is no problem. Most states would consider an uptick in gambling addiction to be too much of a risk. Are there others?

pennsylvania is doing that very thing right now. they have these really really crappy looking machines that *im pretty sure ANY* store can purchase to host within their store. i didnt play it in store, but PA lottery gave $5 free credits to try their new online lottery and i played the exact same game online that i saw in stores on a slot machine

Quote: 98Clubs

Considering the payout% of most scratch-offs are about the same as lotto-based games, its a wonder any of them exist. Only thing worse is the 3 & 4 digit dailies that are usually 50% at best. Almost all other offerings are 60-65%, and sometimes Keno is 70%.

Unclaimed winners really hurt the Customer, making the game really pay poorly. Connecticut has a 180-day rule, and the scratch-offs end when the last top prize is sold. That really lowers the pay% upon what appears to be a 65% game.

Regards
98

People like low cost, life changing payouts at a cost of horrible odds. Add that with the stupidity tax for playing in the first place, and you've got yourself a product that the market wants. Gamblers rather have 10 spot 5c keno at 89%, than single line VP at $5 a game with 93-95% return (assuming they play poor strategy).